The Wedding of Christ and His Bride Part 1

Version 4

By Mark Farquharson

After the physical return of Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the Day of the Lord, at the end of this eon/age, there is going to be a grand wedding. When He returns He will collect His bride and take her to the wedding. Christ, the bridegroom, will spiritually marry His bride. This article will cover the parables that Jesus told that cover this wedding. I will not be covering in detail Jesus Christ’s return in this article. His return is covered in the article: “Christ’s Second Advent, the Day of the Lord”

Before getting to the parables, and the wedding, some points to clear up. These points will only be covered briefly as they are covered in greater detail in other articles.

While it is true that there are loads of people who have been called, there are only a few who have been actually chosen. It is only the chosen who are the true body, the true Ecclesia.

Jesus Christ Returns: It is taught by a number of people that Christ returns two times, once in secret to collect his followers, and then a second time after the supposed tribulation. While Jesus refer many times to his return as a thief in the night, He did not mean it would be secret. He meant it would be a surprise to most of the world. If the household knew when the thief was coming He would not be surprise by the thief, but since the household does not know when the thief is coming, it is a surprise. There will be no obvious sign to most of the world that He is coming, it will be a total surprise. As to John going to heaven in Revelation 4:1, there is nothing that connects it to a return of Jesus Christ, or Christ collecting his followers. For indeed later on in Revelation 6:9-11, there are still saints under the alter, they are to rest a little long, that is they are still dead. What of the tribulation, itself, not to get to side tracked, but most of Revelation has already occurred. The book of Revelation, is not a prophecy of a as yet to come great tribulation, for there is not coming great tribulation of seven years or any length of time. It is in fact what was then a future prophecy of mostly the last 2000 years. The time between the two comings of Jesus Christ. Some stuff in Revelation is still to come, but most of it is now behind us.

Who is to be Saved?: There is a great truth that has been hidden form most of the world, and Christianity itself, if you know of this truth, then you can go to the next section, but if you do not then I would encourage you to understand what I am about to say and study more about it, before reading this article. I refer to it often in this article, the truth that those who are not believers in Jesus Christ, are not send to a burning hell or annihilated, they are saved. There is no hell, the lake of fire is not the burning hell that most of the churches teach. For fire is used to purify metals like gold, to remove the impurities from the metal, the gold itself is not affect, it stays gold. The Lake of Fire, is for purifying the rest of mankind spiritually. God is not an evil torture, for a god that sends people to a burn hell forever is an evil torturer. And a god that annihilates all unbelievers did not love them at all. Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind, not just believers. All mankind will be saved, here are some verses to refer to: 1 Timothy 4:9-11, 1 Timothy 2:3-6, 1 John 4:14. For more on the great truth that all mankind will be saved, read the article: All Mankind Saved

First Century Jewish Weddings

To understand these parables we need to look at first century Jewish weddings. Jewish weddings at the time had three main stages. All these stages were used by Christ to represent spiritual truth about the Kingdom of the Heavens, His bride and Himself.

1: Arrangement: The wedding would be arrange by the parents, especially the father. A dowry would be paid by the groom’s family to the bride‘s family as a type of security.

2: Engagement: Then in the bride’s parent’s house was the betrothal ceremony with friends and family. Vows would be exchange and usually the groom would give gifts to his bride. Over the next year or two, a place would be prepared for the couple to live in, by the groom. On to His parent’s house an extension was usually created.

3: Wedding festivities: Coming with friends the bridegroom would usually come at night at the appointed time, this would give a surprise element. However the bride did not know when he would exactly arrival. This meant the bride had to be waiting and be ready. Her bridesmaids would attend to her. The bridesmaids being virgins or young maidens usually. They would hold lamps or torches to welcome and receive the bridegroom.

The bride was then take by the groom to a great hall or his father’s house. Friends and attendants would go with them. At this point there would be week long wedding festivities. The marriage would be consummated during this week. After this the wife reveal her face to everyone by removing her veil.

Now for some parallels between the stages and the brethren’s relationship to Jesus Christ.

1: Christ’s bride has been chosen by His and our heavenly Father.

