Judgments of God: The Real Story

 

Revelation 20 reveals the steps Christ will take after returning to earth to add members to God’s eternal family. How will the judgments of God take place?

Inhabitants of the earth have long awaited the coming of Jesus Christ to our planet to establish the Kingdom of God and to judge mankind. After all, it is these prophesied events that will finally bring justice and peace to our strife-torn world.

Judgments of God

The great joy and excitement people should have for Christ’s return is depicted in Psalm 98:

“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. … Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:4, Psalm 98:7-9, emphasis added throughout).

In the context of explaining what will happen to wicked men, Jude wrote: “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’” (Jude 1:14-15).

As Jude explained, the teaching that all people will face the judgment of God stretches back in time to man’s earliest beginnings. Even prior to Enoch, God had instructed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And God had reasoned with their son, Cain, saying, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7).

Unfortunately, humans have not successfully ruled over their sinful desires. Scripture explains that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and, since “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), all humans deserve death. But God in His mercy has established a plan whereby our sins can be forgiven through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). (See our booklet Change Your Life! for a biblical study of this process.)

Many understand that Jesus Christ came to earth some 2,000 years ago to give His life to pay the penalty for our sins. As John explained: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The book of Hebrews adds that Jesus “will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

Judgment is an opportunity

What we can determine from these passages is that the judgment of God we will all experience is not necessarily something to fear because it is also our opportunity to become part of God’s eternal family.

Of course, if we do evil, it is indeed “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). On the other hand, if we love God and serve Him, He promises to be merciful and compassionate. “For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants” (Deuteronomy 32:36).

Judgment in the Bible (definition)

God’s judgment is a process. God watches how we mature and grow in our understanding and service to Him over timeMany assume that judgment in the Bible only means condemnation. But the biblical definition is broader than that. God’s judgment is a process. God watches how we mature and grow in our understanding and service to Him over time.

While judgment leads ultimately to a sentencing, this part of the judgment of God does not occur until we have had time to understand His instructions and build righteous character by striving to live as He desires.

Reflecting this broader definition of judgment as a matter of understanding and having the opportunity to spiritually mature, Peter wrote: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house [Church] of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).

For members of the Church of God, who understand God’s laws and who have committed to keeping them, their day of judgment is now.

Judgment doesn’t only mean condemnation; it includes the opportunity to be saved. And the Bible shows there is not just one day of judgment. Three different judgment days are described in the Bible, along with three different resurrections from the dead.

This brings us to Revelation 20, which will be the primary focus of the remainder of this article. This chapter explains what Jesus will do to eliminate religious deception and make it possible for everyone to understand His teaching. It also explains how God will complete His plan of salvation—which includes the judgments of God on all humanity—through three resurrections.

Revelation 20 and the judgments of God

As we come to Revelation 20—an important chapter of the Bible that extensively uses the phrase “a thousand years” to identify God’s promised Millennium of peace—Babylon the great has fallen (Revelation 18:2).

Christ has returned to earth (pictured by the Feast of Trumpets) and begun to reign (Revelation 19:6). Christ has also judged the great harlot (Revelation 19:2) and given His faithful saints immortal, spirit life (1 Corinthians 15:50-52) and married them (Revelation 19:7-9).

In judging humanity, Christ and His army will have defeated “the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies” who assemble to make war against Him (Revelation 19:19). The beast and the false prophet—the two humans responsible for ruling the final revival of the Roman Empire and enforcing false religion—will have been “captured” and “cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

This “lake of fire” will apparently be a localized fire kindled after Christ’s return, which was pictured in type by the fire burning in the Valley of Hinnom (or “Gehenna”) outside Jerusalem in Christ’s day.

Binding Satan

Now that human opposition to Christ has been removed, there is one more critical step that Christ will take before turning His attention to God’s plan of salvation for humanity. This step is to restrain Satan the devil, the being who has deceived the majority of mankind throughout the ages (Revelation 12:9; 1 John 5:18-19).

Revelation 20 begins with a description of an angel coming down from heaven to bind Satan for a thousand years and cast him into a “bottomless pit” or “abyss” as some translations, including the American Standard Version, render the Greek word abussos (verses 1-3).

The main concept here is that Satan will be restrained from deceiving mankind. This event is pictured by the Day of Atonement.

First resurrection

Describing the vision he saw, John then wrote: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).

Resurrected saints will rule with Christ in the Millennium

These faithful saints who will rule with Christ will be resurrected as spirit beings at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). With Satan bound for 1,000 years, these beings who had previously been called by God as humans and who had resisted Satan’s influence and lived according to God’s laws will now rule as kings and priests with Christ during this period of time called the Millennium (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10).

