In Matthew 22, the Son of man Jesus Christ spoke a parable while in the vicinity of Herod’s temple, and among his disciples, the chief priests of the temple, the Pharisees, and some others. In this parable, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a king that had made a marriage for his son. The king sent his servants to invite certain individuals that were to come to the wedding, and to the feast of oxen and fatlings. But some of the individuals invited ignored the invitation and went about their own business. Others treated the king’s servants spitefully and even killed them. The king then became angry, and he sent his armies to destroy the murderers and burn up their city.
Of course, the king is God the Father. The son is Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel. And the wedding in question is the marriage of the Lamb, which itself is a metaphor for the beginning of the kingdom of God, the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Matthew 22:1-3
So, the ones that were supposed to come to the wedding were among the ancient Israelites, certain individuals from the days of Moses and the Exodus to the days of David and his son Solomon, and even beyond. Others that were to come to the wedding were from the generation of Jews during the lifetime of the Son of man Jesus Christ who was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem some two thousand years ago. Others yet are among Jews in modern times including Jews who are alive today. So, God had bid certain descendants of Jacob to come to the wedding. But many whom were invited decided not to.
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Matthew 22:8
I do not mean it was Israel generally that was invited to the wedding, nor do I mean the specific generation of Jews at the time of the Son of man. I have explained elsewhere that the kingdom of God was never meant to form at the time of the First Coming of Jesus Christ. What I am talking about is certain individuals of the line of Jacob, past and present, called to be saints, ie. soldiers of God. It is some of these individuals in times past that refused.
Anyway, continuing with the metaphor, when those that were invited to the wedding refused to come, the king sent his servants to gather anyone that they could find who would come, both good and bad.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Matthew 22:9-10
Then the king went to see the guests of the wedding, and he noticed a man that was not wearing a wedding garment. For not wearing “a wedding garment”, the man is bound hand and foot, and then cast to “outer darkness”.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:11-13
Concerning the guests of the wedding, good and bad, many a pastor has interpreted this to mean Christians generally, drawing on the idea that Israel stumbled, so salvation has come to the Gentiles.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:11
But this parable in Matthew 22 is about the saints rather than ordinary Christians. I say this, because of the phrase “outer darkness” (ref. Matthew 22:13), which refers to outer-space. In the Bible, there are 2 other parables that speak of “outer darkness”, and those 2 are also about the saints (ref. Matthew 8:11-12, Matthew 25:13-30).
Yes, Christians are fellowcitizens with the saints and are of the household of God (ref. Ephesians 2:19), and will be a part of the final bride of Christ and the new Jerusalem (ref. Revelation 21:2), but this parable in Matthew 22 speaks to the second bride of Christ, specifically the beginning of the kingdom of God. Matthew 22:14, “many are called but few are chosen”, makes this clear.
In Matthew 22:8-10, notice that the servants gathered anyone that they could find, “both bad and good”.
Here, it must be said that there is no such thing as a “bad” Christian. Either one is an actual Christian that believes in Jesus Christ, or one is merely pretending to be Christian for the sake of money, the praise of others, etc. Either one is Christian enough, or one is a heretic. Either one makes it to heaven as a Christian, or one does not.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
By contrast, there can be such a thing as a “bad” saint, or a saint that at first is good but later becomes bad.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14
The reason for this is the Bible prophecy of Gog and Magog: a rebellion among the saints that is destined to happen in the distant future. Indeed, the angel Satan is going to be released from the prison of hell after 1000 years precisely so that he can deceive the world one more time, and thus the prophecy of Gog and Magog can be fulfilled. It is only when Gog and his lot are defeated that Satan will be killed.
One consequence of the war of Gog and Magog is that God the Father will be made known to the world. After that, the world will be ready for the new Jerusalem.
Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 38:23
So, unlike ordinary Christians, a saint must go through tribulation, ie. a time of testing, twice (ref. Isaiah 41:15). This means, a saint might pass the first time, but not the second time.
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains [saints], saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother [good saints vs bad saints].
Ezekiel 38:21
Now, the man without a wedding garment that is bound and cast into outer darkness must be a saint that takes the side of Gog over 1000 years from now. The reason is, at first he is welcomed to the wedding, but then he is cast out. When he is cast out, he is made to wander in outer darkness for ever. This is an evil saint thing. It has nothing to do with evil humans. Humans on the wrong side will be cast into the lake of fire.
… wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Jude 1:13
Now, to the matter of the wedding garment. What exactly is it? Is it a literal garment, or is it a metaphor? If getting this garment wrong means you are out, surely every saint must take the time and effort to get it right.
Notice this parable of a wedding which alludes to the marriage of the Lamb does not actually describe the bride of the king’s son. The good and the bad that were gathered by the king’s servants are “guests” of the wedding, and the man without the wedding garment is presumably also a guest. The guests are there to attend the wedding and to eat the feast of oxen and fatlings. This is why this parable is a metaphor, a wedding, that alludes to another metaphor, a different kind of wedding.