Romans 8:28-30 Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. {CLV}

Ephesians 1:11-12 in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will, that we should be for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ. {CLV}

God designated beforehand, and these are the ones He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. These ones are “pre-expectant in the Christ.” Also Acts 13:48 & Ephesians 2:10 & many others.

This means that there is no choice, God is the one who decided, designated who would be saved, and He calls them, and justifies them, and glorifies them. Why are some predestine? Because they will be guiding the nations in the next eon. For more on predestination refer to the article: "Predestination"

The groom, Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross for the bride, and He also paid the price for everyone else. However the bride gets this spiritual union first. The Holy Spirit was given to the Body as security by Christ.

2: The bride has been betrothed to Christ, through Jesus Christ first coming and at Pentecost, with the giving of the spirit and gifts.

Ephesians 4:7-8 Now to each one of us was given grace in accord with the measure of the gratuity of Christ. Wherefore He is saying, Ascending on high, He captures captivity And gives gifts to mankind." {CLV}

2Corinthians 11:1-3 Would that you had borne with any little imprudence of mine! Nay, and be bearing with me, " for I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God. For I betroth you to one Man, to present a chaste virgin to Christ. " Yet I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deludes Eve by its craftiness, your apprehensions should be corrupted from the singleness and pureness which is in Christ. " {CLV}

3: The bride, the chosen must be ready for Jesus Christ’s return at the appointed time, for they do not know when He will return. Jesus described His return a number of times as a thief, in that his return would be a surprise, not that it would be a secret. If you knew when the thief was coming it would not be a surprise, but since you do not know, then it is a total surprise when the thief comes.

When He returns He will take his bride to the wedding festivities. The bride and the bridegroom will be in intimately joined together for the week of the coming kingdom. Seven meaning spiritual perfection. This is the time when the wife will remove her veil, in front of the rest of mankind.

Romans 8:19 For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God. {CLV}

Spiritual Union

Not to confuse you, but there is already a spiritual union between Jesus Christ and his bride. The chosen are already spiritually in Christ, they are already the body. However there will shortly be in the future a greater ultimate manifestation of this.

Ephesians 5:29-32 For no one at any time hates his own flesh, but is nurturing and cherishing it, according as Christ also the ecclesia, for we are members of His body. For this "a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh." This secret is great: yet I am saying this as to Christ and as to the ecclesia. {CLV}

It is important to note it is only the chosen that have this relationship now, not all those who call themselves Christian. And it is only the chosen that are the faithful bride and will be wed to Christ, at the wedding. It is only the few that have been chosen by God, beforehand, that are the chosen, the faithful bride of Jesus Christ. That is they did not make a choice, God had already made the choice beforehand. Most of the Christians out there in the world will miss out.

And yet while only the ecclesia, only the chosen have this spiritual union now, and will shortly have a greater manifestation of this at the wedding, it will not only be experienced by the chosen, for one day all mankind will experience the greater manifestation that the Chosen, the ecclesia will experience shortly. Jesus Christ did not just die for the ecclesia, He died for all mankind, actually for all creation. Over time the rest of mankind will be joined to Christ, they will share the same spiritual relationship. All mankind will be spiritually in Christ, at some point in the future, however the ecclesia will be the first to experience this greater relationship.

John 14:2-3 In My Father's house are many abodes; yet if not I would have told you, for I am going to make ready a place for you." And if I should be going and making ready a place for you, I am coming again and I will be taking you along to Myself, that where I am, you also may be." {CLV}

Ephesians 2:19-22 Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the capstone of the corner being Christ Jesus Himself, in Whom the entire building, being connected together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord:" in Whom you, also, are being built together for God's dwelling place, in spirit." {CLV}

While the abodes speaks of the spiritual dwelling of God in spirit, I also believe there will be an actual place that has been prepared for us to dwell in.

While Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for the bride, there is also a place for the rest of mankind. The rest of mankind will also in time become a holy temple in the Lord. They will also become God's dwelling place, in spirit, in time.

Parables

The Wedding Festivities and the Great Dinner

Matthew 22 1-14 Wedding Festivities {CLV}

1 And, answering, Jesus speaks to them again in parables, saying,

2 "Likened was the kingdom of the heavens to a man, a king, who makes wedding festivities for his son.

