“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).
This reference to “glory” here in Revelation 19:7 conveys the idea of beauty, power, honor and/or the quality of God’s character that emphasizes His greatness and authority. As mentioned earlier, the word “glory” also expresses a good opinion that results in praise and honor for the person under consideration, as well as the characteristic qualities of excellence, preeminence, and dignity. (1) These attributes should prompt us to honor God with the recognition and respect He deserves.
These verses also tell us, “…true and righteous are His judgments” (Revelation 19:2). While many of us have experience with others who have lied to us, God never responds in such a manner. Instead, He always acts righteously in every situation. In fact, Numbers 23:19 offers this assessment of God’s character: “God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it” (GW). That testimony is even more impressive given the person who made it.
So despite the iniquities we experience today, God offers truth and fairness in a world that is often lacking in such things. These are qualities that should merit our expressions of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Revelation 19:7-8 then continues with the imagery of a bride who “…was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8 HCSB). To grasp the symbolic meaning behind this image, it may be helpful to consider a typical first-century marriage ceremony.
During the New Testament era, it was a common practice for Jewish parents to arrange marriages for their children. Following those arrangements, a young man and woman of marriageable age entered a period of “betrothal.” This resembled contemporary premarital engagements in certain respects, but was far more formal.
This betrothal period typically spanned a duration of up to one year. During that time, the groom customarily dedicated himself to the task of preparing the couple’s future home, a responsibility that often involved building an addition onto his father’s house. When everything was ready, the bride, groom, and their companions would gather for a procession to the couple’s new home. Following a wedding ceremony officiated by a priest, the newly married couple began their life together as husband and wife.
We’ll tie this imagery together with our text from Revelation nineteen next.
(1) G1391 – doxa – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1391/kjv/tr/0-1/