Come to the Wedding

 

     Most of us in this age who have been called by Yahweh to follow His Son, Yahshua, to the kingdom have come out of one of the mainstream religions of this present society. As Yahweh began to show us the truth in His Word, we were overjoyed to leave behind the fallacies of  our past. Often times in doing this, we erect barriers in our minds that clouds the true splendor and excitement of our calling.


      Let me give you an illustration of one such area. When we learned the truth concerning the holidays of this society we discarded them and grasped with excitement, the festivals that Yahweh has instituted. In our fervor to please Yahweh we sometimes over react. When we do we set up a barrier. I am one of many that did this. The vast majority of brethren in my early affiliation would not even read the “Christmas” story in the evangels. We had put a barrier in our minds that would not allow us to have anything to do with that pagan time of the year. We would begin to read the evangels at a point past the “Nativity”. ( I am using those “terms” because that is how we related to these events mentioned in scriptures.) This was not a conscious decision to avoid these parts of scripture, but we just avoided them without contemplation.

     It was a few years after my conversion that I was forced into pulling down that barrier and finally read the story of our Messiah’s conception and birth. In doing this the real truth concerning this time could finally come into my mind. I had let my barrier rob me of a very beautiful part of our Messiah’s life. It is amazing how many of us did this without even realizing it.

     Another area is that of going to Heaven. We were taught by this society’s churches that one went immediately to Heaven or Hell at death. For those of us (I am one) who came out of the Catholic church we could also go to Purgatory for a while for final purification. When we are converted, the truth about death, the resurrection to eternal life, and the Kingdom of Yahweh, comes as a wonderful surprise and relief. We grasp these truths with great joy and cast aside the ethereal beliefs of the past. In doing this, we often erect another barrier that blocks the whole, exciting truth from being revealed to us. That barrier is that no one, at any time will ever go to Heaven, for any reason. This belief is fostered mainly from two scriptures. John 3:13  No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. Acts 2:34  For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ‘Yahweh said to my Sovereign, Sit at my right hand 35  till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.’

     Sometime we read things into scriptures that they do not say. It is true that no one, including David, has ascended to heaven. However, these scriptures or no others mention that when our Messiah returns, and we are changed to be like Him, that we will be restricted from access to the Heavenly throne of Yahweh our Father. Scripture actually confirms that we will have full access to our Father’s throne in Heaven.

     This can be the most dangerous barrier because it blocks much of our true destiny as members of the first fruits harvest of mankind. As an elder in Yahweh's service I can assure you that this barrier is very prevalent amongst the assembles to this day. I encounter it often in my dealings with various brethren. Many of us came from this society’s churches into Sabbath, Holy Day, law keeping groups minus the sacred names of Yahweh and Yahshua. However, it was still a step that Yahweh used to bring us out of the world. When this happens, scenarios are made concerning what happens at the return of Yahshua.

      The scenario that is most prevalent is this; The last trumpet sounds and Yahshua returns. Matthew 24:31,

1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, The dead will rise as spirit beings at Yahshua's command and those who are still alive will be changed instantaneously to Spirit and will be as Yahshua is. 1 John 3: 1-2

We shall rise to meet Yahshua in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. We then go directly to Jerusalem to begin our reign with Messiah Yahshua. Acts 1: 10-12, The apostles were told He would return in the same way that He left. Yahshua left from the Mount of Olives, thus He would return there and His feet would stand upon the Mount of Olives once again, Zechariah 14: 4, and our thousand year reign with Yahshua will begin, Revelation 20:1-4. Perhaps you are one of the vast majority that believe this, as I had been for many years. This is an exciting and very true scenario, to a point. However the barrier concerning no one ever going to Heaven at any time prevents us from seeing an awesomely glorious part of our calling in this scenario. It is this barrier that I pray will be removed in this study.

      In the scene above there are two colossal events missing, the coronation of Yahshua as King of Kings, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The first event we will cover is the marriage ceremony and how it must fit into that scenario. In many places in the old testament scriptures, Yahweh used the betrothal and marriage covenant as an analogy of His relationship with His chosen people. He did this because it is a relationship that we as humans can understand and value. Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 31:32, Hosea 2:16

     In the new testament Yahshua also used the betrothal and marriage relationship as an analogy of  His relationship with us. He often taught in parables. Why did He do this? Matthew 13: 10  Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"11  And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

     When Yahweh issued the call to us to become followers of His Son Yahshua, John 6:44, He qualified us to be among those to whom it is given to understand. This call just mentioned is something very special that may escape us if we allow this barrier to remain intact. It is an invitation to a wedding!! The wedding of Yahshua His Son to us, selected by His Father and chosen to be His bride. Revelation 19: 7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

8  it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of Elohim." We have been invited to the wedding and we need to understand where this wedding will take place since we are the bride.