3 And he dispatches his slaves to call those invited to the wedding festivities, and they would not come.

4 Again he dispatches other slaves, saying, 'Say to those invited, "Lo! my luncheon have I made ready, my bulls and grain-fed animals have been sacrificed, and all is ready: Hither for the wedding festivities!"'

5 Yet they, not caring, came away, one, indeed, to his own field, yet one to his merchandise.

6 Yet the rest, taking hold of his slaves, outrage and kill them.

7 Now the king is angered, and, sending his troops, destroys those murderers and sets their city in flames.

8 "Then he is saying to his slaves, 'The wedding, indeed, is ready, yet those invited were not worthy.

9 Go, then, to the exits of the roads and whosoever you may be finding, call to the wedding festivities.'

10 And, coming out into the roads, those slaves gathered all whom they found, both wicked and good, and filled is the wedding with those lying back at table.

11 "Now the king, entering to gaze at those lying back at table, perceived there a man who has not put on wedding apparel.

12 And he is saying to him, 'Comrade, how did you enter here having no wedding apparel?' Yet he was still.

13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Binding his feet and hands, cast him out into outer darkness.' There shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are the called, yet few are the chosen."

The two parables, the Wedding Festivities and the Great Dinner are closely linked. Both parables have the same emphasis, a celebratory feast, even thou the Great Dinner says nothing about a wedding.

The nation of Israel in the Old Testament was represent as the bride and wife of God, yet due to Israel being unfaithful God divorced physical Israel. Which has been replaced by spiritual Israel, for true believers, the chosen are spiritual Israel.

Matthew 21:43 Therefore am I saying to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall be given to a nation producing its fruits. {CLV}

The kingdom was taken away from Israel and given to another nation. This another nation is not some earthly nation, it is a spiritual nation. The people of the nation are the true believers in Christ. The true believers are spiritual Israel, they come from many nations, and form one nation, one people, one body. These are the ones who produce the spiritual fruit of the kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ’s return is represent in the New Testament as a Bridegroom coming to get his bride, just before the wedding and that the brethren are the bride.

Judgement Against Jerusalem

In the parable the king, God, is making wedding festivities for his son, Jesus Christ. The first invited guests were the Jewish people, the physical nation of Israel. They were the bride of Christ, at that time. The guests in the parable being the actual bride. At the time the wedding festivities were ready, his slaves, his apostles & prophets were dispatched to call those invited. This was during the time of Jesus Christ’s first coming and after. However the majority of those invited would not come. Again the slaves were sent, yet those who were invited made various excuses, some of those invited took hold of the slaves and kill them.

This angered the king who sent his troops to destroy the murders and set their city in flames. A prophetic for telling of the Judgement against the people of Israel because of their sins. The king’s troops, God’s troops, where actually the Romans who brought destruction to Jerusalem in the war of 66-70 AD. That is God used the Romans to bring about this Judgement.

In Matthew 23:29-39 and in Luke 21:12-24, Jesus tells of how some of the prophets and wise men and scribes will be persecuted and some will be killed. Because of these actions, especial the crucifixion of Christ, judgement was to be brought against them. However the burning of Jerusalem was just the start of the judgement, for Luke 21:24 tells us “Jerusalem shall be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations may be fulfilled.” That is era is yet to be fulfilled, it will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns.

Matthew 23:29-32 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are building the sepulchers of the prophets and adorning the tombs of the just, and you are saying, 'If we were in the days of our fathers, we would not be participants with them in the blood of the prophets.'" So that you are testifying to yourselves that you are the sons of those who murder the prophets. And you! Fill full the measure of your father! {CLV}

Matthew 23:33 -36 Serpents! Progeny of vipers! How may you be fleeing from the judging of Gehenna? Therefore, lo! I am dispatching to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Of them, some you will be killing and crucifying, and of them, some you will be scourging in your synagogues and persecuting from city to city, so that on you should be coming all the just blood shed on the earth, from the blood of just Abel until the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murder between the temple and the altar." Verily, I am saying to you: All these things will be arriving on this generation." {CLV}

