Coming for His Bride

While on a class trip in Israel many years ago, I stumbled on a Jewish wedding taking place in Cana of Galilee. It reminded me of the future Rapture of the church and of Christ’s words in John 14:1–3:

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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.

Townspeople lined the street as the handsome young bridegroom rode slowly by on a donkey. He looked like a king—dressed all in white, with a gold cloth wrapped around his waist. A white, Bedouin-style cloth covered his head; and he wore sandals (more like slippers) decorated in splendid, ornamental lace.

The donkey also was adorned royally, with a sequined, carpet-like saddle. Around its neck hung large, gold-twisted chains with small bells; and an ornate wreath of flowers sat on its head.

Flanking the bridegroom were men of all ages. They kept a steady pace, moving slowly down the road with him as they sang a repetitious, simple tune.

An elderly man, probably the town patriarch, led the procession. He wore a long, scarlet robe that opened as he twirled in dance. If I recall correctly, he swung a stick over his head as he chanted.

The sound of ululation filled the air. Ululation is a high-pitched trill commonly made by Mizrahi Jewish women on happy occasions. Mizrahi in Hebrew means “Eastern” or “Oriental,” and it refers to the descendants of Middle Eastern Jewish people from biblical times.

A local onlooker told us both families had arranged the marriage and that the couple had an unnecessarily long, drawn-out betrothal. According to ancient Jewish marriage custom, the man uses the betrothal period to prepare a home for his bride and himself in his father’s house. The bystander told us the lazy bridegroom had needlessly delayed the marriage by procrastinating his building of an extension to his parents’ house.

It was amazing to witness some semblance of the ancient Jewish marriage custom. It reminded me of a sermon Dr. Renald Showers—retired author, professor, and international conference speaker for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry—once preached regarding the remarkable parallel between ancient Jewish marriage customs and Christ’s Rapture of His church.

Scripture clearly teaches the church is Christ’s bride, which He lovingly and sacrificially purchased with His blood.

Just as the Jewish bridegroom returned for his betrothed, Jesus will return for us. Jesus promises to prepare a place for us and bring us home with Him. Scripture clearly teaches the church is Christ’s bride, which He lovingly and sacrificially purchased with His blood. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit secures our position.

The present Church Age is our betrothal period. But unlike the lazy bridegroom I saw in Cana, Jesus is busy preparing a place for us and will return for us at the appointed time.

What a cause to rejoice! Like the Jewish women in Cana ululating for joy, we should “[speak] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our hearts] to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

As Christ’s bride, we eagerly await His return. “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. 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” (1 Th. 4:16–17).

Our Bridegroom is coming soon.

2 thoughts on “Coming for His Bride

Leave a Reply to Simeon Western Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Features

Antique fountain pen on parchment.

From the Editor Jan/Feb 2018

When I was a brand new believer many years ago, a wonderful woman in my church invited me to her home for lunch. I knew nothing about Christian doctrine. All I knew was that I was a sinner, Jesus had died for me...

Upside Down

Surveying the current geopolitical landscape can give me a headache. The world is embroiled in a spiritual battle. Right is made to look wrong; wrong is made to look right; security threats loom large; and if we don’t keep our eyes on the Lord...

The Rapture

When the word Rapture is mentioned, responses differ. Some people know it refers to Christ coming to take the church to heaven. Others incorrectly associate the rapture with Christ’s Second Coming. Still others have no idea...

Gone?

Rapture, Antichrist, and Tribulation are words Josiah Hesse associates with his apocalyptic upbringing—an upbringing he says was built on “the urgency of avoiding hell.” In his article “Apocalyptic upbringing: how I recovered from...

When Is It?

Christ’s premillennial Second Coming to Earth is evident even from a casual reading of the Scriptures. The Bible, taken at face value, clearly states the Messiah will return to establish His worldwide, earthly Kingdom, headquartered in Jerusalem .

What We’re Spared

Think of the worst disasters in history. They’re nothing compared to what lies ahead—but not for the bride of Christ. “Husband Charged With Domestic Violence.” It’s an all-too-familiar headline. Sometimes the offender is a celebrity...


Subscription Options

1 Year Digital Subscription

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Download of Current Issue

$9.99 every 1 year

1 Year Digital with Archive Access

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Downloads of Current Issue & select Archives

  • Complete Access to our Growing Archive - eventually dating back through our inaugural 1942 issue

$19.99 every 1 year

2 Year Digital Subscription

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Download of Current Issue

$19.99 every 2 years

2 Year Digital with Archive Access

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Downloads of Current Issue & select Archives

  • Complete Access to our Growing Archive - eventually dating back through our inaugural 1942 issue

$39.99 every 2 years

3 Year Digital Subscription

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Download of Current Issue

$29.99 every 3 years

3 Year Digital with Archive Access

  • Free PDF Book Download - "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Renald Showers

  • Free Full-Issue Flipbook & PDF Downloads of Current Issue & select Archives

  • Complete Access to our Growing Archive - eventually dating back through our inaugural 1942 issue

$59.99 every 3 years