In our Sunday school class, we have been doing a three month study of the Book of Revelation. We made our way through the mazes of symbolism that is at times hard to comprehend, the visions of the bowls, seals and trumpets and finally arrived last week at the wedding of the bride. Our teacher, Dr. Gary Johnson (via video presentations), explained our the wedding is comparable to the events leading up to and the actual wedding in a Jewish ceremony. I cannot explain it all very well myself but there are three stages. Researching online, I found more than three stages, but here is what Dr. Johnson shared that really blessed me. Having looked up information online, I realize that this is simplistic and may not be totally accurate. (My apologies to my friend David Ettinger for anything I get wrong here. David, please feel free to chime in with truth and your own knowledge!)

The “Kiddushin” is the legal arrangement for two to marry. It is a contract that the parents may make long before the children even know each other. According to Dr. Johnson, God made a contract to marry the bride to Jesus as far back as Genesis 3:15. God had a plan and the entire Bible is His working His plan to fulfillment, beginning all the way back in Genesis.

The next part, the part that “blessed my socks off” is called the “Mohar.” This is like a dowry or a bride price that the groom pays in order to secure the bride for his own. Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross!

Finally, there is the “Huppah” (or “Chuppah” in some sources). This is when the bridegroom goes to the bride to bring her to his home. She doesn’t know when he is coming. Only the Father of the groom knows this and sends his son to get his bride and bring her to her new home with him. Following that is the wedding supper, a great feast to celebrate the long-awaited marriage. Jesus is coming back for His bride. Hallelujah!

If you want to read more about these traditions and fill in some blanks that I have omitted because of lack of time and knowledge, check out this website: Christian Truth Center

Finally, my devotional this morning had a verse that reminded me of last week’s lesson at church and made me want to try to share it with you all with the hope that you, too, would be blessed by God’s plan, His dowry price and the invitation to the wedding supper preceded by Jesus’s return for His bride.

God is faithful and is always working to bring us closer to Him. May we be found faithful when He returns for us!