Matthew 23:37-39 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! who art killing the prophets and pelting with stones those who have been dispatched to her! How many times do I want to assemble your children in the manner a hen is assembling her brood under her wings-and you will not!" Lo! left is your house to you desolate. For I am saying to you: You may by no means be perceiving Me henceforth, till you should be saying, 'Blessed is He Who is coming in the name of the Lord!'" {CLV}

Luke 21:12-13 Yet before all these things they shall be laying their hands on you and they shall be persecuting you, giving you up into the synagogues and jails, being led off to kings and governors on account of My name." Yet it shall be eventuating to you for a testimony. {CLV}

Luke 21:20-24 Now whenever you may be perceiving Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that her desolation is near." Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains, and let those in her midst be coming out into the country, and let not those in the country be entering into her, for days of vengeance are these, to fulfill all that is written." Yet woe to those who are pregnant, and to those suckling in those days; for there will be great necessity in the land and indignation on this people." And they shall be falling by the edge of the sword and shall be led into captivity into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations may be fulfilled." {CLV}

The Invitation to the Next Lot of Guests

Next the king said to his slaves {Prophets and Apostles} 'The wedding, indeed, is ready, yet those invited were not worthy." Go, then, to the exits of the roads and whosoever you may be finding, call to the wedding festivities.'" And, coming out into the roads, those slaves gathered all whom they found, both wicked and good, and filled is the wedding with those lying back at table."

The Jewish people, the people of Israel were not worthy to come to the wedding. They were no longer the bride of Christ. The wedding was ready, but there was no guests to attend the wedding. The king send the slaves, and whosoever they found, they were to call to the wedding.

The Apostles were the first ones to invite this next lot of guests. As the apostles preach the word of God, many wicked and good people came to believed in Christ. Paul was chosen to invite people from the nations. As they died it fell to the brethren to invite more guests to the wedding. Guests are still be invited today, as the hall will not be filled until Jesus Christ returns.

Wedding Guests & the Bride

Some view the wedding guests, as not being the bride. The bride being the chosen, and the guests being another group. It is also view that the wise virgins in the parable of the Ten Virgins, which is covered later, are not the bride, but are a different group.

The guests are viewed as the rest of the church who are not part of the chosen company or are viewed as Israel or both. There is no special role for physical Israel in the coming age. The Jewish people will be resurrected, but they do not have any special role in the coming age/eon. They have been replaced by spiritual Israel, the chosen. Physical Israel, the Jewish people were the bride, and were the guests but were not worthy.

The whole church, the whole of Christianity, are the guests, they have all been called to the wedding, this includes those who have been chosen. Not all Christians have been chosen, they however have all been called. Thus they have all been invited to the wedding. They are all the guests, the virgins and the bride. Just because different words are used, it does not mean they are different groups. For instance, the chosen are the saints, and the sheep etc. Christ is the Ideal {Good} Shepherd, the Saviour, the Light, the living water etc. The guests in the parables and elsewhere symbolise the bride of Christ.

However it is only the chosen who will actual attend the wedding as the worthy guests, Wise Virgins, the faithful bride. The rest of the church has no special role in the coming eon. They will not be worthy, they are the stupid virgins, the unfaithful bride, just like physical Israel was. Those who are called, but not chosen, would not come to the wedding if the time had come, just like the Jewish people would not come.

Wedding Apparel

Matthew 22:11-14 Now the king, entering to gaze at those lying back at table, perceived there a man who has not put on wedding apparel." And he is saying to him, 'Comrade, how did you enter here having no wedding apparel?' Yet he was still." Then the king said to the servants, 'Binding his feet and hands, cast him out into outer darkness.' There shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth." For many are the called, yet few are the chosen." {CLV}

The man has no wedding apparel and is cast into outer darkness. When guests arrived at first century Palestine wedding festivities they would be given white wedding clothes. Thus it would be easy to see anyone not wearing the wedding apparel. The man in the parable, had entered without getting any wedding apparel. This was because he had gatecrashed the party and was an intruder. Because of this the king ordered his servants to 'Binding his feet and hands, cast him out into outer darkness.' However that is not the end for him. Those cast into the outer darkness will not be there forever. This speaks of the spiritual darkness of the second death, the Lake of Fire.

