It’s all about a wedding
Ancient Galilean weddings foreshadowed the new covenant (proposal), the rapture of the church and so much more. The disciples were Galileans, as was Jesus. And, they would have understood “the wedding language” Jesus used in His parables to explain what was to come. Therefore, the disciples didn’t need to ask why or what events would happen. But they did want to know when. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus’ first miracle was changing water into wine for a wedding supper at Cana in Galilee?
God’s 1st Old Covenant/Testament Marriage
God’s covenants were only made with Israel. God’s 1st Marriage Covenant was made between the pre-incarnate Messiah [the husband] and national Israel (believers and unbelievers) [the wife]. It ended with divorce and death! The pre-incarnate Messiah (the husband) temporarily divorced the northern kingdom (Israel) due to their idolatry. And, the marriage covenant with the southern kingdom (Judah) ended with the death of their last King, Messiah (the husband). Death or divorce must occur before a new marriage can legally take place. Therefore, the resurrected Messiah was free to remarry.
God’s 2nd New Covenant/Testament Marriage
With this new and better covenant marriage, the resurrected Messiah (Christ Jesus) is now the Bridegroom. And His bride is the church, which began as a community of Jewish believers in Jesus fifty days after His resurrection. It then expanded to include Gentile believers. The church is the bride of Christ. Jesus Christ (resurrected Messiah) is the Bridegroom. We will see how ancient Galilean weddings foreshadowed this current marriage.
God’s plan for the future
Satan knows the prophetic Bible much more than most Christians. He hates marriage because it represents the marriage of Christ and the church. So, he is doing everything possible to destroy marriages and prevent them from taking place. Because of biblical prophecies, Satan knows the rapture of the church is imminent. How many Christians realize this and are paying attention to God’s prophetic time clock – Israel? Biblical prophecies show us God’s plan for the future.
Timeline of events yet to be fulfilled:
( Church Age ) – Rapture – 7 Year Tribulation – Jesus’ 2nd Coming – Millennial Kingdom – Eternity Future
The church age is a parenthetical period of time God inserted between the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and the rapture of the church. For approximately 2,000 years, the church has been waiting for her Bridegroom to return and take her away from the house of her adopted father, Satan, who has temporary control of the earth.
The church is not destined for wrath and therefore will be raptured (caught up) to heaven with Jesus before the tribulation begins. During the tribulation, God will pour out His wrath on unbelievers and on Israel for their disobedience, disbelief, and for worshipping other gods (idols). [1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (NIV) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.]
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place in the Father’s kingdom in heaven while God’s wrath is being poured out on earth during the 7 year tribulation. Who is The Lamb? Jesus is The Lamb of God, the promised Messiah. In ancient times, the blood of lambs and other sacrificial animals could only “cover” the sins of the people. Jesus was and is without sin. He was the perfect sacrifice (acceptable by God) for our sins. On that cross (altar) some 2,000 years ago Jesus’ holy blood was shed for mankind for the forgiveness of sins. His death, burial and resurrection obtained salvation and everlasting life for all who claim Him with faith.
At Jesus’ 2nd coming, the church and His angels will accompany Him from heaven to earth. The church will remain with Him during the millennium (1,000 year) reign of Jesus on earth and then in the new heavens, new earth, and New Jerusalem (eternity future). Let’s see how the ancient Galilean weddings foreshadowed the marriage of Christ and the church. . .
