A Bible Study of the Marriage of the Bride of Christ (The Jewish Wedding)

To understand bible prophecy about the return of Jesus Christ, we need to understand the Jewish Wedding as presented in scripture, because Christ spoke of his return with many Wedding Analogies. Matt 22, Matt 25, Rev. 19 & 21, Luke 12:36, "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding..."

The Holy Bible says the Bride of Christ is the Church.
Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church... ",
2Cor 11:2 "...I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.",
Rom 7:4...."ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead..."

The Wedding Analogy shows the Pre Tribulaiton Rapture because the union of the bride and groom (the rapture) takes place at the start of the Bridal Week, which is a type of the Tribulation Week.  The word for bridal week as used in Genesis 29 & Judges 14  is the same word in Daniel 9:27.  The word "week", or shavuah in Hebrew, simply means a seven, it means seven days or seven years.  Further, there are two Old Testament examples where a day from a prophetic type turns into a year of judgment.  Num 14:34 & Ezek 4:6.

Here are a few key examples of the significance of the Wedding Parallel. The bride price is paid by the groom for the bride.  Jesus paid for us with his life. The virgin girl shows that she accepts the written covenant agreement of the marriage by drinking a glass of wine, and this has become the communion ritual that Jesus gave to the Church.  The betrothed bride would also have a ritual cleansing bath, and this is like baptism of water and spirit, or the cleansing of the word in Eph 5.

The groom departs to build the bridal chamber where they will live together, and Jesus said John 14:2 "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." John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

When finished, the groom would return at a time unexpected "of that day or hour no man knows" to fetch, or take away (rapture) his bride, like a thief in the night, which is a type of the action of the rapture.  At the end of Judges 21, there is a mass bridal abduction.  In Deut 22:25-29 and Exodus 22:15-17 we see that the penalty for taking a virgin (through force or seduction) is a permanant marriage with no divorce provision.  This is like the "incorruptable immortality" as described in the rapture passage in 1 Cor 15:51-54

Thus, the intimate union between man and wife in the bridal chamber is a picture of being in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ after the rapture.  At the end of this bridal week, the bride and groom emerge at the wedding feast or marriage supper.  Even the slaughter at the marriage supper, or Armageddon, is pictured in Judges 14 as Samson kills 30 Philistines.

I urge all who read this to study more of these Wedding Parallels, which teach about the pre tribulation rapture, and the type of relationship our Lord Jesus Christ is seeking with us.

The Marriage of the Bride of Christ.  The Pretribulation Rapture Introduction and summary of scriptures for each topic below

1. The Holy Spirit choses the bride, and brings people to God through repentance
2. A bride price (dowry) is established, Christ gave his life to purchase and redeem us
3. Consent: the bride agrees and chooses to accept her husband's offer
4. Written document, Covenant agreement, written registry
5. Drinking a glass of wine; a toast, a communion, seals the covenant agreement.
6. Betrothal [espoused/engaged/promised]
7. Ritual Cleansing bath; a Mikveh or Baptism
8. Gifts given to the Bride
9. The bridegroom departed, going back to his father's house to prepare the bridal chamber, closet (many mansions)
10. The bride was consecrated, set apart, and kept herself ready for the bridegroom to return, and wore a vail which is like the blood of Jesus covering our sins, the righteousness of the saints
11. Bridegroom comes for his Bride on a "day or hour no man knows, but my father only" with a shout, command, last trump, trumpet blast
12. Jesus comes for (raptures) his Bride as a Thief
13. Going through the open door into heaven (at the rapture)
14. The bridal week (a day for a year) in the wedding chamber as the tribulation week of Daniel
15. (Marriage supper / Wedding Feast) when the bride and groom emerge from the bridal chamber at the end of seven days, and the Lord returns with the Bride at the end of the seven year tribulation
16. The slaughter at the marriage supper
17. The bride and groom were seen as king and queen, trumpet blasts herald the reign of a new king, at the rapture at the trumpet blast, Christ and his people begin to rule in heaven
18. The Judgment Seat of Christ, (pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, a picture of the wedding of the messiah, and rapture.)

