The invitations have been sent, announcing the marriage supper and the wedding feast, the great banquet for those who are invited. Neither of these is described more fully in Scripture, and although distinctions can be made between the ‘bride’ and the ‘wedding guests’, the images are so intertwined that things are not always clearly distinguishable. One thing is clear, however, when Christ comes, the joy of the great wedding feast begins, and when He comes, those who have died in Him and those who are His and are then alive, will meet Him first, in the air.1 Indeed, that is maybe the consummation of the marriage between Him and His ‘bride’, the true Church. The ‘Queen’ is then with the King and they come to earth together, to celebrate the wedding feast with all the guests. The enemies have first to be destroyed, however, before the feast of His Messianic Kingship begins. Babylon, the ‘whore’, the ‘harlot’, the ‘prostitute’ apostate religious system, has already fallen. The ten-state federation under the anti-Christ himself, inspired by God, took care of that.2 But the ‘beast’- the anti-Christ – the political and military world power and the ‘false prophet’ – the media and public relations department – and the ten kings (or the seven plus one, when three of them had to make room for the world leader, the anti-Christ) and their armies still remain, and are alive and kicking. The earth has become one great ruin in the meantime, after all the ‘plagues’ of judgement that have swept over it. A small percentage of the people have listened to the message to be reconciled to God,3 and has taken it to heart. The vast majority have hardened their heart, and have not repented and did not stop worshipping the ‘idols’ or converted.4
John sees Heaven opened for the third time. The first time was when he saw the door opened in Heaven,5 and thereafter when the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of God became visible in Heaven,6 Now John sees Heaven open and the great moment has arrived: Christ is Coming in Glory. Look, He is Coming, on a white horse – a symbol of victory – not to be confused with the rider the white horse that rode out under the first ‘seal’!7 Although that white horse and his rider spoke of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom that ‘first’ – before anything else – had to reach all the nations of the earth, Mark 13:10. This rider here is called ‘Faithful and True’, as Christ referred to Himself in the letter to Laodicea.8 The Hebrew word Jeremiah uses, speaks of faithfulness. “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath.“9 He is the faithful God Who is faithful to all His covenants (plural!) with Israel.10 The grace and truth that have appeared in Christ11 are contained in this Covenant-faithfulness as well. Christ’s life, death and resurrection are the key to the ‘renewal of all things’, as He had promised. Now, in His Coming in Glory this is about to happen. The Lord appears to conquer His enemies: “They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the Heavens—the Lord and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole land/earth. Wail, for the ‘Day of the Lord’ is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty [El Shaddai].“12 In the end, the Lord Himself fights His enemies, according to the Old Testament. “Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights on a day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem.”13 Jesus ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives. That is where He will finally return,14 and when He comes, He metes out judgement upon the godless nations. Sinners, and those who practice injustice and those who destroy the earth15 will be cast into the fiery furnace, and the righteous will shine as the sun.16 The well- known German theologian, Hans Lilje, once said, “Whoever believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ also really looks forward to His literal, personal return.”
• The lyrics of a Dutch hymn (no. 111 in the 1938 Reformed Hymnal) are: The Saviour is approaching to judge. Truth and mercy shine from His wonderful face. He will avenge your suffering; break the bonds that fettered you. He Who leads you out of the house of slavery. And then the dry plain of the deserts will rejoice, for ever. The ‘sea of sand’ will appear to be recreated, for it will blossom as a rose! Isaiah 35 and 61!
Bible References:
1.1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 50-58 2.Revelation 17:16-17 3.2 Corinthians 5:20 4.Revelation 9:20-21 5.Revelation 4:1 6.Revelation 11:19 7.Revelation 6:2 8.Revelation 3:14 9.Jeremiah 10:10 10.Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 9:4 11.John 1:17 12.Isaiah 13:5-6 13.Zechariah 14:3-4a 14.Acts 1:11 15.Revelation 11:18 16.Matthew 13:41-43, 25:41. See also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 and 2:8
