1. Jewish Wedding Customs and the Rapture
The Bridegroom Comes!
Jewish Wedding Customs and the Rapture
David Brewer
Life in Messiah, Int’l

2. Betrothal Jewish Custom Establishment of a marriage covenant
Groom takes the initiative
Negotiation between groom and bride’s father
Rapture
Jesus took the initiative through His incarnation (Jn 1:14) and crucifixion (1 Cor 6:19-20)
Bride (church) is declared sanctified
Communion – a recurring symbol of the new covenant

3. Preparation Jewish Custom
Groom returns to his father’s house; approximately one-year separation
Prepares a place for the bride
Bride gathers her trousseau and prepares for married life, not knowing when he would come
Rapture
Jesus ascended to heaven
Separation during Church Age
Jesus is preparing a dwelling place (Jn 14:2)
Believers know Jesus is returning; they are motivated to stay pure in view of Jesus’ imminent return

6. Procession Jewish Custom Rapture
Groom usually came at night, a torch-light procession
A shout signals the groom’s arrival
Groom takes the bride to his father’s house where wedding guests are already gathered
Rapture
Christ will descend with a shout and a blast of a trumpet
The souls of dead church saints will descend with Christ
Both resurrected and changed church saints will meet Christ in the air

7. Marriage Ceremony Jewish Custom Bride remains veiled
Groom announces consummation to wedding party waiting outside
Rapture
The church is with Christ in heaven during the 7-year Tribulation

8. Jewish Custom Second Coming
Groom brings out his bride and removes her veil
Second Coming
After the 7-year Tribulation, Christ returns with His bride to reveal to the world who she is (Zech 12:10)

9. In view of Jesus’ imminent return, believers should…
holy
living
1. Be motivated to ________ ____________.
priorities
2. Be encouraged to establish biblical _______________ and see what is most ___________.
important
3. Live life with a ___________ awareness of ________ realities.
continual
future
4. ________ what we do with our _____, _______, and ___________.
Change
time
money
resources
5. Have ______ and ___________ in our sorrow.
hope
comfort
6. Be active in ___________ and ___________.
evangelism
service