Nurturing the Nations Reclaiming the Dignity of Women in Building Healthy Cultures The Wedding of the Lamb

The Bible is Nuptial All of human history will consummate in the Wedding of the Lamb. Creation began with the wedding of the Man and his Counterpart. The end of history will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords marrying His eternal Counterpart.

The Ultimate Wedding “…our God is a God who pays meticulous attention to detail, who fulfills according to what He has established, who was willing to pay an inconceivably high price to secure a Bride for His son, and who will not fail to send His Son back to reclaim His Beloved.” Bill Risk The Ultimate Wedding [1] ibid Risk; pg 1/23

Seven Elements of a Hebrew Wedding Shiddukhin: The Match Mohar: The Bride Price Mattan: Love Gifts Shiluhim: Dowry Ketabah: The Marriage Contract Kiddushin: The Betrothal Nissuuin: The Nuptials

Shiddukhin: The Match The Key Idea: The first step of the Jewish wedding was the arrangement. The Hebrew Custom: The father of the groom usually initiated the Shiddukin with the father of the bride (Genesis 34:3-6). The Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb: The Father initiated the proceedings (John 3:16a; 4: 34; 17:4).

The Giving of Gifts

Mohar: The Bride Price The Key Idea: the “bridal payment” from the father of the groom to the father of the bride; it was required by law The Hebrew Custom: Reflected the value of the bride (Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16; 1 Sam; 18:25) The Implications: The Mohar of the Father was the life of His son (John 3:16) The price was required by the Law (Romans 8:3,4) The price was paid as required (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1: 18)

Mattan: Love Gifts The Key Idea: a “gift” from the groom to the bride; it was a gift of the heart, a romantic expression of love. The Hebrew Custom: There were no laws that governed this practice, because it was a gift of love. The Implications: The bride is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) Eternal life (John 10:22-28) The commitment to do anything for His bride (John 14:13-14) Shalom peace (John 14:27)

Shiluhim: Dowry The Key Idea: the “parting gifts” given by the bride’s father to his daughter. The Hebrew Custom: The father’s dowry was to help the bride to be equipped to begin her new home and life. The Implications: The Father has given gifts to the Church: The Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17; Ephesians 1: 13-14) and Spiritual Gifts (2 Cor. 1:22-23)

Ketabah: The Marriage Contract The Key Idea: A written document testifying to the Mohar, the rights of the bride and the pledge of the groom. The Hebrew Custom: God married the nation Israel (Exodus 19-24). The Mosaic Covenant is established (Ex. 19:5) and ratified by Israel (Ex. 24:3). The Implications: The New Covenant is the New Testament. Here are found the promises of the Groom and the rights of the Bride and a statement of the Mohar.

Kiddushin: The Betrothal The Key Idea: At the point that the marriage contract is completed the couple is now “legally” married. The Hebrew Custom: At some point in Jewish history, the “cup of acceptance” was instituted. Now the couple prepare for the Nissuuin: The Nuptials The Kiddushin – The Betrothal: At some point in Jewish history, the “cup of acceptance” was instituted. The groom would pour a cup of wine for the prospective bride. The cup would be blessed, and the bride, if she agreed to the covenant, would indicate her acceptance by drinking from the cup. This marked the culmination of the Ketabah and the beginning of the Kiddushin. Now the preparation for the marriage would begin. Now the couple is “legally” bound by the covenant. This created a new status. As examples once a couple was betrothed, the man could not go to war for a year (Deut. 21:7); In the case of Mary and Joseph, Joseph could consider divorcing Mary if she was found pregnant with child (Luke 1:18-19).

The Groom Prepares the Huppah – the Bridal Chamber The groom would depart to prepare the huppah – the bridal chamber at his own father’s house. The father of the groom would determine when the huppah was fit for the bride. It is at that point that the groom could go to fetch his bride. The Huppah: It would be beautifully decorated and provisioned for the time of the consummation of the marriage.

The Bride Sets Herself Apart Milkveh – The Purification Bath For the bride this was a time of purification and eager expectation. Purified: The bride would complete a purification bath – Mikveh Marked: She would mark herself as promised, by wearing a veil in public. This reminds other men that she has been bought with a price and that she is set apart for the bridegroom. Anticipating: The bride did not know the exact time that the groom would come for her. The surprise was part of the wonder. She would have her lamp trimmed and ready, in case the groom came for her at night.