During the Millennium, humans will have the opportunity to hear the true gospel and receive salvation. With Satan bound, humans will not have to contend with the religious deception that is so prevalent in our world today.

To learn more about the Millennium, see the article “1,000 Years—the Millennium,” as well as the article about “The Feast of Tabernacles,” a festival that pictures this wonderful time of peace and prosperity.

Satan released

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7-8).

How sad that after the world and its citizens have experienced all the joys and privileges of living under the righteous rule of Jesus Christ, many are going to be deceived by Satan, the archenemy of mankind!

This army that’s inspired by Satan will be destroyed (verse 9), and Satan will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (verse 10, italics in the original).

What is the lake of fire?

Based on the wording of this verse, some have mistakenly assumed that the lake of fire is a place of eternal torment for the humans who will fulfill the roles of the beast and the false prophet, as well as for other humans who have lived in opposition to God.

While the lake of fire most certainly will exist, it is not a place where humans will be tormented forever. Fire kills and destroys humans. Speaking of this lake of fire, God said, “‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘that will leave them neither root nor branch’” (Malachi 4:1). Wicked humans will thus be burned up, rendered into “ashes” (verse 3).

Additionally, we should note that the word “are” in Revelation 20:10 in the New King James Version and the King James Version of the Bible is in italics, meaning this word was added by the translators in order for the passage to make sense as they understood it. Actually, the point of Revelation 20:10 is that Satan is going to be thrown into the same lake of fire into which the beast and false prophet will have previously been thrown 1,000 years earlier (Revelation 19:20).

Reflecting this basic meaning of the Greek, the Good News Translation translates Revelation 20:10: “Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown.”

As for the phrase, “And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10), it seems that John likely had Satan and his demons in mind. Scriptures show that Satan and the fallen angels that follow him work together to deceive people and that Satan and the demons will eventually suffer the same fate (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Revelation 12:9).

What the Bible teaches is that the lake of fire, also called the everlasting fire, will be “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, also see Jude 1:6-7). As spirit beings, they cannot be harmed by fire, but they will briefly be cast into this lake of fire before their final punishment of being thrust out into “the blackness of darkness forever” as described by Jude. There they will suffer a kind of mental torment forever and ever (Jude 1:13).

Finally, we should note that the phrase “forever and ever” literally means “for the ages of the ages” (George Ricker Berry, The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament). This phrase may mean forever or simply age-lasting in the way Sodom and Gomorrah suffered “the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7), which burned for the age or period of time determined by God. Learn more in our article “What Is the Lake of Fire?”

The second resurrection: when most will be standing before God on judgment day

After Satan has been released for a short while and then thrown into the lake of fire at the end of the Millennium, there will be a second resurrection for humans to rise from the grave and live again during the time of the “great white throne” judgment (Revelation 20:11-12).

The apostle John wrote, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (verse 12).

This resurrection will be a restoration of physical life for humans who have never had the opportunity to hear and understand God’s expectations of humanity.This resurrection will be a restoration of physical life for humans who have never had the opportunity to hear and understand God’s expectations of humanity. The books that are opened to their understanding are the books of the Bible, and Ezekiel 37:14 shows they will also be offered the Holy Spirit. They will be given their first and only chance to repent, be converted and be added to the Book of Life. (Learn more in our article “The Book of Life.”)

This period of the judgment of God, including the opportunity to receive salvation, is pictured by the Last Great Day festival.

The third resurrection: the last judgment

After faithful people who are being called during this age have been given eternal life via the first resurrection (John 6:44) and people who were not called by God during this present age have been given an opportunity to receive salvation via the second resurrection, there remains one more category of people. These are ones who knew God’s truth yet refused to accept it and live by it.

Since they were fully able to understand and act upon God’s truth, He judged them during their lives just as He judges the faithful. There is no further period of judging for these people. Their time of judging is complete. However, these individuals died, never having received the ultimate judgment—sentencing—from God.

According to Revelation 20:13-14, these individuals will be brought back to physical life to be judged for their unrighteous conduct and then mercifully destroyed for eternity by means of the lake of fire, which will then engulf the entire earth (2 Peter 3:7). This is “the second death” (Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14), a final death from which there is no resurrection or hope for life once again.

God’s judgment

In summary, Revelation 20 shows God’s judgment on Satan and explains the judgment of God on humanity, which includes the opportunity for humans to receive salvation. For a more complete explanation of the resurrections, see “What Are the Resurrections?”

