PROOF 4: OLD TESTAMENT MODELS OF JESUS EXAMPLES OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS MODELS​

HOW THE GOSPEL WAS PRESENTED TO ABRAHAM AND OTHERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

          Paul tells us in Gal 3:6-9 that the gospel was presented in advance to Abraham.  Peter and others also tell us that the gospel was presented in the Old Testament (see 1 Peter 1:10-12, 4:6; Eph 3:4-6).
          How was the gospel presented in the Old Testament?  Before answering that question let’s ask another one.  What is the gospel?  Paul gives us a good summary in 1 Cor 15:1-8 and Col 1:21-24 (also see Rom 3:21-28).  We see that Paul includes the following items concerning the Gospel here.

  • Christ died for everyone’s sins, was buried and raised on the third day.
  • Because of Christ’s death, believers who continue in the faith are saved from their sins and seen by God as holy and blameless (justified).      

          Another question that we might ask is, “why was the gospel preached in the Old Testament?”  We find the answer in 1 Peter 4:6 and Rom 3:21-28.  God is divinely fair and desires that everyone have the opportunity to accept him.  Now, let’s go back to our original question, “how was the gospel presented in the Old Testament?”
This was done in several ways including:

  • By Jesus speaking directly through the Old Testament prophets and presenting detailed first person accounts of events that would occur in his earthly life.
  • Through Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah.
  • Through coding in various ways in the Hebrew text; Hebrew may have been the first language and it seems to have been designed perfectly for passing secret or hidden messages.
  • Through faith lessons.
  • Through models or types in numerous historical Old Testament account of events which happened to the Jewish people, and through Old Testament rituals.

          The word “model.” is a synonym for the word “type” which has often been used in the past to describe this concept.  The word type is a shortened use of the word typical.  Thus a type is something that is typical of something else.  I like the word model better in that it is more commonly used today in the scientific as well as the everyday world.  For example, before building an expensive new airplane or car the designer and manufacturer first builds a scale model of the airplane or car.  The model looks just like the real thing will look at some time in the future but it is not the real thing.  If it is a model airplane it will have wings, a tail, a windshield, seats, propellers, etc.  It can be put in a wind tunnel and tested to make sure that it will perform as the designer thought it would.  When most of us were young the models were built out of metal or plastic, while today they are generally built in computers as simulations. Then, even after the real thing is developed the model can be displayed and used to teach others how the real thing works.
A model in the Bible is just like this.  It has the same characteristics as the real thing, but it is not the real thing.  It can be used to learn about what the real thing will be like before it becomes reality.  Then, after the model becomes a reality, it can still be displayed and used to teach others about the real thing.  The Old Testament is full of models that I like to look for and teach others about.  The fact that they are fulfilled in such a perfect way proves to me that God and his son, Jesus are just who they said they were, and that the Bible is the inerrant word of God.  I hope that it does the same for you.
          There are a huge number of examples of how models were used by God as he dealt with the Jewish people.  These models are so frequent, so detailed, and so accurate as a representation of some future event that there can be no explanation for them other than they are supernatural.  They represent another irrefutable proof that the God of the Bible is the one and only true God of the whole universe. 

We are now ready to study several examples of the gospel being modeled in the Old Testament including:

  • How the gospel was presented to Abraham
  • How the jewish wedding customs are a model of our relationship with Jesus
  • How the story of Ruth and the Story of Jonah are models of the gospel.
  • How Psalm 22 was a supernatural pre-recording of conversations taking place while Jesus was on the cross,
  • How Joseph was a model of Jesus.

THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC AS A MODEL OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

BACKGROUND
The New Testament tells us in Gal 3:8, 1 Pet 1:10-12 and 4:6 that the gospel was presented in the Old Testament.  It was presented in prophecy, through rituals that represented the significant events of the gospel, and through types, or real life stories, which paralleled the gospel of Jesus (and several other ways).  These allowed the children of Israel to get a glimpse of the love of God that would be presented in the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is hidden in every significant ritual and story in the Old Testament.  It only remains for us to dig them out and reveal them.  This is one of the mysteries spoken of by Jesus.  In Matt 13:35, Jesus quotes Psalms 78:2 which prophesied that the Messiah would speak in parables and reveal things hidden since the beginning of the world.  Matt 13:16-17 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 say that Old Testament prophets and righteous men longed to see and hear what the disciples were seeing and hearing but were not able to do so.  Rom 16:25-27 says that the mystery of the gospel, which had been hidden in the Old Testament, was now revealed.  Eph 3:2-6 and 5:32 indicate that the church was the mystery of the gospel.  Col 1:24-29 confirms this and indicates a further part of the mystery had been revealed, the mystery of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit was sent on the birth day of the church and will be on earth as long as the church is on the earth.  The mystery of “Christ in you” was revealed in the presence of the Holy Spirit, as indicated in Col 1:27 and John 14:15-21.
So, we have seen that the gospel, the church, and the new presence of the Holy Spirit were hidden in the Old Testament.  They were revealed, but in ways which were mysterious for the Israelites.  The revelations, even though mysterious, were still very consequential for the Israelites.  Again, the revelations were through prophecies, types and rituals.  They presented the gospel story in ways that would be easier for children to understand.  God treated the Israelites in much the same way that we treat our children.  He gave them simple rules, clear boundaries, and well laid out consequences for not obeying.  He disciplined them with the rod.  It was very clear, but like many children, they still didn’t get the message.  Christ came to earth when God thought that humanity was mature enough to be treated as young adults.  Again, as we do with our children when they are ready to leave the nest, God replaced the large list of rules with one simple request. He wants us to love Him with all of our hearts and love our fellow man in the same way that Christ loved us, so much that we are willing to sacrifice our desires for their needs.
          Now, let’s get on with the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac and how it is a model of the gospel story.  This is presented in Gen 22:1-16.  The left hand column of the following table represents an outline of the story, while the right hand column discusses how the story is a model of representation of the gospel of Jesus, particularly His sacrifice for all mankind.  Each point in the outline is accompanied by a discussion of how that point represents some event in the crucifixion of Jesus.          I believe that this type of prophetic modeling proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Bible was divinely designed and written.  Things such as this and Psalm 22 should give the Christian great hope for the future.  The Bible is 100% true!  As God said, he uses prophecy to prove to man that he is God.  Let’s move forward and you’ll see more about what I mean.
God told Abraham to take his “only” son Isaac to the top of a certain mountain where he was to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Abraham had more than one son, but he had only one by his wife Sarah, and more importantly he had only one son that was “uniquely born.” Sarah was barren and in old age (90-Gen 17:17) when Isaac was born. It was a miraculous answer to prayer. Also, God only recognized one son. As expressed in Gen 21:12, God told Abraham that it was “through Isaac that his offspring would be reckoned.” In this story, Abraham was a “type” of God the Father. Since God the Father had only one son, Abraham the father could have only one unique son. In fact, the term used to describe Isaac in Heb 11:17-19 is the same as that used to describe Jesus in John 3:16, “one and only son” or “only begotten son.” This was an Old Testament precursor of the gospel presented in John 3:16.
Abraham left early the next morning with Isaac, two servants, a donkey and wood for the sacrifice. Isaac was a type of Jesus, for he was “obedient unto death,” (Phil 2:5-8). When Jesus finally presented himself as king of the Jews, he was entering Jerusalem to sacrifice himself for the sins of all mankind. As stated in Luke 19:28-38, when Jesus entered Jerusalem to present himself for sacrifice he did so riding on a donkey. He had sent two disciples (servants) to get the donkey for him. So, we see Jesus, two servants and a donkey being led by God the Father, just as we saw Isaac, two servants and a donkey being led by Abraham the father. Just as a wooden cross was used for the sacrifice of Jesus, so too was wood to be used for the sacrifice of Isaac.
