The Jewish Wedding, and the Parallels that exist in the

Relationships between G-D and the children of Israel, and

between Christ and the Church - including coming events in the

End Times.

RECAPFor two thousand years, millions of readers

have been inspired by the words and stories of Jesus written in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Jesus, here in His

soothing words to the disciples, was alluding not to weddings of our day but to the Jewish marriage customs of the First

Century.

The wedding is a picture of the covenant Jesus made and reveals His plans to return for His bride, the church. There are many parallels in the Bible to various events in a believer’s life, but none more visible than the similarity between the Christian life and that of a Jewish marriage ceremony.

The people of ancient Israel understood what Jesus was going to do because they understood the model of the wedding. Ephesians 5:31-32, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery -- but I am talking about Christ and the church."

The Following items are the sequences followed during the

wedding

The Bride is chosen. Shidduch

In eternity past, God the Father and God the Son planned our salvation. The Bible states concerning God, "He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." They settled the price long before the offer of salvation was given to us. How encouraging to realize this offer of love was not an afterthought of God. In fact, the Scripture refers to Jesus as "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;

The Bethrothal and Bride Price

Jesus came to the home of His bride (Earth) to present His marriage contract.

The marriage contract provided by Jesus is the new covenant, which provides for the forgiveness of sins of God's people.

Jesus paid the bride price with His life.

Acts 20:28 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.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Consent

Romans 10:6-10; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Written document

A covenant: “Testament” in Greek is “diatheke,” meaning “specifically, a contract.” Strong’s Grk 1242

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.

Drinking a glass of wine

a toast, and communion, seals the covenant. If the bride price was agreeable to the young woman's father, the young man would pour a glass of wine for the young woman. If the young woman drank the wine, it would indicate her acceptance of the proposal. At this point, the young man and young woman would be betrothed.

Jesus poured wine for His disciples. His words described the significance of the cup in representing the bride price for the marriage contract: Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:28-29

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Gifts for the Bride

Next, the bridegroom would present the bride with special gifts. The purpose of these gifts was to show the bridegroom's appreciation of the bride. They were also intended to help her to remember him during the long betrothal period.

The gifts that Jesus gave us are the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit was given to us as a gift, sealing the promise of Jesus’ return to us.

The gifts that Jesus gave us are the gifts of the Holy Spirit and many spiritual gifts.

We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit 1 John 4:13

John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The Bridegroom LEAVESGoing back to his father's house to prepare the bridal chamber,

When Jesus left earth, he asked his disciples,

“Why are you standing here looking up into heaven. I will return.” Acts 1:11

Matthew 9:14-15 Then John's disciples came and asked him, 'How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.'

John 14:3 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.

The bride was consecrated

set apart, and kept herself ready for the bridegroom to return, and wore a veil. In Hebrew the word for the Jewish Bride is the word "Kallah," meaning: "complete,"

Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

The last week before the weddingThe bride and groom will not see each other during this final week. They will be separated to heighten the anticipation and joy when the meet on their wedding day.

I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am John 13:1-3

Auf Ruf

The calling up of the groom to recite a blessing over the Torah on the Shabbat before the wedding. In some Jewish communities it is the Shabbat after the wedding. The Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel

“Next year in Jerusalem”

Ritual Cleansing bath Baptism The Mikveh, or baptism that Jesus provided for His bride was baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4 "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Ephesians 5:27 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.

John 3:26-30 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Mashiach but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.

The night of the wedding

The wedding takes place at night, just after dusk. The groom walks toward the bride’s house, gathering wedding guests on the way. This community hears the progression coming, and turns out to join in the fun. The crowd is carrying torches, an attendant is blowing a shofar, or ram’s horn, and the people are shouting, “The bridegroom is coming”.

Bridegroom comes for his Bride.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 With a shout and the sound of a shofar, so the Lord will come for us. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Jesus comes for his Bride as a Thief

The groom often surprised his bride by his unexpected or early return.All Jewish brides were said to be “stolen, caught up, or snatched up by surprise.”

Mark 13:32-33.No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come

Meanwhile, the bride has no idea exactly when the groom will arrive – the time is a secret only known by the groom’s father. She is in high readiness for his coming, and when she hears the shouts of the party she drops everything, puts on her wedding dress, and gathers her two guards and all of the necessary items. She then waits for the groom to arrive.

Since bridegrooms typically came for their brides in the middle of the night, to "steal them away"(the groom would often come like a thief in the night, often around the midnight hour), the bride would have to have her lamp and her belongings ready at all times. Her sisters or bridesmaids would also be waiting, keeping their lamps trimmed in anticipation of the late night festivities.