Levitical priests administering at the tabernacle or the temple had to wear white linen tunics {Exodus 28:39-41}. The blood from the animal sacrifices spattered the tunics. God promised the sins that where scarlet would be white.

Isaiah 1:18 Go, pray and it shall be corrected, saying is Yahweh. "If your sins are coming to be as double dipped scarlet, as snow shall they be white. If they are reddened as crimson, as wool shall they become." {CLV}

The purity of God and the glory of God is symbolized by the pure white of the clothing.

Revelation 1:14 Now His head and hair are white as white wool, as snow, and His eyes as a flame of fire, {CLV}

Matthew 17:1-2 And after six days Jesus is taking aside Peter and James and John, his brother, and is bringing them up into a high mountain, privately, and was transformed in front of them. And His face shines as the sun, yet His garments became white as the light." {CLV}

Jesus can appear as shining as white wool, as snow, as white as the light.

Revelation 5-6 To Him Who is loving us and looses us from our sins by His blood" and makes us a kingdom and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and might for the eons of the eons! Amen!" {CLV}

The chosen are a kingdom and priests to Christ’s God and Father

1 Peter 2:9 Yet you are a chosen race, a "royal priesthood, a "holy nation, a procured people, so that you should be recounting the virtues of Him Who calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light, {CLV}

The Chosen are a "royal priesthood,” a "holy nation.” They are spiritual Israel, they are the kingdom, they are the New Jerusalem, they are the nation producing the fruits.

Romans 3:21-23 Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. {CLV}

A righteousness of God is manifest, through Jesus Christ’s faith, but not just on all who are believing. This righteousness is for all, not just those who believe. For there is no distinction, between those who believe and those who do not, for all sinned. Yet this righteousness will comes to those who believe first, and those who do not second. That is all will obtain this righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." {CLV}

The Chosen are God's righteousness in Jesus Christ. This is due to the sin offering, that is Christ’s death on the cross. One day all mankind will be God’s righteousness, for Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind, not just those who believe. The sin offering was made for all mankind not just the sake of the chosen.

Revelation 7:9-12 After these things I perceived, and lo! a vast throng which no one was able to number, out of every nation and out of the tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lambkin, clothed in white robes and with palm fronds in their hands." And they are crying with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be our God's, Who is sitting on the throne, And the Lambkin's!" And all the messengers stood around the throne and the elders and the four animals. And they fall on their faces before the throne and worship God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be our God's for the eons of the eons. Amen!" {CLV}

These ones standing before the throne in white robes are the faithful bride.

Revelation 7:13-15 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These clothed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I have declared to him: "My lord, you are aware. And he said to me, "These are those coming out of the great affliction. And they rinse their robes, and they whiten them in the blood of the Lambkin." Therefore they are before the throne of God and are offering divine service to Him day and night in His temple. And He Who is sitting on the throne will be tabernacling over them. {CLV}

The Chosen stand before the throne, having already washed their robes, and whiten them in the blood of the Lambkin. They have whiten them in the blood of the cross.

1John 1:5-7 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and are informing you, that God is light, and darkness in Him there is none." If we should be saying that we are having fellowship with Him and should be walking in darkness, we are lying and are not doing the truth." Yet if we should be walking in the light as He is in the light, we are having fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, is cleansing us from every sin." {CLV}

If you should be walking in the light, God is light, and Christ is the light, then blood of Jesus, His Son, is cleansing you from every sin. Turning you robes white. However one day all the rest of mankind will be walking in the light, and the blood of Jesus will be cleansing them from every sin.

Revelation 7:16-17 They shall not be hungering longer, nor yet shall they be thirsting any longer; no, neither should the sun be falling on them, nor any heat, seeing that the throne-centered Lambkin shall be shepherding them, and shall be guiding them to living springs of water, and every tear shall God be brushing away from their eyes." {CLV}

The Chosen will not hunger or thirst, or suffer from the heat.

