The Marriage and Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)

Ancient Marriage Traditions (Rev 14:1-5; 19:7-9)

The Book of Revelation describes the marriage of the Lamb at the Second Coming through the lens of ancient marriage traditions among the Jews. These marriage traditions include the betrothal, when a man and woman entered a formal, binding marriage contract or covenant. After their betrothal, they were legally regarded as husband and wife—even though they did not live together or consummate their marriage. Revelation 14:1-5 is the setting for the betrothal at the end of the Second Woe. At this future time, all exaltation-worthy saints (the 144,000 Servants) become the bride who stand in the flesh with Jesus Christ (the bridegroom) on heavenly Mount Zion. This is a covenant-making time when the 144,000 Servants have their calling and election made sure to exaltation.

Following the betrothal at the end of the Second Woe in Revelation 14, the wedding couple consummate their marriage through a formal wedding ceremony according to the ancient tradition. This occurs during the Third Woe after the fall and physical destruction of Modern Babylon. John describes the marriage in heaven metaphorically in Revelation 19:7-8. This is when God the Father gives to Christ all exaltation-worthy persons out of the world. In other words, the Father gives away the bride. The traditional marriage supper then follows in Revelation 19:9.

The Second Coming Marriage Supper on Earth

When Christ descends from heaven to earth at his Second Coming, he will do so in the company of his “wife” following the consummation of their marriage in heaven. The wife of Christ includes all exaltation-worthy persons from all ages to whom he is betrothed at the end of the Second Woe. This group includes resurrected and translated people, including the Lost Ten Tribes. Christ and his wife will descend from heaven to New Jerusalem (Zion) at Independence Missouri during Christ’s first appearance of the Second Coming. Malachi 3:1 prophesies of this event saying that Christ will come suddenly to his temple at Independence. (See also D&C 133:2)

Marriage Supper Attendees

The parable of the marriage supper in Matthew 22 identifies the participants who attend the marriage celebration at New Jerusalem. The King in the parable is God the Father. His Son and bridegroom is Jesus Christ. His bride is the large collection of exaltation-worthy saints—also known as the Church of the Firstborn. In addition to the bride, there are symbolic bridesmaids and groomsmen. These are ministering angels. (D&C 132:16-17) A third group consists of the remaining wedding guests, symbolized in Doctrine and Covenants 58:11 as the poor, lame, blind, and deaf. Everyone who attends the wedding supper must be celestial worthy. The three types of attendees correspond to the three classes of celestial saints in Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4. The wedding attendants and guests include mortal people still living on earth and disembodied spirits who descend from celestial paradise. (JST Gen 9:23)

The Marriage Supper Sacrament

The marriage supper is also a sacred sacramental gathering where Christ fulfills His promise from the Last Supper that He would again drink the fruit of the vine with his disciples when the kingdom of God is come. (Luke 22:13-18)

The marriage supper therefore becomes the great covenantal feast of the Second Coming—a celebration of redemption, the union of Christ with His exalted saints, and the gathering of all celestial-worthy people into the victorious kingdom of Zion. Once this sacred celebration is complete, Christ—in the company of his wife—will then make his second and third appearances of the Second Coming to Old Jerusalem and the entire earth, respectively.

For more on the marriage of the Lamb in Heaven and his marriage supper on earth, check out my podcasts from August 23 and 25, 2026.

August 23, 2026 — Podcast

August 25, 2026 — Podcast