Today, the church is “engaged” to Jesus Christ; and we love Him even though we have not seen Him (1 Peter 1:8). One day, He will return and take His bride to heaven (John 14:1–6; 1 Thes. 4:13–18). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, her works will be judged and all her spots and blemishes removed. This being completed, the church will be ready to return to earth with her Bridegroom at the close of the Tribulation to reign with Him in glory (see Luke 13:29; Matt. 8:11). Some students believe that the entire Kingdom Age will be the “marriage supper.”
Warren W. Wiersbe
Revelation 19:1–20:15 (MEV)
1 After these things I heard a great sound of many people in heaven, shouting: “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!
2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants.”
3 Again they said: “Alleluia! Her smoke rises forever and ever.”
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sat on the throne, saying: “Amen! Alleluia!”
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
6 Then I heard something like the sound like a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying: “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
7 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.
8 It was granted her to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.” Fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
10 I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you not do that. I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
11 I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God.
14 The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. “He shall rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice to all the birds flying in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather for the supper of the great God,
18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of strong men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great!”
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to wage war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.
21 The remnant were slain with the sword which proceeded out of the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3 He cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be set free for a little while.
4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be set free from his prison
8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea.
9 They traveled the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His face the earth and the heavens fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. Books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their works as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one by his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.