After three days they arrived at the bottom of the mountain. The servants and donkey stayed at the bottom of the mountain while Abraham and Isaac started up the mountain alone. Abraham told them that he and Isaac would be back. During the three days journey to the mountain of the sacrifice, Isaac was as good as dead as far as Abraham was concerned. As Heb 11:17-19 tells us, Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead, figuratively speaking, after the three days. Just as Jesus was dead in body for three days yet still spiritually alive, so too was Isaac dead for the three days figuratively speaking yet he also was still alive. Abraham told the servants that both he and Isaac would return. How could he know this if he fully intended to sacrifice Isaac? Again, Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us the answer. Abraham knew that God would resurrect Isaac from the dead if he were sacrificed since God had promised him that it was through Isaac that God would fulfill his promise to Abraham. Likewise, Jesus fully knew that he would be resurrected from the dead after three days. Just as Jesus’ servants stayed behind on earth as Jesus made his journey to heaven after his sacrifice, so too did Isaac’s servants stay behind during his sacrifice.
Isaac had to carry the wood on which he was to be sacrificed up to the top of the mountain Just as Isaac had to carry the wood on which he was to be sacrificed, so too did Jesus carry his own cross (John 19:17, Luke 23:26). Jesus was so physically destroyed by the beating that he had received that he had to be relieved and a Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry it the rest of the way. Abraham, the father, carried part of the means for the sacrifice of his son, the fire and the knife. So we see the father providing help in carrying the means of sacrifice up the mountain in each case.
As they walked up the mountain, Isaac asked his father where they would get the lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham replied that the Lord would provide it. Abraham was a man of faith. James 2:20-24 tells us that he completely trusted God. He knew that either God would provide a substitute sacrifice or else he would resurrect Isaac. After all, God had already made Abraham a promise that it was through Isaac that his covenant would be fulfilled. Abraham’s faith was made complete or proven by what he did. From what he told Isaac, he obviously felt that God would provide a substitute.
When they arrived at the place designated by God, Abraham built an altar, tied up the submissive Isaac and placed him upon the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. Both Isaac and Christ were to be sacrificed on altars of wood. Both were completely submissive to their fathers in being willing to be sacrificed. Neither provided a defense for why it should not happen. Both realized the ultimate importance of what they were doing. Jesus was sacrificed as a lamb. Isaac was prepared to be sacrificed as a lamb. As 1 Cor 5:7 and John 1:29 say, Jesus was the lamb that was sacrificed for our sins. Jesus was about 35 when he was crucified. It has been estimated that Isaac was about this same age when his sacrifice event took place (I would venture a guess that he was the same exact age as Jesus). Abraham would have been about 135 at this time, so Isaac must have been compliant and did not try to resist. Luke 23:9, Mark 14:61 and Matt 26:63 all say that Jesus gave no answers in his own defense. Jesus was also bound up as he was prepared for his sacrifice (Mark 15:1).
Abraham took his knife and made ready to sacrifice his only son. He was willing to sacrifice him. However, the angel of the Lord (Jesus himself from heaven) stopped Abraham and told him that since he had proven himself by being willing to sacrifice his only son, that a substitute would be provided. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket and sacrificed it to God as a substitute. Substitution is the key to both the sacrifice of Jesus and the sacrifice of Isaac. A substitute lamb (ram - a male sheep) was provided by God so that Isaac would not have to be sacrificed. In Num 28:16-22, God gave the Israelites instructions to offer a male goat as a sacrifice of atonement for sins on the first day of Passover, the very day that Jesus was crucified. Just as Isaac was saved by the sacrifice of the substitute lamb provided by God, so too were all believers saved by the sacrifice of the substitute Lamb provided by God, His only son Jesus who died as a substitute for the sins of all believers. 1 Peter 3:18 says the following: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Let’s also read Gal 3:13-14 which expresses this very well (in fact all of chapter 3 of Galatians).
Abraham named the place “The Lord Will Provide.” A Jewish saying resulted, “on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Both sacrifices were completed. In fact, recent research indicates that both sacrifices probably took place on the same hill just outside Jerusalem. This was prophesied by God when he gave Abraham the name for the place of the sacrifice, and the Jewish saying that resulted.