A Foreshadowing
The Proposal
| Bridegroom - ancient Galilean man Bride - ancient Galilean woman | Bridegroom - resurrected Messiah (Jesus) Bride - the church |
| Bridegroom's Father chooses the bride | God the Father chooses the bride. In His foreknowledge, He knows who will accept his offer of salvation by faith in His Son, Jesus. Romans 8:29-30 (NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. |
| Bridegroom leaves his father's house and goes to his prospective bride's home. | Bridegroom Jesus left His Father’s kingdom in heaven and came to mankind on earth. |
| Everyone participates in the betrothal (engagement) at the main gate. All are there to witness and ratify the written proposal (covenant) which states the terms of the marriage. [The elders ratified legal agreements at the main gate.] [At the main gate in Bethlehem, Boaz claimed the position of kinsman-redeemer, thereby rescuing and marrying Ruth. Their son, Obed, was the grandfather of King David, the forefather of Jesus our redeemer.] | Everyone is offered salvation, but only those who come through faith in Jesus, the gate, will be saved. John 10:9 (NIV) I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. |
| Covenant (written proposal/terms/promises) is read by the bridegroom. It testifies how he will care for his bride; what he will do for her, and what he will give for her - a price to be paid. | Covenant (written proposal/terms/promises) was spoken by Jesus as the Bridegroom and recorded in scripture. Luke 22:20 (AMP) And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood. The church is entitled to all the promises in God’s Word. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. |
| Bride “Price” - paid to the bride’s father as an assurance she would be taken care of in the future if something happened to her groom. (In other middle eastern cultures a “bride price” would secure her as property.) | Bride “Price” - Jesus paid the ultimate price (His blood - His life) for the church, His bride. The individual believer is sealed with the deposit of The Holy Spirit. This gift is the assurance of future provision and protection. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. |
The Choice
| “Cup of Joy” – The bridegroom is handed a pitcher of wine which he pours into a ceremonial cup and gives to the bride. | Cup of Wine – At communion, believers who are in the body of Christ, the church, are offered a cup of wine which represents Jesus’ blood which was poured out for the remission of sins. |
| Accept or Reject the bridegroom's proposal The bride must choose. (Only in a Galilean wedding did the bride have the authority to accept or reject the bridegroom’s proposal.) | Accept or Reject Jesus’ offer of salvation (obtained through His death, burial and resurrection). Each person has free will and must decide. |
| Marriage Covenant sealed and irrevocable once the bride accepts the cup and drinks the wine. | Sealed and assured of salvation are those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit who then dwells within them. |
| Bridegroom ratifies the marriage covenant by also drinking from the cup. He says, "You are now consecrated (sanctified and set apart) to me by the laws of Moses and I will not drink of this cup again until I drink it anew with you in my father's house." | Jesus ratified a new covenant with His disciples at The Last Supper when He drank the cup of wine (symbolizing His blood which would soon be shed to redeem mankind). He also promised to later be together with all believers who are consecrated (sanctified and set apart) unto Him. Matthew 26:29 (NIV) I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Communion is a “common union “with common bread - broken and shared in a union just as with the common cup – I in you and you in me. At communion, we remember Christ and the benefits He obtained for us through His death, burial and resurrection – forgiveness of sins, everlasting life and so much more. Luke 22:19 (AMP) And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:20 (AMP) And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood. Not long after saying these words, Jesus would pour out His blood on the cross to save us from our sins. |
The Separation
| Bridegroom and bride are united as one under the new marriage covenant. However, they must separate for a year or more. The celebration in the street ends and the people return to their homes. | Jesus and the church are united as one under the New Covenant. However, it has been approximately 2,000 years since Jesus was on earth. |
| Bridegroom returns to his father’s house with the promise to come back for his bride. He builds a room onto his father’s house for her and prepares for the wedding supper to be held. He must make furniture and purchase dishes, rugs, oil, lamps and whatever is needed. The groom must prepare food for 50-100 guests for a week long feast. | Jesus ascended to His Father’s house in heaven forty days after His death, burial and resurrection. Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for His bride (the church) to live in His Father’s kingdom. He has promised to come back for her. John 14:2-3 (NIV) My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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. [Knowing the Galilean wedding customs of the day, the disciples would have understood that Jesus had to go away, but with the promise He would return.] |