On the day of the LORD, which is the time of Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of man Jesus Christ who is also the Lamb of God will be the “bridegroom”, and the 144000 saints plus the holy remnant of Judah will collectively be the Lamb’s “wife”.
In Revelation 19, the saints are described as the Lamb’s “wife”.
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.
Revelation 19:7-8
In Joel 2, the holy remnant of Judah, ie. Jews that are alive on the day of the LORD, are likewise described as “the bride”.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Joel 2:15-16
The saints will all be men, but Judah will comprise of men, women and children. Whereas the saints will form the army of the kingdom of God (ref. Psalms 149), a number of men of the holy remnant of Judah will serve as priests, eventually across the entire world. So, Israel will fight for the kingdom of God, but Judah, ie. human Jews, will minister to the world on behalf of the kingdom of God (ref. Isaiah 61:6).
Further to the point that the wedding is not literally a wedding, notice the “marriage supper” of the Lamb, as it is in Revelation 19, is not some kind of formal banquet or feast around a wedding table, but rather the military conquest of the promised land. The saints along with the angels of God will “eat the flesh” of kings, captains and mighty men. This is one aspect of Armageddon, on the day of the LORD. This is the winepress of the wrath of God!
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Revelation 19:17-18
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 19:21
Now, going back to Revelation 19:7-8, notice that it reads, on the day of the LORD, the saints will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
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.
Revelation 19:7-8
Notice also, the 7 angels of God in Revelation 15 as well as the certain man with eyes as lamps of fire in Daniel 10 all wear linen.
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Revelation 15:6
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel 10:5-6
Furthermore, at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the armies which were in heaven, both the angels and the saints, are all clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:14
From all this, I gather that the wedding garment, if it is literal, has something to do with linen, and more to it, linen that is white and clean.
But does this mean that a saint will receive a special garment of linen from God at the time of the reaping of the harvest? Or does this mean that a saint must make himself ready by putting on a correct garment on that day?
Revelation 7 reveals that Christians slain during the tribulation that are to stay in heaven and serve God there as priests will have their robes washed supernaturally and made white.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:13-14
Revelation 6 reveals that white robes will be given to everyone in heaven that was slain for the word of God.
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 6:11
The verse in Revelation 7 seems to be for ordinary Christians in heaven, rather than the saints. But the verse in Revelation 6 might be for Christians as well as saints, because of the presence of the word “brethren”.
So, it is an open question whether the saints will have their robes made white supernaturally, or for that matter whether the saints will be given white robes.
I am assuming here that robes means clothes generally. But a robe might be something along the lines of a flowing priestly vesture that was worn by a Levite in antiquity, or even something like a Roman toga or a Catholic chasuble.
What I can say for sure, because of Revelation 16:15, is that a saint that is alive on the day of the LORD must wear some sort of clothes at the moment of the reaping.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Revelation 16:15
The 7th trumpet and vial, which is the day of the LORD, will happen shortly after the time of the 6th trumpet and vial, which is Armageddon. This is why every saint must watch for Armageddon, specifically the crossing of the river Euphrates by the kings of the east.
Beyond that, a saint should watch for the resurrection of the dead. Remember, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we which are alive will be caught up together with them. There might even be a literal shout from an archangel.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Going further, I gather from Mark 13 that the clothes that a saint should be wearing at the moment of the reaping must be something better than pajamas.
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Mark 13:32-37
Then again, Mark 13:36 might be about heavy sleepers, who take a while to wake up and go outside.
For a saint, at the time of the reaping, if you are alive you should be outside, or else the angels that come for you will break the roof of your house.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:39
So, for the reaping, a saint must wear some sort of clothes: something more than underwear and something better than pajamas.
Revelation 19:7-8 reads that “it was granted to her” – the bride of Christ – “that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white”. Does the word “granted” here mean that the saints will be given permission to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, in which case a saint must put on a correct garment? Or does it mean instead that the saints will be given supernatural clothing that is fine linen, clean and white?
By fine linen, of course, I am referring to the semblance of fine linen, because a saint will be born again into a star-like body, with the semblance of a human being that is wearing clothes.
Now, it is noteworthy that the matter of “outer darkness” is something that will happen after the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. Before then, a saint that turns evil can be hunted down and killed (ref. Psalms 2:12). It is the chaos of the war of Gog and Magog that might enable a number of evil saints to run away. All this tells me that the wedding garment is supernatural to some extent. I suppose, at first it was white and clean, representing “the righteousness of the saints” (ref. Revelation 19:8), but later it changed or it was removed, because the man in question became unrighteous, and took the side of Satan and Gog. At least, this is how I understand the metaphor of Matthew 22.
From Revelation 14:1, it is clear that all 144000 are righteous at the time of the reaping: on the day God redeems the 12 tribes of Israel, every saint will be holy. What happens years or centuries after that is another thing.
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
Each and every saint should think all of this through for himself. Consider it a test. Each saint must figure this out, lest he finds himself like the man in the parable of Matthew 22, cast into outer darkness for not having a wedding garment.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:11-13