The Millennium, Final Judgments, & Eternity
the third of three studies of The
Revelation of Jesus Christ
by Paige Ramsey
The
Marriage & Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Lesson 2
Revelation 19:7-10
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
We have again come to a change in focus in our study of the book of The Revelation. The seven year tribulation period containing twenty-one judgments of the earth has ended, and the King is preparing to make His appearance. So, we discernibly ask: what has taken place in the Third Heaven during these seven years? Like most other instances in this mysterious book, there are differing opinions, even among pretribulation-premillennialists (those who believe, as I do, that the Lord will take His Church before the tribulation, and that the Lord must return before the Millennial begins). By the way, the analogy of the Jewish wedding ceremony and the Bride of Christ gives strong evidence for the pretribulation-premillennial viewpoint.
Most pretribulation-premillennialists hold the opinion that the BEMA (bay’ muh or Judgment Seat)[i] of Christ must occur in order for the Bride of Christ (the church) to “make herself ready” for her wedding ceremony. Ephesians 5:27 states the Bride will be presented to Christ: "a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." This can only happen after the Judgment Seat of Christ, when believers are completely cleansed and the Church is fully healed. Even though our text does not directly address this judgment, because it is clearly taught in Scripture, and most learned Biblical scholars believe it will occur just before the Marriage of the Lamb, we will consider it here.
Verses referring to the Judgment Seat of Christ include:
2 Cor. 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 what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
Rom. 14:10 – But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you not consider your brother? For we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
We find the best teaching about what will occur at the BEMA in:
1 Cor. 3:9-17 – For we are laborers together with God: you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw; each one’s work shall become manifest: for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss: but he himself will be saved; yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
During the Judgment Seat of Christ, all our works will be judged. Notice that our works – not our sins – are judged. For those of us who have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, our sins were judged at Calvary, and the penalty for those sins was paid in full in the death of our Lord and Savior. It is very important for the child of God to understand this. The only reason to hold a judgment is to declare a sentence so the perpetrator can pay the consequence. If a judgment for our sins took place again, then the price Jesus paid for our sins was not complete. But it is complete! He has redeemed us entirely! God will not judge you further for your sins – they are paid in full. However, we will answer for the works we have done on this earth for the Lord and they will be purified.
Some of the works we’ve done “for the Lord” may not stand the test of the fire, and we will suffer loss. If our motive for doing something was not pure – seeking recognition, money, or control instead of seeking the lost – then it will burn up. But the works we did with a pure heart to simply spread the gospel so others could be saved will stand the test and remain as a pure metal or precious gem. This will be a wonderful judgment! Why? Because the outcome will be purity! Even though the fire reveals our bad intentions, our weaknesses for money and the things of this world, our secret desires to be recognized or control other people, and it will get hot! We will suffer in sorrow as we realize our faults and failures and see how so much work was for nothing. Then, as these impurities become evident, the heat will burn them completely away! We’ll be rid of every tidbit of impure intent, gone are all the hurts, frustrations, and misunderstandings accumulated while doing the Lord’s work. All that will remain is everything we’ve done with an earnest desire to bring others to Christ, to teach others the truths of God’s Word. Forgiveness will abound, and we will become tightly unified as the pure church, the beautiful Bride that Christ adores!
[i] G968 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
We have again come to a change in focus in our study of the book of The Revelation. The seven year tribulation period containing twenty-one judgments of the earth has ended, and the King is preparing to make His appearance. So, we discernibly ask: what has taken place in the Third Heaven during these seven years? Like most other instances in this mysterious book, there are differing opinions, even among pretribulation-premillennialists (those who believe, as I do, that the Lord will take His Church before the tribulation, and that the Lord must return before the Millennial begins). By the way, the analogy of the Jewish wedding ceremony and the Bride of Christ gives strong evidence for the pretribulation-premillennial viewpoint.
Most pretribulation-premillennialists hold the opinion that the BEMA (bay’ muh or Judgment Seat)[i] of Christ must occur in order for the Bride of Christ (the church) to “make herself ready” for her wedding ceremony. Ephesians 5:27 states the Bride will be presented to Christ: "a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." This can only happen after the Judgment Seat of Christ, when believers are completely cleansed and the Church is fully healed. Even though our text does not directly address this judgment, because it is clearly taught in Scripture, and most learned Biblical scholars believe it will occur just before the Marriage of the Lamb, we will consider it here.
