A Jewish Wedding

Jewish Wedding

And The New Covenant

* From a teaching by Chuck Missler

1. The Betrothal - Ketubah
- Payment for Bride
- Bride would be set-apart

2. Bridegroom goes to Father's house
- Prepares room addition
- Bride prepares for the return

3. Surprise Gathering
- Wedding - Huppah
- Veil is lifted

4. 7 Day Marriage Supper

* Some Scripture References:

- Judges 14:12
- Matt 9:15
- Matt 22:11-14
- John 2:1

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It seems this Jewish wedding custom was a shadow of what is to come in terms of the marriage between man and God through Christ Jesus under the New Covenant (Colossians 2:16-17).

1. Betrothal

When Jesus came, He purchased us Christians with His blood (Betrothal):

Acts 20:28 KJV - Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV - In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The Bride to be (Christians) would have to be set-apart for the Bridegroom:

Romans 12:2 KJV - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 4:4 KJV - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Spotless Bride

2. Father's House

After Jesus died for our sins, rose again, He ascended to His Father's House:

John 14:2-3 KJV - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 20:17 KJV - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

The Bride is called to watch and wait for His return:

2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV - And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV - For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3. Surprise Wedding

The surprise Gathering seems to be an allusion to the rapture of the Church before the 7 year tribulation:

Judges 14:10-12 KJV - So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. [11] And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. [12] And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

Matthew 24:36 KJV - But of that day and hour knoweth no man , no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV - For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Revelation 3:10 KJV - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV - 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: [17] 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. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

It seems when we are raptured, or caught up to the throne (Revelation 12:5), the veil will be lifted:

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV - For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

4. Wedding Feast

It seems the 7 day Marriage Supper is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb that occurs in Heaven during the 7 year Tribulation:

Revelation 19:7-9 KJV - 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. [8] 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. [9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Isaiah 26:19-21 KJV - Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. [20] Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. [21] For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

• A Baby Born, A Holy Nation

The Two Become One Forever

Just as woman was made from the rib of Adam, so where we His Church made in the likeness of Christ who through His Spirit has breathed life into our lungs and formed us from the dust of the earth. He paid the price, the dowry, when He hung upon that Cross, and when He was lifted up He proposed to His beloved Bride. Yet we must be sanctified, set apart, as a pure virgin awaiting for our marriage in Heaven when the veil will be lifted and we will see Him face to face! Hallelujah! There is a happy ever after for Him a d His beloved! A new heaven, a new earth awaits those who love Him and are obedient to Him!

Ephesians 5:22-33 KJV — Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.