These represent the analogies that I could develop in a few hours of study.  I’m sure that there are many more that we could come up with.  Why don’t you try to develop a few more?  For example, after the sacrifice event Isaac is not mentioned in Genesis as being bodily present until he shows up to meet his bride.  Likewise, Jesus will not be on the earth bodily until he returns for his bride, the church.  Isn’t this fun!

I believe that we are being entrusted with some of the secret things of God.  Not many people in the world have had ever had the opportunity to be exposed to these things.  They are awesome and demand our attention.  1 Cor 4:1-2 expresses this very well.  1.  So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.   2.  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
SUMMARY OF THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE SACRIFICES OF ISAAC AND JESUS

  • The “only begotten” sons of both Abraham and God were involved in substitutional sacrifices.
  • Preparation for both sacrifices involved two servants, a donkey and wood.
  • Both Isaac and Jesus were “obedient unto death.”  Both were completely obedient to their fathers, as lambs.
  • Neither provided a defense as to why he should not be sacrificed.
  • Both had to carry the means of sacrifice.  Both were provided assistance.
  • Both were bound in preparation for the sacrifice.
  • Both sacrifices were on alters of wood.
  • The major points of both sacrifices involved substitution:
  • A substitute lamb (ram, or male sheep) was provided by God for sacrifice to save Isaac (Isaac was to be the father of all Jews so this substitute sacrifice saved all Jews).
  • A substitute lamb (Jesus) was provided by God as a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of all mankind, once for all!  Jesus died for all sins; past, present and future.  No further sacrifice will ever be necessary!  (This substitute sacrifice saved all mankind.)
  • Both were dead for three days, Isaac figuratively and Jesus bodily.
  • Servants for both stayed behind waiting for the three days.
  • Both knew that they would be resurrected after three days.
  • Both sacrifices may have been made on the same mountain just outside Jerusalem, and both may have been on the same day, Passover preparation day
  • Isaac is not mentioned as being bodily present again in Genesis until he comes for his bride, just as Jesus will not be bodily present on earth again until he comes for his bride at the rapture of the church.

JEWISH WEDDING CUSTOMS AS A TYPE OR MODEL OF THE CHURCH AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION
I have discovered in my study of the Bible that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the relationship that exists between Jesus and his bride, the church, and the Jewish wedding customs of the Biblical age.  I find that every ceremony, ritual and story in the Old Testament either hints at or prophesies the coming Messiah, or is a model or type of the gospel story.  Gal 3:8 and several other New Testament scriptures tell us that the gospel was either announced in advance or in some way hidden in the Old Testament.  There are literally hundreds of examples where Old Testament ceremonies, rituals, and stories are illustrations, types, models, or shadows of the gospel story.  Now, I’d like to show you how the Jewish wedding customs were illustrations of the gospel of Christ.  We’ll look at the customs one by one in our study.
THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
          You may have already noticed many times in your Bible studies that Christ often referred to his relationship with believers in terms common to weddings.  Let’s look at some of these before we begin our comparison.  The Bible teaches us in Eph 5:22-33 and other places (Rev 19:7-9, 22:17, and Rom 7:1-4) that the church is the bride of Christ.  Let’s look at some of these scriptures.
Eph 5:22-23
22      Wives, submit to your husband’s as to the Lord.
23      For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Eph 5:29-32
29      After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--
30      for we are members of his body.
31      "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
32      This is a profound mystery-- but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Rev 19:7
7        Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
The wedding of the Lamb refers to the wedding of Christ and his bride, the Church.  The church is made up of believers.  1 Cor 6:15-17 tells us that when we are born again we become a spiritual oneness with Christ, just as the husband and wife become one flesh when they are married, a physical oneness.  Let’s read this.
1 Cor 6:15-17
15      Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
16      Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."
17      But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
These scriptures and others (Acts 2:38) seem to tell us that when we are born again and baptized it’s almost as though our spirit becomes betrothed to Christ’s Spirit.  This is another confirmation of eternal security, since Christ doesn’t believe in divorce.  As far as he is concerned, marriage is forever.  He won’t ever divorce us.  When I watch a baptism ceremony, I see it as a betrothal ceremony, a betrothal of the believer to Christ.  Also, every time that we take communion we are renewing our vows, as we shall see later.

THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN THE WEDDING
          So, we see that the Church will one day become the bride of Christ, and that there will be a wedding and celebration in heaven.  If there is to be a wedding then there must be a whole cast of principal characters for the wedding.  In fact, there are many references and hints in the Bible concerning who these principals will be.  Let’s look at who they will be according to things I have discovered in the Bible:
Bridegroom:  Jesus Christ (Jn 3:27-30; Mt 9:15, 25:1-13; 2 Cor 11:2)
Bride:  Church (Eph 5:22-23; Rom 7:1-4; 2 Cor 11:2; Rev 19:7-9, 22:17)
Father of the Bridegroom:  God the Father (Jn 3:16; Matt 3:16-17; Jn 1 32-34)
Mother of the Bridegroom:  Israel (Jer 31:31-34; Hos 2:16-23, Mt 12:48; Lk 11:27-28)
Father of the Bride:  Paul (2 Cor 11:2)
Mother of the Bride:  Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3-7; Rom 8:9-10; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4 – The Church was born of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Everyone who is in the Church of Jesus is born of the Spirit.)
Best Man:  John the Baptist (Jn 3:27-29)
Bridesmaids:  Those waiting with the bride for the return of the Bridegroom.  This includes all gentiles who were taken to heaven from Abraham’s bosom by Jesus upon his death (Luke 16:19-31; Eph 4:7-10; Ps 68:18)
Guests:  Jewish tradition says that the guests were the friends of the Bridegroom’s father.  This would have been the Old Testament saints, but only those who accepted the invitation (Matt 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24; 2 Cor 5:20)
Those Turned Away from the Wedding Celebration: Those dressed in the wrong clothes (Matt 22:1-14; Lk 14:15-24) and the Bridesmaids who didn’t have any oil for their lamps (the Holy Spirit) (Matt 25:1-13)
          When will the wedding and celebration occur?  Again, according to my interpretation it will occur during the seven year tribulation period.  It will be held in heaven just after the rapture and before the Second Coming.  However, we don’t know the exact time that it will occur (Matt 25:1-13, 24:36-44).

OUTLINE OF THE PRINCIAL FEATURES OF A JEWISH WEDDING

  1. The son’s father chose the mate for his son.
  2. The father and son went to the home of the bride so that a price could be negotiated.
  3. A binding written agreement was signed and the couple was considered betrothed.
  4. The betrothal could only be broken by divorce.
  5. During the betrothal period, the groom prepared a place in his father’s house for the bride.
  6. The father decided when the preparations were complete, and he set the wedding date.
  7. Not knowing when the groom would return for her, the bride made herself ready and stayed ready.  Her bridesmaids stayed with her and also had to remain ready.
  8. During the betrothal period the bride wore a veil so that everyone would know that she was spoken for and was considered “bought with a price.”
  9. On the day of the wedding the groom and his friends, dressed in their finest clothes, went to the home of the bride, got the bride and returned to the groom’s father’s house.  The Bridegroom and his friends made every attempt to surprise the Bride.  All Jewish brides were stolen away, or abducted so to speak, by the one who loved them so much.  The groom and his party shouted out warnings as signs that they were approaching the bride’s house.  They rejoiced and partied all of the way home.
  10. Once in the groom’s father’s home the couple was ushered into the bridal chamber.  The veil was removed from the bride and all of her secrets were revealed.
  11. The marriage was consummated through sexual union.  The best man stood outside of the door to the wedding chamber waiting for a signal from the groom that the wedding had been consummated, that they had become one.
  12. Although the bride and groom became one in flesh, they remained under the authority of the bridegroom’s father.
  13. After the act was completed, a wedding celebration consisting of a feast and party continued for seven days.  The bride and groom appeared at the end of the week and a marriage supper and reception was held.
  14. After the seven day wedding the groom returned to the bride’s hometown with the bride.  The bride’s veil had been removed and now everyone could see who had been married.

