Written by JR Mayhugh Jr
At a time determined by the Father (Matthew 24:36), Jesus will soon return for His bride (believers in Jesus).
Since the word "bride" is normally associated with a wedding in most cultures, it's fascinating that Jesus' first public miracle (water into wine) took place at a wedding feast near the sea of Galilee, in Cana, Israel. Later in the New Testament, He told His disciples a parable, in Matthew 25:1-13, about ten virgins, of which five were prudent to bring flasks of oil while the others did not. Only those with oil were allowed into the wedding feast.
In those days, a Galilean wedding would last for seven days, so the door would be shut for seven days. I believe this is a reference to a pre-tribulation rapture since, in this context, the seven days of life outside of the wedding feast represent the seven year Great Tribulation, known as "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7), which is a time of wrath upon the unrepentant.
According to the Bible, those that have believed in Jesus (Romans 10:8-13) before the Tribulation begins will not suffer wrath: John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Romans 2:8; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 16:1-2; Revelation 16:19.
If believers will not suffer the coming wrath, then why do some believe we will have to go through the most horrendous events in human history foretold in the book of Revelation? And to be more specific, Revelation 3:10 points to a time of testing for those who will have to go through the upcoming horrible ordeal. As you continue to read, keep the word test at the front of your thoughts. But I'll address this again later - please stay with me!
In Mark 14:25, the Lord made a reference to a future wedding (Revelation 19) when He passed a cup of wine to the disciples, who were more than likely reminded of their current traditions of a Galilean wedding.
An excellent illustration for more detail about the Galilean wedding can be found here: https://www.anchoredinword.com/ancient-galilean-wedding/
According to the Bible, if your not Jewish then you are a Gentile. So, the "Tale" that follows, is a "gentiled" version of a traditional Galilean wedding (Jewish wedding).
Tale of a Gentile Wedding
Let’s suppose there was a father and mother who knew their son’s love for his fiancé was proven over time, therefore helping them to give their blessing of approval. They began preparations for the wedding and the celebration to follow, with all of the fun in getting ready.
Then finally, on that wonderful day after the invited crowd watched the bride get escorted by her father to the central scene for the ceremony, the father acknowledged the surrender of his daughter to his soon to be son-in-law. The couple turned then faced the preacher.
“If anyone here objects to this wedding, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the preacher said.
During the silence, the preacher scanned the church for any hints or clues of response. Then, he displayed a confused look as he watched the bridegroom’s father and mother stand up from their seats and approach their son.
“We need to step outside for a brief moment,” the father said as he grabbed his son’s arm.
“Dad, Mom, what’s going on?”
The mother stood between their son and the bride. “Please, it’s important.”
The bridegroom looked at his bride then at the preacher, who lifted his head towards the gathered.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll take a short break and begin the ceremony briefly,” the preacher said.
The bridegroom and his parents walked into a room off to the side at the front of the church and closed the door. The father stepped to his son and placed his hands on his arms with a sincere gaze.
“We discussed it briefly and have come to the conclusion, and we’re sorry, but we don’t think she’s ready to join the family yet. We think she needs a little more time in order for us to be absolutely sure you were right in telling us she was ready.
“Wait…what?” the son asked.
The End
Does the tale of the Gentile wedding sound familiar? I hope not, because I’m certain, you’re fairly certain, it’s never happened. But some may still believe that it will – soon. But to whom?
Ask yourself: Do we, the saved, the body of Christ, His church, have to be tested twice? In more specific words, would God the Father allow His Son’s chosen bride, who has been saved by grace through faith, tested and tried, go through the most horrendous events in world history, which will be full of God’s wrath meant for the unrepentant, known as the Tribulation?
Let’s look at something for a moment. Revelation 3:10 (NASB) says, “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world (emphasis is mine: the 7 year Tribulation beginning in Revelation 6), to test those who dwell on the earth.”
The Apostle Peter talked about the testing that believers in Jesus go through everyday of their walk in the Lord:
1 Peter 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Doesn’t the “Tale of a Gentile Wedding” sound like something God would not do?
Look to the sky – the day of your redemption will happen soon!
(a paraphrase of Luke 21:28)
