Ephesians 5:32

"This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:32

Paul is saying that before the teachings of Jesus Christ, all of God's instructions to the Jews in the Old Testament, concerning marriage were secretly revealing the relationship between Jesus - "The Bridegroom" and the Church - "The Bride". Obviously, the first major step in a Jewish marriage was the betrothal... which involved the establishment of a marriage covenant. By Jesus' time it was usual for such a covenant to be established as the result of the prospective bridegroom taking the initiative. In the case of the church, the bible says that God chose us first, not us choosing Him. The prospective bridegroom would travel from his father's house to the home of the prospective bride. That's what Jesus did for the church! There he would negotiate with the father of the young woman to determine the price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. That is what Christ did upon Calvary! Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was thereby established, and the young man and woman were regarded to be husband and wife. We, the church are already one with The Bridegroom, and wait. From that moment on the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified, set apart exclusively for her bridegroom. The bible clearly teaches the church to be set apart! As a symbol of the covenant relationship that had been established, the groom and bride would drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal benediction had been pronounced. This is the practice of the true church today! After the marriage covenant had been established, the groom would leave the home of the bride and return to his father's house. Christ, we know has done this! There he would remain separate from his bride for a period. That is the age that the church is in today! This period of separation afforded the bride time to prepare for married life. That is what the true church is doing today! The groom occupied himself with the preparation of living accommodations in his father's house to which he could bring his bride. Jesus has promised us that this is exactly what He has gone to do! At the end of the period of separation the groom would come to take his bride to live with him. Jesus has given us every indication that He will come back for the church! The taking of the bride usually took place at night. As we look at the spiritual condition of the world around us, it is clear that it is already night... when I do stop to look at what is going on around the world, I'm guessing it's just about "mid-night"! The groom, best man and other male escorts would leave the groom's father's house and conduct a torch light procession to the home of the bride. We see this happening in the book of Revelation.

Rarely, the bride knew exactly when the groom would come for her, but that he was. Certainly, that is what the church understands today! As a result the groom's arrival would be preceded by a shout. Again, John has given assurance that the church can anticipate this very thing! After the groom received his bride together with her female attendants, the enlarged wedding party would return from the bride's home to the groom's father's house. Upon arrival from there bride's home to the groom's father's house, there the wedding party would find that the wedding guests had assembled already. In the same manner, Christ and the Church will find the souls of Old Testament saints assembled in heaven when they arrive. These souls will serve as the wedding guests. Shortly after arrival the bride and groom would be escorted by the other members of the wedding party to the bridal chamber (huppah). Prior to entering the chamber the bride remained veiled so that no one could see her face. While the groomsmen and bridesmaids would wait outside, the bride and groom would enter the bridal chamber alone. There in the privacy of that place they would enter into physical union for the first time, thereby consummating the marriage that had been covenanted earlier. Christ and the Church will experience spiritual union after their arrival at His Father's house in heaven, thereby consummating their relationship that had been covenanted earlier. After the marriage was consummated, the groom would announce the consummation to the other members of the wedding party waiting outside the chamber (John 3:29). These people would pass on the news of the marital union to the wedding guests. Upon receiving this good news the wedding guests would feast and make merry for the next seven days. During the seven days of the wedding festivities, which were sometimes called "the seven days of the huppah," the bride remained hidden in the bridal chamber. Corresponding with the Jewish bride remaining hidden in the bridal chamber for a period of seven days after arrival at the groom's father's house, the Church will remain hidden for a period of seven years after arrival at Christ's Father's house in heaven. While the seven year Tribulation Period is taking place on the earth, the Church will be in heaven totally hidden from the sight.

At the conclusion of these seven days the groom would bring his bride out of the bridal chamber, now with her veil removed, so that all could see who his bride was. chamber, now with her veil removed. This is only a highlighted picture of what the mystery was until Jesus revealed the truth. I encourage anyone to take a deeper study into more wonderful details of the Jewish wedding as it relates to Christ and the church.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 5:33 next time.

I love you.