The Biblical Marriage of the Lamb is in accordance with the ancient Jewish Marriage Customs. The ritual or order of steps to the Marriage supper of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) with His bride (the church) is in accordance with the ancient Jewish marriage customs.
Rev 19:7, 9: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. …’blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb’
The imagery of the ancient Jewish marriage customs is the foundation of our salvation in Christ. Only when you understand the wedding customs of the Bible, you begin to appreciate the rich imagery of our salvation in Jesus Christ and our marriage to Christ.
And here are the prescribed orderly steps or stages to the Marriage supper of the Lamb in accordance with ancient Jewish marriage customs.
Marriage of the Lamb is in accordance with ancient Jewish Marriage Customs
The prescribed orderly steps in ancient Jewish marriage customs are in accordance with the Biblical orderly steps to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Let’s first look at how ancient Jewish marriage customs were.
Ancient Jewish Marriage Customs
In ancient Jewish marriage customs, it is the groom’s father who made all the arrangements for the marriage even the dates and times.
Ancient Jewish marriage customs had three main stages. These are: –
- Contract
- Consummation and
- Celebration
Let’s look at each of these three steps in their orderly manner.
1. Contract
In this stage, a marriage bond or covenant was created. This is the betrothal stage.
After the bride accepts to be married by the groom, the bride’s father would sign a legal contract called a ‘ketubbah’. Once this is signed the couple is 100% married but do not have sex yet; only a divorce certificate could separate the two. Young children were often married (arraigned marriage) but did not consummate until of age.
In creating the marriage contract, the bride price (dowry) was set and the groom pays if he is able. If the groom could not pay at that time, he had time before the consummation stage.
Creating the marriage bond (betrothal) involved the following steps;
a) The prospective groom traveled from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride
b) The groom pays the purchase price thus establishing the marriage covenant.
c) Groom returns to his father’s house and prepares a room for his bride in his father’s house (bridal chamber)
2. Consummating the marriage
Consummating the marriage occurred a year or more after the marriage covenant was created (after betrothal). Remember it is the groom’s father who made all the arrangements and knew the timings.
Before consummating the marriage, the bridegroom must have fulfilled the following; –
a) Paid in full the purchase price and
b) Bridal chamber must be ready in his father’s house
Consummating the marriage involved the bridegroom fetching his bride in order to bring her to her prepared room.
It is only the groom’s father who knew the time for the groom to go fetch his bride. At a time not known to the bride, the bridegroom would come and snatch his bride away.
Since the bride did not know the time for the groom’s coming, the groom could find his bride in the river, on the road, sleeping, working, etc and wherever the groom found his bride, he snatched her away to his father’s home to the room he has prepared for her.
A ritual cleansing could be done to the bride before entering into the bridal chamber to consummate the marriage.
There was also a ‘proof of virginity’.
Inside the groom’s father’s house in the room the groom has prepared for the bride, the groom and the bride remained in the closet for 7 days consummating the marriage.
The groom and the bride were not supposed to come out of that room or be seen until the 7 days were over. All their needs could be taken care of by the groom’s father family even food and water brought to them in that room.
After the 7 days in privacy consummating the marriage, the bridegroom and the bride would come out of the room for the first time together for the celebration.
3. Celebration
Celebration is the marriage feast, ceremony or wedding feast.
This is the last stage in ancient Jewish marriage customs. The marriage feast happened in the home of the groom or in home of a family member of the groom, and many were invited.
The bride was first dressed for the marriage ceremony.
After the marriage ceremony, the couple has completed all ancient Jewish ritual of Marriage and the groom has his bride forever.
How then is the Marriage of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) in accordance with ancient Jewish Marriage Customs?
Marriage of the Lamb is in accordance with ancient Jewish Marriage Customs
The Marriage of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) to His bride (the church) is in accordance with ancient Jewish marriage customs. The ancient Jewish ritual of marriage are the same ritual God is following to the Marriage of the Lamb; the foundation of our salvation in Jesus Christ.
Let’s see how, in the same orderly manner as described above in ancient Jewish marriage customs.
Jesus Christ is the bridegroom while the church is the bride.
1. Contract (Betrothal)
After the fall of man years ago, God made a promise that He will send His Son to pay the price and save humanity. Remember that in ancient Jewish marriage customs it is the groom’s father who makes all the arrangements and knows the timings.
It is God (the father) who makes all the arrangements for His son (Jesus Christ) and knows the timings.
When the right time came, the father sent His only begotten son (Jesus) to the bride’s home. Jesus confirmed this when He said,
John 5:37: And the Father himself, who sent me,
John 7:29: But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me.
And Apostle John testifies,
1 John 4:14: And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Jesus came to do His father’s will.
John 4:34: Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work
John 5:30: I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who has sent me
John 6:38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him who has sent me
The groom (Jesus) traveled from His father’s house (heaven) to the home of His bride (the earth) in accordance with ancient Jewish marriage customs.
John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Mt 1:23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The purchase price was set by the father (God) according to His will.
Mt 26:39: And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.
Mt 26:42: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, you will be done.
On Calvary tree, Jesus (groom) paid the bride price as required, according to ancient Jewish marriage customs and as was set by the father according to His will.
John 19:17-18: And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha where they crucified him
1 Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
Act 20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
1 Cor 6:20: For you are bought with a price
Yes! The price is paid. The ransom is paid. His Grace is sufficient.
2 Cor 12:9 …My grace is sufficient for thee
A bride has access to all grooms’ father’s riches at the expense of the groom. We (the church) have access to all God’s riches at the expense of Jesus Christ. This is the grace.
