Our Present Age

and how it will end

 

Chapter 7 – The Betrothal of the Son of God

The entire Bible, which starts with the beginning of the Ages, and ends with the next Age, is all to do with the creation, selection, and betrothal of the bride of Christ; and it is the greatest love story ever told. Thus, before speaking about the end, I need to first talk about the Jewish wedding process, which both the Father and Son would respectively follow by the book, and will culminate with the coming of the Kingdom.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Ephesians 1:4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Thus, the creation of our Universe, and the Election process of the bride of Christ, has all been done for the glory of Christ, to share and enjoy with his bride for all of eternity. In this chapter, I will show how the betrothal process of the Son of God has and will follow all the same traditions as the 9 phases of the Biblical Jewish wedding process, which some modern couples of today still practice, with some variances.

The Phases of a Jewish Wedding

Phase1: The Selection of the Bride 

The first phase of the Jewish wedding process is the selection of the bride. In Biblical times, this was often done by the father of the bridegroom, as was in the case of Abraham when he gave instructions on the selection of a bride for his son, Isaac (Genesis 24:1-4). In the case of Jesus Christ, the Father has also selected the bride and promised her to him.

John 17:9-12 [Jesus here is praying to his Father]

I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me; for they are yours.  And all mine are yours and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom you have given me.

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Thus Christ patiently waits for the preparation of his bride, also referred to as the “precious fruit of the earth”.

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and waits patiently for it until he receives the early and the latter rain.

Phase 2: The Shiddukhin – The promises the groom makes to the bride

After a bride is selected, the groom makes comforting promises to her about the future they will share together, and that he will always love and care for her. In the Bible, we find thousands of comforting promises that God makes to anyone who accepts the Gospel of Salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phase 3: The Ketubbah and Mohar – The marriage contract and the bridal dowry

The Ketubbah is a legally binding document, or marriage contract, with the primary purpose of protecting the future of the bride, even if she does not sign it. The father of the bride would use his wisdom to look out for the best interests of his daughter, as the bride was seen as being completely under her father's control. The Ketubbah stipulates the provisions and conditions proposed by the marriage contract, which includes the dowry, and was sealed when the father of the bride and the groom signed it. The entire Bible is the Ketubbah that our Heavenly Father has sealed with the bridegroom.

The Mohar – The Bridal Dowry

A dowry is a gift to the bride. It is a transfer of property that is agreed upon for the marriage of the bride, and it changes her status in that it sets her free from the care of her parent’s household. The dowry purchased and granted as a gift for the marriage of the bride of Christ, was the blood sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross. It is not something that can be redeemed with silver or gold, but carries a heavenly spiritual value.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Phase 4: Eyrusin - The Betrothal   

Eyrusin means betrothal, and according to tradition, the couple would appear together under the Huppah, or canopy, and would publicly express their intention of becoming betrothed. Some items of value are exchanged, such as rings. A cup of wine is also shared to seal the betrothal vows. Even though the bride has been selected and the marriage contract signed by the father of the bride and the groom, the bride is still given the choice to accept the betrothal, and here the bride publicly gives her consent. God is a gentlemen and He never forces anyone to say “I do” to his marriage proposal. For this cause, we must confess the Lord with our mouth, and never deny him publicly.

Matthew 10:32-33 Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

After the betrothal, a cup of wine is shared between the bride and groom to seal the marriage covenant. A second cup of wine will be shared later during the wedding feast. The first cup that Jesus shared with his Disciples at the Last Supper was the cup of the New Testament covenant.

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

The second cup that Jesus will share with his bride will be in Heaven, at the wedding supper.

The Matan – the bridal gifts

During the betrothal, gifts such as rings are exchanged. In the case of Jesus Christ, his promise to send the “Comforter”, which is the Holy Ghost, was his greatest gift to his bride to be, and in turn, the Holy Spirit also endows every true believer with gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 2:4 God, also bearing witness both with signs and wonders with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, does so according to His own will.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-10 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Phase 5:  Kiddushim - The sanctification of the bride and groom

Kiddushim means, to sanctify, or to set apart.  During this time, the couple set themselves aside to prepare to enter into the marriage. This betrothal has already been sealed and promised, and in Biblical times was so binding, a religious divorce or annulment was necessary to break the contract. In modern times, most couples enter into the wedding chamber on the same day as their betrothal, but in Biblical times, this period was to last for one year, and although the couple was considered married, they did not engage in sexual relations, but continued to live separately until the end of the Kiddushim.

During this time, the bride and the groom will cleanse themselves with the waters of mikveh, or immersion. In the case of Jesus, John the Baptist immersed him in the river and baptized him; and the bride should become baptized with the Holy Spirit, and either immersed, or sprinkled with water.

Ephesians 5:25-27 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.

In the Book of Esther, we read that Esther spent one year undergoing her purification process.

Esther 2:12 Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months' preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.

Phase 6: The Chuppah – the groom departs to prepare the wedding chamber

During the 12 months of sanctification of the Kiddushim, the groom would usually depart to prepare a place, or wedding chamber, for his bride. Chuppah means, “covering”, and in Biblical times was a special room built in the bridegroom’s father home.

John 14:2-3 [Jesus said] 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 to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Christ’s promise to send us the Holy Spirit could also not take place until after he left.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Phase 7: The arrival of the groom to fetch his bride

At the end of the Kiddushim, the bridegroom returns for the bride, however she would not know on which day the he would arrive, and so she needed to always remain ready, with her bags packed and ready to go. The groom’s arrival would always be announced, and he would usually arrive in the midnight hours.

Mark 13:32: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Because the groom would usually come for his bride during the night hours, it was important for her to keep a lamp with oil on hand, ready to be trimmed. Before the groom would reach her house, his friends would then give a shout, and blow a shofar to announce his arrival.

Matthew 25:6-7 And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

Phase 8: Entering into the wedding chamber

After the bridegroom has come for his bride and taken her to his wedding chamber, she needed to either pass the "test of virginity", or be stoned to death in the morning. Likewise, when Christ comes for his bride, she must not be following or teaching any other gospel, except the true Gospel of the Lord.

Rev14:4-5 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Once the bride has passed the test of virginity, they would spend 7 days in the wedding chamber.

Phase 9: The wedding feast

After the couple emerges from the wedding chamber, the marriage supper begins and is celebrated with all the friends of the bride and the bridegroom. Jesus states the following in John 3:29.

John 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

This is also a great day of joy for the friends of the bridegroom who have been invited to the wedding feast; however, they must be wearing their wedding garment.

Matthew 22:8-14 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Rev 19:7-9 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!'

Rev 22:16-17 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!"