Part Nine of Nine: The Wedding

Once they were back at the father’s house, the couple would enter what is known as the Huppah. This was the second ceremony and required by the Talmud (Traditions of the Elders). The Huppah was originally a four-posted structure with an enclosed cloth covering. It very well could have been any structure or room that had been designated as the Huppah and belonging to the groom.

Wedding Chamber (Nissu’in)

Here the wedding ceremony would take place and then the taking (consummation) of the bride (Nissu’in). Nissu’in literally means, “Taking.” The covering was sometimes a talit, which is a Jewish prayer shawl. At the ceremony, the groom and the bride wore crowns and they dressed extravagantly.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom entered the huppah for seven days and there they would consummate the marriage. Only until recently was it even required that a Rabbi officiate at a wedding ceremony.

During the seven days of Huppah, the marriage festivities would be in full force. After the seventh day, the bride would emerge unveiled and the groom’s friend would show the blood stained bedding to prove that the bride was, in fact, a virgin and that the groom had taken her. It proved that they had consummated the marriage.

Parallels to the Church. . .

Once Christ abducts us (raptured/caught up), He will adorn us with the crown of life [1] and our garments will be the clothes of righteousness [2]. Christ will also wear a crown [3].

The steps of the betrothal have ended and we now stand in the huppah as the Bride of Christ and we will be His Bride forever and ever.

v15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He Who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them [Revelation 7:15 NIV].

Another Jewish name for the “Wedding day of the Messiah,” is “The Feast of Trumpets.” Revelation 19:7-9 tells us of the Wedding of the Lamb.

v7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
v8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
v9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God [Revelation 19:7].

It is my contention that the seven days that Christ and His Bride will stay hidden in the huppah, will actually be the seven remaining years of human government before Jesus comes with His Saints [4], (which is His Bride) and the millennial reign. All will see who the true Bride of Christ is [5] because she will not be wearing her veil.

This presupposes that there will be a pre-tribulation rapture of the church [6]. Although this is what the Bible teaches, many think otherwise. The rapture of the church is linked to the tribulation in that the Lord will haul us all out before this time in history. There will be signs.

The Bible teaches a three and a half year tribulation [7] and not seven, but once we see the beginning construction of the temple, we will know that there are seven years left of human government. The Tribulation starts at the abomination of desolation. These are minor points but believers will be debating them until Christ comes. This is just a point of interest. Actually, I believe in pan tribulation, in that it will all pan out.

Do you remember the groom showing the guests the blood stained sheets of the marriage bed? Could the blood stained clothes of Christ at the Cross, be the bloodied clothes shown to the world [8]? As believers, we are Christ’s body and because of His death on the Cross, we are all righteous, holy, true, pure, and His.

Wedding Feast

The bride and groom, along with all the guests would then celebrate with a wedding feast, the marriage supper. This would be a celebration of life [9]. Here the bride and groom would drink a second cup of wine and the festivities would be over. They considered them to be one and complete. In many sects, until entering the Huppah, they did not consider them legally married but the betrothal was very binding, as we’ve already learned.

Parallels to the Church…

Rev 19:10 says, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” What a great celebration this will be. We will meet all the saints who have gone before us. We will meet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Paul, and all the others that we have been reading about all these years. All of our friends and relatives who have gone before us will be there.

Best of all we will be one with God and glorified with Him [10]. What Jesus willed in John 17:24 will come to pass. (Is there any doubt?) We will then partake of that second and final cup with Jesus as He promised in Matthew 26:29 and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever [11].

HALLELUJAH to the Lamb of God!!

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[1] 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8
[2] Revelation 19:8
[3] Revelation 14:14
[4] 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Jude 1:14
[5] Colossians 3:4
[6] Main Scripture is Revelation 3:10. To learn of 16 more proofs, http://www.thepropheticyears.com/reasons/rapture.htm To those who believe in a seven year tribulation, to them, pre-trib is mid-trib.
[7] Matthew 24: 14, 15; Daniel 7:25, 12:7; Revelation 12:6, 13:5. Time = one year. . .times = two years. . .and half a time = half a year. Forty-two months = 3 1/2 years. 1260 days = 3 1/2 years. This should prayerfully help for some folks with the issue.
[8] Matthew 27:35
[9] Lichaim = Hebrew word for Life
[10] Revelation 21:3, 22, 23
[11] 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:3