      To begin to help us in this understanding we will turn to the parable of the ten maidens in Matthew 25:1-13

Read this parable until every detail is fixed in your mind. It is a very revealing story. Now that it is fixed in our minds lets take note of something. The bride is not mentioned. The Bridegroom is mentioned as are the Bridesmaids. Since this scenario is likened to the Kingdom of Heaven, we can be sure that the groom is Yahshua at His coming. Paul gives insight into the identity of the Bride. Ephesians 5: 31  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

32  This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Messiah and the assembly; Note that Paul understands the marriage covenant is analogous of Messiah and the ecclesia, the assembly. This would make the bride of this parable the assembly of called out chosen ones. The maidens represent those within the assembly and their state of readiness to meet the Groom at His coming. We are after all, attendants of the assembly, the bride, as were the maidens. Let us set this aside for now since I’m sure that we all understand the concept.

      To those of us in this modern western society the scenario of this parable may seem a little strange, but to those of Yahshua's day it would be a common scene played out often in their lives. Weddings in those days did not happen as they do in our age and society. To get a grasp on this parable, and it’s implications, lets examine the customs of Yahshua's day. There are some very interesting things that may take us into some side bars but I will try my best to stay on track.

      It was customary for there to be a one year betrothal period prior to the wedding. This can be evidenced by the betrothal period of Yoseph and Miriam at the time of Yahshua's conception. Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Yahshua Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.

      At the betrothal ceremony the bride and groom would share a glass of wine together as a symbol of their commitment to each other. They would not share a drink together again until the wedding ceremony, making the two into one. An interesting point to note here is the cup that Yahshua drank at His meal with the apostles, stating that it was the Blood of the Covenant, which He told them all to drink with Him. Matthew 26: 27  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; 28  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Take note that this was one cup which Yahshua shared with all of the apostles. This was the cup of betrothal mentioned above. The proposal was made and the betrothal period began, sealed by the contents of the cup, symbolically Yahshua's blood.  We are, at this time, betrothed to Yahshua. Notice 2 Corinthians 11: 2  I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Messiah to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. Yahshua said that He would not drink of the cup again until He drank it new with them, us, in the kingdom. Matthew 26:29  I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom." This cup in the Kingdom is shared with us, the new bride, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. As the first cup shared, sealed the betrothal, so the second cup shared will seal the final coming together of the Groom and His bride.   Everything Yahshua said and did had deep spiritual meaning if we allow Him to show us.   

      It was customary at that time for the father of the groom to send out the wedding invitations after the betrothal ceremony to those whom he and his son had chosen to attend. John 15:16. Another thing that is very difficult for us to fathom in our western society is that the father usually chose the bride also. Compare with John 6:44 As mentioned above this betrothal time was one year in duration. The invitations would mention the approximate time of the wedding at the conclusion of the betrothal period, but the exact day and hour was not established until the father had made all of the preparations toward the end of the betrothal period. It is interesting to note that even the groom did not know the exact day and hour of the wedding until he was told by his father that everything was prepared. Is this why Yahshua told His followers that it was not for us to know the day and the hour and that even He did not know the exact time of  His coming? I believe so. Mark 13:32  "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. We can know approximately because of the signs that Yahshua told us to watch for, as the end of our betrothal time draws near. We will not know the exact time until we hear the Angel’s call announcing His coming,

1 Thessalonians 4:16 just as the bridesmaids would not know until the groom’s attendant announced it before him.

      During this betrothal period the groom to be would be preparing a room for him and his bride to live in following the wedding. They would live in the father’s house until such a time as they decided to build their own home or they might just build additions to the father’s house as their family grew. It was a general custom at that time to do either. It is interesting to note that Yahshua alluded to this in John 14:2  In my Father‘s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? The next scripture is very important to understanding the point of this study. Yahshua was soon to return to the Father but the apostles did not understand what He meant. That is why Peter asked the following question. John 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Yahshua answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." They could not accompany Him at that time because the wedding preparations had not all been completed. Where did Yahshua go? He went to His Father’s house to prepare a place for us, His bride, as He said in John 14:2. His Father’s house is presently in Heaven. Please take careful note that Yahshua said that we would follow afterward. The word “follow” can also be translated “accompany”. We will come back to the location we accompany or follow Yahshua to, later in this study.

      It was also the custom of those days for the groom’s father to provide the wedding garments to those that did not have one. There is an interesting point attesting to this in the parable of the wedding feast in

Matthew 22: 1-14. Notice in verse 12 one was found with no wedding garment and cast out. Now a logical question. How did the father, the king, know this was not a wedding garment? Because it was not the one that he had provided. This man was a wedding crasher, an imposter, and was thrown out. Yahweh provides our wedding garments, washed clean and spotless through His Son. Revelation 3:5 He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 19: 7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8  it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of Elohim." Revelation 7:14 Only those whose garments had been provided by the Father and have been washed in the blood of our great Messiah will be allowed into the marriage feast. Notice verse 10 in the above parable. The king finally sent his servants into the streets to gather any and all who would wish to attend this wedding ceremony. These people would not be able to afford wedding garments appropriate for the wedding of  the king’s son. The king therefore had to provide them as Yahweh, our Groom’s Father does for us.