Verses referring to the Judgment Seat of Christ include:
2 Cor. 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 what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
Rom. 14:10 – But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you not consider your brother? For we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
We find the best teaching about what will occur at the BEMA in:
1 Cor. 3:9-17 – For we are laborers together with God: you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw; each one’s work shall become manifest: for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss: but he himself will be saved; yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
During the Judgment Seat of Christ, all our works will be judged. Notice that our works – not our sins – are judged. For those of us who have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, our sins were judged at Calvary, and the penalty for those sins was paid in full in the death of our Lord and Savior. It is very important for the child of God to understand this. The only reason to hold a judgment is to declare a sentence so the perpetrator can pay the consequence. If a judgment for our sins took place again, then the price Jesus paid for our sins was not complete. But it is complete! He has redeemed us entirely! God will not judge you further for your sins – they are paid in full. However, we will answer for the works we have done on this earth for the Lord and they will be purified.
Some of the works we’ve done “for the Lord” may not stand the test of the fire, and we will suffer loss. If our motive for doing something was not pure – seeking recognition, money, or control instead of seeking the lost – then it will burn up. But the works we did with a pure heart to simply spread the gospel so others could be saved will stand the test and remain as a pure metal or precious gem. This will be a wonderful judgment! Why? Because the outcome will be purity! Even though the fire reveals our bad intentions, our weaknesses for money and the things of this world, our secret desires to be recognized or control other people, and it will get hot! We will suffer in sorrow as we realize our faults and failures and see how so much work was for nothing. Then, as these impurities become evident, the heat will burn them completely away! We’ll be rid of every tidbit of impure intent, gone are all the hurts, frustrations, and misunderstandings accumulated while doing the Lord’s work. All that will remain is everything we’ve done with an earnest desire to bring others to Christ, to teach others the truths of God’s Word. Forgiveness will abound, and we will become tightly unified as the pure church, the beautiful Bride that Christ adores!
[i] G968 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
The
Marriage of the Lamb
While studying for this lesson, I came across three different people who held to the idea of two separate marriages with two separate brides and two separate marriage suppers. Notice the viewpoint of Scofield, author of the Scofield Study Bible, who is known for his “dispensations of grace” theology:
The "Lamb's wife" here is the "bride", (Rev_21:9), the Church, identified with the "heavenly Jerusalem", (Heb_12:22); (Heb_12:23), and to be distinguished from Israel, the adulterous and repudiated "wife" of Jehovah, yet to be restored; (Isa_54:1-10); (Hos_2:1-17); who is identified with the earth (Hos_2:23). A forgiven and restored wife could not be called either a virgin (2Co_11:2); (2Co_11:3) or a bride.[i]
This take is completely new to me, and as I am a learner of God’s Word and not an expert in Biblical theology, I will simply explain this viewpoint and allow you to do further research to understand how it should tie in with the prophetic events of the end times. Most Old Testament teachings reveal a marriage covenant between God and Israel with Israel continually being unfaithful, playing the harlot. Some say God has divorced Israel completely because of this. Others say God has given Israel papers of divorcement, but has not eternally cut her off.
Now the questions come in: Is the Bride of Christ inclusive of Old Testament saints – most all who come from Israel, God’s chosen people? Or is the Bride of Christ exclusive to only the New Testament Church? Who are the wedding “guests” spoken of so clearly who are blessed to be invited? Does God the Father have one bride while God the Son has another bride? What about all the saints who lived before God made a covenant with Abraham – Adam, Eve, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem? The Bride of Christ will reign with Him during the Millennium, but what part will these others play during the Millennium?
I haven’t had time to explore all these questions to have a firm answer to stand on. However, I will give some of my thoughts – which you can take or leave, because they aren’t worth a penny.
I tend to think of God as One, though I understand the three separate aspects of the Father, Son, and Spirit. To me, however, when one speaks of God, all three, the Father, Son, and Spirit are included. Some people think of God as the Father only. They think of the Messiah, and/or Jesus, and/or Christ as the Son only, and the Holy Spirit as a completely separate being. In my mind, when God made a covenant with Israel, the Father, Son, and Spirit made that covenant, so it is hard for me to wrap my thoughts around the idea that only the Father was bound in that contract. However, admittedly, it is very clear in the New Testament that the Bride of Christ is the Church, and Scriptures never refer to Israel as the Church. That is a term used exclusively for the Lord’s people who accepted Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth as the Messiah – rather than the idea of the Messiah in general. So, you see my dilemma.