Revelation 19:7-9 We may be rejoicing and exulting and will be giving glory to Him, for the wedding of the Lambkin came, and Its bride makes herself ready." And to her it was granted that she may be clothed in clean, resplendent cambric, for the cambric is the just awards of the saints." And he is saying to me, "Write: 'Happy are those invited to the wedding dinner of the Lambkin.' And he is saying to me, "These are the true sayings of God." {CLV}

This passage tell us that the Wedding of the Lambkin came and the bride makes herself ready. To the Bride was granted that she may be clothed in clean, resplendent cambric, that is the just award of the saints. Happy are those invited to the wedding dinner of the Lambkin

“Just awards” is translated in other versions as righteous acts or righteousness. It comes from a Greek word meaning equitable deed; by implication a statute or decision. Meaning justification, righteousness. While it could mean the righteous acts of the saints, or the Just awards because of their righteous acts, it does mean the justification that the saints have, that is the white clothing is their righteousness. This is confirmed earlier in Revelation 7:13-15. It is the blood of the lambkin that whitens the clothing. When Christ died on the cross, He removed the sins of the people and made them righteous {2 Corinthians 5:21}.

This is the faithful bride, because she makes herself ready. She is the saints as she is clothed in their justification. The saints are the chosen, the brethren, the overcomers, the Sons of God. These are the ones have been made ready for the Bridegroom’s return. These are the ones who have been invited and have accepted the invitation to the Wedding Festivities.

Romans 5:18-19 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying." For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just." {CLV}

Through the obedience of Jesus Christ, all mankind will be justified. However the chosen are justified first, having faith and walking in the light.

Romans 5:1-2 Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in expectation of the glory of God." {CLV}

This confirms that Revelation 19:7-9, is talking about the faithful bride, because she is the one that is justified by faith, she has the just awards, the justification.

Revelation 22:14 Happy are those who are rinsing their robes, that it will be their license to the log of life, and they may be entering the portals into the city.

15 Outside are curs, and enchanters, and paramours, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone fabricating and fondling falsehood. {CLV}

The Chosen are the first ones who are Happy, those who are Happy are those who are rinsing their robes, that it will be their license to the log of life, and they may be entering the portals into the city. At the time of Judgment, the chosen will be entering the portals into the city. However those in the Lake of Fire, will over time be rinsing their robes, and will gain license to the log of life and they may be entering the portals into the city as well.

Psalms 51:7 Expiate me with the hyssop, and I shall be clean; Rinse me, and I shall be whiter than snow." {CLV}

Rinsing the robes, is symbolical of rinsing the person spiritually, those that are rinsed will be whiter than snow. The people in the Lake of Fire after the judgement will be rinsing their robes, once they have done so, once they are whiter than snow, they will then have license to the log of life, and they may be entering the portals into the city.

Anyone who tries to gatecrash the wedding, that is get into the kingdom without wedding apparel will be thrown into outer darkness. Out of all those invited to the wedding, only a few are chosen. Only the chosen will actual attend the wedding. All those who are called, but not chosen, will not obtained the wedding apparel.

The Worthy Wedding Guests, the Faithful Bride

Revelation 19:7-9 We may be rejoicing and exulting and will be giving glory to Him, for the wedding of the Lambkin came, and Its bride makes herself ready." And to her it was granted that she may be clothed in clean, resplendent cambric, for the cambric is the just awards of the saints." And he is saying to me, "Write: 'Happy are those invited to the wedding dinner of the Lambkin.' And he is saying to me, "These are the true sayings of God." {CLV}

While the guests appear to be a different group to the bride, they are in fact the same group. Those invited, the guests and the bride are the same group. Both represent the faithful bride, the chosen ones, here in Revelation 19:7-9. The invitation and the acceptance is the main point in these parables.

The chosen sons of God, have many names in the scriptures including: Sheep, Wise Virgins, Wheat, Good fruit. While they are refer to by different symbols in the different parables, and different names in the scriptures, they all mean the same chosen group.

Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, celestial Jerusalem, and to ten thousand messengers, to a universal convocation, and to the ecclesia of the firstborn, registered in the heavens, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just perfected, and to Jesus, the Mediator of a fresh covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which is speaking better than Abel." {CLV}

The bride of Christ, is the Ecclesia {the Church}, this is also the body, with Christ as the head. This includes the just perfected ones {the saints} that died before Jesus Christ came. They still have there invite to the wedding, they did not lose it, when physical Israel lost it, they will be going to the wedding. These ones have their wedding apparel, they will be resurrected when Jesus Christ returns and will go to the wedding.

