The Third Day Wedding*

We can start with the Prophet Hosea: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hos. 6:2). "In the third day" pertains to the time in which we are living, according to Peter who wrote that a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day. We have completed the second day, or 2,ooo years since the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we are entering that third day, or 3,ooo year time to be revived and raised up to live in His sight. Jesus spoke about the difference between those of the world, and those who are part of Himself, and the Kingdom of God. He said that those of the world cannot receive His words, which are the words of the Father, the words of truth that make men free: "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world...if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins...he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him...When ye lift up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed...Why do you not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word...He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (Jn. 8:23-47, excerpt). We who are in Christ, and hear His words, are not from this world, and we are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed. The Church needs to stop looking at the world for remedies. The third day is about transformation, and the transformation is in preparation for the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride, the believers. There is a connection in scripture between the third day and the wedding, and it also involved Jesus' first miracle: "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana (meaning: reed, shaft and branches of the lampstand, purchase, redeem, God originating, creating, and redeeming His people) of Galilee (meaning: circuit, ring, turning of a door, to roll away the reproach, roll away a stone); and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (Jn. 2:1-2). At this wedding feast, when they asked for wine, Jesus' mother told Him that there was no wine left to drink. Jesus ordered that the large stone pots used for cleansing or purifying be filled to the brim with water. Then He told them to draw some out and take it to the ruler of the feast. The ruler did not know that the wine that he tasted had originally been water, and he marvelled that the good wine, usually served to guests at the beginning of the fest before too much drinking had gone on, was saved for the end of the feast (v. 3-10). "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." (v. 11). Those pots containing the water of purification is our washing of the water of the Word of God. And this first miracle of Jesus that caused His disciples to believe in Him occurred at a wedding that took place on the third day. Jesus again used wine to represent the new covenant in His blood, that is shed for many for the remission of sins (Mt. 26:26-29). The cup of wine that He used was the Cup of Redemption of the Passover meal, or Seder. That cup is also known as the Cup of Betrothal. Jesus told His disciples: "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." This is the third day marriage. Revelation tells us that the Lamb's wife has made herself ready. Jesus told a parable warning us to be ready for His return as the Bridegroom. He said that there were ten virgins who were waiting for the Bridegroom to arrive. Five were wise and had prepared ahead of time, having their lamps trimmed and extra oil on hand to light their lamps when He came. Five of the virgins were foolish and had not prepared properly, having no oil on hand for their lamps. They all slept, because the Bridegroom did not arrive until midnight. Suddenly the cry went out that the Bridegroom had arrived, and only the wise virgins could join the wedding party, while the foolish virgins had to go out at the last minute to purchase a supply of oil. Meanwhile, the door to the marriage feast was shut, and the five foolish virgins were left outside the door. When the foolish ones cried out to be let in, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us", the Lord answered: "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus ended the parable saying: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:1-13). The Church has also been asleep while we wait for Christ's return. Will there be those who are unprepared for the Bridegroom's arrival, having no oil of the Holy Spirit in their spiritual lamps? We may not know the exact day nor hour of His return, but we know the signs of His return, because He told us ahead of time (see Mt. 24, Lk. 21). Those signs are around us today. The world even has something called a "Doomsday Clock" set up with its hands approaching midnight. The world is paying more attention to the signs of the times than the Church! Jesus said that His return will be like it was in the days of Noah, when the world carried on their activities as they normally would. But the day came when Noah and the animals were told by God to enter the ark, and the LORD shut Noah in. None of those left outside the ark could enter. Then the flood came and destroyed them. Noah was spared because he received grace from God, a gift, and was therefore seen as righteous before Him (Lk. 17:25-26, Gen. 7:1-16). The day of the Lord is a day in which the door will be shut. Those who find grace in Christ will be inside, and those who haven't will remain outside. In another part of scripture, Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem, the city which plays an important role in the prophetic timetable of God, and has just in the past generation become re-established with the nation of Israel, Jesus warned those whom He was teaching: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate (the eastern gate where the King or Messiah will enter): for many...will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Lk. 13:22-30). In that day, even though they knew of Jesus, He did not know them as belonging to Him, and He will say to them: "I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." (v. 27). Others would enter the Kingdom of God, but these would be thrust out, Jesus said, "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." (v. 30). Jesus requires more of a relationship with us in order to save us than just a casual acquaintanceship. Finally, Jesus told a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who was preparing a marriage feast for his son (Mt. 22:1-13). He invited many, but all had an excuse not to come. They treated with violence the messengers whom the king had sent with his invitation. The king sent his army to destroy those who had murdered his messengers. Then he sent his servants out again telling them to invite as many as they could find, both good and bad (our righteousness is of the Lord, not ourselves), to the marriage feast. Those who came knew to prepare and wear wedding garments. However, there was one there who wore no wedding garment. When asked why by the king, he remained silent, for he had no good reason. The king said to his servants: "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." In Jewish customs, the wedding garments are a very important part of the marriage feast. The bride begins weaving her wedding garment when she becomes betrothed. We also see in Jesus' parable that wedding garments are necessary, yet how many in the Church have given no thought to the preparation needed for the coming marriage to our Bridegroom? Church games and rituals will not save you. The world puts up signs of what will set you free, whether that is work, money, drugs, or other things that pass away, but it's a lie. Whoever sins becomes a servant to sin, and all have sinned. However, the Lord's truth has made us free, if we will hear and accept it. We are living in the time of the third day wedding. Have you prepared for it? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/3/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool.com.