      It was also customary at that time for the marriage feast to be held at the father’s house. Nearing the end of the betrothal period, perhaps during the last few days, the bride would make herself ready for the groom to come for her. Her bridesmaids would gather with her to keep watch. (The ten maidens.) If night fell they would have their lamps lit and ready so they could go out to meet the groom when his attendant announced his coming. Since they did not know the exact time, they would take extra oil for their lamps. They would meet him with lamps lit to guide him, and accompany him to where the bride was waiting. After retrieving his bride they would all proceed to the father’s house for the wedding ceremony. When the guests had all arrived the doors would be locked and no one else was allowed to enter.    

      As we await the imminent coming of our Bridegroom, we too are to have our lights burning brightly in anticipation. Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 6:22. This is the light that our Groom will be looking for when He comes for us. We are also reminded to keep awake and be alert because the time draws closer. Romans 13:11  Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; 1 Thessalonians 5:6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be alert.

      With all of the above in mind,  Let’s go on to understand where our beloved Groom will take us and where this wedding and marriage supper will take place. The time has arrived, Revelation 19:7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8  it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of Elohim."

      Let us look at a picture of heaven and the Fathers throne. Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this."2  At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in Heaven, with one seated on the throne! 3  And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. 4  Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. 5  From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of Elohim; 6  and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: (Jasper gems are breathtakingly beautiful in different shades of blue, blended in one stone. Carnelian gems are a shimmering, translucent, vermillion red color. The rainbow like an emerald would be semi-transparent green glow around the throne.)      

      The above is the Father’s  house where there are many rooms prepared and ready for the Groom and the bride following the marriage feast. John 14:2  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? Let’s turn to Daniel for a further description of events and the entrance of our Heavenly Father. Daniel 7: 9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was Ancient of days took His seat; His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. (if one checks the words “Fiery” and “Flames”, one will see that this is the same sea of glass around the Father’s throne mentioned in Revelation. Part of Daniel is written in Aramaic.  “Fiery” and “flames” in Aramaic is NUWR and it means to shine or glisten . The phrase has the meaning of shining or glistening like fire. ) The Father has arrived for the ceremony. This will be a beautiful double ceremony, a wedding and a coronation.

      The bride is present and she has been clothed in clean, shining white, and pure garments appropriate for the wedding of a King’s Son; Carefully note the following; Revelation 15:2  And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of Elohim in their hands. Revelation 19:7  Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8  it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of Elohim." Note that this beautiful bride is in Heaven before the Father’s throne, beside the sea of glass. This resplendent bride is everyone reading this article who have been called by Yahweh to walk with His Son to the Kingdom.

      Now the Groom enters in all of His glory and splendor; Daniel 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14  And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

This is the marriage of the Lamb and His coronation as King of Kings. Yahshua was born for this very thing. John 18:37  Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Yahshua answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

       Now note who receives this coronation along with Yahshua. Daniel 7:18  But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.’ Daniel 7: 21  As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, 22  until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom. Daniel 7:27  And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’

       What an awesome calling we have received! To be the bride of and be coronated with our glorious Groom King of kings Yahshua, before the very throne of our Father in Heaven. Will we be among this great multitude crying out with uncontrollable joy and jubilation?  Revelation 19:6  Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying, "Hallelujah! For the Sovereign Elohim the Almighty reigns.”

       The coronation and the marriage supper have concluded and notice where they have traveled to. I would like to bring something to your attention here. A son inherits his fathers name. Note what Yahshua said. John 5:43  I have come “in” my Father‘s name,----. (The word “in” can also be translated “with” and is translated as such 140 times in the new testament.) The bride in turn inherits her husband’s name at the wedding and so the groom’s  father’s name as well. Note the following scripture and the name written on the foreheads of those with Yahshua, His new bride. Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

       Notice also where they now are, Mount Zion, Jerusalem. This will be the headquarters of the Kingdom with Yahshua as King of Kings. Isaiah 2:3  and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. He has returned to the same place from which He left. Acts 1: 11 From the Mount of Olives to the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14: 4  On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward.

       When He returns it will be as a great King, already coronated and accompanied by His Bride. Revelation 19:16  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Sovereign of sovereigns. Now let’s connect verse 5 of Zechariah 14 and see who comes with Him. Zechariah 14:5  Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus Yahweh my Elohim will come, And all the saints with You. Remember Revelation 14:1 When this King of Kings arrives on Mount Zion with His saints, His bride, the marriage supper of the Lamb has already taken place as they have already received their  Groom’s name and that of His Father.

       When the evidence in scripture is weighed honestly with open minds the truth will be plain. I pray that if  a barrier was erected in your mind concerning our relationship with our Groom’s Father, and having free access to Him and the Heavenly realm from the time of our change, that this study will begin to remove that barrier.

What we have been called to be a part of is very exciting. If we allow any barrier to cloud the complete picture we will not feel the exuberant excitement of our calling. We can easily see the trials and troubles of this life and scripture tells us of the tribulation to come. Let us also look beyond these things and see the glory and inexpressible joy that awaits us at the marriage supper of the Lamb, before the very throne of our Heavenly Father as we are wed for all eternity to our faithful Groom, Yahshua Messiah. HalleluYah!

May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton