Jesus Is Preparing His Bride for the Bridal Chamber

We Are His Bride

Recently, when invited to minister, I was asked if I would teach about the Bride of Christ. As I inquired of the Lord in regards to this particular teaching, He took me in a slightly different direction than what might be expected. He told me to teach it, by establishing firmly, that we - the Church - are indeed His Bride.

I am in no way an expert on ancient Jewish weddings. Fortunately, among the many members of the Body of Christ, there are those who have been given the gift and anointing that enables them to do extensive research on such things. The rest of us are blessed to be able to draw and glean from their well of knowledge they've acquired from such research. It was so exciting for me to discover that what I found from those who spent many years studying the ancient Jewish weddings was confirmation on what I was hearing the Lord speak to me about them. So, from the joint supply of the Body of Christ, extending from research to the revelatory gift, this is being brought to you. Glean from it, and then allow the Holy Spirit to take you into an even deeper level of insight, revelation and understanding about being the Bride.

Israel - God's Chosen People

The relationship of the Bride actually began with Abraham. God established a covenant with Abraham, extending it down to all of his descendants. In so doing, God established Israel as His chosen people, and through the covenant that He made with them, He became married to Israel and all the natural descendants of Abraham.

In Isaiah 54:5, the Lord says to His people Israel, "For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth."

So, right there, God Himself states that He is Israel's Husband. He makes it perfectly clear by defining that God and their Husband are one in the same.

But Israel began to turn to idol worship, which in Jeremiah Chapter 3, the Lord addresses to His chosen one - Israel - telling her that by this practice she is defiling the land and committing adultery. In verse 14, He offers her forgiveness if she will only return to Him and come away from her adulterous ways, telling her, "...for I am married to you."

You see, when the Lord establishes a covenant, He does not take it lightly. When God makes a covenant, He establishes it to be an everlasting covenant, only to be released out of it by means of death. A covenant comes by way of agreement. Both parties involved in the covenant must have come into a mutual contract of agreement that has bound them together within an established union. When the Lord makes covenant, He faithfully keeps His word in it, and likewise, He expects everyone who establishes covenant to remain faithful to the agreement.

The Intimacy of Worshiping with the Heart

When you worship the Lord, you are offering up and surrendering your heart and adoration unto Him. Worship is supposed to be a time of communion with the Holy Spirit that releases to Him and receives from Him intimate affections. Just as in Jeremiah where the Lord said Israel was defiling the land by turning to other gods, in Matthew 15:8-9, Jesus speaks about it also being defiling to render lip service in worship while your heart is given elsewhere.

Just as in the natural it would be defiling to the marriage for a spouse to give their heart's affections to another outside of the marriage, it's as equally defiling for one who is in covenant with the Lord to turn their affections to another, placing that person or thing above the Lord in their heart...whether it be a job, a person, money, or even a ministry.

Why is it so important to the Lord that your heart be actively involved in all that you do and say in His presence?

"(It's) with the heart one believes unto righteousness..." Romans 10:10

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

The place that you put the abundance (or focus) of your attention will eventually be the place that you surrender the adoration of your heart over to, also.

Even though Israel turned her affections to another, God loves His Bride, with a fervent passion. Listen to what He says to her about the day that she turns aside from all others and back to Him:

"And it shall be, in that day," says the Lord, "that you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call Me 'My Master'...I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD." Hosea 2:16, 19-20

When He says "and you shall know the LORD" in this Scripture, the word "know" in its Hebrew meaning is the same meaning as what is used in Genesis 4:1: "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, 'I have acquired a man from the LORD.'"

This use of "know" and "knew" is describing the sexually intimate relationship of a husband and wife in marriage. Now, if the Lord is telling His people that His will is for them to "know" Him, He is talking to them about having a relationship with Him that is deeply intimate and is within the covenant of a marriage.

Ancient Jewish Wedding Ceremony

In America, our process of marriage goes something like this: we see a significant other that we are attracted to, we date, we fall in love, we become engaged, and on an agreed-upon date we go through a somewhat-short wedding ceremony by exchanging vows with one another and signing some paperwork that makes it all legal...and we're off and married! This process can be as short or as long as we desire it to be.

