“You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;” (John 5:39 AMP)
The Bible is the story of Yahweh (Jesus) finding a perfect bride for Himself.
When Adam sinned, God already had a plan to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Yahweh sovereignly chose the nation of Israel which came from the loins of Abraham to be His special treasure, like a beloved bride.
But Israel committed spiritual adultery with the idols of the Gentile nations.
When she had gotten so corrupt, even worse than Sodom, Yahweh divorced her, and Israel ceased to be considered His people for a time (Ezekiel 16).
“He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.” (Hosea 1:9 WEB)
Under the Law, the penalty for adultery was death. Israel should have been totally wiped out, but Yahweh had a plan to legally reserve a remnant of Israel for Himself.
““‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10 WEB)
His plan was hinted by the prophets and finally revealed when Yahweh appeared as Jesus to die on the cross for not just Israel’s sins, but the sins of the whole world.
Through dying in the place of His beloved bride and thereby paying for her sins, Jesus has a righteous basis to reconcile Israel to Himself.
His bride is at root Jewish, but Gentiles have been grafted in as well—everyone who placed their faith in Jesus as Lord becomes a citizen of Israel that has been born of the Spirit—a chosen people of promise, not by the flesh.
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:17-18 WEB)
Today we are part of a Jewish marriage custom which reflects the heavenly marriage process as well.
We are in the betrothal stage whereby our Bridegroom Jesus has given us special gifts to purchase us as His bride.
He has washed us with His own blood and the water of His water, making us pure and unblemished.
He has dressed us with ministry and spiritual gifts like golden crowns, bangles and necklaces.
Now we are waiting for Him to come and receive us to His Father’s house for the private wedding and honeymoon.
In a Jewish wedding, the bridegroom comes to receive the bride at a time that she doesn’t know.
They don’t meet each other for at least a week to remain ceremonially holy and this also increases the anticipation and longing for each other.
The bride only knows an estimated period of time, so she has to be dressed and ready for it to happen at any time during that season of time.
This speaks of the Rapture of the saints—we know the signs that indicate the closeness to His return, but we don’t know the exact day or hour. Nevertheless our spirit longs for Jesus’ return.
When the church is in Heaven with Jesus, that period of 7 years is like the private honeymoon. During this time, the world will be going through the Tribulation—Daniel’s 70th week, also known as the time of Jacob’s trouble.
In a Jewish wedding, after the couple consummate their marriage during their honeymoon, they will emerge from the room and appear to their invited guests at a marriage feast to celebrate with them.
This speaks of the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus will return to earth with His bride (that’s us) and defeat the Antichrist. He will then set up His Millennial kingdom from Jerusalem—like a marital home where He will live with His bride.
The marriage feast will be held in the Millennial Kingdom on earth. The virgins at the feast (Matthew 25:1-13) represent Jews who place their faith in Jesus during the Tribulation, while the servants of the bridegroom (Luke 12:35-40) represent the Gentiles who place their faith in Jesus during the Tribualtion.
At the marriage feast of the Lamb, eternal rewards will be given out to every believer at that time. It will be a great day of celebration for all the redeemed!
“and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in God’s Kingdom!”” (Luke 14:14-15 WEB)
In my book “Sandcastles Don’t Last Forever” you will learn more about eternal rewards as well as how to identify and fulfill your God-given calling in this lifetime.
Get the Paperback (Hardcopy) edition of my book “Sandcastles Don’t Last Forever” on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sandcastles-Dont-Last-Forever-Biblical/dp/172671327X
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