1,000 Years—the Millennium

 

Is the Bible’s prediction about a thousand years of peace on earth real? What is the Millennium, and what will Jesus’ 1,000-year reign mean for you?

1,000 years of peace

In an unstable world threatened by wars, terrorism, weather disturbances and natural disasters, the concept of a 1,000-year period of peace—often called the Millennium—fascinates us.

It’s not surprising that people should be curious about the future. What is surprising is how little true information is available about the Millennium of peace spoken of in the Bible and how little most people understand about the topic.

The Bible is the only sure source of understanding on this topic; and it, in fact, has a lot to say about an upcoming 1,000-year period of time. Yet the common English translations of the Scriptures don’t use the term millennium. And there are not that many explicit references to a “thousand years” in the Bible.

Even so, the Scriptures do contain much information about the coming Millennium and an absolute assurance that it will come.

1,000 years in the Bible

Let’s take a look at those passages that speak of a “thousand years.”

Psalm 90:4 tells us that “a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.” For God, the passage of time is different from the way we experience it. Being eternal, and not dependent on food, water and other physical factors, God views time differently.

The apostle Peter adds to the thought: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

1,000 years Revelation

The first explicit statements that the Kingdom of God will reign on earth for a thousand years appear toward the end of the Bible, in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 19 describes the return of Jesus Christ, coming in glory and power to take over the kingdoms of this world and to institute a new, just reign here on earth (verses 11-16). He will put down rebellion, remove the last human empire ruling on earth and institute the reign of the government of God for the 1,000-year Millennium.

We believe these passages clearly refer to a literal thousand-year reign after Jesus Christ returns. This has been called premillennialism, since Christ returns before the thousand years (compared to postmillennialism and amillennialism, which we don’t believe fit what the Bible says).

Satan bound before the Millennium

Next, we read of one of the first events to take place following the return of Jesus Christ the Messiah: “Then I [the apostle John] saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1-3).

Here we read for the first time of the duration of this initial phase of the reign of God on earth—1,000 years! We are also given insight into why it will be a very good time: Satan the devil, the enemy of God and His plan, will be banished for those same 1,000 years. Welcome to the Millennium!

Jesus’ 1,000-year reign

But let’s keep reading. John writes, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them [the saints of God]. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (verse 4).

Here we see that the saints of God, those who refused to follow the beast power of the last days, will have the privilege of reigning with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years.

Jesus’ 1,000-year reign is the focus of so many beautiful messianic prophecies. Some favorite descriptions of this age of peace include:

• “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
• “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5-6).
• “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
  “He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken” (Micah 4:1-4).

The apostle Peter summed these prophecies up this way: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21; see our article “The Prophesied Restoration of All Things”).

What happens after the Millennium?

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection” (verse 5).

Who are “the rest of the dead”? This will be the great majority of humanity (exclusive of the saints) who will have to wait in their graves for 1,000 years until they are brought back to life in a resurrection separate and distinct from that of the saints. The “first resurrection” will take place at the return of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17); a second resurrection will take place 1,000 years later.

Which is better? The book of Revelation makes it clear: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

Those resurrected in the first resurrection, at the beginning of the Millennium, will no longer be subject to death. To learn more about this subject, be sure to read our article “Resurrections: What Are They?”

Satan released after the Millennium

Here in Revelation 20 we read the phrase “thousand years” six times. This chapter makes it clear there will indeed be a millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth and that it will be a much better time than this age of man that precedes it.In verse 7 we read of the release of Satan the devil after the 1,000 years is complete and how he will have one last chance to go out and deceive the nations of this world before being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (verse 10-11).

Here in Revelation 20 we read the phrase “thousand years” six times. This chapter makes it clear there will indeed be a millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth and that it will be a much better time than this age of man that precedes it.

More prophecies of the Millennium

But that’s by no means the whole story. Though the use of the phrase “thousand years” is limited, we read and learn wonderful facts about the coming Millennium in many other passages of the Bible.

Elsewhere—especially in the writings of the Old Testament prophets—we can read of the impact the ruling Kingdom of God will have during the Millennium in areas that include world peace, economic stability, the restoration of true education and right values, the role of the resurrected saints, the roles of various physical nations and even changes in the nature of animals.

The Millennium is going to be a wonderful and exciting time—something we can eagerly look forward to. To learn more about this coming time and how you can be part of this exciting future, read “The Millennial Reign of Christ”​​​​​​​ and “Seek First the Kingdom of God.”