The groom arrives outside of the bride’s house, but does not enter. With a shout by his guard, and a trumpet blast, he calls to his bride to come out and meet him. The bride comes out, and the procession turns back towards the groom’s fathers house, where the wedding will take place.

The rapture – Jesus waits for us in the clouds, and both those who are dead in Christ, and those still alive will be caught up in the air with Him.

“We shall be changed in an instant”

This parallels what Jesus said in Luke 12:36, "And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding…"

The analogy between a wedding and Christ and the Church is described in Ephesians 5:31-32, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery -- but I am talking about Christ and the church."

Kabbalat Panim

To increase the anticipation of their upcoming wedding day, it is customary for the bride and groom not to see each other for the week leading up to the ceremony. In this case the couple greet their guests separately before the ceremony.

BadekenThe groom covers the bride's face with a veil just before the wedding ceremony. The veil is a symbol of modesty (relating to the story of Isaac and Rebecca). The, veiling of the bride by her bridegroom, takes place immediately after the signing of the Ketubah and in the same place. The Rabbi assists the groom in reciting a specific blessing to his bride and then lowers the veil. The original meaning of the Badeken represents the Biblical story of Jacob and Rachel, when after their wedding; Jacob found that he had actually married Leah, Rachel's sister.

Going through the open door

crossing the threshold into the new house. Chuppah (Huppah, Wedding Canopy) - The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah which symbolizes the home the couple will build together. It consists of a square cloth, usually made of silk or velvet, supported by four staves.

It is preferable for the huppah to be outdoors, under the stars, symbolizing the hopes that the couple will be blessed with a large family, in conformity with God's blessing to Abraham: "I will greatly bless you, and I will exceedingly multiply your children as the stars in heaven." [The huppah in the open air is also reminiscent of the sukkah, a temporary structure erected during the holiday of Sukkot. Like the sukkah, the huppah reminds bride and groom that they are protected by God alone and that God is their only haven and support.]

For the actual marriage ceremony under the chuppah, the groom wears a kittel, a white garment that can also serve as a traditional shroud. The white symbolizes purity and cleansing from sin, and the reminder of mortality is also meant to inspire proper spiritual thoughts, which is why men wear kittels on Yom Kippur. Some grooms put it on before walking down the aisle, while others opt to only don it upon arriving at the chuppah.

Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Revelation 3:10 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. Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Hakafot

The bride circles the groom seven times upon entering the chuppah. Among other things, the circling "seven times" corresponds with the seven wedding blessings and demonstrates that the groom is the center of her life.

Jeremiah 31:22, “A woman shall surround a man”.

Kiddushin

• (Blessings of Betrothal) - The first part of the ceremony which takes place under the chuppah and includes blessing of the wine and the ring ceremony.

Presentation of the ringIn traditional weddings, two blessings are recited before the betrothal; a blessing over wine, The wine is then tasted by the couple The groom gives the bride a ring, traditionally a plain wedding band,[15] and recites the declaration: Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel. The groom places the ring on the bride’s right index finger. According to traditional Jewish law, two valid witnesses must see him place the ring.

In Jewish practice, tying tefillin daily is also a constant reminder of our bond with G-d, which is likened to a marriage. When the tefillin are donned, the strap on the left arm is wound around the middle finger three times while the verses recited refer to G-d declaration of “v’erastich” [I will betroth you to Me, an affirmation of the mutual connection between G-d and His people. The circular shape of the ring symbolizes the circle of the life cycle. When a baby is named, it receives the blessing to grow to Torah, chuppah, and good deeds. The rings symbolize the links between the generations of the past, present, and future.

The Rings

The groom recites, "harei at mekudeshes li betabaas zu keda'at Moshe veYisrael:" [You are married to me with this ring in accordance with the law of Moses and Israel.]

Yom Kippur

The reason for the evocation of Yom Kippur is that a wedding marks a new beginning with a chance for a clean slate. In fact, the wedding day is the first time that groom dons a kittel, a white garment that is traditionally worn on Yom Kippur. Rather than dragging in negative baggage from their pasts, the bride and groom enter into marriage with hope for a building a new future together

A traditional brides dons a white gown, and while that is not mandated by Jewish law, it fits in well with a parallel drawn between the bride and the high priest during the Yom Kippur Temple service. Traditionally, brides remove all jewelery prior to walking to the chuppah. The high priest would only enter into the Holy of Holies in the all white linen garments rather than the garments of gold, the bride enters into yichud with her husband without her extra adornments.

