Part 2:

The division of marriage into the two events originated in very ancient times when the marriage was an outward purchase and because women were viewed as chattel. By talmudic times, a betrothal celebration followed the signing of the marriage contract (ketubah). The groom drinks and then the bride drinks from the wine as part of the betrothal ceremony. The groom gave the bride an object valued at less than a small coin and in the presence of two witnesses, declared: "Be thou consecrated to me, be thou betrothed to me, be thou my wife." The betrothal meant sanctification or setting apart and suggests a spiritualization of the original property transaction. [12]

*** Note the father 'sells' the bride to the groom. The groom does not redeem the bride. The bride's father arranges a dowry to give to the groom. It is a business transaction between the groom and or father of the groom and the father of the bride, although normally the bride gives consent. Who is the Bride of Christ's father?***

The wedding was about a year later, and the date was agreed upon in advance. The actual wedding was preceded by a lively procession-including the brides family and friends-- escorting the bride to the home of the groom, where the rest of the invited guests have assembled. [8] The huppah or marriage canopy was originally a decorated pavilion in the house of the groom or his father, where the seven blessings were recited over a cup of wine.

-...It has become customary for the groom to veil his bride prior to the Chupah ceremony...When the groom walks into the room escorted by all the men, it is the first time he and his bride have seen each other in a week. [9]

-It is customary for the Bride and Groom not to see each other for three days to a week before the wedding. The groom will not see the bride until just before the ceremony, at the veiling of the bride.[10a]

***Note, the wedding date was set and agreed upon by all involved, and the bride and groom saw each other between the betrothal and up until the week before the wedding. For that week they did not see each other. Contrary to what many proclaim as equivalent to Christ returning with a shout, and not knowing when, as a thief in the night. And contrary to the suggestion that the bride was waiting for a year with her wedding gown on...never knowing when he might arrive for her. And contrary for all Christians who not only have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, we have ongoing communion with Him.

In other words we are not separated from having access to Him.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Many are teaching that a shofar is sounded and a shout and such and the groom arrives at midnight to abduct the bride, but to date, not only have the Jewish sources researched not stated that as a practice, one specifically refuted that belief and wanted to know where the idea came from, as it was not a Jewish tradition.[2]The bride is not seen by the groom until AFTER she has arrived at the groom's father's house and the veiling of the bride takes place, after the receptions.

While the concept of abducting the bride is not found in any Jewish resources to date, the concept of abducting the bride was part of both Greek and Roman wedding rituals. Generally speaking the celebrations started at the bride's parents home and just before leaving for the groom's parents home, after the marriage ceremony, part of leaving was the bride being grabbed by the wrist and pulled from the parents, portraying the abduction and change from her childhood, while something was recited. A procession took place with family and friends lighting the way to the groom's residence, which was often within his parent's home. [21]

The Jewishencyclopedia.com has an article which states that: "...After betrothal the bride was subject to the same restrictions as a wife (Deut. xxii. 23-24)...central features in later times were the wedding-procession and the wedding-feast. The bridegroom in festive attire and accompanied by his friends went to the home of the bride, whence she, likewise in bridal garments, veiled, and accompanied by her companions, was led to the house of his parents (Isa. lxi. 10; Judges xiv. 10-11; Jer. ii. 32; Isa. xlix. 18; Ps. xlv. 8-15). The procession was enlivened with songs by, or in praise of, the bride and bridegroom, and was lighted, if in the evening, by torches or lamps (Jer. vii. 34, xvi. 9, xxv. 10; I Macc. ix. 37-39; Matt. xxv. 1-12; comp. Ps. xlv. and the Canticles, possibly representing such wedding-songs)...." [19]

Unfortunately none of the references, Scriptural or extra biblical state that the groom went and abducted the bride and the wedding date was unknown.. On the contrary, for example, Samson went with his parents to the woman's father's house and made a feast and they celebrated there for seven days. The Maccabees citation shows the bride and family traveling to the groom's home--during the day-- where he and his family and friends went out to meet them. Some cited references are merely speaking of the voice of the bride and groom no longer being there because God will deal with the disobedience. Also note, the bride was not surprised by the apparent arrival of the groom and friends, but was ready with all her companions. She knew he was coming and when, if that rendition is true. [19]

Some rapture parallels suggest that when the groom approached the bride's home, he would shout and blow the shofar (ram's horn trumpet) so that she had some warning to gather her belongings to take into the wedding chamber. The groom and his friends would come into the bride's house and get the bride and her bridesmaids. Again, to date, Jewish tradition does not contain these ideas or practices.

