The Groom and the Bride…
The Groom and the Bridde • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 36 viewsComparing the Galeean wedding with the rapture.
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3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
All have asked “when is Jesus coming back”, we should be asking “why is Jesus coming back”…
What is the point?
Jesus was a Galilean, all his disciples were from Galilee…
Fishermen, tax collectors
2/3’s of the Gospel took place along this little strip of land along the Sea of Galilee.
13x8 miles, 64 acres of water (Branched Oak is 28 times larger than the Sea of Galilee)
And because of much of what he taught was from the Galilean culture.
The Galilean culture is very important to understand to understand the Gospels and the New Testament.
The Galilean wedding: very different from other middle Eastern weddings and Jewish weddings as well.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like… a Galilean wedding
Betrothal
Business as usual: Cry would go forth, an announcement that their was to be a betrothal.
This was the most important event that could take place in a town.
Everyone would rush to the gates to witness it.
This is where the elders would sit and conduct and witness buisness.
Today we invite friends and family to weddings.
In Jesus’ day, everyone came because it was about witnesses to ratify the covenant!
There was a written contract/covenant that the bride accepts.
All would hear and see the acceptance of the terms of marriage.
(And would be called upon if a divorce was later sought).
After the agreement was publically read and agreed upon, gifts were exchanged with the most extravagant going to the bride.
Bride price or dowery was not the purchase of the bride as the husbands property as in other cultures but an insurance policy that would help to take care of her if anything happened to her husband.
Next, Bridegroom pours wine into a ceremonial cup that will be handed to the bride - The Cup of Joy.
Hand it to his intended… She how has a choice, accept or reject the wedding perposal.
She can push the cup away and stop the wedding.
Or she can accept the wedding by dinking of the cup of wine.
The groom takes and drinks of the cup, citifying the new covenant.
Says publically: “You are now consecrated 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 fathers house”.
To understand this: Last Supper AND communion
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
vs 28 - this is a new covenant that is being established.
This is the betrothal process of Jesus (groom) and the church (bride).
When those Galilean disciples heard Jesus say these words, they only heard one thing… WEDDING!
What was Jesus’ first miracle?
Turn water to wine at a Galilean wedding!
Betrothal ceremony is finished, the work begins.
A year of separation and preparation.
NOTE: the bride and groom are one under the newly formed covenant although they will not see each other until the day of their wedding feast.
Groom will build a new room onto his fathers house.
Furniture, tables, pots, pans - everything needed to live together.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
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.
KEY: he is preparing a place for his bride, BUT he WILL be back.
HE is coming back for those who have agreed to the covenant!
Those that have upheld the terms of the betrothal agreement.
This is the rapture!
BUT until that time, there is much to do.
The groom is working to prepare…
Place to live
The bride is working to prepare…
Her dress, stay vigilante and pure
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
What the next verse?
So ought men to love their wives…
She was to aways be ready for the bridegroom.
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
another wedding parable…
Luke 19:12–13 (KJV 1900)
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Occupy = to be ready, prepared, doing the buisness of
About a year would pass…
But interestedly enough neither the bride nor the groom had any idea the time when the wedding would take place.
ONLY the father new…
The one that had read the conditions on behalf of the proposal.
The one that had provided payment for the bride for his son.
All other weddings were predictable.
BUT for the Galilean’s it was a surprise wedding!
The disciples asked Jesus in Mat 24:3 when would the end come?
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Both have to be ready and prepared…
If the father gives the word and either is not ready the covenant is broken!
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Parable of 10 virgins
10 started, all slept and at midnight only 5 had enough oil (holy ghost) to make it to the end.
The bride has to be anticipating the return of the bridegroom.
Picture:
Bride is asleep in her gown with her brides maids in their gowns.
Groom is asleep, feast is ready.
NOW IS THE TIME!
The groom steps outside with a shofar and with a piercing blast wakes the whole town! He is shouting “The bridegroom is coming!”
She wakes up and goes out to meet him!
Those that are ready and anticipating would come out of their homes and join the procession!
The groom arrives at the bride’s house in the middle of the night and finds the bride in her dress standing in the middle of her brides maids in their white linen dresses… READY!
After a year of separation and preparation they are united!
The groomsmen carry a litter to her and she steps onto the litter and is carried away to the place the groom has prepared for her!
The Galilean's call this “flying the bride to the father’s house”!
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The rapture!
Wedding feast know begins.
Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
The question is not when is Jesus coming for his bride but WHY?
To save us from the wrath that is to come!
The bride and groom are at the father’s house.
Everyone that was anticipating the wedding is in the father’s house.
The door is shut and for 7 days and nights, no one comes in or goes out.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Don’t be caught on the wrong side of the door!
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, And shut thy doors about thee: Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, Until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: The earth also shall disclose her blood, And shall no more cover her slain.
Overview:
Betrothal
Gifts are exchanged
Groom gives spirit and name (Holy Ghost and Baptism)
Bride gives commitment for loyalty, purity and occupying
Seperation and preparation
Surprise announcement
Those ready enter the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Wrath of God