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# Jewish Wedding & Marriage of the Lamb Parallel
- URL: https://www.bythehemofhisgarment.org/jewish-wedding-marriage-of-the-lamb-parallel/
- Published: 2026-10-13T22:56:41.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-13T22:56:41.000Z
- Author: Tanya Walker

In the first century during Jesus’s day, a Jewish wedding was a multi-stage family and community event rather than a single afternoon ceremony

There were three main stages of an arranged marriage Shiddukhin (Agreement/Proposal): The parents or families arranged the match, often when men were around 18 and women around 13 to 14 years old. The consent of the bride was also valued. **Parallel: Past, Present, Future** 

1. **Erusin (Betrothal):** A legally binding agreement where the groom or his father paid a bride price (*mohar*) to the bride’s family. The couple signed a marriage contract (*ketubah*) and shared a cup of wine to seal the covenant. From this moment on, they were legally married, and a formal divorce was required to break the tie, though they did not yet live together. The marriage would not be consummated. There would be no celebration (reception as we call it). The dowry / down payment was like paying alimony in advance - if anything went south, and if the couple divorced, the woman would have a difficult time surviving; so the down payment was to give her the means to survive financially. The couple is considered man and wife vows would be exchanged but there would be no sexual intimacy to consummate their union. This period is parallel to the marriage of the Lamb because Jesus paid the price of Salvation with HIS blood. The Church is the bride and was purchased by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He was slain for HIS church and HIS blood was poured out as a dowry / down payment for us. Jesus loves us sacrificially. **WE are currently living in the betrothal period. Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is his bride.**
2. **The Separation Period**: Lasting about a year, the groom returned to his father's house to build a bridal chamber or room (*chuppah* or addition), while the bride stayed at her parents' home preparing her garments and waiting. It was not uncommon for 3-4 generations to live in the same house. After one year passed, the bridegroom returns for his bride. Matthew 25 speaks of the parable of 10 virgins, the word virgin is a metaphor in this parable and represents bridesmaids of a wedding party. Ten bridesmaids whose responsibility was to be watching for the return of the groom. The groom was coming at midnight. Their main responsibility was to watch for the bridegroom during the night and meet the groom with their lanterns to illuminate the way back to the bride. Five had oil in their lamps and five did not, meaning Jesus will return again and there will be those who are ready and those who are not. They are not watching and they are not prepared upon Jesus's return. The five bridesmaids who had no oil in their lamps turned to the five bridesmaids who did and said, "Hey, how bout you share some of your oil with us?" The five bridesmaids said, "Naw not gonna happen, we were told to be prepared, and we cannot spare our oil to fill your lamps!" Jesus was highlighting the fact that salvation is not transferrable. You cannot be saved through your friends, parents, aunts, grandmothers, uncles, etc. you have to surrender to Jesus yourself and remain in HIS word. Borrowed faith will NOT cut it. The separation period is parallel to the Rapture of the Church! Jesus is coming! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in HIS father's house and he is gone for a time. We must be ready for Jesus, anticipating his arrival; just as the bride made herself ready and was faithful to her husband until he returned. Biblical readiness is relational, we must have our own intimate relationship with Jesus. We are currently waiting for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. John 13:33 and John 14:2-5 The bridegroom returns to get his bride and the crowd scoops the bride up and carries her to his father's house. - RAPTURED! We will be caught up in the clouds with Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 - Isn't this a beautiful parallel? This is where bridal language converges. **We are currently in the separation period - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling! Philippians 2:12 (active sanctification) Jesus is coming!**
3. Now **the wedding banquet** is here a seven day celebration, the couple will consummate the marriage. They have a big reception and are physically joined as one! Revelation 19 sums it all up - Jesus returns to celebrate the marriage feast with HIS church. "The wedding of the Lamb has come!"

Isaiah 62:5 says:

> *"For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."* (NKJV) 

This is the culmination of everything we have been waiting for. The couple steps on glass and Jesus crushes his enemies like grapes in a winepress! We see grace and obedience come together beautifully. 

After stepping on and shattering the glass at a Jewish wedding, the couple typically does not speak; instead, the assembled guests immediately erupt in cheers and shout"Mazel Tov!"to congratulate the newlyweds and signal the start of the celebration. In Heaven, we hear four Hallelujahs! 

Please share what resonated with you while reading this post. What did God reveal to you? Keep oil in your lamps my beautiful sisters!