Sabbath Thought – Marriage

Marriage is a covenant relationship designed by God. It is worth noting that the first thing God did after creating Adam and Eve was to marry them. As is said in the marriage ceremony performed by United Church of God ministers, “Marriage is a natural union, but a divine institution.” God ordained marriage for several reasons, but one of the primary reasons was to reflect the relationship between the Father and the Son, and Jesus Christ to His Church. As such, marriage is not just a physical relationship or union.

Even without understanding these spiritual concepts, marriages are almost universally joyous occasions. To see a man and a woman, who have such love for each other, commit their lives to each other shows a “oneness” rarely seen in other relationships. As in a physical marriage covenant, our spiritual “marriage” to Jesus Christ is a covenant relationship that we are to have with no other. Marriage is to be sacred in that we are faithful to only that spouse. We do not put anyone else before that relationship – physically, emotionally or spiritually. 

So when will the Church (His called-out Ones) – the intended Bride – marry Jesus Christ? At His Second Coming pictured in the Feast of Trumpets. Part of the excitement of the future fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets is the marriage of Christ to His Bride! Are we excited about that coming marriage? Are we excited to move forward into eternity being at the side of our Husband? How excited is Jesus Christ for His marriage to His Bride? How pleased and excited is the Father to give His Son in marriage to such a beautiful Bride – those faithful who desire nothing more than to be married to His Son?

The events leading up to the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets will be an unprecedented time of suffering and death because of the culmination of Satan’s, and mankind’s, rebellion against God. And yet, in the end there will be great joy. At the return of Jesus Christ, His saints will be resurrected to eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:16)! Our mortal existence will be changed to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)! And then, before Jesus Christ begins to undo the reign of Satan, He marries His Bride – “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God," (Revelation 19:6-9).

Are we making ourselves ready? Are we preparing to be married to Jesus Christ for eternity? Are we making plans and anticipating how overwhelming (in a very good way!) it will be to stand before the Father as we marry His Son (Jeremiah 33:11, Isaiah 61:10)? After that wedding, then we (Jesus Christ and us as His Bride) move forward in unity, in oneness, to complete God’s plan of salvation for mankind. Even after the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day, we will continue into eternity as the Family of God!

Let us rehearse these coming Holy Days with a joy and anticipation like never before. Let’s grasp God’s vision of that future so that vision positively impacts our life even now. Let us love God, His Laws and His ways so that we take on His nature and have each other in the dark days to come. Let us “keep the Feast” and rejoice in our merciful and loving God of our marriage to come!

I wish you a very inspiring Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

20 September, 2025