DAILY TEXT, Today Wednesday October 9, 2024,  The wedding of the Lamb has arrived (Rev. 19:7).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

The wedding of the Lamb has come (Rev. 19:7).

Although there will be shouts of joy in heaven when Babylon the Great passes away, there will be even greater cause for joy (Rev. 19:1–3). In fact, it is the most exciting event in the book of Revelation—“the marriage of the Lamb.” Although all 144,000 will be in heaven just before Armageddon begins, that will not be the time for the Lamb’s marriage (Rev. 21:1–2). The wedding will take place after the war of Armageddon, when all of God’s enemies have been wiped out (Ps. 45:3–4, 13–17). What does the Lamb’s marriage mean to those who participate in it? A wedding unites a man and a woman. For at this symbolic wedding, the King, Jesus Christ, and his “bride,” the 144,000, are united. With this exciting event, Jesus and the 144,000 will begin to reign together on earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6). w22.05 17 pars. 11-13.

What are the 144,000 in Revelation 21 compared to? (See cover drawing.)

Next, in Revelation chapter 21, the 144,000 are compared to a beautiful city called “the New Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2, 9). This city has “12 foundation stones,” and on them are written “the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.” This must have caught John’s attention. Why? Because he sees his name written on one of those stones. What an honor! (Rev. 21:10–14; Eph. 2:20)

This symbolic city is like no other. Its main street is made of pure gold, its 12 gates are 12 pearls, its wall and foundations are adorned with precious stones, and it is shaped like a perfect cube. (Rev. 21:15–21) But John realizes that something is missing. What is it? He says: “I saw no temple in it, for Jehovah God Almighty is its temple, just as the Lamb is its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:22, 23) Those who are part of the New Jerusalem will have direct access to Jehovah. (Heb. 7:27; Rev. 22:3, 4) That is why Jehovah and Jesus are said to be the temple of the city.

What blessings will mankind enjoy during the Thousand-Year Reign of God's Kingdom?

Anointed Christians are excited to think about this city. But it should also be of interest to Christians who hope to live on earth. During the Thousand-Year Reign of God’s Kingdom, the New Jerusalem will pour out countless blessings on the earth. John sees these blessings flowing like “a river of the water of life,” with “trees of life” on both banks, producing leaves “to heal the nations” (Rev. 22:1, 2). All human beings living then will have the opportunity to enjoy all these gifts. And those who are obedient will gradually attain to perfection. There will be no more sickness, no more pain, no more tears of sorrow (Rev. 21:3–5).

Who will enjoy the blessings of the Thousand Year Reign? (Revelation 20:11-13)

Who will enjoy these wonderful gifts? First, the great crowd who will survive Armageddon and the children born in the new world. But they are not the only ones. Revelation chapter 20 promises that the dead will be resurrected. (Read Revelation 20:11–13.) And who will be brought back to life on earth? Both the “righteous,” Jehovah’s faithful servants who died in the past, and the “unrighteous,” those who did not have the opportunity to know Jehovah. (Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29) Does this mean that everyone will be resurrected on earth during the Thousand Year Reign? No. Those who deliberately rejected the opportunity to serve Jehovah before they died will not live again. They already had their chance and proved that they did not deserve to live in Paradise (Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 17:8; 20:15).

What situation will humanity be in at the end of the 1,000 years?

At the end of the 1,000 years, all who live on earth will have attained perfection. No one will suffer the effects of the sin that Adam left us as an inheritance (Rom. 5:12). There will be no trace of the curse of Adam's sin left. It can be said that at the end of the 1,000 years, the inhabitants of the earth will come to life because they will be perfect human beings (Rev. 20:5).

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