I do stand on one Scriptural proof for my thinking on this matter, though. Most people who think of God as the Father also think of the Father as the Creator. John 1:1-3, 14 refutes that. In these verses, John clearly indicates that the Creator is Jesus Christ! Now I know very little about proofs, but one thing I do remember from high school geometry is that if a=b and b=c then a=c. God the Creator = Elohym[ii] (Gen. 1); Jesus Christ = God the Creator (John 1); therefore, Jesus Christ = Elohym. According to Genesis 17:3, 7, Elohym made the covenant with Abraham. Therefore, I can logically assume that, in fact, Jesus Christ made this covenant with Abraham.
I cannot back my next thought with Scripture, but I just cannot imagine ruling with Christ while Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, the Old Testament prophets, other great leaders who trusted in the Messiah’s promise and stood firm, leading the people of their day to believe have no part in ruling with Christ. I have a hard time envisioning all the thousands (or millions?) of other people, like Job, who believed the Lord and had faith that He would one day send the Messiah to be the perfect sacrifice for their sins just fade in the background during the Millennium. I realize that compared to eternity, this 1,000 year period is only a blink of time, but it is a very important time when Christ will finally physically rule this planet. I do not see these great men whose lives were included in God’s Word for us to learn from taking a back seat during Christ’s Kingdom.
Then, there’s the question of the wedding guests… who are they? Are they the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints? Is that their only role? Guests? Christ died for their sins, too! He loves them as much as He loves us.
For these reasons, I believe the Bride of Christ is the Church, and is inclusive of all the fallen human race who have believed in the salvation of the Lord, then, now, and in the future (even the Tribulation saints - Rev. 20:4). Scriptures clearly teach that the Gentiles of the New Testament who readily accepted the Lord’s payment for their sins, putting all their trust in Him are grafted in with Israel. If we are grafted in with Israel, and she is the Bride of Jehovah, how can we be a different bride? In my mind, the saints who lived before Abraham must be included in the Bride of Christ as they also believed in the Messiah, and Christ also paid for their sins.
If all this is correct, however, who are the wedding guests? I believe they are the people who have been chosen (invited) to remain on the earth after the Battle of Armageddon and the Judgment of the Nations. They are truly blessed! This puts the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at the beginning of the Millennium, while the Marriage of the Lamb takes place just prior to the Lord’s return, which is a possibility, and seems to be supported in Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:28-29; 22:16-18, 29-30. In Luke 22:16 Jesus specifically says, “I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God,” and in verse 18, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” These with verses 29-30, “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel,” seem to make it clear that the Marriage Supper will occur in His Kingdom.
Again, please study this out for yourself. I do not profess to be 100% sure of this time frame or of the exact make-up of the Bride of Christ. I know I will be studying it further.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the Jewish marital customs so we can really see how the marriage of Christ to the Church is evident throughout Scripture and is a very sure event for us to look forward to and prepare for. The following analogy of eighteen points is from a lesson I wrote for the study on Spiritual Warfare. This teaching has helped me immensely to understand the Second Coming more fully, and I am excited to pass it on to you.
[i] Scofield, Cyrus Ingerson; Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 edition.
[ii] H433 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (pronounced el-o-heem’)
While studying for this lesson, I came across three different people who held to the idea of two separate marriages with two separate brides and two separate marriage suppers. Notice the viewpoint of Scofield, author of the Scofield Study Bible, who is known for his “dispensations of grace” theology:
The "Lamb's wife" here is the "bride", (Rev_21:9), the Church, identified with the "heavenly Jerusalem", (Heb_12:22); (Heb_12:23), and to be distinguished from Israel, the adulterous and repudiated "wife" of Jehovah, yet to be restored; (Isa_54:1-10); (Hos_2:1-17); who is identified with the earth (Hos_2:23). A forgiven and restored wife could not be called either a virgin (2Co_11:2); (2Co_11:3) or a bride.[i]
This take is completely new to me, and as I am a learner of God’s Word and not an expert in Biblical theology, I will simply explain this viewpoint and allow you to do further research to understand how it should tie in with the prophetic events of the end times. Most Old Testament teachings reveal a marriage covenant between God and Israel with Israel continually being unfaithful, playing the harlot. Some say God has divorced Israel completely because of this. Others say God has given Israel papers of divorcement, but has not eternally cut her off.
Now the questions come in: Is the Bride of Christ inclusive of Old Testament saints – most all who come from Israel, God’s chosen people? Or is the Bride of Christ exclusive to only the New Testament Church? Who are the wedding “guests” spoken of so clearly who are blessed to be invited? Does God the Father have one bride while God the Son has another bride? What about all the saints who lived before God made a covenant with Abraham – Adam, Eve, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem? The Bride of Christ will reign with Him during the Millennium, but what part will these others play during the Millennium?
