I understand from your writing, that the marriage feast will come through those who Jesus finds watching when he returns (Luke 12:37). If the marriage feast does not exist until after Jesus returns to his faithful slaves and gives it to them, How does that fit with the preceding verse, at Luke 12:36? There it sounds like Jesus is already done with the marriage feast.
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MY REPLY:
Very observant of you! That would seem like a contradiction.
But if we look at the order of events as the Bible depicts them as unfolding, that seeming contradiction is smoothed out.
Let's start with the origin of the marriage feast. Where do those provisions, originate?
Jesus tells us in parable, at Matt.22:2. We can see that further substantiated, at Dan.7:9-10,13 and Rev.5:1,6-7.
In all those scriptures, we see depicted the throne of the Father...
a sealed scroll in His hand which is due to be opened,
and Jesus approaching God's throne to receive that scroll.
Our Father God in heaven, is the source of the provisions of the Marriage Feast.
God has mysteries of wisdom, which no one else possesses (Rom.11:33; Mark 13:32).
Yet Jesus told us that one day, divine knowledge would become completed/abundant...
(1Cor.13:9-10; John 16:13; Prov.4:18; 2Pet.1:19; Dan.12:4; Zech.14:7-9; Isa.29:18; 54:13; Heb.8:11; John 16:25),
...the mysteries of God would be demonstrated/accomplished/manifested
(Rev.10:7; Rom.16:25; Amos 3:7; Rev.22:6),
...and Jesus would be given the knowledge of God (Rev.5:7), and he would pass it to his congregations, through their contemporary prophets (John 16:15,12-14,15; Matt.10:20; 1Cor.14:32; Rev.4:5; 5:6; 10:7; 1:20; Matt.5:15)(Rev.5:6; Jer.25:4; 44:4; Rev.22:6; 11:3).
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2017/12/what-are-seven-spirits-of-god.html The sealed scroll in question, has seven seals (Rev.5:1). The opening of those seals/sacred secrets/hidden mysteries, is depicted within the book of Revelation (Rev.6:1,3,5,7,9,12; 8:1). The opening of those seals, are connected to, the declarations of God's prophets (Rev.8:7,8,10,12) (Rev.8:13; 9:1,12-13; 10:1,3,7)
That book of Revelation, is that sealed scroll.
The opening of Revelation (which word means, uncovering/unveiling/revealing)...
Is, the Marriage Feast (Isa.29:18,24; Rev.19:9; 22:6).
So we have established that the first one to know God's mysteries, is God Himself, naturally.
He is the one that owns and possesses, the bounteous spiritual feast of understanding, which He prepares for the marriage of His son.
Who is the second person, to possess these hidden mysteries of God?
Revelation chapter five explains, in verses 1-10:
There we learn that the second person to possess the secrets of God, is the Lamb.
Jesus Christ alone gets to view the wisdom of God and the contents of Revelation, before anyone else.
If we return to the illustrative parable of the marriage feast; this is how that would translate...
The King prepares a marriage feast for His son (Matt.22:2).
Before anyone else is able to view that feast, the Father shows His son first... what He has prepared for His son's wedding supper.
After the Bridegroom sees what his father has prepared...
he goes to get his bride to bring her home to the banquet.
The banquet is then open to all the guests.
(That was the Jewish tradition)
Jesus Christ is the only one worthy, to first receive and open, the sealed scroll.
Some of the ancient prophets were given glimpses into that information, but they did not understand it. When they requested information, they were told that it would remains sealed, until the time of the End (Matt.13:16-17; Dan.12:8-9,10; Rev.10:4; 22:10).
Only after Jesus receives the marriage feast, does Jesus send out his last prophet/messenger/angel, to declare and offer that bounteous table, to the last congregation of his Bride members
(Rev.10:7; 22:10; 1:1,20; Matt.5:15; Rev.22:6,16; Mal.3:1; Rev.10:1).
How will the messenger prophet of the covenant, who receives the scroll of bounty/wedding provisions from Jesus, be selected?
Jesus tells us in many places...
(Matt.25:6-7,10; 24:45-47; Luke 12:35,42-44; Mark 13:33-35,36-37; Rev.2:7,17,26-28; 3:8,20; 4:1)
We saw that in order for Jesus to be given, to open, and to view the contents of the sealed scroll;
it was first required of him that he be martyred for the sake of God's Truth (Rev.5:9,12; Dan.7:13-14).
He had thereby proven that his faithfulness to God's wisdom, was worth more to him, than his own life (John 4:34; 8:29; 18:37; 12:49-50). He faithfully obeyed God's purpose for him. He was therefore rightly rewarded by God, with an even greater measure of God's treasure store of divine wisdom.
What of subsequent recipients of that opened scroll?
