the Ancient Galilean wedding Foreshadows the BIBLICAL rapture and Marriage Feast of The Lamb

The Reality of the Rapture is foreshadowed by The Ancient Galilean Wedding Tradition. According to Lifeway Research, 36% of Christians believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. 4% believe in a mid-tribulation rapture. 19% believe in a post-tribulation rapture. 13% have other views of the rapture. 4% of Christians are just not sure and 25% of Christians believe there is no literal rapture. Within the content of this post, I would like to share how the Ancient Galilean wedding foreshadows the rapture and the marriage supper of the Lamb and how it is built upon the custom of Galilean weddings. The series of customs in the Galilean wedding reveal a chronological timeline to the return of Jesus Christ!

*Please Note: The disciples of Jesus were from Galilee. As you read this remember Jesus’ audience was aware of the Galilean Wedding tradition and understood this timeline.

The Betrothal (engagement) Between the Young Bride and Groom

During this time, a wedding was the biggest event in town for anyone. Everyone would rust to the betrothal at the main gate. Whether you were invited or not, everyone will participate. The Bride receives the covenant or proposal. After the covenant, gifts are exchanged. The Groom offers the Bride a “Cup of Joy”. The Bride then has the power to accept or reject the offer of the Groom. The Bride needs to drink from the cup of win for the betrothal to progress. Then the Groom seals with this: “You are now consecrated to me by the laws of Moses and I will not drink from this cup again until I drink it with you in my father’s house.”

The Last Supper (John 13)

At the Last Supper, Jesus offers His disciples a cup of wine which symbolizes a New Covenant He had with them. After the Disciples drink from the cup (Matthew 26:29), Jesus said similar words to the tradition of the Groom from the Ancient Galilean wedding, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day that I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.” This cup that was given to His disciples represents a new covenant. He would pour out His blood, and propose an engagement by pouring and drinking the wine and giving it to His disciples. At the Last Supper Jesus spoke as a bridegroom.

Just as the Ancient Galilean Wedding Bride sealed the betrothal by taking the Cup of Joy, we partake in the New Covenant that Jesus gave to us by partaking in communion. Now, the groom must leave the betrothed until the day the wedding is consummated.

The Groom Prepares a New Place

In the Ancient Galilean Wedding tradition, the Groom will then leave the Bride and go to the Father’s house. In the upcoming months, the Groom will then add room to the Father’s house. Preparing a place for the Bride. New furniture, tables, stools, etc. He will prepare the wedding feast with oil, lamps, and rugs that will take place in the new home.

Jesus Warns the Disciples

In John 14:3, Jesus warns His disciples prior to His crucifixion that He would have to leave them. But gives them the beautiful assurance the Groom gives the Bride during the Ancient wedding. Let us read it, John 14:3 (KJV),

Jesus states that He will return and take His Bride. Where He is, we will also be. This introduces the doctrine of the rapture to us, that He will return for The Bride. Jesus promises that He will return for His Bride, the Church. Jesus tells His Bride that there will be those on earth that will not taste death. But until the Bride is reunited with the Groom, much has to take place. The Bride must prepare for hour of the coming of the Groom. Material and fabric must be bought for the wedding dress. This took lots of time in the first century. And the Bride is to be pure and vigilant as she waited for her Groom. Regardless of how long it took for His return.

The Groom Does Not Know The Day or The Hour

Neither the Groom or Bride knew the day or the hour the wedding would take place! The Bride ALWAYS had to be ready. This may seem bizarre but it’s part of the Ancient Galilean Wedding tradition. No one in the entire town knew when the wedding would take place, except for one person, the Father of the Bridegroom! Only Galilean weddings had these customs. To them, it was a surprise wedding. The Father makes the announcement the day and the hour, “Son, go get your Bride.” The Father makes the final inspection if all is ready for the Bride. Only He knows the day or the hour.

Jesus Tells Us, “No One Knows The Day and Hour”

The Bride and Groom are yearning for their union but must wait for the Father’s call. Our task is not to be focused on His return, but to consider the preparations for the return of Groom for the Church. We are to always be ready, vigilant and pure.

The Groom Returns in the Middle of Night

In the Ancient Galilee Wedding tradition, scholars have found that the hour of the wedding would be in the middle of the night. That is why they needed oil in their lamps to be always be lit and the Bride and Bridesmaids are to be dressed and ready. Then the Groom would come for His bride in the night. The conditions for the Bride was to always be pure and to sleep in her wedding dress and her bridesmaids were there to help her out when the Groom comes unexpectedly, an hour they did not know. They were to always be ready.

Jesus Said His Return is as a Thief in the Night

Jesus warned His disciple to be ready for His second coming in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. Just as the Bride, we are to not fall asleep (Spiritually) as others do, but to be pure and ready at all times because the Groom will appear at any moment.

The Bride is To Be Ready

In the Ancient Galilee Wedding, the Father makes the decision. He wakes up the groom and groomsmen and says, “Go get your Bride, now is the time.” He blows the shofar/trumpet and blasts to wake up the whole village. This Bride and her bridesmaids wake up and execute their preparedness. Trumps wake up the Bride and town, but only those who are prepared will attend the wedding. After a year of waiting and preparing, the Bride and Groom are finally together, reunited, forever. The Bride is then carried in a litter to the Groom’s house; Lifted into the air, off the ground and born aloft, and escorted back to the Father’s place. All she has to do is be ready.

The 10 Bridesmaids in the Night

The 10 Bridesmaids in the night, prepared with oil in their lamps are waiting for the arrival of the Groom. All 10 get up only 5 have enough oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirt. Some may believe (all head knowledge) yet are not truly born again. Many Theologians refer the 10 Bridesmaids to Israel during the Great Tribulation, some Jews are saved, and some Jews will not be saved. However, for this parallel we see how it can refer to the Church. The Groom appears and finds some believers being born again and some are not.

The paradox of the return of the Groom in the Ancient Galilean Wedding is the same way Jesus returns for His Bride, unexpectedly and the Bride to be ready. Some may be left behind because they were not ready. The same way as the Bride is escorted to the Father’s hours in the Ancient Galilean Wedding, the same way the Church will be lifted up and escorted to the Father’s house. All we must do is be pure and ready for the return of our Groom.

The Marriage Supper

The Father’s house in the Ancient Galilean Wedding is where the marriage supper takes place with all that have heard and beckoned to the call in the darkness of night. Many will be left behind and the door will shut them out of the feast. If you were locked out, there was no getting in.

The Marriage Supper of The Lamb

Everything on Earth is a foreshadow of what is to come. We are chosen as the Bride of Jesus Christ, and we are meant to dwell with Him for eternity. The Father’s house in the Galilean wedding is the perfect picture of heaven. The Groom gathers His Bride, brings her to the Father’s house for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Married forever. Many will be left behind in the rapture and will be shut out of the marriage supper and destined to God’s wrath on the world. Therefore, take heed, be pure and be ready for the coming of our Lord.

Maranatha, COME LORD JESUS.

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