Ready for the Greatest Banquet Ever?

The Wedding Garment

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:6-7  

When you think of a great banquet, what comes to your mind? How about Thanksgiving tables overflowing with food? How about the biggest wedding dinner you’ve ever attended?

In some countries a wedding celebration lasts for a week or more—which is better than trying to eat a week’s worth of food in one sitting! There’s music and dancing, the fanciest clothing, tables full of gifts. The bride and groom are treated like royalty.

But nothing we’ve ever seen can compare to the greatest banquet ever–the wedding supper of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. It’s going to take place soon. The invitation has gone out and extends to all people, but it must be accepted, and the terms must be met.

Wedding garments will be provided and must be worn—you don’t have anything in your closet, you can’t buy anything good enough. Revelation 19:8-9 says, “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)” An unusual garment. Every guest wears this same kind of garment—different sizes of simple linen.

But what righteous acts had they performed? How had they become “holy”? We know from other scripture that no one is righteous, no one is holy, no one is sinless (Romans 3:10-12).  Revelation 19 says she was given this fine linen. Another translation says, “it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen” (KJV). These righteous acts were given by God for her to do. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). This holy people, she in Revelation 19, is also called the Bride of Christ, the church–those who have accepted Christ as Savior (Ephesians 1:18-23).

Are you getting excited?

You still have time to accept the invitation if you haven’t already. Ask God to forgive your sins and acknowledge your helplessness to do anything to please God on your own. Then do whatever he tells you to do. And when the wedding of the Lamb comes, you’ll be ready.

Dig Deeper

Jesus eagerly anticipated this marriage supper. He spoke about it with his disciples at the last supper he had with them (Matthew 26:29). Do you think he thought about it when he attended the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11)? Could he have given them a sample of the wine to be presented at the wedding supper of the Lamb?

Read Ephesians 5:25-27. How do we know that the linen to be worn at this wedding will not have wrinkles?

On a more serious note, what happens if you show up without the proper garment? See Matthew 22:1-14. Will you be ready?

This devotion is part of our Heaven series.