(Bride praying at the Western Wall-Jerusalem)
Centuries ago, the Church made the decision to remove itself from its Jewish origins and heritage. When we did this, we lost something very valuable to our faith, walk, and understanding. Much of our relationship with Christ as described in the scriptures can be traced back to Jewish marriage customs. One of the most important upcoming spiritual events the Church, more accurately called the Ekklesia (the called out assembly of God's people), will experience, is a Jewish marriage to Christ:
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him (the Lord God Omnipotent): for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted (used in reference to something given by God, or a king) that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." Rev. 19:7-9
It is important to know the Jewish marriage customs, because the Lamb's wife "has made herself ready" for this prophetic event that is about to be fulfilled. We cannot make ourselves ready unless we understand what this means. These customs are also important to know because Jesus referred to them.
At the beginning of the forming of a marriage in the Jewish tradition, the father of the prospective groom chooses a woman whom he feels is a good marriage candidate for his son. He goes with his son to the woman's house and they knock. By answering the door, the young lady is stating her acceptance of the young man. They enter the home, where a meal has been prepared. Jesus described this for us:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20
A wedding covenant, or contract, is established at that time, which is called a Ketubah. By this covenant, promises are made by the groom to the bride. Guarantees are given pertaining to property and inheritance. As the bride and groom, and their families, sign the Ketubah, an engagement is established. That engagement commitment is almost as strong as the marriage itself. All it lacks in comparison is the consummation.
The meal, and the wine shared at the table, seal the covenant, as Christ's body and blood, represented by the bread and wine of the communion table (koinonia-intercourse, fellowship, intimacy, the sign, proof, and pledge of same), sealed our covenant agreement, or Ketubah, with Him (Lk. 22:20). Jesus said that He will not drink the wine again until He can drink it new with us in His Father's kingdom (Mt. 26:26). Peter assures us that our bride price was not paid with gold and silver, but with this blood of Christ, the Lamb without spot or blemish, who was foreordained before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-20).
The Jewish groom then leaves the bride's house, returning to his father's house, where, under his father's supervision, he prepares a home for his soon bride. The groom cannot return for the bride until his father agrees that all has been made ready for her. Jesus promised us this same preparation:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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." Jn. 14:1-3
Those present, hearing these words of Christ, would immediately associate them with the marriage customs, and the Ketubah covenant. Jesus wants us to "believe also in him". His promise here to us is as iron-clad as a Jewish Ketubah contract. We have lost the precious understanding of this, as we discarded our Jewish roots.
Before we leave the subject of the Ketubah, we should compare the guarantees or promises it contains to the future bride, with the promises made to us in our Ketubah with Christ. Peter wrote that we obtain these promises of "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled...that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1). Peter also describes them as being "great and precious promises", all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through which we become partakers of the divine nature. These promises remove us from the carnality of sin, that we should be neither barren nor unfruitful (2 Pet. 1).
As we said, the Ketubah marriage contract gives the bride certain material guarantees. So also does our Ketubah covenant with Christ. As we trust and believe Christ, "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment, security for full amount subsequently to be paid) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession..." Eph. 1:12-14
The "earnest", or Spirit, is a guarantee of an inheritance, as the bride is guaranteed an inheritance by the Ketubah. This "earnest" or guarantee also assures us that this earthly house in which we are currently clothed, will be replaced by a house which is from heaven, for which we groan and desire. It is like receiving a title deed:
"Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Holy Spirit...we are confident that absent from the body...present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:1-8
The Holy Spirit promised and given to us by Jesus, is the earnest, or guarantee, of the heavenly house with which we will be clothed, as a house would be provided in a Ketubah contract.