They too would need to prove their worthiness
(Mark 8:35; Rev.6:9-11; 12:10-11; John 16:2; Rom.6:5; 8:36; 2Cor.4:10).
Their need to "die" is especially required, during the End-time Great Tribulation. At that time, the alliance of the false prophet and it's powerful and merciless Wild Beast, will put to death any who do not worship the Beast's Image (Rev.13:15,7-8,11:7). The prophet/angel to receive the message of Jesus to his last congregation, would also have needed to prove its' faithfulness, to the death. Through the ransom of Jesus and the sanctification it provides (Rev.5:9-10; Mal.2:7; 1Cor.4:1), such ones can become honored objects/vessels of God's truths
(2Cor.5:11,18-19,20; Rom.9:20,23-24; 2Tim.2:20-21; Eph.2:10; 1Pet.5:10; Phil.1:6).
When the original invitees to the wedding feast, decline their invitation (Matt.22:3,5-6);
that feast then opens up to all... "both good and bad" (Matt.22:8-10).
God does not want His life-giving provisions to go to waste, but is willing to be generous to any who will appreciate God's gracious hospitality. Through the mercy of spirit and the sacrifice of the Bride members, that becomes the only requirement
(John 20:21-22,23; Rev.22:17; Isa.55:1-2,5-6,7).
To review the order in which the contents of the Marriage Feast is passed down;
First, it is given directly to Jesus. Jesus Christ is the first one to sample the wedding feast that God has prepared for his marriage.
Second, Jesus gives it to his messenger/angel, a prophet.
Third, Jesus sends that angel in divine vision, to the apostle John. John records the visions in the book of Revelation. John sends that scroll, to the seven congregations.
Forth, That angel/prophet that Jesus sends with the message of Revelation, is also sent to the End-time congregation, in time for that scroll to have it's seals, opened.
So, when we read the verses in Luke ch.12, upon which your question is based....
"35 ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will make them recline at the table and will come and serve them."
There we can now see plainly, that Jesus is the first to take in the contents of the wedding banquet. He is the only one worthy to receive and open that scroll.
After absorbing it, he then finds a slave of his that is awake and working to shine true light, eagerly awaiting the Master's contact... ready to open the door to understanding which Jesus provides
(Rev.3:20; Luke 12:36; 24:45; Rev.3:7; Matt.13:13,16).
Such a one is chosen to become his messenger prophet, to show the last congregations "the things that will soon take place". That information will be unveiled, through the opening of the seals of Revelation, by the spirit within that last prophet
(John 15:26; 16:12-15,13; Rev.22:6; 19:9-10).
Through this consideration, I hope you can plainly see that there is no contradiction between the availability of the wedding provisions to Jesus' congregation,
and the fact that Jesus samples those provisions, first.
We may tend to think that if the feast is not yet open to us,
then it must not yet exist.
Not so.
The wedding feast has existed eternally in the mind of God. That knowledge was given to Jesus, first. It is only when the time of the End arrives, that the sealed scroll of Revelation is due to be sent to, opened to, offered to, and understood by, humankind.
Luke 12:35,36,37
Rev.5:2-3,4-5
...and Jesus would be given the knowledge of God (Rev.5:7), and he would pass it to his congregations, through their contemporary prophets (John 16:15,12-14,15; Matt.10:20; 1Cor.14:32; Rev.4:5; 5:6; 10:7; 1:20; Matt.5:15)(Rev.5:6; Jer.25:4; 44:4; Rev.22:6; 11:3).
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2017/12/what-are-seven-spirits-of-god.html The sealed scroll in question, has seven seals (Rev.5:1). The opening of those seals/sacred secrets/hidden mysteries, is depicted within the book of Revelation (Rev.6:1,3,5,7,9,12; 8:1). The opening of those seals, are connected to, the declarations of God's prophets (Rev.8:7,8,10,12) (Rev.8:13; 9:1,12-13; 10:1,3,7)
That book of Revelation, is that sealed scroll.
The opening of Revelation (which word means, uncovering/unveiling/revealing)...
Is, the Marriage Feast (Isa.29:18,24; Rev.19:9; 22:6).
So we have established that the first one to know God's mysteries, is God Himself, naturally.
He is the one that owns and possesses, the bounteous spiritual feast of understanding, which He prepares for the marriage of His son.
Who is the second person, to possess these hidden mysteries of God?
Revelation chapter five explains, in verses 1-10:
"1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And they shall reign on the earth.”
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And they shall reign on the earth.”
Jesus Christ alone gets to view the wisdom of God and the contents of Revelation, before anyone else.
If we return to the illustrative parable of the marriage feast; this is how that would translate...
The King prepares a marriage feast for His son (Matt.22:2).
Before anyone else is able to view that feast, the Father shows His son first... what He has prepared for His son's wedding supper.