I haven’t had time to explore all these questions to have a firm answer to stand on. However, I will give some of my thoughts – which you can take or leave, because they aren’t worth a penny.
I tend to think of God as One, though I understand the three separate aspects of the Father, Son, and Spirit. To me, however, when one speaks of God, all three, the Father, Son, and Spirit are included. Some people think of God as the Father only. They think of the Messiah, and/or Jesus, and/or Christ as the Son only, and the Holy Spirit as a completely separate being. In my mind, when God made a covenant with Israel, the Father, Son, and Spirit made that covenant, so it is hard for me to wrap my thoughts around the idea that only the Father was bound in that contract. However, admittedly, it is very clear in the New Testament that the Bride of Christ is the Church, and Scriptures never refer to Israel as the Church. That is a term used exclusively for the Lord’s people who accepted Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth as the Messiah – rather than the idea of the Messiah in general. So, you see my dilemma.
I do stand on one Scriptural proof for my thinking on this matter, though. Most people who think of God as the Father also think of the Father as the Creator. John 1:1-3, 14 refutes that. In these verses, John clearly indicates that the Creator is Jesus Christ! Now I know very little about proofs, but one thing I do remember from high school geometry is that if a=b and b=c then a=c. God the Creator = Elohym[ii] (Gen. 1); Jesus Christ = God the Creator (John 1); therefore, Jesus Christ = Elohym. According to Genesis 17:3, 7, Elohym made the covenant with Abraham. Therefore, I can logically assume that, in fact, Jesus Christ made this covenant with Abraham.
I cannot back my next thought with Scripture, but I just cannot imagine ruling with Christ while Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, the Old Testament prophets, other great leaders who trusted in the Messiah’s promise and stood firm, leading the people of their day to believe have no part in ruling with Christ. I have a hard time envisioning all the thousands (or millions?) of other people, like Job, who believed the Lord and had faith that He would one day send the Messiah to be the perfect sacrifice for their sins just fade in the background during the Millennium. I realize that compared to eternity, this 1,000 year period is only a blink of time, but it is a very important time when Christ will finally physically rule this planet. I do not see these great men whose lives were included in God’s Word for us to learn from taking a back seat during Christ’s Kingdom.
Then, there’s the question of the wedding guests… who are they? Are they the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints? Is that their only role? Guests? Christ died for their sins, too! He loves them as much as He loves us.
For these reasons, I believe the Bride of Christ is the Church, and is inclusive of all the fallen human race who have believed in the salvation of the Lord, then, now, and in the future (even the Tribulation saints - Rev. 20:4). Scriptures clearly teach that the Gentiles of the New Testament who readily accepted the Lord’s payment for their sins, putting all their trust in Him are grafted in with Israel. If we are grafted in with Israel, and she is the Bride of Jehovah, how can we be a different bride? In my mind, the saints who lived before Abraham must be included in the Bride of Christ as they also believed in the Messiah, and Christ also paid for their sins.
If all this is correct, however, who are the wedding guests? I believe they are the people who have been chosen (invited) to remain on the earth after the Battle of Armageddon and the Judgment of the Nations. They are truly blessed! This puts the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at the beginning of the Millennium, while the Marriage of the Lamb takes place just prior to the Lord’s return, which is a possibility, and seems to be supported in Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:28-29; 22:16-18, 29-30. In Luke 22:16 Jesus specifically says, “I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God,” and in verse 18, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” These with verses 29-30, “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel,” seem to make it clear that the Marriage Supper will occur in His Kingdom.
Again, please study this out for yourself. I do not profess to be 100% sure of this time frame or of the exact make-up of the Bride of Christ. I know I will be studying it further.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the Jewish marital customs so we can really see how the marriage of Christ to the Church is evident throughout Scripture and is a very sure event for us to look forward to and prepare for. The following analogy of eighteen points is from a lesson I wrote for the study on Spiritual Warfare. This teaching has helped me immensely to understand the Second Coming more fully, and I am excited to pass it on to you.
[i] Scofield, Cyrus Ingerson; Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 edition.
