Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship, January 28, 2009
The Judgment Seat of Christ
And
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Introduction: After the rapture of the church several things will happen: the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and Jesus receiving the seven-sealed scroll (Rev.5). After receiving the seven-sealed scroll the tribulation period begins. Our focus will be the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
I. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom.14:10; I Cor.3:9-15, 4:1-5,
A. Since a Christian has placed his/her sins on Christ and those sins were judged at
B. The Christian, however, will be judged for their works. This is called “the judgment seat” or in Greek “bema” (II Cor.5:10; Rom.14:10).
1. Our service is scrutinized (Matt.12:36; II Cor.9:6; Gal.6:7, 9; Eph.6:8; Col.3:24-25).
2. Reward or loss of reward is revealed (I Cor.3:12-14)
3. Salvation is secure (I Cor.3:15).
C. Since the Christian is to reign with Christ and some will rule over 5 cities and others 10 in the millennial kingdom, this judgment occurs before Jesus’ 2nd coming (Zech.14:5; Jude 14; Rev.20:4).
D. This may happen as saints die or it may happen after the rapture.
E. “We will be judged on the way we have lived in these bodies down here.” (McGee)
F. Paul faced this question when he said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21).
II. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:7-9; II Cor.11:2)
A. The Bride of Christ will be New Testament Christians from Pentecost to the Rapture. “…John the Baptist seems to exclude himself from the Bride (John
B. Rev.7:9-10, 13-14 speaks of “a great multitude” of martyred dead tribulation saints. The words “much people” in Rev.19:1 “…is a translation of precisely the same Greek words” (Revelation, Walvoord, pg.268).
1. Next comes the 24 elders (4).
2. Next comes a voice from the throne (5). Probably the voice of an angel.
3. Next comes the great multitude (6). “…John hears the voice of the great multitude, that is, the same as in verse 1…” (Walvoord, pg.270).
C. Why is this important? “It is most significant… that those in the great multitude composed of tribulation saints should thus regard the wife of the Lamb, as an entity other than themselves” (Walvoord, pg.270-271).
1. John the Baptist did not see himself as part of the Bride.
2. Tribulations saints do no see themselves as part of the Bride.
D. Remember the oriental marriage had at least three aspects:
1. The marriage contract arranged by the parents (our salvation)
2. The bridegroom, accompanied by friends, would come to the bride’s home and take her to his home (Matt.25:1-13) (the rapture)
3. The marriage supper which would have guests (the marriage supper of the Lamb)
E. “This will be the most thrilling experience that believers will ever have. The church- that is, the body of believers all the way from Pentecost to the Rapture- will be presented now to Christ as a bride for a marriage. The marriage takes place in heaven, and this is a heavenly scene throughout” (McGee).
F. “Hear me carefully now: The marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven, but the marriage supper will take place upon the earth. The picture of this is in Matthew 25:1-13, which is the parable of the ten virgins. You see the virgins were not the bride. Christ has only one bride and that is the church. The Bridegroom will return to the earth for the marriage supper” (McGee).
G. “The marriage supper takes place on earth. Both Israelites and Gentiles who enter the millennium are the invited guests. The marriage supper is evidently the millennium” (McGee).
H. The bride is arrayed in “fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints” (19:8).
1. Eph.5:26-27 teaches that Christ is carrying on a present work of sanctification, for His church.
2. Righteous living is the fine linen we Christians wear at the wedding.
3. “The fine linen may, in some sense, be a part of the reward given at the judgment seat of Christ to those who have served the Lord…” (Walvoord, pg.272).
I. Verses 7 and 8 seem to distinguish the bride from the guests at the wedding.
1. the bride = the church
2. the guests = saints of the past and future ages. This could be why during the 75 day interval after the tribulation (Dan.12:12) we find:
a. the antichrist and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Rev.19:20-21)
b. the abomination of desolation is removed (Dan.12:11)
c.
d.
e. Gentiles are judged (Matt.25:31-46)
f. Satan is bound (Rev.20:1-3)
g. OT saints and tribulation saints are resurrected and judged (Dan.12:1-3; Is.26:19; Rev.20:4) [a-g from 101 Answers, Hitchcock, pg.2740
3. The OT and Tribulation saints would be the wedding guests!
J. The 4th beatitude of Revelation teaches that “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (9)
K. What does it mean “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (10)? “This means that prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (Walvoord, pg.273).
L. Dr. Barnhouse does note “…we cannot be positive of the identity of the company that here constitutes the bride. The church, unquestionably, is the body of guests at the great supper (Luke 14). This is true also of her at the marriage feast (Matt.22)” (pg.353).
M. The real questions are these:
1. Have you entered into the marriage contract? [Are you saved?]
2. When the Bridegroom comes will you be ready? [The rapture]
3. Will you be at the wedding supper? [Possibly the millennium]
4. Will you be wearing the white clothes? [The righteous acts of the saints]