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

 

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is going to be married. Who is the Bride of Christ? When does the marriage supper of the Lamb take place?

“The marriage of the Lamb has come”

The book of Revelation contains an intriguing vision in which the apostle John heard a great multitude say, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 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” (Revelation 19:6-7).

Several passages show that the Lamb is referring to Jesus Christ. John the Baptist announced, when he saw Jesus coming, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). He is also referred to as the Lamb many other times in the book of Revelation (Revelation 5:8, 12-13; 6:1, 16; 7:9-10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:4, 10; 15:3; 17:14; 21:14, 22-23; 22:1, 3).

Continuing, Revelation 19:8 explains how the Bride of the Lamb will be dressed: “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (verse 8). This short passage concludes with an instruction to John to “write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” (verse 9).

Righteousness identifies the Bride of Christ

The key to identifying the Bride is found in her clothing—“fine linen,” which represents “the righteous acts of the saints.” Additional scriptures add to our understanding of this important point.

Discussing the responsibilities of husbands and wives, Paul likened this human relationship to the relationship between “Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). This relationship between Christ and the Church will be based on righteousness. Both parties will do what is right, good and holy.

With this spiritual relationship in mind, Paul wrote: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (verses 25-27).

This emphasis on being righteous is a consistent theme throughout the Bible. Through Moses, God told the ancient Israelites: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

Speaking of those who would be in God’s Kingdom, Christ said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Christ’s apostles and ministers taught this same message. Peter succinctly told the brethren, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).

These scriptures tell us that the Bride of Christ will be the Church. Members of the Church will be people who upon receiving God’s grace—unmerited pardon for their sins upon repentance and baptism—will, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, live righteous lives. To learn more about grace, read our article on “What Is Grace?”

Who selects the Bride of Christ?

In our modern world, most men and women choose who they will marry. In years gone by, parents often selected who their children would marry. In the Old Testament many marriages were arranged by the parents. A prominent example is that of Abraham sending his servant to pick a wife for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:1-4).

In the marriage of the Lamb, it is the Father who chooses the Bride for His Son. Christ made this point when He said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44).

Repeating this point, Jesus said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (verse 65).

Preparation of the Bride for the marriage of the Lamb

When men and women marry, much time is often spent in preparation for the special event. As members of God’s Church look forward to marrying Christ, there is also much for us to do.

A parable about the Kingdom of God provides an important lesson about being prepared.

Parable of the “ten virgins”

In Matthew 25 we find a parable about 10 virgins preparing to meet the bridegroom. The text reads: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

“Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (verses 1-13).

How the Bride “has made herself ready”

Those who have been called by God and who have God’s Holy Spirit are preparing and making themselves ready for marriage to the Lamb. This is done by praying and studying God’s Word daily and applying what we learn.

These activities help us live godly lives and prepare us for assisting Jesus Christ as “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15) when He returns to this earth. These people will be growing in grace and knowledge so they can become like Him!

New Jerusalem: the Bride’s home

The book of Revelation seems to imply that New Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ. “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2, also see verses 9-10).

Does Jesus marry a city or does He marry His Church?

The apostle Paul writes that the Church is the Bride of Christ, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

God had previously inspired Isaiah the prophet to write of this marriage relationship between God and His chosen people: “‘For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,’ says your God” (Isaiah 54:5-6).

The Bible consistently says the Bride of Christ is the Church.

Let’s consider now Revelation 21:9-10: “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”

We are told by the author of Hebrews, who many scholars believe was Paul, that the patriarchs looked for a city and that a heavenly city was being prepared for them (Hebrews 11:10, 16). He goes on to say that the Church is seeking the “heavenly Jerusalem” and “the city to come” (Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14).

The scriptures noted above make it clear that the Bride is the Church and that the city of New Jerusalem is being prepared for the Bride of Christ. This will be the dwelling or home for His eternal Bride. Jesus is marrying forever the Church of eternal righteous beings and not the city of New Jerusalem.

When is the marriage supper of the Lamb?

The Bible shows that God the Father is in control of end-time events. Speaking of His return to earth, Jesus said that only the Father knows “that day and hour” (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). When the Father determines that the time is right, Jesus Christ will then send His angels to gather “His elect”—the saints who will be His Bride (Matthew 24:31).

This group of faithful people will include those who are alive and those who have died in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). They will be changed into spirit at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). It is this select group that will be the Bride of Christ and be at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

For additional study, see the articles in the sections on the “End Times.”