[ii] H433 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (pronounced el-o-heem’)
Discover The Bride of Christ
God appointed the time, and it was now. Jesus faced His destination, knowing that very soon, He would die – nailed to a cross. He sat with His disciples in the Upper Room with only a few more hours to prepare them. Jesus warned His disciples about His impending death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, worrying them almost to alarm. In order to ease their fears, Jesus made a comforting promise:
John 14:1-3 - “Let not your hearts be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jewish Marriage Customs
Most of us in North America do not realize the full significance of Jesus' promise to His chosen twelve. As He so eloquently did with the parables, He was drawing an analogy from the Jewish marriage customs of that time period. When Bob Farber, a Jewish prophecy teacher, taught of the Jewish wedding rituals in his presentation of the Second Coming of Christ, I wanted to go back to redo my wedding, and do it like this!! It is so romantic and meaningful! But, more importantly, knowing them will help us better understand the love of our Savior, our bridegroom, why it was necessary for Him to leave us, and why we can be assured that He is coming again. Let’s look at those ancient customs to better anticipate His love.
In Jesus’ time, when a man was ready to wed, he looked for a choice maiden to marry. Once he found her, the prospective bridegroom traveled from his father's house to the home of the prospective bride. He then negotiated with the father of his chosen young woman to agree upon a price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. When the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was established. As a symbol of the covenant, the groom and bride drank from a cup of wine. From that moment on, the bride was declared consecrated or sanctified, set apart exclusively for the bridegroom, and they were regarded as husband and wife.
With the marriage covenant created, the groom left the bride’s home to return to his father's house. As he left, he repeated a familiar, comforting phrase to his bride: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” The bride and bridegroom remained separate for at least a year – up to two years. During this period of separation, the bride gathered her trousseau and the groom prepared a place – usually on his family’s land or added into his father's house – where he could bring his bride.
When the living preparations were ready, the groom came with his friends – leaving the groom's father's house and proceeded to the home of the bride, usually at night with torch lights burning – to capture his bride for the wedding feast. Although the bride expected her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact time he would come. She usually had a vague idea (from mutual friends) about when her new home was close to being ready. Then, she got her maids together and they stayed with her all night every night, waiting. The bride slept in her wedding dress with her veil handy just in case her groom came. To give the bride a bit of forewarning, one of the groom’s men would cry with a loud shout, or blow a ram’s horn. Arriving at her house, the groom stole his bride, and all the groom’s friends and the bride’s maids returned in a great procession back to the groom’s father’s house.
Upon arrival, the wedding party escorted the bride and groom to the bridal chamber (chuppah). Prior to entering the chamber, the bride remained veiled so that no one saw her face. The bride and groom entered the bridal chamber alone with the groom’s men and bride’s maids waiting outside for the marriage to be consummated. Afterward, the groom appeared and announced the consummation to the wedding party (John 3:29). The wedding party passed on the news of the marital union to the wedding guests who would gather to feast and make merry for the next seven days while the couple honeymooned. During the seven days of the wedding festivities, which were sometimes called "the seven days of the chuppah," the bride remained hidden in the bridal chamber. At the conclusion of these seven days, the groom brought his bride out of the bridal chamber, with her veil removed, so that all could see his beautiful bride.
The Analogy
Eph 5:22-33 :
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Scriptures regard the Church to be the Bride of Christ (See also Rom 7:4). Let’s look at the analogy.
1. A Jewish man looked for (sought out) a choice maiden to marry.
Before the foundation of the world, Christ sought out and chose a bride.
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” Eph 1:4 (Also see: Mark 13:20)
2. The Jewish bridegroom left his Father's house and traveled to the home of
the prospective bride.
Jesus left His Father's house in heaven and traveled to earth, the home of
His prospective Church over 2,000 years ago.
3. The prospective Jewish bridegroom came to the prospective bride's home for
the purpose of obtaining her through the establishment of a marriage
covenant.
Jesus came to the earth for the purpose of obtaining the Church through the
establishment of a covenant. John 3:13; 6:51
4. The Jewish couple drank a cup of wine to establish the covenant.
On the night Jesus made His promise in John 14, He instituted the Lord’s
Supper. As He passed the cup of wine to His disciples, He said: "This cup is
the new covenant in my blood." 1 Cor. 11:25 He was declaring that He
would establish a new covenant by shedding His blood on the cross.
5. The Jewish groom paid a price to purchase his bride.
Jesus paid a price to purchase His bride, the Church. The price that He paid
was His own life blood. Paul wrote the following to members of the Church:
"know ye not that...ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: …"
1 Cor. 6:19-20.
6. The Jewish bride was sanctified or set apart exclusively for her groom once
the marriage covenant was established.