After the Bridegroom sees what his father has prepared...
he goes to get his bride to bring her home to the banquet.
The banquet is then open to all the guests.
(That was the Jewish tradition)
Jesus Christ is the only one worthy, to first receive and open, the sealed scroll.
Some of the ancient prophets were given glimpses into that information, but they did not understand it. When they requested information, they were told that it would remains sealed, until the time of the End (Matt.13:16-17; Dan.12:8-9,10; Rev.10:4; 22:10).
Only after Jesus receives the marriage feast, does Jesus send out his last prophet/messenger/angel, to declare and offer that bounteous table, to the last congregation of his Bride members
(Rev.10:7; 22:10; 1:1,20; Matt.5:15; Rev.22:6,16; Mal.3:1; Rev.10:1).
How will the messenger prophet of the covenant, who receives the scroll of bounty/wedding provisions from Jesus, be selected?
Jesus tells us in many places...
(Matt.25:6-7,10; 24:45-47; Luke 12:35,42-44; Mark 13:33-35,36-37; Rev.2:7,17,26-28; 3:8,20; 4:1)
We saw that in order for Jesus to be given, to open, and to view the contents of the sealed scroll;
it was first required of him that he be martyred for the sake of God's Truth (Rev.5:9,12; Dan.7:13-14).
He had thereby proven that his faithfulness to God's wisdom, was worth more to him, than his own life (John 4:34; 8:29; 18:37; 12:49-50). He faithfully obeyed God's purpose for him. He was therefore rightly rewarded by God, with an even greater measure of God's treasure store of divine wisdom.
What of subsequent recipients of that opened scroll?
They too would need to prove their worthiness
(Mark 8:35; Rev.6:9-11; 12:10-11; John 16:2; Rom.6:5; 8:36; 2Cor.4:10).
Their need to "die" is especially required, during the End-time Great Tribulation. At that time, the alliance of the false prophet and it's powerful and merciless Wild Beast, will put to death any who do not worship the Beast's Image (Rev.13:15,7-8,11:7). The prophet/angel to receive the message of Jesus to his last congregation, would also have needed to prove its' faithfulness, to the death. Through the ransom of Jesus and the sanctification it provides (Rev.5:9-10; Mal.2:7; 1Cor.4:1), such ones can become honored objects/vessels of God's truths
(2Cor.5:11,18-19,20; Rom.9:20,23-24; 2Tim.2:20-21; Eph.2:10; 1Pet.5:10; Phil.1:6).
When the original invitees to the wedding feast, decline their invitation (Matt.22:3,5-6);
that feast then opens up to all... "both good and bad" (Matt.22:8-10).
God does not want His life-giving provisions to go to waste, but is willing to be generous to any who will appreciate God's gracious hospitality. Through the mercy of spirit and the sacrifice of the Bride members, that becomes the only requirement
(John 20:21-22,23; Rev.22:17; Isa.55:1-2,5-6,7).
To review the order in which the contents of the Marriage Feast is passed down;
First, it is given directly to Jesus. Jesus Christ is the first one to sample the wedding feast that God has prepared for his marriage.
Second, Jesus gives it to his messenger/angel, a prophet.
Third, Jesus sends that angel in divine vision, to the apostle John. John records the visions in the book of Revelation. John sends that scroll, to the seven congregations.
Forth, That angel/prophet that Jesus sends with the message of Revelation, is also sent to the End-time congregation, in time for that scroll to have it's seals, opened.
So, when we read the verses in Luke ch.12, upon which your question is based....
"35 ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will make them recline at the table and will come and serve them."
There we can now see plainly, that Jesus is the first to take in the contents of the wedding banquet. He is the only one worthy to receive and open that scroll.
After absorbing it, he then finds a slave of his that is awake and working to shine true light, eagerly awaiting the Master's contact... ready to open the door to understanding which Jesus provides
(Rev.3:20; Luke 12:36; 24:45; Rev.3:7; Matt.13:13,16).
Such a one is chosen to become his messenger prophet, to show the last congregations "the things that will soon take place". That information will be unveiled, through the opening of the seals of Revelation, by the spirit within that last prophet
(John 15:26; 16:12-15,13; Rev.22:6; 19:9-10).
Through this consideration, I hope you can plainly see that there is no contradiction between the availability of the wedding provisions to Jesus' congregation,
and the fact that Jesus samples those provisions, first.
We may tend to think that if the feast is not yet open to us,
then it must not yet exist.
Not so.
The wedding feast has existed eternally in the mind of God. That knowledge was given to Jesus, first. It is only when the time of the End arrives, that the sealed scroll of Revelation is due to be sent to, opened to, offered to, and understood by, humankind.
Luke 12:35,36,37
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