In the Old Testament as well as in Jesus’ own instruction, the Saviour’s coming work on Calvary prepared the way for the union between God and his people symbolized in marriage (Ephesians 5:22–33). The devil (the dragon of Revelation 12:1–17) heard the prophecies and understood the significance of passages such as Ezekiel 16, the Song of Solomon, and the parable of Matthew 22:1–14. In his efforts to deceive (Revelation 12:9), he presented to the world a woman on a scarlet beast (Revelation 17:3), but she skips the marriage part and the faithfulness part, and simply presents herself for the satisfaction part; she is a counterfeit bride. This counterfeit bride, however, is defeated (Revelation 17:14) and therefore fallen (Revelation 18:2) and thrown away (Revelation 18:21). The servants of God realize that with the great prostitute out of the way the road is open for the marriage of the Lamb, the fulfillment of why God created marriage in the first place (Ephesians 5:31–32). (Note: the word “bride” in the present verse is in Greek the word “woman” (sometimes translated as “wife”), the same word as appeared in Revelation 17:3 for the great prostitute.)
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;