The Church has been declared sanctified or set apart exclusively for Christ
“…therefore glorify God in your body, and your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Cor. 6:20b (Also see Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 10:10; 13:12).
2 Cor 11:2 – For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
7. The Jewish groom left the bride’s home and returned to his father's house
after the marriage covenant was established. As he left, he said a familiar,
comforting phrase to his bride: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus left the earth, the home of the Church, and returned to His Father's
house in heaven after He established the new covenant and rose from the
dead. John 6:62; 20:17 When he said those words to His disciples, they
recognized the phrase. After the Holy Spirit came, He taught them to
understand the full analogy.
8. The bride and groom were separated for at least a year – up to two years.
Christ has been separated from the Church for almost 2000 years (29–2013).
The Church is now living in that period of separation.
9. The Jewish groom prepared living accommodations for his bride in his
father's house during the time of separation.
Christ is preparing living accommodations for the Church in His Father's
house while He is separated from His Bride. John 14:2
10. The Jewish groom came to take his bride at the end of the separation.
Christ will come to take His Church at the end of the separation. John 14:3
11. A procession of the groom and his friends came from the groom's father's
house to the home of the bride to take the Jewish bride.
A procession of Christ and an angelic escort will come from the Father's
house in heaven to the earth (home of the Church) to take the bride of
Christ. Matt 24:31; 1 Thess. 4:16-17
12. The Jewish bride did not know the exact time of the groom's coming for her.
The Church does not know the exact time Christ comes for her. Matt 24:36;
Mk 13:32
Matt 25:1-13 – “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a shout was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, unless there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the chamber; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
13. The Jewish groom's arrival was preceded by a shout, or the blowing of a
ram’s horn.
Christ's arrival to take the Church will be preceded by a shout and the trump
of God. 1 Thess. 4:16
14. The Jewish bride returns with the groom to his father's house after her
departure from her home.
The Church will return with Christ to His Father's house in heaven after she is
snatched from the earth to meet Him in the air. 1 Thess. 4:17; John 14:2-3
15. The Jewish bride and groom enter into physical union after their arrival at the
groom's father's house, consummating the marriage.
Christ and the Church will experience spiritual union after their arrival at His
Father's house, consummating their relationship.
16. The Jewish bride remains hidden in the bridal chamber for a period of seven
days after arrival at the groom's father's house.
The Church remains hidden for a period of seven years after arriving at the
Father's house in heaven. While the seven year Tribulation Period is
happening on the earth, the Church is in heaven, totally hidden from those
living on the earth.
Rev 19:7-9 – Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
17. The Jewish groom brought his bride out of the bridal chamber at the end of
the seven days with her veil removed, so that all could see his bride.
Christ will bring His Church out of heaven in His Second Coming at the end of
the seven year Tribulation Period in full view of all who are alive, so that all
can see the true church! Col. 3:4
I hope you will find the joy of being the Bride of Christ, and look forward to the day when the Bridegroom will come and we will be married to the Lord of lords, the King of all kings, the Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth, the Son of the Living, Triune God! What a glorious day we have to look forward to!!
If you do not know if you are a part of the Lord’s Church, you need to pray and ask the Lord to reveal your condition to you. As the Lord reveals sin in your life, you need to admit your guilt to Him. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The word translated believe in English is the Greek word pisteuo[i] which goes far beyond our normal use of the word believe to convey an acknowledgement of existence. James 2:19 says, “…the devils also believe and tremble.” This word actually means to have faith, entrust, and commit to. Believing on the Son (Jesus) means you so fully believe and entrust Him that you accept His death on the cross as payment for your sins and commit yourself entirely to Him. When you can trust the Lord with your soul’s eternal well-being, and are willing to live out your life for Him, you have faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Faith is a gift from God and His grace has given you this precious gift so that you can believe and be saved! If you have been saved, you should find a Bible-believing church to join. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together – we learn from each other and draw strength from each other to remain faithful to the Lord.
As the Bride of Christ, let us begin preparing to meet our Bridegroom by taking an evaluation of our lives – are we living by faith, serving the Lord? We need to search our hearts to discover our motives – are we acting out of love for our Lord or a worldly objective? We need to completely confess every sin the Lord reveals to us and repent (turn away) from them entirely. As we continue daily in the Lord’s work with a pure heart and pure motives, we know that we are adding precious gems and metals to adorn ourselves for our Marriage to the Lamb!!
