People spend a lot of time and money planning their wedding. Beautiful gowns, decadent floral arrangements, and elaborate photo shoots are the focus as they plan for their big day. When the rich and famous get married, the public eye is intently watching the extravagant details of their wedding unfold. Unfortunately, people often focus more on the wedding than they do on the marriage.
From the very beginning, marriage has been God’s idea. It was His plan for a man to leave his mother and father and be joined to his wife in marriage. (Genesis 2:24) One man and one woman. A lifelong commitment to love and cherish one another. A promise to be faithful to one another through it all. An illustration of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. – Ephesians 5:32 NLT
In the book of Revelation, we see the culmination of human history at the grandest wedding reception of all time, the marriage feast of the Lamb. This will be a celebration unlike any we’ve experienced on earth. The Lord God will finally be reigning and there will be rejoicing in heaven as the bride (the Church, comprised of all the believers) is finally presented to her Groom (Jesus Christ). We will be dressed in the brightest and most pure wedding clothes, representing the righteousness we received through Jesus’ blood on the cross. We will finally be united with our Savior for all of eternity!
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign! Let us be glad, rejoice and give Him glory because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. – Revelation 19:6-7 CSB
After the marriage feast, while we are still dressed in our pure white linen, our Groom will ride out to finally strike down all those that oppose Him. We will follow behind Him in victory because the war was won on the cross.
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. – Revelation 19:11 CSB
The first time Jesus came, it was to offer salvation to all. The next time He comes, it will be to judge those who did not accept it. Do not reject the gift of Salvation that God has provided in His Son, Jesus. If you do, one day you will see Him in all His glory and you will understand the eternal mistake you made. Rejecting Jesus will be a decision you will regret for all of eternity.
So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus Himself and then delivered to us by those who heard Him speak? – Hebrews 2:3 NLT
I remember being forced to try on wedding dresses. I’m a very practical person. I’m also very short and pretty plump! Put those together and you get a woman who is more than happy to buy a white tent, maybe wear a veil to cover her thinning hair and call it a day. But when I tried on the first wedding dress, I knew I’d be buying one. For the first time in my 31 years, I felt beautiful! I can only imagine how much more when I see Christ and he calls me to his side to claim me as his own in front of God.