In an ancient Jewish wedding, the process is a little different than what most of us are used to.

The wedding was performed in two stages: the first being the Betrothal, and the second being the Consummation.

Betrothed means to engage or promise in marriage by a mutual contract. Consummation means to be carried to the utmost extent or degree; to bring to completion.

Because the Betrothal stage of the marriage process is what pertains to the present stage of the Church, that's what we will focus on primarily. Although being betrothed to one another was similar to being engaged to one another, it is different than how our culture considers the engagement portion. For the most part, our engagement is established only by trust and integrity that the other person will be true to their commitment and follow through as planned, with the absence of anything legally binding.

In an ancient Jewish wedding, the betrothal was considered to be a binding, legal contract, and was recognized as marriage. To break it, a certificate of divorce must be given. And it was possible for the betrothal process to take, on the average, up to 12 months to complete.

I have listed the steps involved in the Betrothal portion of an ancient Jewish wedding, each followed by Scriptural reference of the new covenant Jesus established with His Church. It is my prayer that you are blessed as you discover and understand that our Lord and Savior truly established us in the most intimate covenant there is...the covenant of marriage.

The Betrothal

1) The first step in the wedding process comes when the man, who is ready to take a wife, chooses the woman that he wants for his bride, and receives his father's blessing for the marriage process to begin. He will then invite the woman to his father's house. And she of course, knowing the custom well, knows that at that time she has the choice to accept his invitation or reject it.

Jesus said in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

When the woman accepts the invitation, she then enters into the father's house to meet with the father and his son. The father, son, and the bride all know that this is the first stage in the wedding process, and this step is to be taken seriously.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20

The Covenant: His Promise and Purchase Price

2) The father and son will at that time present a marriage contract to the bride. Within this contract are promises that the son makes to the bride, telling her what he will do for her within their marriage covenant.

"...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:3-4

It also states what the bride's obligations are within the marriage covenant.

"...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." 1 Peter 1:15

And there must be a purchase price - so, it also lists the price that the man will pay for his bride.

"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28

The Marriage Cup

3) The man and woman will then drink a sip of wine from the cup to seal the contract of marriage. By the both of them drinking from the cup, they are signifying that they have now become one, and they both know that the marriage contract has at that point been made official and legally binding.

"Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.'" Luke 22:20

The disciples were very acquainted with the wedding ceremony and marriage covenant, so they understood well that as they drank from the cup, they had become as one with Jesus, and all that He had became theirs, also.

Sealed by Gifts for All to See

4) The father and son give gifts to the bride as proof that the marriage contract was sealed. This was evidence that could be seen by others that there was indeed a binding marital contract.

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.'" Ephesians 4:7-8

"...who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Corinthians 1:22

"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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

Set Apart for Her Husband

5) Now the bride would place a veil upon her face that all could see and know that she was set apart for her husband only. She now belongs to him and to him only. No one else is allowed to look upon her, because she is a married woman. Even though they have not yet consummated the marriage, they are considered legally married. They have taken the vows, and she is to walk in purity, reserving herself for her husband.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." 1 Corinthians 6:17

He Prepares for Her a Bridal Chamber

6) At that point, the husband and wife will part ways for a time. The husband will go away with his father, to his father's house, to prepare a bridal chamber for his bride. As they depart from one another, the son would say to his bride something like, "I go to prepare a place for you, and when my father tells me it is ready, I will come and receive you unto me." During this time, the husband and bride will not actually be together, but she will have the promise of the gifts to take with her that ensures her he will return for her when the preparation of the bridal chamber is complete.

"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. And where I go you know, and the way you know." John 14:2-4

Only the Father Knows the Time He Will Choose for His Son

7) It is up to the father to tell the son when the chamber is complete and is time to go receive his bride unto him. The son does not know when the father will decide it's time, only the father knows the time he will choose.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Matthew 25:13

The Coming Consummation

The next step of the ancient Jewish wedding was the consummation process. But just prior to the consummation process, the bride would disrobe and dip down into a pool of water to signify that she is cleansed and sanctified for her husband.

