(2) THE OF THE LAMB (Revelation 19:7-10) Let us rejoice.--The reason given here for rejoicing is that the "marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife bath made herself ready." The meaning is that the coming of the Lord coming to- receive the prepared church is similar to a bridegroom coming for his bride. Marriage, as a symbol or illustration, is used four times in the New Testament, but each time to teach a different lesson--that is, some phase of marriage is used to illustrate a special feature of the relationship of saved people to Christ. (1) Romans 7:4 and Ephesians 5:22-32 show that the relationship of individuals, and the church as a whole, to Christ now is comparable to the natural relationship of marriage ; therefore the saved are correctly represented as being spiritually"married" to Christ. (2) In Matthew 22:1-14 the idea of a marriage feast is presented, and saved people are represented as guests. Nothing in the parable represents the wife, for the reason that the parable is constructed to teach the necessity of proper character. This is better done by the idea of guests suitably dressed. (3) In Matthew 25:1-13 the lesson is sufficient preparation for the Lord's coming in order to be ready. This is best presented by representing the saved as wise and foolish virgins. But in the parable these virgins are not the bride ; in the application they represent the two elements of the church. Again, the bride is left out of the parable, yet the church is the bride or wife. (4) In our text the lesson is the joy of being prepared for that eternal home Jesus has prepared for his own. This is like the joy of a bride going to the home prepared for her. These are the lessons based upon marriage as a symbol, and must not be confused, for all of them are true. When this passage is used as proof that the church is not "married" to Christ now, the figures are jumbled and Romans 7:4 and Ephesians 5:22-32 are ignored. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul says, "For I espoused you to one husband." This is no contradiction of what has been said ; for, if obedience to the gospel is represented here as an espousal, it would only be another comparison with the natural marriage which would, in some way, be similar to the spiritual. It would not set aside any of the four mentioned, but just add a fifth, or another text to those given. The Revised text of Rom 7:4 gives "joined to another" instead of "married to another." But the illustration is marriage, and verses 2 and 3 are talking about being freed from, and joined to, a husband. Joined to Christ then means as a spiritual husband. It must be allowed that these verses so present the case or Paul has used language that does not mean what it says. Fine linen, bright and pure.--As a bride adorns herself with fine linen, so Christians adorn themselves with "righteous acts." Blessed are they.--That is, blessed are those bidden to the "marriage supper of the Lamb." Those bidden are those who have washed their robes in Christ's blood (7:14), and are faithful unto death (2:10). Here again the saved are presented as guests at a feast; the idea of bride or wife is not in this verse, though mentioned in verse 7. "Marriage supper" clearly indicates the joys of heaven. Wedding feasts soon end ; the joys of heaven are eternal. The angel next asserts that what he said were the true words of God; a solemn confirmation of fact. Fell down before his feet.--This was the customary way in showing great respect for a superior. John was overcome by the majesty of the scene and the deep significance of the words he heard, and gave way to this Eastern custom. The speaker, who doubtless was an angel, promptly forbade it on the ground that he was a fellow servant with John. As the papal church, symbolized by the harlot, worships saints, this incident may have occurred in the vision to teach that it is sinful to worship any creature. At least that is the lesson taught by it. The spirit of prophecy.--The angel not only declared himself the fellow servant with John, but also "with thy brethren." In Revelation 22:9, a parallel passage, he says "with thy brethren the prophets." The meaning is that this angel held a similar position with John and other prophets in making known the will of God; that no one should worship a fellow servant. The angel then adds "worship God." The testimony to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. That testimony is given by those endowed by the spirit, whether angels from heaven, prophets of old, or the apostles. They are servants; God is the object of worship.