showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto Him." (Luke XX. 27-38; Matt. xxii. 23-33; Mark xii. 18-27.) There are two things which the Lord taught by these words:—First, that man rises again after death; and secondly, that in heaven they are not given in marriage. That man rises again after death, He taught by the saying that "God is not the God of the dead, hut of the living," and that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive; and moreover in the parable of the rich man in hell and Lazarus in heaven (Luke xvi. 22-31). And that in heaven they are not given in marriage. He taught by the words: "They which shall be accounted worthy to attain another age, neither marry nor are given in marriage." From the words which immediately follow,—that they cannot die any more, because they are like the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection,—it is very evident that no other marriage is here meant than spiritual marriage. By spiritual marriage conjunction with the Lord is meant, and this is effected on earth; and when it is effected on earth it is effected also in the heavens. The marriage therefore is not performed again in the heavens, and they are not given in marriage. This is also meant by the words: "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but they which are accounted worthy to attain another age neither marry nor are given in marriage." They are also called by the Lord sons of the marriage (Matt. ix. 15; Mark ii. 19); and here angels, sons of God, and sons of the resurrection. That to marry is to be conjoined with the Lord, and that to enter into marriage is to be received in heaven by the Lord, is plain from the following passages:—The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man, a king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth servants, and invited . . . to the wedding" (Matt, xxii 1-14). "The kingdom of heaven is like unto ten virgins, which . . . went forth to meet the bridegroom; five of whom . . . that were ready went in to the marriage" (Matt. xxv. 1, seq). It is evident from verse 13,—where it is said, "Watch ye, for ye know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come"—that the Lord here meant Himself. From the Revelation also:—"The time of the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. . . . Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (xix, 7, 9). (C. L. n. 41.)
There are nuptials in the heavens, just as on earth; but there, only with those who are in the marriage of good and truth. Nor are others angels. Spiritual nuptials, therefore, which are those of the marriage of good and truth, are meant in the Word. These take place on earth, and not after death, thus not in the