Wedding Bible Study in Scripture The Full Wedding Study of all the above essays, all in one document, over 138K.  Last updated Dec. 7th, 2000.
The Jewish Wedding Ceremony Two original studies that were sent to me, before I did my own scriptural research on the topic of the wedding as a picture of the rapture.  They show how Christians are Wed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Pre Tribulation Rapture is shown in the Bridal Week. These two studies original sources were from http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2175/ and http://www.returnToGod.com/.
The Ultimate Wedding  by Bill Risk (WPRisk@aol.com)
A Jewish wedding Greg Killian's website: Mostly scriptures used to describe a wedding.

for more go to

http://bibleprophesy.org/weddingintroduction.htm 

The Marriage of the Bride of Christ

This study shows that the Bride of Christ will be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ at the pre tribulation rapture, before the seven year tribulation.
We should study very closely what the Bible says about Weddings and Marriage, because we are told that we are wed to Christ – a great mystery.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
2Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

And we should pay attention to the wedding stories and examples in the Old Testament because they are parallels and similitudes and prophesies of the end time.

Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Romans 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The doctrine of the pre tribulation rapture, and prophesy itself, is given for comfort and hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
1 Cor 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Particularly, we should also study parallels about the Feast of Trumpets, the new moon festival, to understand end time theology, because the Feast of Trumpets is also known as the Wedding of the Messiah.

[Col 2:16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
[Col 2:17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Yes, Christians should be married to Jesus, the one who is raised from the dead:

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

So, let’s study the Wedding of the Messiah, and Weddings in the Bible, keeping in mind that Col 2:17 says that the Feast of Trumpets Wedding of the Messiah is a "shadow of things to come", a prophesy about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, according to 2 Cor 11:2, the Church and Bride of Christ shall be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ.

There are 18 topical headings, 16 of which contain a major comparison between Old Testament verses and New Testament verses along the theme of Christ being wed to the Church.  They are not necessarily in exact order.

Summary of the Wedding of the Bride of Christ.

(1) The Holy Spirit choses the bride, and brings people to God through repentance.
OT:  Gen 24:2-4,12-21,27, Judges 14:3,4, Deut 7:6,7
NT:  John 16:7,8, Matt 22:14, John 15:16, 2Thess 2:13, 1Peter 2:9

(2) A bride price (dowry) is established, Christ gave his life to purchase and redeem us.
OT:  Gen 12:16, Gen 29:18, Gen 34:12,26,31, 1 Sam 18:25, 2 Sam 3:14, Ruth 4:10
NT:  Eph 5:25, 1Cor 6:20, Matt 13:44, Galatians 3:13; 4:5, Rev 5:9

(3) Consent: the bride agrees and chooses to accept her husband's offer.
OT:  Gen 24:8, Gen 24:58, Deut 30:19, Joshua 24:15,
NT:  1Pet 1:8, John 20:29, 1Cor 2:9, Matt 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5

(4) Written document, Covenant agreement, written registry:
OT:  Nehemiah 7:5, Mal 2:14,
NT:  Hebrews 12:24, 2Cor 1:20, Mark 10:4, Matt 5:31; 19:7

(5) Drinking a glass of wine; a toast, a communion, seals the covenant agreement.
OT:  Genesis 34:6,8,20,1 Samuel 18:20-25, 1 Samuel 25:36-39, Exodus 25:22
NT:  Luke 22:16-20, Matt 26:28,29, John 2:1-11, 1Cor 10:16, Luke 24:35, Acts 2:42; 20:7

(6) Betrothal [espoused/engaged/promised]
OT:  Leviticus 19:20, Hosea 2:19
NT:  Matthew 1:18, Luke 2:5, Mat 10:32, 2Cor 11:2

(7) Ritual Cleansing bath; a Mikveh or Baptism
OT:  Leviticus 15:18, Ezekiel 16:9
NT:  Ephesians 5:26,27, Acts 1:5; 2:38; 8:38-40
(See also the scriptural comparisons on how baptism is like being born again. Born again is a theme of the Feast of Trumpets.)
http://www.geocities.com/bibleprophesy/feastoftrumpets.htm