Let’s now begin our comparative study.

CONCLUSION
          There has been and still is much confusion about what the Bible says the roles of the church and Israel will be in the coming age.  Some believe and teach that the church replaced Israel in God’s plan.  That is not what I understand.  Israel and the church each have distinct places in God’s future plans.  Isaiah 54:1-10 and Hosea 2,3 are prophetic scriptures that deal with God’s future plans for Israel.  Israel is referred to as the unfaithful wife of the Lord who prostituted herself with false gods but who will be restored in the millennium.  [In Hosea 2:21-23, Jezreel means, “replanted Israel”, i.e. God will replant Israel in the land that God had given to her.  In Hosea 3:5, David really points to the son of David, or the Messiah.]
It’s so obvious that the Holy Spirit was behind every word, every thought, everystory in the Bible. When I discover an illustration of the gospel hidden in an Old Testament custom like marriage, I really enjoy looking for the scriptures that bring it to life and make everything fit together so well.  This type of structure and design was done on purpose by the Holy Spirit.  His fingerprints are on every page in the Bible.  Examples like the Jewish wedding customs study can often help us to decipher hard to understand concepts or prophecies.
1. The son’s father chose the mate for his son. There was no dating or courtship. Everything was very practical and legalistic. 1. God the Father chose us for Christ, even before creation (2 Thess 2:13, Jn 17:6).
He chose someone who would fit in with and work well with the mother-in-law and other family members. He chose us to be part of his family (Eph 1:4-5, Jn 10:27-29) and expects us to work well with other members of his family (Eph 2:10). Our mother-in-law is Israel. God often spoke symbolically of Israel as his wife in the Old Testament (Jer 31:31-34; Hos 2:16-23). We must get along well with Israel. Moses tells us what will happen to us if we don't (Gen 12:3).
2. The father and son would go to meet the potential bride and her father at their house so that the two fathers could negotiate a price. 2. The Son came to our home on earth to meet his potential bride and the Fathers (a unilateral negotiation since we potentially have the same Father) negotiated a price for us.
The son might ask his father, “Are you sure that this price is not too high? Can you afford it?” Jesus asked his Father, “Are you sure that this price is not too high?” (Luke 22:39-42)
A very significant price was paid for the bride as compensation, often a sum equal to the cost of a new house, to be paid in either services or money. 50 shekels was a common price. The price was so high that there was no doubt that the groom would return for the bride. A very significant price was paid for us, the life of God’s only begotten son (Jn 3:16). The price paid provided for a new home for us; a home in heaven. There is no doubt that Jesus will return for us.
After the price was negotiated, a cup of wine was poured out for the son to present to the potential bride, and he would essentially say, “I love you and offer my life to you.” At the last supper, Jesus poured out a cup of wine in accordance with Passover tradition and said, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,” (Matt 26:27-28). In essence, Jesus said “I love you so much that I am willing to offer my life as a sacrifice for you so that we may have an eternal future together. Will you marry me and become my spiritual bride? I want all of you to accept my proposal!”
The bride could either answer “No, I don’t accept you,” or “Yes I accept your life and give you mine.” We, the bride, can either answer “No, I don’t accept you,” or “Yes I accept your life and give you mine.” That is a large part of what communion is all about, a reverent recommitment of our betrothal vows to Jesus.[iii] Also see 1 Cor 11:25-27.
They did not always marry the person they loved, but they always loved the person who they married. Christ does not always save (marry) those he loves, but he always loves those who he saves (marries). God loves all men and wants all men to be saved. Christ died for all men (1 Tim 2:3-6, Rom 5:8). Even though Christ loves non-believers, they are still lost (1 Cor 6:9-10). Christ loves his believers (Jn 15:12), who will one day become his bride. Christ loves the church (Eph 5:25-27).
