“Are You Coming To The Wedding?”

February 25, 2021

In the very first chapter and verse of the Bible we read that “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth.” Genesis 1:1. In chapter 2 of Genesis we read that God created marriage. (Genesis 2:21-24) Adam and Eve were married in the Garden of Eden. It was the perfect wedding celebration! However, it was only perfect because it was before sin had entered the world. Sin happened, and there has not been a perfect wedding celebration since. But, praise God, that is not the end of the story! One day there will be another perfect wedding celebration. The day that Christ returns for His Bride, the Church.

In Ephesians 5:20-33 we read about earthly marriage and heavenly marriage. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

In the book of Genesis concerning Adam and Eve and their marriage. Chapter 2:21-24 we read, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Both texts (Genesis and Ephesians) refer to marriage. We see God’s design and correlation with marriage. God created earthly marriage as a picture of things to come. God knew that Adam would fall and He painted the portrait of His redemption plan even before Adam sinned and lost fellowship with God. Everything in the Garden was perfect. There was no sin or pain, but God wounded Adam’s side. God took a rib and created a bride for Adam.

Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin and died on the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:21) While Jesus hung on the cross, one of the Roman soldiers took his sword and pierced Jesus’s side to confirm He was dead. Water and blood poured out. (John 19:34) Jesus died on the cross to purchase His Bride, the Church. The wedding plan we see in the Garden came to fruition on the cross. Adam slept and God removed his rib to create a bride for Adam. Jesus was wounded and died (Isaiah 53), then rose again to create His Bride. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 we read, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”

The Apostle Paul refers to Christ and His Church as “a great mystery“. He speaks of this in other locations in the Bible too:

Romans 16:25 “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Our Creator is a mystery. He does great things past finding out and His wonders are without number! (Job 9:10) In Romans 11:33 we read, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

GOD IS AWESOME. Our perfect Holy, Creator wants us, sinful man, to be HIS Bride! When I recall all of the sins I have committed. All the mean and malicious things I have done in my life. The evil thoughts that have occupied my mind. Why would God want ME for His Bride? Truly a mystery, but Oh how thankful I am! “That God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

In the very last book of the Bible, Revelation, in the last four chapters (19-22) we read about the next perfect wedding celebration. THIS perfect celebration will last forever!

Revelation 19:7-17 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 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 doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. 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 goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”

What a sight this wedding day will be! I can only imagine! Now I ask you. Are you coming to the wedding? The feast is waiting and you are invited. Jesus is the Bridegroom. He has proposed. Will you say yes?

If you have not put your faith in Jesus, I encourage you to do so today. The mysterious love story written out for us in the Bible has a conclusion. For those who have trusted in Christ as their Lord and Savior, the end of the book marks just the beginning of everlasting glory! While the opposite is true for those who have not trusted in Christ. The end of the book marks the beginning of everlasting torment. (Revelation 20:10-15) I urge you to make sure you are going to the everlasting wedding celebration. This webpage contains a link titled, “Do You Know Jesus?”. Please follow the link so you can see how you too can be in the bridal party. If you would like to talk with me personally, click on the contact link to send a message. I hope and pray that I will see you at the supper table!