[i] G4100 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
God appointed the time, and it was now. Jesus faced His destination, knowing that very soon, He would die – nailed to a cross. He sat with His disciples in the Upper Room with only a few more hours to prepare them. Jesus warned His disciples about His impending death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, worrying them almost to alarm. In order to ease their fears, Jesus made a comforting promise:
John 14:1-3 - “Let not your hearts be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jewish Marriage Customs
Most of us in North America do not realize the full significance of Jesus' promise to His chosen twelve. As He so eloquently did with the parables, He was drawing an analogy from the Jewish marriage customs of that time period. When Bob Farber, a Jewish prophecy teacher, taught of the Jewish wedding rituals in his presentation of the Second Coming of Christ, I wanted to go back to redo my wedding, and do it like this!! It is so romantic and meaningful! But, more importantly, knowing them will help us better understand the love of our Savior, our bridegroom, why it was necessary for Him to leave us, and why we can be assured that He is coming again. Let’s look at those ancient customs to better anticipate His love.
In Jesus’ time, when a man was ready to wed, he looked for a choice maiden to marry. Once he found her, the prospective bridegroom traveled from his father's house to the home of the prospective bride. He then negotiated with the father of his chosen young woman to agree upon a price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. When the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was established. As a symbol of the covenant, the groom and bride drank from a cup of wine. From that moment on, the bride was declared consecrated or sanctified, set apart exclusively for the bridegroom, and they were regarded as husband and wife.
With the marriage covenant created, the groom left the bride’s home to return to his father's house. As he left, he repeated a familiar, comforting phrase to his bride: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” The bride and bridegroom remained separate for at least a year – up to two years. During this period of separation, the bride gathered her trousseau and the groom prepared a place – usually on his family’s land or added into his father's house – where he could bring his bride.
When the living preparations were ready, the groom came with his friends – leaving the groom's father's house and proceeded to the home of the bride, usually at night with torch lights burning – to capture his bride for the wedding feast. Although the bride expected her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact time he would come. She usually had a vague idea (from mutual friends) about when her new home was close to being ready. Then, she got her maids together and they stayed with her all night every night, waiting. The bride slept in her wedding dress with her veil handy just in case her groom came. To give the bride a bit of forewarning, one of the groom’s men would cry with a loud shout, or blow a ram’s horn. Arriving at her house, the groom stole his bride, and all the groom’s friends and the bride’s maids returned in a great procession back to the groom’s father’s house.
Upon arrival, the wedding party escorted the bride and groom to the bridal chamber (chuppah). Prior to entering the chamber, the bride remained veiled so that no one saw her face. The bride and groom entered the bridal chamber alone with the groom’s men and bride’s maids waiting outside for the marriage to be consummated. Afterward, the groom appeared and announced the consummation to the wedding party (John 3:29). The wedding party passed on the news of the marital union to the wedding guests who would gather to feast and make merry for the next seven days while the couple honeymooned. During the seven days of the wedding festivities, which were sometimes called "the seven days of the chuppah," the bride remained hidden in the bridal chamber. At the conclusion of these seven days, the groom brought his bride out of the bridal chamber, with her veil removed, so that all could see his beautiful bride.
The Analogy
Eph 5:22-33 :
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Scriptures regard the Church to be the Bride of Christ (See also Rom 7:4). Let’s look at the analogy.
1. A Jewish man looked for (sought out) a choice maiden to marry.
Before the foundation of the world, Christ sought out and chose a bride.
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” Eph 1:4 (Also see: Mark 13:20)
2. The Jewish bridegroom left his Father's house and traveled to the home of
the prospective bride.
Jesus left His Father's house in heaven and traveled to earth, the home of
His prospective Church over 2,000 years ago.
3. The prospective Jewish bridegroom came to the prospective bride's home for
the purpose of obtaining her through the establishment of a marriage
covenant.
Jesus came to the earth for the purpose of obtaining the Church through the
establishment of a covenant. John 3:13; 6:51
4. The Jewish couple drank a cup of wine to establish the covenant.
On the night Jesus made His promise in John 14, He instituted the Lord’s
Supper. As He passed the cup of wine to His disciples, He said: "This cup is
the new covenant in my blood." 1 Cor. 11:25 He was declaring that He
would establish a new covenant by shedding His blood on the cross.
5. The Jewish groom paid a price to purchase his bride.
Jesus paid a price to purchase His bride, the Church. The price that He paid
was His own life blood. Paul wrote the following to members of the Church:
"know ye not that...ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: …"
1 Cor. 6:19-20.
6. The Jewish bride was sanctified or set apart exclusively for her groom once
the marriage covenant was established.
