Chapter 6:
The Marriage And The Victory
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Chapter 6: The Marriage and The Victory
As we continue our prophetic journey through the book "You Are Here," we arrive at a pivotal moment in God's plan: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the triumphant return of our Messiah. This chapter will explore these events, which mark the transition from the current age to the establishment of Christ's millennial reign.
Before we delve into these momentous occurrences, let's briefly recap our journey so far. In the previous five chapters, we've traced the prophetic timeline from our current position to the return of Christ. We've examined the parallels between Matthew 24 and the seven seals of Revelation, discussed the coming world war (nation against nation), and explored its aftermath. We've looked at the new government and economic system that will arise, including the mark of the beast, the false prophet, and the protection of the remnant church during the 3.5-year tribulation period.
Now, we turn our attention to three crucial events: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the overthrow of the Beast and False Prophet, and the imprisonment of the dragon (Satan). These events represent the culmination of this age and the beginning of Christ's reign on earth.
In Revelation 19:7-9, we find a beautiful description of the Marriage Supper:
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be clothed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God."
This joyous occasion marks the union of Christ with His faithful followers. But who exactly are these "called-out ones" invited to the marriage supper? The answer lies in the symbolism of the woman described in Revelation 12.
The woman in Revelation 12 represents the church, or more specifically, the called-out ones. In Revelation 12:17, we read:
"And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
This verse reveals that the woman's "seed" or offspring are the individual believers who make up the church. The Greek word for church, ekklesia, means "the called-out ones." Thus, the woman symbolically encompasses all believers, with Christ as the head and the church as His body.
This symbolism extends further when we consider why Christ is called the Everlasting Father. When He marries the woman (the church), He is, in a symbolic sense, marrying our mother. This profound imagery illustrates the intimate relationship between Christ and His followers.
The Marriage Supper is not just witnessed by the saints, but by the entire host of heaven - angels, elders, and God the Father Himself. It's a joyous celebration as the Lord accepts His inheritance in a glorious manner before descending to physically take control of the earth.
Those invited to the Marriage Supper are the same individuals who have overcome the trials of the tribulation period. We see them described in Revelation 15:2-3:
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of saints."
These victorious saints, who were taken up in the reaping described in Revelation 14, are now seen in the throne room. Their singing of both the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb demonstrates that they have kept God's commandments (represented by Moses) and maintained faith in Yeshua, as symbolized by the Lamb's song.
After the Marriage Supper, we witness the triumphant return of Christ to establish His kingdom on earth. This return is described in 2 Thessalonians 2:8:
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."
The "spirit of his mouth" can be understood in multiple ways. It may refer to the Comforter, or to the Lord speaking through His messengers, including the prophets and the angel who came to John. However, the latter part of this verse speaks of a more forceful action - the destruction of the Wicked One by the brightness of Christ's coming.
This final return demonstrates God's ultimate sovereignty. Throughout the Beast's reign, God has shown that He remains in control. For instance, the two witnesses were allowed to testify for 3.5 years during the Great Tribulation, despite the Beast's apparent authority. Their testimony served as a constant reminder that God, not the human king, was truly sovereign.
The glorious return of Christ is vividly described in Revelation 19:11-16:
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. [...] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
This powerful imagery depicts Christ as the conquering King, coming to take His rightful place as ruler of the earth. He is accompanied by the armies of heaven, likely including the saints who were with Him at the Marriage Supper. This is the moment when the rock "cut out without hands" from Daniel's prophecy smashes the statue representing human kingdoms at its feet, destroying it completely.
As Christ returns, the Beast and his armies are already gathered, awaiting this final confrontation. Revelation 19:19-20 describes this climactic scene:
"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that made miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
This passage depicts the final defeat of the Beast and the False Prophet, fulfilling the prophecy in 2 Thessalonians about their destruction by the brightness of Christ's coming. It marks the end of the last human kingdom represented by the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
With the defeat of the Beast and False Prophet, we've seen the downfall of three of the four main antagonists in Revelation. The woman (Babylon) was destroyed earlier by her own allies, as described in Revelation 17. Now, only one remains - Satan himself, also known as the dragon, the devil, and that old serpent.
Revelation 20:1-2 tells us what happens to this last enemy:
"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years."
It's noteworthy that God doesn't personally confront Satan, nor does He send the archangel Michael. Instead, an unnamed angel binds Satan with a great chain and imprisons him for a thousand years. This imprisonment serves a crucial purpose related to the events of the millennial reign, which we'll explore in our next chapter.
To understand why Satan must be bound, we need to consider the nature of Christ's reign and Satan's influence. Isaiah 9:6 provides a prophetic description of Christ's rule:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
The final title in this prophecy, "The Prince of Peace" (Sar Shalom in Hebrew), is particularly significant. During the thousand-year reign, Christ will usher in an era of true peace. However, this peace cannot coexist with Satan's presence and influence.
Satan, by his very nature, is diametrically opposed to peace and everything that God represents. His sole focus is on exploiting the imperfections of the human heart. For humanity to truly experience the peace that Christ brings, Satan must be removed from the equation.
2 Corinthians 4:4 illustrates Satan's destructive influence:
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Satan actively works to prevent people from seeing and accepting the truth of Christ. His deceptive nature is further emphasized in 2 Corinthians 11:14:
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
This ability to disguise himself as something good makes Satan particularly dangerous and necessitates his removal during Christ's millennial reign.
It's important to note that after his thousand-year imprisonment, when Satan is briefly released, he is no longer referred to as "the dragon." This change in title may indicate a reduction in his power or authority. However, his fundamental nature remains unchanged - he is released specifically to deceive those living on the earth. This final deception serves as a test for humanity and a demonstration of Satan's unrepentant nature.
The extent of Satan's current influence over the world's kingdoms should not be underestimated. When he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world during the temptation in the wilderness, it wasn't an empty promise. Satan does have significant authority over human governments, which is why he must be completely removed for Christ's peaceful reign to be fully realized.
In conclusion, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Christ's triumphant return, and the binding of Satan are pivotal events that mark the transition from the current age to the Millennial Kingdom. They represent the culmination of God's plan to redeem humanity and establish His righteous rule on earth. In our next chapter, we will explore the nature of this thousand-year reign and its significance in God's overall plan for creation.
