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THE WEDDING
AND MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Rev 19:7-8). NKJV
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God has at last revealed when Jesus Christ will come. He had designated three harvest festivals to
resurrect His chosen people. The three festivals are 1). The Feast of Unleavened Bread during the beginning of
the barley harvest in Israel; 2). The Feast of harvest Pentecost, fifty days; 3). The Feast of Tabernacles at the end
of the harvest season.
We, in the Church of God in Truth, understand that each of these harvest are resurrections. God requires
all His people to come before Him not empty handed. God has revealed to His chosen few today that Christ will
come for His first-fruits at the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The members prepare themselves like the wise virgins of Matthew 25 to be ready with the oil of truth,
so when Christ comes like the thief in the night they could go with Him to the wedding. “And while they went
to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding” (Matthew 25:10).
When the Church of God obeys and follow God's truth as revealed in His word, and meticulously study
God's word with the help of His Holy Spirit, we then can understand His revealed truth.
We know that Christ is the First of the first-fruits of barley, we are expecting the rest of the first-fruits
of barley to be resurrected next in order. Christ and the first-fruits of barley are of the same kind of fruit. "For
both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to
call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11). There is another first-fruits which was offered and accepted by God during
the Feast of Pentecost. This first-fruits belong to the wheat crop. Before being offered it was grounded fine and
baked with leaven. It is called wave loaves, although still called first-fruits. They were accepted by God but not
as the bride of the Lamb, but as guest at the marriage super [reception] of the Lamb. They could never be
resurrected with the first-fruits of barley for they were with leaven. Luke mentions them in chapter 12 and verse
36, where Christ and the saints come for them after the wedding.
"And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He
cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately."
We understand that the wedding or marriage of the Lamb is a different occasion than the marriage supper
of the Lamb. Just like the wedding is in a church building, the reception is in the residence of the bride or at
another hall. This had happened to me many years ago after graduating from college. My first cousin asked me
to be his best man. The wedding was held in the archbishop's palace near the Jaro cathedral but the reception was
held in the bride's home. The guests and relatives of both the bride and the groom had a grand evening of eating,
drinking and socializing the whole evening.
God has revealed something new for the edification of His people. He does not want them to be ignorant
and fall victim to some people who claim that Christ will come only on the Feast of Trumpets. So God's true
first-fruits won't be deceived, God must show them or reveal to them the truth. God had revealed that Christ will
come for His first-fruits seen as barley, not on the Feast Trumpets or Pentecost, but at the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. Christ was resurrected at this feast time. It is only natural that His kind (barley first-fruits) be also
resurrected at the same festival Holy Days.
The resurrection of the barley first-fruits was not revealed just as God did not reveal the actual natal day
of Christ. All revealed events are in the time order our Lord wants them to be in!
In the New Testament, we read of two men in white (angels) telling those left behind by Jesus Christ
when He ascended, that the same Jesus who left will return in the same manner that He ascended. This statement
by those angels are hints or clues for us. "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen
Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4) His first advent. Will His second coming confirm the
angels statement that He will return during the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Jesus left from the Mt. of Olives
(Acts 1:12) and as prophesied in Zechariah 14:4 He will likewise be back there when He returns.
Back to the main topic about; the wedding and marriage supper of the Lamb. We know that when Christ,
returns secretly for the first-fruits of barley, they will immediately go to the wedding (Matthew 25:10). Before
the wedding will be the coronation of Jesus Christ. This occasion can be read in Daniel's vision."I watched till
thrones were put in place. And the ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of
His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and
came forth before Him. A thousand thousand ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before
Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:9-10, NKJ throughout). "I was watching in
the night vision, And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the
Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a
kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which will not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed" (verses 13-14).
During the time of coronation of Christ in heaven the wrath of God is being poured out here on earth.
After the coronation of Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords the story switches to Revelation 19:1 where
the wedding in heaven is about to begin for the bride had already made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). The
apostle John is describing scenes in heaven. Revelation 14:1-5 gives us more confirmation and details. Verse 1
describes the Lamb standing in Mount Zion with the 144,000 first-fruits. Note that this 144,000 had the Father's
name written on their forehead. To have the Fathers name in one's forehead means, he has been sealed with God's
Holy Spirit. It means ownership. He or she now belongs to God. The Father knows them and recognizes them
as His (2 Timothy 2:19). "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal." "The Lord knows
those who are His,"and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." So this tells us that
there were actually 144,000 first-fruits that will wed Christ. Most Bible scholars believe that this is what is called
the Philadelphia Church. This 144,000 who were the only ones to sing the song is different from the other
144,000 found in Revelation 7. These Revelation 7, are the physical Israelites sealed for protection from God's
wrath. It is speculated that they will be the guest at the marriage supper [reception].
The 144,000 standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion are spirit beings. They were resurrected at the Days
of Unleavened Bread. Christ had brought them here in heaven to witness His coronation and subsequent
wedding. Revelation 14:3 is proof that they were in heaven because John recorded them as taken from the earth.
"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man
could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth" (Rev.
14:3).
The scene being described is not the physical Mount Zion here on earth but the Mount Zion in heaven.
"For you have not come to the mountain that maybe touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and
darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that
the words should not be spoken to them anymore." And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am
exceedingly afraid and trembling. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-22). Yes there is a physical
Zion and Jerusalem here in Israel. There is also a heavenly Mount Zion and a heavenly Jerusalem.
Revelation 19:1 pictures the start of the wedding after the coronation of Christ. "After these things I heard
aloud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong
to the Lord our God!" This verse tells us that there were people in heaven. Strong's #3793, Greek, “ochlos” for
multitude or throng of people. Who are these people and what are they doing in heaven? These noisy multitude
in heaven were the 144,000 first-fruits of barley who were being married to the Lamb. They were singing and
praising God.
After the wedding, Christ and the saints or first-fruits will return to earth for the reception (Zechariah
14:5). The reception will be here on earth with the other leavened first-fruits, the first-fruits of wheat. They have
been accepted by God as "wave loaves" which means they can attend the marriage supper of the Lamb
(Revelation 19:9). They are the invited guests to the marriage supper. ☜
P.A.T. Reprint Sotero Sonza