What Is The Truth According To The Facts?

I don't really care what lifestyle someone chooses to lead because quite frankly, I remind myself, it's none of my business what other people want to do unless is going to cause harm to myself or my physical being or other people around me. What I do care about is that no one should be killed because of that choice and at the heart of things I think many of you want the same thing. I want also to speak the truth about things even if that truth stings and bites me but it's still up to me and me alone no one else if I decide to follow the truth that I speak. I wish with all the power and might inside of me that people would not be ridiculed for any choices they make in their life but that's not reality and even though I may have not made a choice that goes against the so-called Christian or American standard, for the most part I think, I have certainly been discriminated against judged by probably quite few of you who are reading this, and ridiculed and belittled and bullied my entire life because I am extremely overweight. I really even believe that if I hadn't experienced all of the above things I just mentioned I wouldn't understand as well those who have made a choice that goes against the standard Christian belief and the idea American life which would put me in the same boat of those unkind folks who have done those things to me. And by the way if you're wondering why I haven't done something about my weight, then first of all you have not asked me and second of all there's truth that lies underneath the reason that I'm overweight. I really wish that I could go around with signs that would express a few of the many feelings I've had about those who fall in the group of people that have not been kind to me because of my appearance. One day maybe I'll use this social media outlet to do that, but I really don't think it will make any of those people or anyone else for that fact hear what it is that I need to reveal about my health concerning my weight.

So back to my main goal for this post.

To those of you who are loudly stating your case by picketing, marching, and trying to get your voice heard, you've been lied to to make you think that Trump hates everyone when in reality he's really trying to protect you and your rights to live whatever life style you choose. Trump banning travel into the United States has nothing to do with race or nationality, and the wall that he wants to build is not because he hates Mexicans. (I myself am just about three generations under Mexican immigrants to America) No matter what country we would border with that is as easily accessed as we are from Mexico would get the same treatment because anyone can cross over into the United States without being detected from Mexico. The walk has to do with protecting us from the Muslim faith, not even radical Muslims, but the Muslim faith. Yes Trump also wants to get rid people who come here illegally that put a drain on the system because they can't get a job because they have no green card which means that they can receive welfare in medical care just because they're here. This is not about keeping a certain color of people or certain nationality of people out of the United States, our president wants this to be a safe place where all people on earth could come here and live if they wanted to but if we become a Muslim nation that freedom will never happen. We must have a clear understanding that the Muslim faith no matter where in that faith a person may fall, the main agenda of that religion is for the world to convert to the Muslim faith. Our president is trying to protect us so that we may keep our rights to do and practice anything that we want to within the legal rounds of the law including being a Muslim.

Those of you who are marching and shouting and screaming about how unfair Trump is to women and gay people, don't you want to know the truth about things and don't you want to tell everyone the truth about things? This is exactly why I've been posting on my face book page the things that I've been posting so that people can learn the truth. I'm not looking for anyone to apologize to me or admit that they're sorry or that their misinformed, I would just like for them to stand up and speak truth and not just get caught up in the emotions of feeling left out or hated by others just because there are large groups of people promoting that that is the truth. The truth is not that America hates you if you're gay or if you're a woman the truth is that there is not some plan to keep women less then who they believe they are or into make you not be gay. The truth is what all the uproar has been about has been based on misinformation, lies, and deep emotional pain from choices that people have made on both sides of the fence which has caused horrible mistreatment from some people to people who are different than themselves. As a Christian I am very sorry for the way that other Christians have treated you, I have not been one of those people, so please don't group me in with those that have hurt you.

God has called me to speak the truth about His Love for you and for me which sometimes speaking that truth can sting and feel hurtful.

I don't even like the title of the video that I'm sharing here because it gives off an air of someone is better than the other but I'm sharing it because of the truth of what is being said.

This man is giving a talk on what is true about Muslim life and what happens in that religion and about how the main stream media has lied about Americans mistreating Muslims. If you are one of my many friends who have been marching to support Muslims if you even know what you were marching for.... whatever you think this is not about race because all races have Muslims. Your belief that Muslims have right to practice their religion here, or so that Trump will somehow magically leave the presidency because you think he stands for Hate although the truth is that he doesn't want the Muslim religion forced on Americans, which is the agenda of their faith as it states in the Koran that anyone who is not Muslim must be destroyed, and this is why you can't have it both ways by the way, you can't let them do all they want and live here is the US and you not become Muslim which would mean that any one of the things spoken about in this video could happen to you just because you are a woman or you are gay. Do you not understand my gay friends and women friends who just wants to be heard that if you were to actually accomplish your goals of getting rid of Trump that that would mean that the agenda of the Obama administration and the Democratic administration which is to rid America of Christianity and any other religions that are not Muslim, including the Jewish religion, which don't deceive yourself that whatever religion it is that you practice if it is not the Muslim religion the Democratic administration and the Obama administration is against you. They don't want you to know this so they don't speak the truth, they hide it. Seems like to me if you're going to march against something you should march against how much the government has lied to us in the past however many years this agenda has been gaining speed which is pretty much all of our lifetimes. But my gay friends and my outspoken women's lib movement supporters I want you to understand that Muslims are going to kill you.

 https://youtu.be/SHZBGidQcEs

While watching this I hope you do so with a very open mind about what is being shared about the Muslim faith and religion and what it really means for women, gay people, and any religion no matter how big or how small, or atheist, agnostic's, or anyone who would refuse to say that Mohammed is to be honored and followed and that Allah is god, who is not the same as the Christian God, Will be murdered and done away with.



