Jewish Wedding

With Jewish background and later seminary study, I find the facts of a Jewish wedding at the time of Christ to be a beautiful picture of our upcoming nuptials -

1. The father of the bridegroom, often before the child was born, of his own free will would select a bride for his son.
2. The prospective bridegroom then took the initiative and traveled from his father’s house that of the prospective bride.
3. The fathers had already negotiated the price that must be paid by the son to purchase the bride and show his love/responsibility.
4. When this price was paid, the marriage covenant was thereby established. From this point, the man and woman were classified as “husband and wife”, even though no physical union had occurred.
5. The groom and the bride then drank from a cup over which the betrothal benediction had been pronounced. This symbolized the covenant relationship established.
6. With the marriage covenant in effect, the groom returned to his father’s house. He remained there for a period of at least 12 months separated from his bride.
7. During this separation, the bride gathered her wardrobe and prepared for married life. The groom prepared a new room on his father’s house as their accommodation
8. At the close of the separation and the time selected by the father, the groom and male escorts left his father’s house, usually at night, and led a torch-light procession to the bride’s house.
9. The bride was expecting her groom, but did not know exactly the day/time he would come. His impending arrival came with a shout and blowing shofar.
10. The bride and her escorts got their lamps and joined the procession, leaving her home and taken to the groom’s new home.
11. The entire wedding party joined together for a feast that usually lasted 7 days or longer.
12. During this time, the bride and groom entered the bridal chamber and join in physical union for the first time, consummating the marriage.
13. After the 7 days the couple would return to public life/work.

 

Application to the Second Coming (both phases)

1. God the Father, of his own will alone, chose a bride for His Son in eternity past. (Romans 9:16; Ephesians 1:4)
2. Christ left His Father’s house and came to earth to gain a bride for Himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28)
3. Christ had to pay the bride price with His own blood to satisfy the outraged holiness of God and cover sin. (I Corinthians 6:19)
4. The believer has been declared set apart or sanctified exclusively for Christ.
(I Corinthians 6:11)
5. Christ symbolized this marriage covenant by introducing a new covenant for His church in His blood at the Last Supper
(I Corinthians 11:25)
6. Christ returned to His Father’s house following the payment of his purchase price. (John 6:62)
7. Christ is preparing a place for His bride, and has given pastors/teachers to make the bride perfect for the coming wedding. (John 14:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; 5:26-27)
8. Christ will soon come from His Father’s house in heaven accompanied by an angelic host. (John 14:3)
9. While we do not know the exact day or hour, a trump and a shout will precede Christ’s return at the home of the bride.
(I Thessalonians 4:16)
10. The Lord will catch up His bride to be taken back to His father’s house.
(I Thessalonians 4:17)
11. Christ will take us to heaven where we will enjoy a 7-year marriage feast together, while the earth suffers great tribulation. (Revelation 19:7-10)
12. Christ’s union with His bride will consummate in heaven, where the bride will live for all eternity with her Lord.
(II Peter 1:11; I Corinthians 15:24-28)
13. After 7-year marriage feast in heaven, we will return with Christ to rule and reign in the Millennial Kingdom, and ultimately, forever.