3. When the compensation was accepted, a binding written agreement was signed and the couple was considered betrothed. 3. The New Covenant is our binding wedding contract. It is sealed with the Holy Spirit and signed with the blood of Jesus. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice, the binding agreement is put in place (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30) and we receive the sign of the binding agreement, the Holy Spirit. At that time we are considered betrothed to Christ. I view baptism as the betrothal ceremony (Gal 3:26-29) and communion as a reverent renewal of our vows to Christ.
4. The betrothal could only be broken by divorce. 4. Our betrothal to Christ can only be broken if we divorce ourselves from him. We must hold on to our belief in Christ and follow his command until the end of our lives. Otherwise we turn our backs on him and divorce him (Heb 3:12-14). Christ will never leave us or separate himself from us (Jn 10:27-28, Rom 8:38-39).
During the engagement period, adultery was severely punished. If we are betrothed to Jesus and we commit spiritual adultery by communing with false gods, we will be severely punished (Heb 10:26-27, Heb 6:4-6, Ex 32:31-33).
During the betrothal period, the couple could not have sexual contact, but were considered husband and wife. During the betrothal period we do not have physical contact with Christ, only spiritual contact through his Spirit (Jn 16:9-15). We still belong to Christ during this period.
5. During the betrothal period the man prepared a place in his father’s house for his bride. Sometimes a room was added or the house was enlarged. 5. During the betrothal period Christ is preparing a place for us in his Father’s house (Jn 14:1-4).
6. The betrothal period could last any length of time, but was usually for about one year. Nobody knew the exact date except for the father of the bridegroom. He determined when the arrangements had been made to his satisfaction. 6. Our betrothal period lasts from the time that we are born again and baptized until Christ takes us to heaven. Nobody knows when that will be except God the Father (Mark 13:32-36). The marriage ceremony of the Lamb takes place after we get to heaven following the rapture (Rev 19:7).
7. During the betrothal period, the bride prepared herself for life in her husband’s father’s house. 7. During the betrothal period we are to prepare ourselves for our lives in Jesus’ Father’s house. We are to make ourselves Christ-like (1 Jn 2:6, Rom 8:28-30).
The bride got herself ready for the wedding and stayed ready in case the groom came for her at an unexpected time. She had to have an oil lamp ready in case he came at night. The bridesmaids waited with her and also had to stay ready, including having their lamps ready. We must stay ready for the return of Jesus at the Rapture. We don’t know the day or the hour. We must have oil for our lamps at all times. Oil in the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit. We must have the Holy Spirit within us, indicating that we are saved or Jesus will not take us to heaven with him. We will be locked out of heaven and not able to get in for the wedding (Matt 25:1-13).
8. During the betrothal period the bride was referred to as set apart, and bought at a price. 8. During our betrothal period we are referred to as set apart, and bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20, 7:23).
During the betrothal period the bride wore a veil anytime that she went outside of her house so that others would know that she was spoken for. We are to make it known that we belong to Christ through our actions (James 3:13). We must avoid other gods and wait for Jesus to return for us.
9. On the day of the wedding the groom and his friends, dressed in their finest clothes, went to the home of the bride, got the bride and returned to the groom’s father’s house. They rejoiced and partied all of the way home. 9. On the day of the wedding Jesus will return for us and take us to his Father’s house (Jn 14:28, 1 Thess 4:13-18). He will bring his friends with him when he comes for us. These are the spirits of those who have already died and gone to heaven (1 Thess 4:13). They, like us, will put on their finest clothes, as they will finally be clothed in immortality (1 Cor 15:51-53).