The Church has been declared sanctified or set apart exclusively for Christ
“…therefore glorify God in your body, and your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Cor. 6:20b (Also see Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 10:10; 13:12).
2 Cor 11:2 – For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
7. The Jewish groom left the bride’s home and returned to his father's house
after the marriage covenant was established. As he left, he said a familiar,
comforting phrase to his bride: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus left the earth, the home of the Church, and returned to His Father's
house in heaven after He established the new covenant and rose from the
dead. John 6:62; 20:17 When he said those words to His disciples, they
recognized the phrase. After the Holy Spirit came, He taught them to
understand the full analogy.
8. The bride and groom were separated for at least a year – up to two years.
Christ has been separated from the Church for almost 2000 years (29–2013).
The Church is now living in that period of separation.
9. The Jewish groom prepared living accommodations for his bride in his
father's house during the time of separation.
Christ is preparing living accommodations for the Church in His Father's
house while He is separated from His Bride. John 14:2
10. The Jewish groom came to take his bride at the end of the separation.
Christ will come to take His Church at the end of the separation. John 14:3
11. A procession of the groom and his friends came from the groom's father's
house to the home of the bride to take the Jewish bride.
A procession of Christ and an angelic escort will come from the Father's
house in heaven to the earth (home of the Church) to take the bride of
Christ. Matt 24:31; 1 Thess. 4:16-17
12. The Jewish bride did not know the exact time of the groom's coming for her.
The Church does not know the exact time Christ comes for her. Matt 24:36;
Mk 13:32
Matt 25:1-13 – “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a shout was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, unless there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the chamber; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
13. The Jewish groom's arrival was preceded by a shout, or the blowing of a
ram’s horn.
Christ's arrival to take the Church will be preceded by a shout and the trump
of God. 1 Thess. 4:16
14. The Jewish bride returns with the groom to his father's house after her
departure from her home.
The Church will return with Christ to His Father's house in heaven after she is
snatched from the earth to meet Him in the air. 1 Thess. 4:17; John 14:2-3
15. The Jewish bride and groom enter into physical union after their arrival at the
groom's father's house, consummating the marriage.
Christ and the Church will experience spiritual union after their arrival at His
Father's house, consummating their relationship.
16. The Jewish bride remains hidden in the bridal chamber for a period of seven
days after arrival at the groom's father's house.
The Church remains hidden for a period of seven years after arriving at the
Father's house in heaven. While the seven year Tribulation Period is
happening on the earth, the Church is in heaven, totally hidden from those
living on the earth.
Rev 19:7-9 – Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
17. The Jewish groom brought his bride out of the bridal chamber at the end of
the seven days with her veil removed, so that all could see his bride.
Christ will bring His Church out of heaven in His Second Coming at the end of
the seven year Tribulation Period in full view of all who are alive, so that all
can see the true church! Col. 3:4
I hope you will find the joy of being the Bride of Christ, and look forward to the day when the Bridegroom will come and we will be married to the Lord of lords, the King of all kings, the Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth, the Son of the Living, Triune God! What a glorious day we have to look forward to!!
If you do not know if you are a part of the Lord’s Church, you need to pray and ask the Lord to reveal your condition to you. As the Lord reveals sin in your life, you need to admit your guilt to Him. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The word translated believe in English is the Greek word pisteuo[i] which goes far beyond our normal use of the word believe to convey an acknowledgement of existence. James 2:19 says, “…the devils also believe and tremble.” This word actually means to have faith, entrust, and commit to. Believing on the Son (Jesus) means you so fully believe and entrust Him that you accept His death on the cross as payment for your sins and commit yourself entirely to Him. When you can trust the Lord with your soul’s eternal well-being, and are willing to live out your life for Him, you have faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Faith is a gift from God and His grace has given you this precious gift so that you can believe and be saved! If you have been saved, you should find a Bible-believing church to join. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together – we learn from each other and draw strength from each other to remain faithful to the Lord.
As the Bride of Christ, let us begin preparing to meet our Bridegroom by taking an evaluation of our lives – are we living by faith, serving the Lord? We need to search our hearts to discover our motives – are we acting out of love for our Lord or a worldly objective? We need to completely confess every sin the Lord reveals to us and repent (turn away) from them entirely. As we continue daily in the Lord’s work with a pure heart and pure motives, we know that we are adding precious gems and metals to adorn ourselves for our Marriage to the Lamb!!
[i] G4100 in Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.