According to the Jewish marriage customs, while the groom is preparing the house for his bride, the bride is also preparing, and making herself ready. One thing that the bride has to do is to take a ritual cleansing bath called a Mikvah, in order to achieve purity. Living (moving) water is sometimes required for the Mikvah. Paul tells us that those who are full of the impurity of sin, in such a condition, cannot "inherit" the kingdom of God. "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6:9-11
Like the Jewish bride, we are to be washed before we receive our inheritance. In scripture, our relationship with Christ is compared to a relationship between husband and wife, Like a husband is supposed to love and give himself to his wife, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself...not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 6:25-27
Have we allowed Christ to cleanse us in the bridal mikvah? Are we prepared in a way to receive our inheritance?
Lastly, the Jewish bride prepares her wedding garments. For us, the believer, our verse from Rev. 19 at the top of the page, describes those bridal garments. Those garments reflect the righteousness of the saints. It is not a righteousness "earned" by obeying the Law, but as in our whole marriage relationship with Christ, it is a righteousness of works that have been manifested in our hearts and lives by our faith. Our works do not replace our faith, but are the manifestation of our faith. These faith-created works cover us as a pure wedding garment covers a bride. Those without the appropriate wedding garments, will not be allowed to enter the marriage supper (Mt. 22:11-14).
Are our wedding garments prepared? Have we, the bride of Christ, made ourselves ready? The marriage supper of the Lamb could happen at any moment. Let us use the lessons from the Jewish marriage customs, which Jesus taught and to which scripture refers, to understand how to prepare for this soon event.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry:
To obtain your copy of Dr. Stevenson's new book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of sprinkling":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch the complete message:
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10211589794762267/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMiHJUswyQ
As we said, the Ketubah marriage contract gives the bride certain material guarantees. So also does our Ketubah covenant with Christ. As we trust and believe Christ, "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment, security for full amount subsequently to be paid) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession..." Eph. 1:12-14
The "earnest", or Spirit, is a guarantee of an inheritance, as the bride is guaranteed an inheritance by the Ketubah. This "earnest" or guarantee also assures us that this earthly house in which we are currently clothed, will be replaced by a house which is from heaven, for which we groan and desire. It is like receiving a title deed:
"Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Holy Spirit...we are confident that absent from the body...present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:1-8
The Holy Spirit promised and given to us by Jesus, is the earnest, or guarantee, of the heavenly house with which we will be clothed, as a house would be provided in a Ketubah contract.
According to the Jewish marriage customs, while the groom is preparing the house for his bride, the bride is also preparing, and making herself ready. One thing that the bride has to do is to take a ritual cleansing bath called a Mikvah, in order to achieve purity. Living (moving) water is sometimes required for the Mikvah. Paul tells us that those who are full of the impurity of sin, in such a condition, cannot "inherit" the kingdom of God. "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6:9-11
Like the Jewish bride, we are to be washed before we receive our inheritance. In scripture, our relationship with Christ is compared to a relationship between husband and wife, Like a husband is supposed to love and give himself to his wife, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself...not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 6:25-27
Have we allowed Christ to cleanse us in the bridal mikvah? Are we prepared in a way to receive our inheritance?
Lastly, the Jewish bride prepares her wedding garments. For us, the believer, our verse from Rev. 19 at the top of the page, describes those bridal garments. Those garments reflect the righteousness of the saints. It is not a righteousness "earned" by obeying the Law, but as in our whole marriage relationship with Christ, it is a righteousness of works that have been manifested in our hearts and lives by our faith. Our works do not replace our faith, but are the manifestation of our faith. These faith-created works cover us as a pure wedding garment covers a bride. Those without the appropriate wedding garments, will not be allowed to enter the marriage supper (Mt. 22:11-14).
Are our wedding garments prepared? Have we, the bride of Christ, made ourselves ready? The marriage supper of the Lamb could happen at any moment. Let us use the lessons from the Jewish marriage customs, which Jesus taught and to which scripture refers, to understand how to prepare for this soon event.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry:
To obtain your copy of Dr. Stevenson's new book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of sprinkling":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch the complete message:
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10211589794762267/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMiHJUswyQ
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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