The Bridegroom and his friends made every attempt to surprise the Bride. All Jewish brides were stolen away, or abducted (raptured) so to speak, by the one who loved them so much. The Bridegroom, Jesus, will surprise us when he comes for us with his friends (1 Thess 4:13-18). We will be raptured or abducted, so to speak, by the one who loves us so much (1 Cor 15:20-23, 51-53).
The groom and his party shouted out warnings as signs that they were approaching the bride’s house. Jesus will warn us that he is coming with a loud command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call from God (1 Thess 4:16; 1 Cor 15:52). The trumpet is the symbol of deliverance that was used when the Israelites entered the promised land and will also be the symbol of our deliverance to our promised land in heaven. The seven Jewish feasts are all prophetic. The first four or spring festivals [Passover, Unleavened bread, First fruits (Easter), and Pentecost] were all prophetic of Christ’s first coming. The last three or fall festivals [Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles] are all prophetic of Christ’s second coming. The Feast of Trumpets (also called Yom Teruah or Yosh Hashanah) is believed by many Messianic Jews to be prophetic of the Rapture. It is the Jewish civil new year, occurs on the 1st of Tishri, and is in Sept. or Oct on our calendar.
10. Once in the groom’s father’s home the couple was ushered into the bridal chamber. The veil was removed from the bride and all of her secrets were revealed. 10. Once we are in heaven with Christ the wedding ceremony will take place (Rev 19:7). The first thing that happens is that our veil is removed and all of our secrets are revealed. This happens at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:16). Our works are evaluated for just what they were (1 Cor 3:11-15).
The marriage was consummated through sexual union as the friends waited outside. The bride and groom became one. We will become one with Christ in spirit (1 Cor 6:17, Jn 17:20-23).
11. The best man stood outside of the door to the wedding chamber waiting for a signal from the groom that the wedding had been consummated, that they had become one. 11. John the Baptist said that he attends the bridegroom, waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice (Jn 3:29).
12. Although the bride and groom became one flesh, they remained under the authority of the bridegroom’s father. 12. Although we become one in Spirit with Christ, we remain under the authority of God the Father, who is the greatest of all (Jn 10:29, 12:49-50, Rev 1:1).
13. After the act was completed, a wedding celebration consisting of a feast and party continued for seven days. The bride and groom appeared at the end of the week and a marriage supper and reception was held. 13. There will be a seven day period (7 years in Jewish terms) of celebration before we begin our reign with Christ. This reign with Christ will begin at the second coming of Christ when the millennial period begins. After the rapture and during the tribulation, the bride will adorn herself in white linen, which Rev 19:7-8 says is the righteous acts of the saints, or faithful obedience. This adornment will consist of the rewards presented at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10, crowns, etc., wedding presents, so to speak), which takes place immediately after the rapture (and may be repeated at the second coming judgments)[iv].
14. All of the friends were invited to the wedding celebration. There were rules concerning who was admitted. Not everyone could attend. 14. Matt 22:1:14 and 25:1-13 tells us who is invited to the wedding celebration of the lamb. We can’t go just because we want to. There are rules for admittance. We must be dressed in the proper clothes (Glorified bodies, 1 Cor 15:51-54 and the Holy Spirit, Rom 8:9-10). Rev 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” What a blessed event that will be!
After the seven day wedding the groom returned to the bride’s hometown with the bride. The bride’s veil had been removed and now everyone could see who had been married. After the seven year tribulation period and the wedding supper of the Lamb, Jesus will return to earth with his bride, the church, to remain 1000 years (2 Tim 2:12, 1 Thess 4:17). This is known as the Second Coming.
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