Kiddushin: The Betrothal Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb Set # 1: Matthew 26: 27-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Set # 2: John 14:-1-3; Mark 13:32-32 Set # 3: Ephesians 5: 25-27; Revelation: 19: 7-9 Set # 4: John 17: 15-19; 2 Corinthians 11:2 Set # 5: Matthew 25: 1-13 Small Group Work Discuss Feedback: Set I The Cup of Acceptance Set 2 The Grooms Preparation Sets 3-5 The Brides Preparation

Nissuuin: The Nuptials The Fetching of the Bride The Ceremony The Wedding Feast At Home with the Bride (Dwelling Together)

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Fetching of the Bride The Key Idea: The groom goes to fetch his bride for the wedding and to take her to her new home. The Hebrew Custom: The groom and his groomsmen would travel to the home of the bride. Often at night One of the groomsmen would shout, “Behold, the bride groom comes”! Often one in the wedding party would accompany this cry with the blowing of the shofar.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Fetching of the Bride The Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb: This will be a time unknown to the Bride and revealed by the Father in Heaven. Jesus will fetch His Bride (Matt. 25: 10-12; Luke 17:34-36; I Corinthians 15: 51-58; I Thes. 4: 16-18; Rev. 14:14)

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Ceremony The Key Idea: As the bride and groom are already legally married (Ketubah) and As they have prepared themselves (Kiddushin) Now the groom takes his bride to the place he has prepared (huppah) to consummate the marriage by becoming one flesh. While this is occurring in the privacy of the huppah, the public celebration of the wedding feast begins.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Ceremony The Hebrew Custom: There would be a marriage procession back to the groom’s home (Jeremiah 7:34). There the bride and groom would be elaborately dressed (Song of Solomon 3:11; Isaiah 61:10). The ceremony was conducted in the groom’s home with only the immediate family and a couple of witnesses. The groom would take his bride into the huppah, symbolizing that the bride was coming under the authority and protection of her husband. It was in the privacy of the huppah that the marriage would be consummated. The bride and groom would spend a week together.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Ceremony The Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb: For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” [1]The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Wedding Feast The Key Idea: This is the public celebration of the mystery of the one-flesh. The Hebrew Custom: While the wedding ceremony was a tight circle, the wedding feast was open to a much wider circle of friends and family. This celebration might last for a day (Gen. 29:27) or it might last a week (Judges 14:12) while the guests waited for the bride and groom to return from the huppah to participate in the public gathering.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Wedding Feast - Isaiah 25: 6-8 “On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.” [1]The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Wedding Feast The Implications of for the Wedding of the Lamb: It marks the climax of human history. It is the consummation of the purposes for which God made creation. This wedding was pre-figured in the garden with Adam and Eve. It is manifest, in all its glory, when God Himself takes a Bride – the church, to be with for all eternity.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Wedding Feast – Prophecy Fulfilled Set # 1: Psalm 47; 72:8-17; Psalm 117 Set # 2: Isaiah 25:6-8; 26:2 Set # 3: Isaiah 60:1-13 Set # 4: Isaiah 62:1-3; 66:18-20 Set # 5: Revelation 21: 22-26 Small Group Reflection each group read a set of verses Write down the key elements of the images (If time) Write a song, draw a picture, develop a skit to manifest the message of the passages

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: The Wedding Feast “The age-long preparation of the bride of Christ (the church!) is finally complete and He takes her arm, as it were, and leads her to the table. The marriage supper of the Lamb has come. He stands at the head of the table and a great silence falls over the millions of saints. And He says, ‘This, my beloved, was the meaning of marriage. This is what it all pointed toward. This is why I created you male and female and ordained the covenant of marriage. Henceforth there will be no more marriage and giving in marriage, for the final reality has come and the shadow can pass away.” Pastor John Piper [1] Ibid Piper; May 14, 1989; pg. 3 of 5.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: At Home with the Bride The Key Idea: following the feast, the bride and the groom dwell together in Holy Marriage The Hebrew Custom: After the consummation of the marriage The Bride and Groom join the wedding feast to receive their gifts. Following the feast they establish their household and begin their family. The Implications

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: At Home with the Bride The Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb: 1 Thes. 4:17: “ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” [1]The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

Nissuuin: The Nuptials: At Home with the Bride The Implications for the Wedding of the Lamb: Rev. 21: 1-4: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

All of heaven and earth join with the Bride and Spirit and cry out: The Bride is Ready! All of heaven and earth join with the Bride and Spirit and cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus!”