1501 County Road 3 Barberville, Florida 32105-0125 386-749-3218 Pastor Jesse Roland

A Marriage Made In Heaven Rev. 19:6-10 Matthew 22:1-4 1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." '   Luke 14:16-17 16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' ·     God the author of marriage ·     Many mentioned in Scripture to accentuate their importance ·     Marriage of the Lamb is when Jesus is joined to His bride in Heaven   The Participants 1.   The Host – the Father (Matt. 22:2-3) 2.  The Bridegroom – Jesus Christ (Luke 5:34; John 3:27-29) 3.  The Bride – the Church (Eph. 5:25-26) 4.  The Guests – OT and Trib saints (19:9)   The Phases A wedding in ancient Israel had four stages: 1. The Selection of the Bride by the Father The father made the selection of the bride. The bride was to become a member of the bridegroom's clan, and therefore, the whole family was interested in knowing, if she would be suitable. This was considered the wisest course. 2. The Betrothal of the Bride and Groom When the selection made, the father contacted the father of the bride. If acceptable the families entered into a binding contract of betrothal spelling out the terms. More formal and legal than “engagement.” The agreement was solemnized by three acts: ·     Orally with witnesses (Ezek. 16:8). ·     Pledge of money and gifts (the bride price). See Gen. 31:15. Upon her marriage, a young woman would be thought of as increasing the efficiency of her husband's family and diminishing that of her parents. Therefore, a young man who expects to get possession of their daughter must be able to offer some sort of adequate compensation. This compensation was the marriage "dowry." The bride’s father would also give something to her (Gen 24:59,61; Judges 1:15). ·     Contract (written). This came after the exile. Betrothed were considered man and wife. It would require a divorce to end the betrothal. The groom went to prepare a place for himself and his bride (“Chuppa”). Usually a year elapsed before wedding. The bride would also plan her adornment for the wedding. It would be the most extravagant most Hebrews would ever dress. They were kings and queens for a day. Jeremiah 2:32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? God has selected those who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord to be the Bride of Christ. We believers are betrothed to Jesus. We enter into a covenant to be joined as one. Ezekiel 16:8 And when I passed by and saw you again, you were old enough to be married. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.   Ephesians 1:4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.   Our bridegroom, Jesus, has paid the price for us to be the bride. He has given to the Father His very life, being obedient unto the death... symbolized by His blood. Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."   Revelation 5:9-10 (The Message) 9 And they sang a new song: Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals. Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women, Bought them back from all over the earth, Bought them back for God. 10 Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God, Priest-kings to rule over the earth. The Father has given us an amazing gift – the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. We are in the betrothal stage of God’s schedule for the marriage. We are waiting for Him to come and take us to be His bride. Jesus is preparing a place for us. John 14:1-3 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. We await our bridegroom like a virtuous wife – keeping ourselves spiritually pure and undefiled. Just as the Hebrew bride was adorned extravagantly so too will we. We also benefit from the gifts and blessings of our bridegroom as we await His coming for us. 3. The Marriage of the Bride and Groom At the end of the betrothal, the father of the groom will tell the son to go bring his bride home. Usually this is done in the evening. In a torch lit procession they would go the bride’s home. Before arriving there would be a shout (“midnight cry”). Perhaps a shofar would be blown. Upon entering, the bride’s father would present the bride to the groom by placing her hand in the grooms. After the presentation, the groom will lead a joyous procession back to his father’s house. Friends and young women (virgins) would join along the way (Matt. 25:1-13). Because it was generally done in the evening a lamp was essential. At the appointed time the Father will tell His Son, “Go get your bride.” Christ will rapture His bride and she will be presented to Him glorious and unblemished. This is what we are waiting for now. Matthew 25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'   1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.   This takes place in heaven. We will enter into our Heavenly mansion in the Father’s House and there we will dwell forever. We will be eternally joined to our Lord in perfect union and we will never again be separated from Him. There will never be a “divorce” or an argument between us. Ephesians 5:25-27 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. The bride will be exalted. We will have escaped the Tribulation and the Antichrist. We will be free of sin, we will have glorified bodies. The Church will be “set alongside of” Christ to reign with Him and we shall share His glory forever. Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.   Ezekiel 16:8-13 8 "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine," says the Lord GOD. 9 "Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. 10 "I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 "I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. 12 "And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 "Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. There will be no Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals or Catholics alongside Jesus the Bridegroom. It will be a blood washed Bride that will be one in love and devotion to Him. All of our differences and opinions and preferences will stay right here on the earth when we go to Him. 4. The Marriage Supper At the father’s house would be a feast (John 2:1-11). This could last from one to fourteen days depending on the wealth of the families. To refuse an invitation was an insult (Matt. 22:1-10). After the Rapture and the Marriage of the Lamb we will ride triumphantly with Him to the earth where we will put down His enemies and establish His throne on the earth. Then the celebration starts. Revelation 19:6  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!   The greatest celebration in history will break loose… our Father is infinitely wealthy and our party will last for a thousand years. The Marriage Supper takes place on earth.    The Old Testament saints and those saved during the tribulation will sit with us as guests.   Matthew 8:11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.   Luke 13:28-29 28 "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 "They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.   Luke 22:15-18 15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."   Luke 22:29-30 29 "And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 "that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."   Revelation 19:7-8 7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Jesus is coming back for a prepared people to bring into a prepared place. Are you ready? Are you born again? Do you love Jesus? Are you faithful and singly devoted to Him?      Are all your sins under the blood of Jesus?