For Christians the Scriptures state that when Christ returns, there will be only a warning which happens, in a twinkling of an eye. There won't be time to gather anything. ***

Part 3:

Traditionally, a bride takes her first trip to the mikveh (ritual bath) the day before the wedding. This is when she is believed to be cleansed and this mikveh immersion signifies rebirth and reflects the upcoming change in personal status. [9, 11]

According to the Talmud, the ultimate source of all water is the river that emerged from Eden. By immersing themselves in the mikveh, people participate in the wholeness of Eden and are reborn as pure as Adam and Eve.

***If the bride did not know the date of the wedding, she would not have taken the mikveh the day before. Although the Jewish Wedding allegory replaces baptism with the mikveh, they are different procedures. Baptism requires a pastor or leader to submerge one backwards under the water [usually up to waist deep] and raise them up out of the water. Mikveh requires a deep [a little over chest deep] fresh water source in which one is completely naked and alone.. One must be physically clean before one does a mikveh and must shower with soap and water beforehand...It is a mystic experience and not a “baptism” as an outward expression from sin and into Messiah. It is a ritual process to purify one’s self from uncleanness [tamei]. This does not refer to a sinful condition, but Talmudically defined impurity. The purification system of the OT Temple is not rendered as a “mikveh” – although Judaism teaches this. Mikveh, in the OT text, is used only as a body of water. It appears to be a Rabbinic addition [middle ages].

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

For Christians, we have no righteousness in ourselves and our righteousness comes from Christ. No ceremony can make us clean before God. It is only because of Christ that we become a sweet savor to God, when we accept Him as Savior and Lord, and are cleansed from all unrighteousness.

If the groom ie Christ has already come for the bride, how can the bride be purified after she is in heaven? Are the unclean to be in heaven?

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The mortal and imperfect cannot enter heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:49-54 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ***

The day of the wedding the groom and bride fast and repent of their sins, and they are guaranteed that if they do so, all their sins are forgiven.

Thus, they start out their new life together with a clean slate. [2, 3, 7, 8, 9 etc]

*** To every Christian who has accepted that the rabbinic Jewish wedding parallels the rapture and the Bride of Christ and Christ--what does this say about our Lord and Savior if you want to make this parallel? ?

What Scriptures tells you that Jesus Christ needs to repent of His sins?

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
* meaning washed by Christ, the living and pure water.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ***

Part 4:

A traditional Jewish wedding begins with separate receptions for the groom and the bride. The marriage contract is often read at the grooms reception. Traditionally this is followed by a bedeken ceremony, where the groom covers the brides face with a veil. Some suggest it is to make sure the bride is the betrothed woman, and to prevent the sort of switch that Laban perpetrated against Jacob, in Genesis 29. The groom and his entourage enter the women's section, and the groom will place the veil on his wife. Others take a more mystical view.

***Jesus said Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
He doesn't need to check the bride. He already knows who the bride is. ***

The groom and wife are then separate again as preparations are completed. The groom then dons white garments and ashes are placed on his head to fulfill. "If I forget you, O Jerusalem... if I do not place Jerusalem above the crown of my joy..." (Psalms 137:5) They are reminded that their joy cannot be complete " until G-d's kingdom is complete, until all of Israel is brought back from exile and the Holy Temple is rebuilt."[8] White is reminiscent of shrouds (burial linens), and reminds the groom of the cycle of life, prompting him to repent, if he hasn't already. [8]

***If the bride arrives at the grooms home where they are put in separate rooms, and the groom goes to the brides room to put a veil on her after their separate receptions, then leaves her, again, what Scripture can this parallel? Aren't we to be with Jesus forevermore? Isn't this saying that the groom is not ready for the marriage ceremony, but must change to new clean white clothes, and if going by what some rapture parallels have taught, the bride arrived in her wedding gown--worn for a year....how clean would she be? If the groom is unready and needing to make the changes after the bride has arrived....isn't the parallel really stating the groom isn't fully ready for the bride? And isn't that contrary to the Scriptures concerning Christ coming back? It is we who are to be spiritually ready for Christ's return.***

