1. WELCOME!!!

2. My Obligation: John 3:30 Your Obligation: 1 John 4:1

3. A Great Invitation: COME…

4. An Ancient Jewish Wedding The ancient Jewish wedding is a custom that every Christian should study and understand. Why? Because it is interesting to note how often Jesus followed the steps of a Jewish bridegroom when taking His own bride, the church.

5. Concerning the church, Jesus is the Bridegroom. Rev. 21:9 NKJV, …Come, I will show you the bride, the Lambs wife. The Lamb is Jesus. John 1:29 NKJV, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

6. Step 1: Selection of the Bride God Selected us as the Bride of Christ. Eph. 1:3-4 A Father wants the best for his son. Gen. 24:3-4 Jesus is Particular in whom becomes a part of His bride. Acts 2:41-47

7. Step 2: The Price of the Bride Jesus life would be the price for the church. God: John 3:16 Jesus: Acts 20:28 We need to keep in mind the price Christ paid for us. 1 Pet. 1:18-19

8. Step 3: The Betrothal What is the Betrothal? Matt. 1:18-19 Bridegroom in Hebrew is Hatan meaning: One who enters a covenant What is our contract or Ketubah from our Bridegroom? Gods word is our contract and He cannot lie. Heb. 6:13-14 What are His promises to us? 2 Pet. 1:4

9. Step 4: The Brides Consent The Bride would give her consent at the betrothal. Example of Rebekah. Gen. 24:58 God has given His invitation to be a part of His Sons bride to the whole world. Acts 10:34-35, Matt. 22:9-10 We are not forced, but must obey the Bridegrooms commandment. Matt. 7:21

10. Step 5: The Cup of the Covenant The Cup was used to seal the covenant. Jesus sealed the new covenant He made with His apostles in Matt. 26:27-29. We remember this each first day of the week. 1 Cor. 11:24- 32 As His church we are commit to our Bridegroom that we keep ourselves pure until His coming. 2 Cor. 11:2

11. Step 6: The Gifts for the Bride Given after the Betrothal agreement is made. Gen. 24:51-53 Jesus gave all for His Bride. Ephesians 5:25 I Peter 1:18-19 I Corinthians 6:20

12. Step 7: The Mikvah Mikvah means a pool of living water which was used for ritual purification after the gifts were given. Represents a separation from the old life to a new life. We accomplish this in baptism. Romans 6:3-4 Galatians 3:27 Isaiah 61:10

13. Step 8: The Departure of the Bridegroom The Bridegroom departs to his fathers house to prepare a place for his bride. Jesus told Johns disciples that the bridegroom would go away. Jesus ascended Acts 1:9-11 Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His bride. Jesus is coming back for us, His bride! John 14:1-4

14. Step 9: The Consecrated Bride The bride did not know how long her bridegroom would be gone. The Jewish bride was set apart, consecrated, separated unto her bridegroom. Do you question Jesus return for His bride? II Peter 3:3-4

15. Step 10: The Return of the Bridegroom In the ancient Jewish wedding, the father of the bridegroom determined when his son could return for his bride. Our Bridegroom is no different. Mark 13:32 Matt. 25:6 The Lord will return for His bride. I Thess. 4:16

16. Step 11: The home taking and the wedding feast Jesus will return for His Bride John 14:2-3 and Eph. 5:27 The father of the bridegroom gave the wedding feast after the bride was brought to his house. One must be invited to attend the feast. Matt. 22:11-14 The wedding feast for us will be in Heaven! Rev. 19: 7-9

17. Conclusion: Jesus does have a bride. It is His church: His Kingdom. Are you a part of the bride of Christ? II Peter 1:4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We (His bride/Church) are waiting for His return!

18. The ten virgins should be ready for the coming of the bridegroom. Hence, the church (bride of Christ, Rev. 21:9, the Lambs wife) should be ready and waiting for Jesus (our Bridegroom).

19. An Ancient Jewish Wedding Which Cross justifies you? THEIF Rom. 6 THEIF Jas. 2:24 CHRIST: 1 Cor. 15:1-4