Mike
Scriptures: Genesis 21:21-30 2 Peter 3:10 John 14:1-3 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Jesus grew up in Israel, He was from the tribe of Judah, John revealed Him as the Bridegroom, He came to seek out His Bride. It stands to reason, therefore, that the return of the Son of Man will follow the culture and beliefs of the Jewish people
It is the father of the groom who gives the final approval for the groom to return and collect His bride, he is the one who will make the final decision when the wedding happens. At this time, the groom, with much noise, fanfare and romance, would arrive to claim his bride.
The bride and groom would enter the marriage canopy (huppah), they would again share a cup of wine which was customary to seal their covenant vows and finally they would confirm their marriage contract called Ketubah. Then the bride and groom sign the marriage contract in the presence of the rabbi and two witnesses before the ceremony.
Unlike a Christian wedding, where traditionally the groom is not allowed to see the bride before the ceremony, in a Jewish wedding, the groom must see his bride before the ceremony. There is a good reason for this, it was Laban who tricked Jacob into marrying his eldest daughter, Leah, even though Jacob loved Rachel.
Jacob didn’t ensure the identity of his bride, consequently he ended up marrying the woman he thought would be his sister-in-law, Leah. So, the groom confirms his bride before finally signing the marriage contract in the presence of the witnesses.
The ceremony is usually followed by a wedding supper and reception with food, wine, music and dance. The bride and the groom finally consummate their marriage and live together as husband and wife.
Let us now look at the return of the Son of Man.
Jesus, the Messiah, told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them and confirmed that He would come again to collect them. We do not know the day of His return, but we have been given a clue from the signs of the times; the gospel gives us a huge guide as to when He will return. Peter then confirms that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
The day of the return of the Messiah for His Bride is soon approaching.
Believers in Jesus should be living consecrated lives, keeping themselves pure and holy in preparation for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. He will come with fanfare, the blast of the shofar or the trumpet to bring His Bride home.
Matthew 24 tells us 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
There is nothing secret about the return of Jesus, it would not be consistent with a Jewish Wedding. He has waited over 2000 years to fulfil the promises of the Father and everybody is going to know about it. He is now the roaring Lion, it will be bad news for anyone who gets in the way when He gathers His Bride together under the marriage canopy where she will be identified, how? Because she will have a wedding garment and be pure and spotless before her Bridegroom, having oil in her vessel, having made herself ready, then they will enter into the marriage contract for all eternity, and finally celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Prayer:Let us follow the rejoicing Bridegroom, and hold firm to teachings of the Kingdom while the Bridegroom is still with us by his Spirit, and as the 5 wise virgins, trim our lamps and have oil in our vessel, that when He returns, we will be ready. And, in the meantime, Watch!
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