Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 19:7

"Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." — Revelation 19:7 (ASV)

Let us be glad and rejoice. Let all in heaven rejoice—for all have an interest in the triumph of truth; all should be glad that the government of God is set up over an apostate world.

And give honour to him. This is because the work is glorious, and because it is by His power alone that it has been accomplished (see the comments on Revelation 5:12).

For the marriage of the Lamb is come. This refers to the Lamb of God—the Redeemer of the world (see the comments on Revelation 5:6).

The relationship of God, and especially of the Messiah, to the church, is often represented in the Scriptures under the image of marriage (see the comments on Isaiah 54:4 and following; Isaiah 62:4; Isaiah 63:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2; and Ephesians 5:23 and following). Compare also Jeremiah 3:14, Jeremiah 31:32, and Hosea 2:19-20.

The idea is also said to be common in Arabic and Persian poetry. It is to be remembered also, that Papal Rome has just been represented as a gay and meretricious woman; and there is a propriety, therefore, in representing the true church as a pure bride, the Lamb's wife, and the final triumph of that church as a joyous marriage. The meaning is that the church was now to triumph and rejoice as if in permanent union with her glorious head and Lord.

And his wife has made herself ready by putting on her beautiful apparel and ornaments. All the preparations had been made for a permanent and uninterrupted union with her Redeemer, and the church was henceforth to be recognized as His beautiful bride. She was no more to appear as a decorated harlot, as she had during the Papal supremacy.

Between the church under the Papacy and the church in its true form, there is all the difference that exists between an abandoned woman gaily decked with gold and jewels, and a pure virgin chastely and modestly adorned, about to be led to be united in bonds of love to a virtuous husband.