The marriage ceremony is conducted under a huppah or marriage canopy, which is supposed to signify the new home they are creating, and that their home is to be open to others. Both the groom and the bride are escorted separately to the huppah by two escorts, which some suggest is paralleling Moses and Aaron, and Israel's marriage to God, and or "just as Adam and Eve were escorted by angels to their wedding."[8]

The groom "is brought to the chupah first, and the bride is brought to him, just as Eve was brought to Adam (Genesis 2:22). Eve, who was created later, was shown thereby to be the higher life form of the two, because the potential of future life lies with her. Therefore, Adam was not complete until Eve was brought to him" [8]

***Note--the bride is escorted to the waiting groom for the marriage ceremony. This does not parallel the Scriptures concerning Christ coming for His Bride. That aside from, Adam and Eve being married and escorted together by angels to their wedding, of which we have no record. The chuppah signifies that they create a new home TOGETHER - but we do not help create a new Home - God does. Jesus went to prepare a place for us, and also said there are many mansions. Is Jesus escorted to His Home to get ready?. ***

Technically, the couple were married if two proper witnesses observed them perform the ceremony together with complete consent. The bride circles the groom seven times. The groom places the ring on the bride's finger, reciting "You are hereby sanctified to me with this ring according to the Law of Moses and Israel." [8] The marriage contract is read at this time to show the distinction between this part of the ceremony and the next.

***Note If we belong to Jesus Christ, then what purpose is the wedding ceremony, with a wedding ring and contract? aren't we already covenanted with Him having been sealed by the Holy Spirit? Isn't His shed blood the symbol by which we know we are His? Aren't we already "contracted" to Christ through the New Covenant of His blood in which the Law now has no hold? We can only be sanctified by Christ. ***

The actual wedding, the second part of the Chupah Ceremony, is where, the Seven Blessings are recited. At most weddings, various Rabbis or relatives are called upon to recite the various blessings. Again, it starts with the blessing over wine. That is the first of the seven blessings...[8]

As stated previously, the seven nuptial blessings speak of paradise regained, the miracle of God's creation, and the creation of man and woman, so that mankind might endure. The sixth blessing refers to marriage in the scheme of creation...

The groom breaks a glass to remember that even during their most joyous occasions they must mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple. As mentioned above, they must always remember that God's kingdom is not complete until the Holy Temple is rebuilt. [8]

***Note This points to the fact that the cup of wine cannot be what Christ is giving the Bride for He is the Temple and was resurrected. God's Kingdom is not of this world, so a rebuilt temple is a moot point. God's Kingdom was never incomplete.***

The couple are escorted to a private room, which the groom has taken possession of earlier. The escorts stay outside the door for a few minutes and then go back to the celebrations. They are not fully married until this seclusion takes place. This is when the couple eats a small snack to break the pre-wedding fast, and then in a very short time -usually about a half hour- they rejoin the guests, the dance commences.... [8, 10a]

*** Note. The couple do NOT consummate the marriage as many are teaching in the parallel to the rapture. Again, the couple do not have sex at this time. They ate a snack and rejoined the guests for a meal, dancing and celebration.

Some are teaching that the groom would take his bride, immediately after getting her, to the wedding chamber where they would spend seven days. The groom's friend would wait outside the door and when the marriage was consummated, the groom would tell his friend through the door. The friend would then announce it to the assembled guests. The guests would celebrate for seven days until the bride and bridegroom emerged from the wedding chamber. This is so blatantly false that one wonders who invented these things and with such bias.***

The wedding feast follows which is a commanded meal, accompanied by good food, dancing, and singing, where it is a commandment to help the couple rejoice. After the feast, the grace after meals is recited over one cup of wine, and the seven blessings over another. The two cups of wine are poured into a third, from which bride and groom drink. For the next week the couple traditionally feast at the homes of friends and relatives, repeating the seven blessings after each meal. [8]

***Any ideas how this parallels Christ and Scripture? As stated previously, the seven blessings have nothing to do with Jesus Christ or His return. If they are said over the cups of wine, then the significance of the cups means nothing to Christians as well.

 

The bible tells us not to add to scripture, or take away from it. Once you start doing this you are walking on thin ice and you are leaving yourself wide open to error.

Nowhere does the Bible tell us to interpret scripture by looking to man's traditions.

