The Time of the Lamb's Marriage vs. The Bride Has Made Herself Ready

 

The Time of the Lamb's Marriage vs. The Bride Has Made Herself Ready

Rev. 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

John 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice and is exceedingly glad. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

 

Analysis Item	The Time of the Lamb's Marriage Has Come	The Bride Has Made Herself Ready
Basic Definition	The ultimate moment of God's redemptive plan has arrived, Christ as the Bridegroom is to marry His bride	The church (overcomers) has matured in life and been built together, fully prepared to become Christ's spouse
Core Meaning	• The climax of redemptive history • Full manifestation of Christ's dual identity (Lamb + Bridegroom) • Realization of God's eternal plan • Universal wedding celebration	• The church's life maturity • Completion of God's building work • Corporate testimony of overcomers • Qualification for marriage obtained
Time Nature	• Maturity of timing (kairos) • Declarative announcement • Arrival of divine moment • Instantaneous realization	• Completion of process (chronos to kairos) • Descriptive statement • Achievement of gradual work • Result of long-term preparation
Main Actor	• Christ (Lamb/Bridegroom) • Christ's proactive action • Preparation from the throne • Bridegroom's marriage	• Church (Bride) • Church's active response and cooperation • Preparation on earth • Bride's adornment
Biblical Foundation	Rev 19:7 "The time of the Lamb's marriage has come" John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom" Matt 25:10 "The bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast"	Rev 19:7 "The bride has made herself ready" Rev 19:8 "She was granted to be clothed in fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" Eph 5:25-27 "Present the church to Himself as a glorious church" Heb 6:1 "Let us press on to maturity"
Old Testament Types	• Isaac marrying Rebekah (Gen 24) - Bridegroom's marriage • Jacob marrying Rachel (Gen 29) - Love's waiting • Boaz marrying Ruth (Ruth 3-4) - Kinsman redeemer • Beloved's seeking in Song of Songs	• Rebekah's preparation and adornment (Gen 24:53) • Esther's twelve-month preparation (Esth 2:12) • Bride's adornment (Isa 61:10) • Beloved's maturity in Song of Songs
New Testament Reality	• Wedding miracle at Cana (John 2) • Bridegroom's coming in parable of virgins (Matt 25) • Lamb's wedding feast realization (Rev 19) • New Jerusalem's descent (Rev 21)	• Oil in virgins' vessels (Matt 25:4) • Saints' righteous acts as fine linen (Rev 19:8) • Church's sanctification and presentation (Eph 5:25-27) • Body's building (Eph 4:12-16)
Redemptive Significance	• Full manifestation of legal redemption • Ultimate goal of organic salvation • Realization of God-man union • Completion of redemptive plan	• Completion of sanctification process • Achievement of transformation work • Result of conformation work • Realization of glorification process
Preparation Content	• Christ preparing as Bridegroom on throne • Completing redemptive work • Preparing timing for marriage • Arranging all for wedding feast	• Using God the Father as gold (divine nature) • Using God the Son as pearls (result of redemption) • Using God the Spirit as precious stones (transformation) • Life maturity and building completion
Overcomers' Role	• Participation in wedding feast enjoyment • Receiving rewards at Christ's judgment seat • Reigning with the Lord • Enjoying Lamb's wedding feast joy	• Constituting corporate bride • Testimony of life maturity • Reality of being built together • Becoming Christ's spouse
Time Stages	Present: Preparation stage - Christ preparing as Bridegroom on throne Rapture: Moment of meeting in air Judgment Seat: Judgment for rewards Wedding Feast: Realization of Lamb's marriage Millennium: Reigning with Christ New Heaven New Earth: Eternal marriage relationship	Present: Preparation process - Church preparing as bride on earth Rapture: Testing of preparation work Judgment Seat: Manifestation of overcomers Wedding Feast: Completion of bride's preparation Millennium: Overcoming saints' enjoyment New Heaven New Earth: All saints' blessing
Scope and Recipients	• Universal wedding • Witness of all creation • Praise from heaven and earth • Turning point of divine history	• Overcoming believers in millennium (Rev 19:8-9) • All saints in new heaven new earth (Rev 21:2) • Personal maturity and corporate building • Church's glorious testimony
Personal Application	• Watch and wait for Lord's coming • Hope for union with Lord • Keep oneself in Lord's love • Love the Lord's appearing	• Pursue life maturity • Allow God's building work • Put on Christ as robe of righteousness • Let Christ make home in heart
Church Application	• Proclaim gospel of Lord's return • Prepare for Lamb's wedding feast • Watch and pray in waiting • Preach kingdom gospel	• Build Christ's Body • Become overcoming testimony • Pursue corporate maturity • Coordinate with saints in building
Practical Exercise	• Live sanctified life • Watch and prepare to meet Lord • Escape world's entanglement • Maintain love for Lord	• Experience God's building • Let Triune God saturate whole being • Be built in church life • Live out Christ's life
Ultimate Result	• Establishment of marriage relationship • God no longer alone • Christ's satisfaction • Universal harmony	• Becoming Christ's spouse • Satisfying God's heart's desire • Manifesting God's glory • Completing God's eternal plan
Mutual Relationship	Complementarity: Both are two sides of the same matter - Christ preparing as Bridegroom, church preparing as bride Simultaneity: Not sequential but simultaneous process Goal-oriented: Both point to realization of complete God-man union Eternal: Both concern fulfillment of God's eternal plan
Important Reminders	• This is the center of God's redemptive plan - not only redemption but obtaining a spouse • Requires corporate preparation - not separate individuals but corporate bride • Preparation is gradual work requiring time, cannot be hastened • The Lord's main work in His recovery is preparing His bride

 

Conclusion:

These comprehensive analysis tables reveal the profound spiritual reality of "The Time of the Lamb's Marriage Has Come" versus "The Bride Has Made Herself Ready." These are not two separate events but two complementary aspects of the same glorious reality - the ultimate fulfillment of God's eternal plan.

Key Insights:

• Christ's Preparation: As the Lamb who accomplished redemption, Christ is now preparing as the Bridegroom to marry His bride
• Church's Preparation: The church must mature in life and be built together corporately to become the bride worthy of Christ
• Divine Timing: Both aspects work simultaneously - God's sovereign timing and the church's responsive preparation
• Ultimate Goal: Complete union between God and man, satisfying God's heart's desire for a spouse

This is not merely about individual salvation but about God obtaining a corporate bride who can satisfy His heart and fulfill His eternal purpose. The church today must pursue both personal maturity and corporate building to be ready for this glorious moment.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 1: The Goal of the One Lord’s Recovery of the Bride