(8) Gifts given to the Bride:
OT:  Genesis 24:22,53, Genesis 34:12,
NT:  Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13, 1Cor 2:9; 12:4; 14:1,12

(9) The bridegroom departed, going back to his father's house to prepare the bridal chamber, closet (many mansions).
OT:  Joel 2:16, Judges 15:1, Judges 16:9,12, 2Samuel 13:10,11, 1Kings 1:15,  Song of Solomon 1:4; 3:4
NT:  John 14:2,3,
The chamber of the temple is also a picture of heaven, in which God's people are hid.
1 Kings 20:30, 1 Kings 22:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Matthew 24:26, 1 Chronicles 28:11, Hebrews 9:6,7,
Matt 23:20-22, Hebrews 9:23,24, Psalm 27:5; 31:20, Isaiah 26:19-21,

(10) The bride was consecrated, set apart, and kept herself ready for the bridegroom to return, and wore a vail which is like the blood of Jesus covering our sins, the righteousness of the saints.
OT:  Gen 24:64-67, Isaiah 1:18,
NT:  Hebrews 10:20, Revelation 1:5, 1 John 1:7, Mat 22:11-14, Revelation 7:14, Rev. 19:7,8, Romans 3:22, Philippians 3:9, Romans 10:6,  Mat 25:1-13, Mark 13:34-37,
Veil also covered the temple, which is the body.
Exodus 26:33, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 12:1
Christians are set apart from the world, as a bride is set apart, and supposed to be ready and watchful.
John 15:18,19, John 17:14,15, 1 John 2:15, 1Cor 5:8-10, Mat 25:1-13, Mark 13:34-37

(11) Bridegroom comes for his Bride on a "day or hour no man knows, but my father only" with a shout, command, last trump, trumpet blast.
Mat 24:36, Mark 13:32,33, 1 Thess 4:15-18, 1 Thess 5:1-11, Mat 25:6, 1Cor 15:52, Revelation 4:1

(12) Jesus comes to take his Bride as a Thief
OT: Judges 21:19-25, Deut 22:25-29, Exodus 22:15-17, 1 Sam 8:11-16, 2 Samuel 5:13
NT: John 10:10, Matthew 24:43, Luke 12:39, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 3:3, Revelation 16:15

(13)  Going through the open door into heaven, the wife being taken up by the groom as they cross the threshold of the door into the new house.
John 14:2,3, Revelation 4:1, Ezek 46:1, Mat 25:10, Revelation 3:8,10,

(14) The bridal week (a day for a year) in the wedding chamber as the tribulation week of Daniel.
OT:  Genesis 29:22-28, Judges 14:1-18, Joel 2:15,16, Num 14:34, Ezek 4:6, Dan 9:24,27,
NT:  Ephesians 5:29, Rev 3:10
The seven year tribulation:
Dan 11:31, Dan 12:11, Rev 13:4-7 Dan 7:25, Dan 7:21, Rev 11:1-7, Rev 12:6, Ezekiel 38, 39, Ezek 39:9, Jer 30:7, Dan 4:16, Dan 12:7, Rev 12:14

(15) (Marriage supper / Wedding Feast) when the bride and groom emerge from the bridal chamber at the end of seven days, and the Lord returns with the Bride at the end of the seven year tribulation.
OT:  Esther 1:5,10,11, Joel 2:15,16, Psalm 19:1-6, Isaiah 61:2,10,11, Isaiah 62:5,
NT:  Luke 12:36, Rev 19:1,7-9,14, Zech 14:5, Jud 1:14, Rev 21:2, Rev 21:910, Col 3:4

(16) The slaughter at the marriage supper
OT:  Judg 14:12,19
NT:  Rev 19:17,18

(17) The bride and groom were seen as king and queen, trumpet blasts herald the reign of a new king, at the rapture at the trumpet blast, Christ and his people begin to rule in heaven.
OT:  Dan 7:9, 1Kgs 1:34,39
NT:  Rev 4:2, Rev 5:3,10,12

(18) The Judgment Seat of Christ, (pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, a picture of the wedding of the messiah, and rapture.)
OT:  Dan 7:10, Neh 8:1-5,
NT:  2Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10, 1Cor 3:13-16

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