"...that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 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." Ephesians 5:26-27

"...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." Hebrews 10:22

This is crossing over a bit into the consummation portion of the wedding, but I want to throw this in, because it's so awesome. As I said previously, no one knows, not even the son - only the father knows the time that the bridegroom will return to receive his bride, because the father is the one who appoints the time. It was common for the bridegroom to return in secret, suddenly and unannounced prior to his arrival, and oftentimes he would arrive late at night.

"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:44

"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'" Matthew 25:6

Once the bridegroom receives his bride unto him, he will then bring her to the marriage supper!

Grafted In

Whenever I teach or make mention of the Bride, I almost always get a huge response. There are those who respond with excitement and a passionate desire to know the Lord more so, as being His Bride. There is also the belief among many that Israel is the only Bride.

Yes, God is married to Israel, so therefore, Israel is His Bride. But, let's read on.

"But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: 'I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.' But Isaiah is very bold and says: 'I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.' But to Israel he says: 'All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.'" Romans 10:19-21

"I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles...

"And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." Romans 11:11, 17-18

Although God's original plan was of His chosen people Israel, through Jesus, we, His people brought in by the new covenant, became grafted in and share in the same marriage covenant and inheritance as what the natural olive tree does. Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30); ALL that Jesus has is the Father's, and ALL the Father has is the Son's (John 17:10); therefore we have become grafted in to being a chosen people. We have become one and the same, and are also His Bride! Praise be to the Lord!

The Apostle Paul recognized that we are in a marriage covenant with the Lord: "Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another - to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God." Romans 7:4

"For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2

Approaching The Lord in Intimacy

The betrothal stage of the wedding of the Church took place while Jesus was on the earth. That's when this marriage contract was made legal. That's why we can walk in the same power and authority of Christ, because we have been given His name and sealed with His Spirit, and in all the spiritual realm, it is recognized as a legal and binding contract.

Let's talk about our relationship with the Lord as His Bride. How often is it that we approach Him in timidity, unsure that He wants us to get close and intimate with Him?

Let me say this: a husband delights in his bride approaching him, desiring intimate fellowship. In the same manner, our Lord and Bridegroom, delights in us as we approach Him, being confident that He welcomes us unto Him, in a rich, deeply personal and intimate relationship. He has already told us that He wants us to know Him as a husband and wife know one other within the marriage bed. That may seem way out there to you, but it's nonetheless true.

Spiritually speaking, we can have that deep intimate relationship with our Lord. He created us to know Him in a fellowship of deep communion. And we should not fear approaching Him in that way. He has given us the liberty of His Spirit to boldly seek to know Him more and more in a deeper intimacy every day than what we knew Him in the day before. And because there is so much depth to the Lord, it's more than just a possibility to know Him more deeply with each and every passing day. How delighted our Bridegroom would be if we made it our quest to know His heart - because we have drawn near enough to hear His heart!

Here's the thing, it's impossible to know someone - really know them up close and personal - unless you spend time with them and make it your focus to learn everything you can about them. I'm not talking about knowing about them, because you are merely told about them, rather, getting to know them because you are interacting with them directly - and frequently.

What Are We Going To Do With It?

Now that we know that we know that we know we are called to be His Bride, let's not keep a distance from Him. Let's get really close and personal with Him - as His Bride. Remember, He created you for Him - for His eyes - for His pleasure. He sees you as the most beautiful creation there is...when He looks at you, He sees you as the most beautiful and most lovely that there is. When He looks at me, He sees me as the most beautiful and most lovely that there is. Each and every one of us, individually unique, are the most beautiful and the most lovely of all to our Bridegroom, who is waiting for us to draw near to Him.

So, when your Lord, your Husband, beckons unto you to enter into the secret place with Him, don't hesitate - answer His call and go to the place of the deep with Him, surrendering your heart fully unto Him with confidence that He is willing, eager and delighted to receive you. YOU!!

In His Service,

Taffie Furr
Revelation of Jesus Christ Ministries