See Grace: – God’s Riches at Christ Expenses
Since we are going to be married by the groom (Jesus Christ), all grooms’ fathers’ riches are ours to inherit. Yes! All God’s riches are ours to inherit.
Mt 25:34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
Col 3:24: Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.
1 Peter 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Rev 21:7: He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son.
The first step to the Marriage supper of the Lamb was completed; betrothal was done.
Immediately after paying the price, Jesus Christ (groom) traveled back to His father’s home (heaven) in accordance with ancient Jewish marriage customs.
Mk 16:19: So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Lk 24:51: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven
Act 1:9-11: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.
Church (bride) betrothal to the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) was done 2,000 years ago. The marriage covenant was established at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.
See the blood moons and the crucifixion darkness in 33 AD
When does a person become part of the betrothed bride?
Whenever a person places his/her faith in Jesus Christ, s/he enters into this covenant and becomes part of Jesus Christ’s bride. The time you accept Jesus Christ truly in your heart as your Lord and savior, you become part of the betrothed bride.
Rom 10:9-11: That if you shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
Paul says,
2 Cor 11:2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Accept Jesus Christ today as your Lord and savior; be part of the betrothed bride.
In accordance with the ancient Jewish ritual of marriage, Jesus returned to His father’s house to prepare a room for His bride.
John 14:1-3: Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms: 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.
And as prophesied by Isaiah,
Isa 26:20: Come, my people, enter thou into thy rooms, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Jesus Christ has been in His father’s house close to 2,000 years preparing a room for His bride (the church) and He is now coming back to take His bride to consummate the marriage.
2. Consummation of marriage
In ancient Jewish marriage customs, consummating the marriage involved the bridegroom fetching his bride to take her to his father’s house, to her prepared room.
Jesus said,
‘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’ (John 14:3).
In ancient Jewish marriage customs, the bride did not know the time of her groom’s coming thus at a time not known to the bride, the bridegroom would come and snatch her away wherever he could find her.
Jesus comes at a time the bride does not expect.
M’t 24:40-42: Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.
Mt 24:44: Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.
The snatching, caught up, rapture of the church (bride) is at hand. The bridegroom (Jesus Christ) is coming for His bride (the church).
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
See the vision of the rapture of the church and what will happen in rapture
According to ancient Jewish marriage customs, it is the groom’s father who knew the timings not the groom. For this reason, Jesus does not know the time for Him to come fetch His bride but God, the father knows.
Mt 24:36: But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
A ritual cleansing could be done to the bride before entering into the bridal chamber to consummate the marriage. We see the church changed within a twinkling of an eye (given heavily bodies).
1 Cor 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Then Jesus Christ (groom) will take the church (bride) to the room He has prepared in His father’s house to consummate the marriage in accordance with ancient Jewish marriage customs.
There will be a ‘proof of virginity’.
How do we pass the ‘proof of virginity’?
Our proof of virginity is the blood of Jesus Christ. The virgin blood we lack is supplied by the blood of Christ.
2 Cor 11:2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
The bride must be blameless and without a spot. The powerful blood of Jesus Christ cleanses all the blemishes, the spots and sins of His bride (the church).
1 John 1:7, 9: …the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Our righteousness is not of our works but of the finished work of the cross through the powerful blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Rom 4:5: But to him that works not, but believes on him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
2 Cor 5:21: For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Eph 5:25-27: 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.
See the two types of righteousness
According to ancient Jewish marriage ritual, inside the groom’s father’s house, in the room the groom has prepared for the bride, the groom and the bride remained in closet for 7 days consummating the marriage.
Jesus Christ will be in closet with the church for 7 years consummating the marriage which are the 7 years of great tribulation. As Antichrist rules the world and the world goes through great tribulation, Jesus Christ and His bride (the church) will be in heaven.
See Daniel 70 weeks prophecy and the Antichrist reign.
After the 7 years in privacy consummating the marriage, Jesus Christ (the bridegroom) and the bride (the church) will come out, for the first time together, for the celebration.
3. Celebration: – the Marriage supper of the Lamb
Rev 19:7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.
According to ancient Jewish marriage ritual, the bride was dressed for the marriage feast. We see the church dressed for the Marriage feast of the Lamb.
Rev 19:8: 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.
The marriage feast happened in the home of the groom or in home of a family member of the groom. The Marriage supper of the Lamb will be in Jesus father’s home, heaven, and many are invited.
Rev 19:9: And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, these are the true sayings of God.
After the Marriage feast of the Lamb, the groom (Jesus Christ) has His bride (the church) forever and wherever He is His bride is.
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also’ (John 14:3).
And immediately after the Marriage supper of the Lamb, for the first time Jesus Christ will come out from heaven with His bride (the church) and the entire world will see them as they appear in the east.
Rev 19:11, 14: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Mt 24:27: For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
NB:
1) All the church will be caught up in Rapture. The dead will rise first then the living. Therefore all the church will be in the consummation of the marriage.
2) Ancient Jewish marriage customs never involved a wedding ceremony like we see today with the bride walking down the aisle to be married in the synagogue. They had a wedding feast/celebration rightly called marriage feast/celebration immediately after consummation of the marriage.
Jesus Christ has finished preparing the rooms for His bride in His father’s house and He is now coming for His bride. Rapture is at hand. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
O inhabitants of earth!
O creatures on earth!
O earth!
Hear the voice of the Lord!
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at a hand