It is only God's word that is inspired, not traditions. You can't cherry pick parts of this parallel and leave other bits out as those do who are promoting this teaching. It is no different than those who claim the talmud and kabbalah can be used by believers. They neglect to inform that the writers rejected Jesus Christ, denigrate and blaspheme Him because they do not believe He is the Messiah and God manifest in the flesh. That means beliefs and interpretations are going to be far different than those who believe Christ and read the OT in light of the NT, which is fully rejected by those who believe the Talmud and kabbalah.

When this tradition is held up to Scripture - it fails miserably - it is not compatible with Scripture and therefore not compatible with Christian beliefs.

Titus 1 13- 14 KJV
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

**For more on the Kabbalah/talmud and adam and eve >http://www.seekgod.ca/embracinition.htm

Also the whole To Embrace Hebrew Roots series> http://www.seekgod.ca/topichr.htm#series

 

Next Section: Toward Jerusalem Council II

Previous Section: MJAA Executives & The Hebrew Roots " Fringe"

 

Bibliography:

Some Rapture sites promoting Jewish Wedding Traditions and the Rapture:

The Rapture and the Jewish Wedding  > JEWISH WEDDING AND THE RAPTURE  : Only a Pre-Tribulation Rapture will fit into this scenario. http://bridalcovenant.com/wedding1.html

http://melqoshrain.wetpaint.com/page/THE+BRIDE+OF+CHRIST+BY+PERRY+STONE".

Jewish Wedding Traditions & Rapture Study > http://www.his-forever.com/jewish_weddings_rapture.htm

A CHRISTIAN LOVE STORY The Glorious Future of the Believer! (Understanding the Rapture, through the Jewish Wedding!) By Zola Levitt > http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=71107

The Ancient Jewish Wedding Parallels, The Rapture and Rosh HaShannah http://curtis.loftinnc.com/Rosh_HaShannah.htm.

Footnotes/Bibliography

1. Medieval Jewish civilization By Norman Roth pg 424

http://books.google.com/books?id=eUp9OcC...utput=html

2. http://www.jewishwedding.info/jewish-wed...f-overview , talmud, complete human being, fast, white robe, not see for a week, separate receptions, veiling, chupah, escorted, bride circles, wine, wedding ring, according to law of moses quote, reading of contract, seven blessings, breaking of glass, seclusion, eat, rejoin and meal., eat at others homes for a week, blesssings at each meal.

2. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Israel-211/Je...ustoms.htm

3. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...edding.htm forgiven of sins, fast,
4. http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/livingt...Part-1.htm groom escorted first, then bride, bride circles seven times
5. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...-Souls.htm orthodox wedding
6 http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...eiling.htm separate recetptions, rebecca/laban,
7 http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wiza...-Panim.htm separate receptions, sins forgiven, dont see each other for a week prior, see again at the veiling. ketubah

8. http://www.beingjewish.com/cycle/wedding.html

9. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8262.asp

10 a. http://www.bnaimitzvahguide.com/jewish.w...itions.php

10. http://society.indianetzone.com/weddings...edding.htm

11. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Lif...kveh.shtml

12. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Rel...iage.shtml

13. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Rel...iage.shtml

14 http://www.jewish-wedding-rabbi.com/jewi...emony.html

15. http://www.jewish-history.com/minhag.htm siamse twins, etc http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/104/Q1/

16. http://mobile.myjewishlearning.com/lifec...ncient.htm

17 http://mobile.myjewishlearning.com/lifec...rriage.htm

18. http://mobile.myjewishlearning.com/lifec...Custom.htm

19. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.j...3&letter=M

20. http://www.aish.com/literacy/lifecycle/G...edding.asp

21. Greek weddings >> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...dings.html
>> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings1.html
>> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings2.html
>> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings3.html
     Roman weddings >> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings5.html
>> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings6.html
>> http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/a...ings7.html

22. wednesday http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.j...&artid=189

23. tuesday http://scheinerman.net/judaism/life-cycle/marriage.html

Also > A guide to the Zohar By Arthur Green pg 75
> http://books.google.ca/books?id=mdp1mDia...ry_s&cad=0

The Zohar By Daniel Chanan Matt >
http://books.google.ca/books?id=gHXqB_IT...t&resnum=3