Breaking of the Glass

Generally, the groom (chatan) breaks the glass with his foot. It is a reminder of the destruction of the Temple, and a symbol of how fragile relationships can be. As with the glass, once relationships are broken and damaged, they are difficult to repair. The breaking of the glass at a wedding is also the signal for everyone to shout "Mazel Tov!" and start partying.

Sheru Brachot

The nesuin part of the wedding ceremony takes place after the kethuba is read. A minyan [quorum of ten] must be present for the recitation of the sheva brachos [the seven blessings]. The Biblical source for this appears in Megillas Ruth. Boaz publicizes his marriage to Ruth by gathering ten men (4:2).

The Wine

Blessed are You, L-rd our G d, King of the ‑universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. The seven blessings which draw divine blessings for the duration of the couple's married life commence with a blessing over a cup of wine. While every person projects a certain persona, wine has the ability to reveal the person behind the façade, the hidden elements of the person's personality.

The Wedding Meal

The Wedding Reception S'eudah Mitzvah The meal is begun with a blessing over a wedding challah (a large braided loaf of egg-rich bread). This blessing may be led by the bride and groom. The bridal couple may then bring a piece of challah to each table. This may allow them to greet their guests.. After the meal, Birkat Hamazon (Grace after meals) is recited

Sheva Brachot

The Seven Blessings) - The seven wedding blessings are either sung or recited. They praise God for creating human beings, and for making the groom and bride as happy as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.

Jewish Wedding Dance

The Krenzl, in which the bride's mother is crowned with a wreath of flowers as her daughters dance around her (traditionally at the wedding of the mother's last unwed daughter).The Mizinke, a dance for the parents of the bride or groom when their last child is wed.The "Hora" is a Middle Eastern/Israeli style dance[29] usually played as a second dance set.

The gladdening of the bride, in which guests dance around the bride, and can include the use of "shtick"—silly items such as signs, banners, costumes, confetti, and jump ropes made of table napkins.The Mitzvah tantz, in which family members and honored rabbis are invited to dance in front of the bride (or sometimes with the bride in the case of a father or grandfather), and then dancing with the groom. At the end the bride and groom dance together themselves.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

2Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [Luke 21:36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The bridal week in the wedding chamber

Yichud - During a Jewish wedding the bride and groom are escorted to a private room to spend some time alone. This time of seclusion represents their new status as husband and wife. The bridegroom would take his bride to the wedding chamber where they would spend seven days.

The guests would celebrate for seven days until the bride and bridegroom emerged from the wedding chamber. At this time the groom would bring his wife out and introduce her to the community.

Rev 3:10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep [tereo] you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.

The Wedding Ceremony (or the Marriage of the Lamb), which will occur in the Father’s house in heaven with only a few in attendance This event is then followed by Christ’s return to earth with His wife. Those believers whose “works” pass the Bema Seat Judgment criteria and who are deemed ready, worthy and prepared will obviously attend both the Wedding Ceremony in heaven and the Marriage Feast on earth that follows.

Marriage supper

After seven days in the wedding chamber, the bride and bridegroom would emerge and participate in a feast with friends and family. There would be joyous celebrating during this feast. The feast would conclude the wedding celebration. Isaiah 61:10 'I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.'

Revelation 19:6-9 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'".

The bride and groom were seen as king and queen

Another name for Rosh ha Shanah, which is the day of His coming--at the Feast of Trumpets, is “Coronation Day”.

He comes with the sound of the trumpet and much fan-fare and ceremony. He comes as the trumpet sounds loudly, with His angels, in the wrath of the Father, to destroy His enemies and the enemies of His Bride.

He comes as a victorious King to deliver His Bride from the evil one.He becomes the King of Kings over all the kingdoms of this world: Revelation 11:15-19; 19:16; Daniel 7:9, 13-14, 27; Revelation 1:7. On the wedding day, the Bridegroom and the Bride are called King and Queen – and reference is made to Psalm 45.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Depart for Home Just as the bride and bridegroom left the marriage supper to go to the home that the bridegroom had prepared, so Jesus and His bride will depart for their new home.

Revelation 21:1-4, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

At the center of his being, God is full of joy and delight and happiness - which he wants us to share. People talk as if heaven will be a miserable place, full of smug, self-righteous, uptight people, who will sit around strumming harps and talking to each other in seventeenth century English. When Jesus looks for a picture of what God's kingdom will be like, the one he chooses is a celebration. It's going to be one long party - the biggest party the Universe has ever seen.

THE END

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