However this body does not include all who claim to be Christian, or believers, for it is only the chosen that are the true Ecclesia, the True Church. Many are called, but few have been chosen. The chosen are the ones that have an allotment waiting for them, which they will get went Christ returns. These are the ones that will have the wedding apparel, all the others who claim to be believers out there miss out. For all the dead in Christ will be resurrected and all the true Ecclesia will get their allotment in the New Jerusalem.

Great Dinner

There is no mention of a wedding in relation to this feast. However it is very similar to the wedding parable above.

Luke 14:15-24 {CLV}

Luke 14:15 Now hearing these things, someone of those lying back at table with Him, said to Him, "Happy is he who will be eating bread in the kingdom of God!"

16 Now He said to him, "A certain man made a great dinner, and invites many.

17 And he dispatches his slave at the dinner hour to say to those invited, 'Come, for already, it is ready!'

18 And they all begin, from one motive, to make excuse. The first said to him, 'I buy a field, and I have felt the necessity of coming out to see it. I am asking you to have me excused.'

19 And a different one said, 'I buy five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I am asking you to have me excused.'

20 And a different one said, 'I marry a wife, and therefore I can not come.'

21 "And, coming along, the slave reports these things to his lord. Then being indignant, the householder said to his slave, 'Come out quickly into the squares and streets of the city, and lead in here the poor, and cripples, and blind, and lame.'

22 "And the slave said to him, 'Lord, what you enjoin is done, and still there is place.'

23 And the lord said to the slave, 'Come out into the roads and stone dikes, and compel them to enter, that my house may be crammed.

24 For I am saying to you that not one of those men who are invited shall be tasting of my dinner.'"

As before many have been invited, but when the time comes for the great dinner, those invited make various excuses as to while they can not come. Those invited in both parables are the same, those of Israel who are too caught up in life’s affairs to come to the dinner. They all forfeited their invitation and where not allowed to the dinner. The Householder gets the slave to lead into the dinner the poor, and cripples, and blind, and lame.

Israel had the kingdom, they had the invites to the wedding, to the dinner, but they rejected the King and the Kingdom, and the Kingdom was taken away from them. This is what happened when Jesus Christ came the first time. Thus Jesus invited others to the kingdom stating with the apostles.

These days there are many who think and believe that they are part of the kingdom, that they are part of the chosen company, however most of these will not taste of the dinner. Most of these people are too caught up in the world, if Christ was to come now, they would all have excuses as to why they could not attain the wedding. Those who are unfaithful and disloyal will not be at the dinner.

Actual Eating and Drinking?

At the celebration will there be actual eating and drinking? For the chosen will not have to eat and drink, they will be immortal. When Jesus Christ returns all the chosen be transformed, and will gain immortality {1 Corinthians 15:50-55}. While the chosen will be immortal and not have to actual eat and drink, there will actual be eating and drinking.

For on the Night of Jesus betrayal, Jesus said to his disciples:

Luke 22:15 And He said to them, "With yearning I yearn to be eating this passover with you before My suffering." For I am saying to you that under no circumstances may I be eating of it till it may be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And, receiving the cup, giving thanks, He said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves." For I am saying to you that under no circumstances may I be drinking, from now on, of the product of the grapevine till the kingdom of God may be coming." {CLV}

Jesus was stating that He would not eat of the passover or drink the product of the vine, until the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. That is once there is this fulfillment of the kingdom, then He would again eat of the passover and drink the product of the vine.

Luke 22:29-30 And I am covenanting a covenant with you, according as My Father covenanted a kingdom to Me, that you may be eating and drinking at My table in My kingdom. And you will be seated on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." {CLV}

Jesus has a covenant with the apostles, that they will be eating and drinking at His table in the Kingdom. And that they will be seated on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. That is in the next eon they will be ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel who will be in the Lake of Fire. Israel has no special role in the next age, the kingdom was taken away from them. However it is not all about eating and drinking:

Romans 14:16-17 Let not, then, your good be calumniated, for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in holy spirit." {CLV}

Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2010-2011, 2017

Part 2: The Wedding of Christ and His Bride, Part 2

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