In Revelation we find the four alleluias of the glorified saints. These alleluias are centered in the salvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God. The heavenly voices tell forth the story of His righteous judgments upon the wicked and of His power to reign. Notice the last alleluia as recorded in verse 6, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying Alleluia: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

Immediately after this fourth alleluia, the heavenly voices continue, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” ( Revelation 19:7-9).

The context of these verses clearly reveal a kingdom setting. This reminds us of a portion of our Lord’s discourse given on Mount Olivet. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom” (Matthew 25:1). In the 10th verse of this chapter we are told that “the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage.” In the 13th verse we have the admonition, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” It seems that the Lord designed this lesson to illustrate and enforce His teaching as to watchfulness. He must have had in view the immediate coming of the Lord, providing Israel would repent in response to the message of Peter and the eleven given in the opening chapters of the book of Acts. A careful study of Acts 3:19-26 and 5:30-32 reveals a bona fide offer of the kingdom to Israel; and if she had repented the King would have returned. Her rejection postponed the second coming of the Lord until after the calling out of the body of Christ, which is now in the making. The book of Revelation is a prophecy concerning a yet future time when the kingdom shall be set up through the zeal of the Lord of Hosts.

The Son of man will return at the close of the tribulation period as the Bridegroom. He will take unto Himself the bride and reign over the whole earth. The bride will reign with Him.

Before He comes as Bridegroom and as King, He will come for His body which is the church. Our rapture will precede the tribulation period, when He comes not as the Son of man but as the Lord from glory to change our vile body into the likeness of His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21).