Invitations to AbundanceSample

Wedding Supper of the Lamb

As we’ve seen, the theme of feasting is a recurring one. While they may seem discrete and disconnected, in one way or another, they all point to one final feast. That is the wedding supper of the Lamb. With the wedding supper of the Lamb, we arrive at the feast to end all feasts.

A Feast for Our Endurance

Prophetic and apocalyptic literature, like Revelation, is future-oriented. But, as a letter, it is also intended to encourage its contemporary audience, the first-century church, to patiently endure and to reassure them that their steadfastness was not in vain. Revelation affirmed for them their hardships were short and preparatory, their steadfastness was their victory, and their present toiling contributed to a greater future purpose. The same is true for us.

Wedding of the Ages

Jewish weddings are two-stage affairs. A betrothal was the beginning of a contractual relationship between a couple. In the eyes of the law, from betrothal forward the couple was formally married. During the betrothal, however, the couple lived separately from each other, each with their own family. It was a time of preparation for the bride and, for each, a time of waiting. The bride waited for some future date when her husband would take her from her parent’s house to his own. With the betrothal also came the paying of the dowry, or the bride price. The wedding supper of the Lamb will be the climax of this two-stage process.

Throughout the process, we see God everywhere and in all things at work. The Father chooses the bride and sends his Son to pay the bride price. After the Son returns to his Father’s side, he sends his Spirit to his Bride to preserve her during her time of preparation. Father, Son, and Spirit all invite to the feast.

Worth the Wait

When we arrive at the wedding feast, realities now encased in inadequate words will become gloriously concrete. Everything now hinted and shadowed will be made sublimely manifest. What are you longing for an end to here on earth that will not exist at that great feast ahead? What are some examples of everyday things that make the wait worth it? How much more are the reorienting promises of God?

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We hope you enjoyed this plan! To read more from Alicia Akins, check out Invitations to Abundance, available here.