| The bride prepares for the groom’s return by remaining pure and vigilant no matter how long it takes. During these months ahead she and her bridesmaids must purchase material and sew their dresses. They must always be ready for the groom’s return by having enough oil in their lamps. | The church prepares for Jesus the resurrected Messiah to return by remaining pure and faithful while always being ready for Him to come and take her away. Ephesians 5:25-27 (TLV) Husbands, love your wives just as Messiah also loved His community and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, having cleansed her by immersion in the word. Messiah did this so that He might present to Himself His glorious community—not having stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but in order that she might be holy and blameless. |
Eagerly Waiting & Watching
| No one knows the day or the hour except the father. The bridegroom, bride, and town’s people do not know the day or the hour the wedding will take place. The father of the bridegroom determines when the wedding will occur. Only the Galileans had a surprise wedding. | Only God the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’ return for His bride, the church. Matthew 24:36 (NIV) “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. The rapture can occur at any moment. Since Jesus does not know the day or hour He will return, there is no way for anyone on earth to predict when the rapture will take place. |
| Signs of the times – As the year was passing by, the groom would realize the time to go get his bride was drawing nigh. The wedding chamber was finished and all the preparations for the wedding supper had been accomplished. The bride would also understand the groom could be coming soon since she and some of her bridesmaids were ready with oil in their lamps and even sleeping in their newly sewn gowns. | Signs of the end times can be known. The key is biblical prophecy. [The fulfillment of biblical prophecies is evidence the Bible is true and the promised Messiah/Christ is Jesus.] As Christians (followers of Christ), we can see the church age could soon be coming to an end. Now that the Jews are back in their God given land of Israel, no more prophecies need to be fulfilled before the rapture occurs. We are seeing the intensity and frequency of birth pains leading up to the tribulation. Matthew 24:3-8 (NIV) As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Isaiah prophesied of such a time when everything would be upside down: Isaiah 5:20 (AMP) Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! These are the times in which we are living now! Do not be deceived! |
Reunited As One
| In the middle of the night, the father of the bridegroom determines all is ready for the bride and wedding guests. As the groom is asleep, as well as the groomsmen, he tells his son – “Son, go get your bride. Now is the time.” (Researchers have recently discovered that only the Galileans had their surprise weddings in the middle of the night. And, this was done deliberately because only those who were ready and waiting with oil in their lamps and lit would be participants or wedding guests.) | Jesus will come as a thief in the night - not to believers who are ready and eager for His return, but to unbelievers and those who are busy following the ways of the world - those who mock His soon return. In the Parable of the 10 Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), only 5 remained faithful and ready for the bridegroom’s return with enough oil for their lamps. Not all are ready – watching and waiting for Jesus to return and rapture them to heaven. Nor are they paying attention to the signs of the end times. |
| Bridegroom blows the ram's horn trumpet (shofar) to wake up the bride, her family and the village. More trumpets are blown to wake the wedding guests as the bridegroom, groomsmen, and the rest of the procession move to the bride's home. | The trumpet call of God will only be heard by believers. Jesus will come with an angelic procession to rapture believers (dead and alive) to heaven with Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NOG) The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life. Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord. John 10:27-28 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. |
| Bride is veiled and adorned in her beautiful white linen wedding gown as the bridegroom and procession approach. | The church is arrayed in fine linen showing her righteousness through belief in Christ. Song of Solomon 4:7 (NKJV) You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you. Revelation 19:8 (NKJV) 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. |
| Bride is lifted in the air on a litter (bridal chair) held by two men carrying it by poles. As they carry her, she is "flying" to the father's house by no means of her own. The bride and groom are reunited as one forever. | The church will be raptured (caught up) to meet Jesus in the air. Reunited forever, “the bride” will be taken to His Father’s house in heaven. None of this will be done by her power or any “works” on her part. (Only faith in Jesus the Messiah/Christ can save us – not our works/good deeds.) |