The Marriage Covenant

 

Before we  continue our discussion of the coming Fall Feasts of the LORD, it is important to discuss the Jewish marriage covenant. Jesus repeatedly spoke of Himself in terms of a Bridegroom, but because the Church has divorced itself from its Jewish roots, we often fail to see the Jewish construct from which Jesus taught.

The Jewish wedding covenant was at the time of Christ, and still is today, a legal contract called a Ketubah (example shown above). The prospective bridegroom brings the wedding contract to his hopefully future bride's home, along with witnesses. In the actual wedding covenant or contract, the groom promises to provide security to the bride, and puts up his property as assurance for the future protection and security of the bride, even in case of divorce. The bride, of her own free will, choses whether she will accept the groom and the marriage covenant. The groom also brings wine with him to seal and celebrate the accepted covenant, which they drink during a shared meal.

The Apostle Paul also describes the relationship between Christ and the Church as a marriage relationship:

"Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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 (see also Rev. 19:7 referring to the bride of the Lamb)...For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."   

                                                                            Eph. 5:25-27, 30-32

This is the same commission concerning marriage that the LORD gave to the first man, Adam (Gen. 2:23-24). Jesus further affirmed the marriage relationship as a joining through which two individuals become one flesh:

"And (Jesus) said, "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh...Wherefore, they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."  Mt. 19:5-6

From the beginning (Mt. 19:8), marriage is the only relationship whereby two separate individuals can become one flesh (echad). This union is the purpose between Christ and the Church- that the two, through marriage, become one.

Jesus has provided the required security for the Bride in His marriage covenant, or Ketubah, with His Church. He provided our protection and security with own His blood (1 Cor. 6:19), and with His own inheritance:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ...".  Rom.8:17

As a Jewish Bridegroom, Jesus further assures the security of His bride by preparing a dwelling for her in His Father's house:

"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...You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice..."  

                                                                                                 Jn. 14:2-3, 28a

Even the return of Jesus, to which we all look forward, is a promise given in the context of the Jewish marriage covenant, the Ketubah, as you can see in the above scriptures. As with the Jewish wedding, great rejoicing is associated with the groom coming for his bride.

 

As we stated previously, in the Jewish custom of the Ketubah, the bridegroom comes to the bride's house. If she agrees to the marriage covenant, they share a meal together with the family:

"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 sup with him, and he with Me."   Rev. 3:20

The bridegroom also brings witnesses with him to witness the terms of the Ketubah contract, and the bride's acceptance of them. In the same manner, Jesus provides the Holy Spirit as a witness of His marriage covenant with us:

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter ("parakletos"- called to one's aid, helper, aider, assistant), that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."     Jn. 14:16-18, 26

This special witness, the Holy Spirit, this helper and assistant, is sent by Jesus' Father, on His, the Groom's, behalf. In the Torah, there is a type and shadow of this special Witness and Helper in the marriage covenant. Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer ("God is Help"), to secure a bride for his son, Isaac. Once Eliezer, through God's help, identifies the perfect candidate for the son's bride, he presents her and her family with gold, and his master's great possessions, which he brought with him on ten camels (Gen. 24:10, 22, 53). As required with the Ketubah, the bride, Rebekah, consented to the marriage of her own free will:

"And they called Rebekah and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?"  And she said, "I will go."   Gen 24:58

This is the same with each of us. We each had to accept the (marriage) covenant which Jesus offered to us. It is a free will choice.

According to the promise that Jesus made, as Abraham sent Eliezer, the Father sends His Helper, the Holy Spirit, on His Son's behalf, to the Bride with great gifts and possessions, even His power from on high (Acts 1:8). It is the marriage covenant witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that assures our security as joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17).

Finally, as the Jewish bridegroom comes to his future bride's house to gain her agreement to the Ketubah, he brings with him wine to seal and celebrate the marriage covenant. The first miracle of Jesus was turning water into fine wine at the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11). Jesus also sealed His (marriage) covenant with us in wine, His blood:

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit, until that day when I drink it with you in My Father's kingdom."   Mt. 26:27-29

In the Jewish marriage ceremony, wine is also used twice. At the beginning of the ceremony, the bride and groom sip wine to acknowledge their sanctification, and the sanctification of the wedding day. They don't drink wine again until later in the ceremony after the seven marriage blessings are said, and thanking God for the privilege of joining together in marriage.

As we see the significance that the Jewish marriage customs play in Christ's relationship with us, we can understand why marriage is under such attack today. The world has tried to change the whole meaning, character, and spiritual importance of marriage, because the world cannot receive, or know it (Jn. 14:17). Certainly those who do know Christ, should understand the depth, the spiritual richness, and prophetic example of the marriage covenant.

The Jewish people often compare the marriage covenant contract, the Ketubah, to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, which was God's joining to the people of Israel. The Church also, can now understand that the Torah, as well as being the Book of the Law, is the Ketubah marriage covenant between Jesus and ourselves. 

 

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