| The wedding party arrives at the father’s house and the guests are assembled. | The church will arrive at the Father’s house in heaven and the Old Testament saints (in soul and spirit form) will gather together as wedding guests. Revelation 19:9 (NIV) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” |
| The bride and groom consummate their marriage in the bridal chamber of the father’s house. | Jesus and the church will consummate their relationship with a spiritual union in heaven. |
| The wedding feast takes place in the father's house. | The Marriage Supper of The Lamb will take place in the Father's house in heaven. (Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God crucified on the cross for the remission of our sins.) Revelation 19:6-7 (NKJV) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 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.” |
| Wedding participants and guests are hidden and shut into the father’s house during the 7 day wedding feast. The door shuts and no one can enter or leave. Those who rejected the wedding invitation are shut out. | While Jesus and the church are enjoying the wedding feast in heaven (the Father’s house), the 7 Year Tribulation of God’s wrath will be taking place on earth for those who have rejected Jesus’ invitation of salvation. The thought of being shut out of heaven and having to endure God’s wrath is terrifying. Isaiah 26:20 (AMP) Come, my people, enter your chambers And shut your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until the [Lord’s] wrath is past. The church is spared from the wrath to come. Romans 8:1 (AMP) Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. |
Revealed
| Bride emerges from the wedding feast unveiled (no longer hidden). She and her groom can now be seen by all. However, she is no longer the bride, but the wife and the groom is now her husband. Their love for each other is much deeper. | All people will see Jesus and recognize Him as the promised Messiah/Christ when He returns to earth. They will know He is God – the Son of God. Jesus and the church will emerge as husband and wife with a much deeper love relationship. Colossians 3:4 (NLT) And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Jesus’ 2nd Coming to earth will occur at the end of the tribulation. This time He will come from heaven with the church and His angels. Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives – from the place He ascended to heaven some 2,000 years ago. Zachariah 12:10 (NLT) “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. |
Living Under The New Covenant Marriage
| Husband and wife now live as one under the new covenant of marriage. | The New Covenant Marriage between the resurrected Messiah/Christ Jesus and believing Israel will take effect and be fulfilled at Jesus’ 2nd Coming when Israel recognizes their true Messiah who they crucified. This is the time when all Israel (the final believing Jewish remnant) will repent and be saved. Jeremiah 31:31-34 (AMP) Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and with the house of Judah (the Southern Kingdom), not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And each man will no longer teach his neighbor and his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me [through personal experience], from the least of them to the greatest,” says the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness, and I will no longer remember their sin.” God’s covenants were always made with His people, Israel. However, during the church age, believing Gentiles are receiving the benefits afforded by Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection which made it possible to be in Christ and “grafted into” the church. These are blessings of forgiveness, eternal life, and so much more. They also receive the blessings promised to Abraham. Galatians 3:15 (NOG) Christ paid the price so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to all the people of the world through Yeshua Christ and we would receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:28-29 (AMP) There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise. |
Will you accept the cup that has been offered to you by Jesus, the true Messiah? Will you place your faith/trust/belief in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? God has given all of us free will to accept or reject Him. Salvation begins with knowing we are all sinners in need of a savior. That Savior is Jesus the resurrected Messiah (Christ). Let this be the day you claim your salvation with faith in Jesus. You can have the assurance of heaven and not be shut out. To get started, visit SIN – Who Cares?
For more insight regarding the ancient Galilean wedding and how it foreshadows events to come, watch Before the Wrath – free on Crackle.
| Bible Versions: AMP (Amplified Bible), ESV (English Standard Version), KJV (King James Version), MSG (The Message), NOG (Names of God Bible), NCV (New Century Version), NET (New English Translation), NIV (New International Version), NKJV (New King James Version), NLV (New Life Version), NLT (New Living Translation), RGT (Revised Geneva Translation), RSV (Revised Standard Version), TLB (Living Bible), TLV (Tree of Life Version), YLT (Young's Literal Translation) |