I cannot imagine that this is what you really want for your lives and your children's lives and your grandchildren's lives.

Above all else let's not forget that Obama is an outspoken Muslim who will not declare that in the United States but when he goes to nations where the Muslim religion is expected to be practiced he loudly declares that he is Muslim. Whether you agree with the Christian faith are not let's remember that Trump is now a professing Christian which means that in his past he has done a lot of things just like the rest of us who claim to be Christians most likely did before we became Christians that are not becoming to the values of the Christian faith. You don't want people to spread hate about the way that you choose to live your life and you want people to give you a chance to be who you are, then as the definition of what respect is, then you need to give that same respect to Trump, not only that, the Bible commands us to do so. If you want scripture reference on that you're going to have to scroll through my post of face book to find my discussion about that and if you don't believe the Bible or in the Bible or whatever human decency I hope would come into play.

I feel now that I've presented all of the evidence that I can and that I feel is necessary to show that maybe, just maybe, that the ones who are the most upset and hurt and still marching and screaming and accusing which quite frankly I see as a very in mature way to get your message across and we can't really hear what you're saying anyway because you're yelling too loud, will begin to at least take a moment to think if the evidence that I have provided here and in all my posts about these things, could be true.

One last thought about everything being equal for everyone, if you believe that the Muslim religion is something that you want to stand up and march and proclaim that people who practice this religion should be able to do so freely which really means killing you because you're either a woman or you're gay or you don't agree with their belief about Allah which we don't see yet in America because it's illegal to do be killed for and please understand i'm not generalizing all Muslims into this statement but if Muslims really are true to their faith and this is what their faith teaches, then when we do become a Muslim nation which if you get you're way because you're assisting them in helping this happened, you're not going to be able to stand up and protest and march against Muslims who are then killing women and gay people and anyone who doesn't practice the Muslim faith. Oh you could try but you'll be shot before you get to the picket line.

I do often wonder why those marching for women's rights are not addressing the horrible things done to women in Muslim nations? I'll have to save those truths for another post.

Christians Who March for Women's Rights......Are You Sure This Is Right?

Did you join the women's march? Do you really know what it's all about? I'm not asking if you know why you were marching I am asking if you know what the whole movement of it is about?


I am shocked at the number of women that I know that I consider to be godly role models that have reported that they have marched for women's rights!


Women wake up! Women's rights has nothing to do with getting you into the workforce and making things equal, women's rights has to do with destroying the family structure that God designed in his Word for us to have. There's a plan and a purpose for everything that God does and equal to that because satan can only copy what God does, satan has a plan and a purpose for women to think that they need equal rights and that plan and purpose is to destroy who men are and their manhood.

God's plan involves order Satan's plans involve chaos.


Look at all of the TV shows and movies that we have now the sitcoms that are on, do you not notice that the men are stupid they don't have a job it's the woman that's caring for the family and it's the man that is getting the family into trouble in situations that the woman always has to get the man out of?


Don't be fooled, women, into thinking that you're marching for human rights or for women that have been raped and abused. That is not what the women's movement, the feminist movement is about. This marching for women's rights is nothing but a ploy of the devil to emasculate men, to make women stronger than men, and to erase the lines of gender.


Women if you want to change things for yourselves, do what the Bible says to do, pray, ask God to bless you ask God to bless your family but for heaven sake don't be pulled in by what media is telling you to do.


You want to help people that have been raped go out to pray for them you want to help women that have been abused go out and offer them help pray for them help them get out of their situation. Don't you see this women's movement has nothing to do with God's plan for us as women?


Before you start complaining and tell me that I'm being judgmental I will change my entire attitude about the whole thing if you can bring me no less than five scriptures that fully support women being above men, men living like women, women living like men, and women not caring for their children.


You can't just complain about something without facts behind it and if you are a Christian woman and you were out in the woman's movement marching for women's rights then you should be able to back up your reasoning from the Bible.


In case you're confused about what the feminist movement is really about take a look at these videos and see if by what you know according to the word of God would support the feminist movement and these women's marches? If you can't find that God's word would support this then I urge you to repent so that you don't bring judgment upon yourself and to begin seek out scriptures on how to change the world through God's plan and not the devil's plan.


Yes there are many things that men do that or not biblical either and it is not right for men to treat women badly according to the Bible. But let's let the men work on themselves and let's let the women get our hearts right with God.

There is a video and a sermon attached here so be sure you click on both links.


https://youtu.be/ucKYZstFBH4


I apologize for the scantily dressed women and language and content at the end but if you're shocked by this in the video then you haven't been paying attention.


If you were interested in hearing a full message/ sermon without the bad language on this then click on this link.


http://www.gty.org/…/sermons/90-99/feminisms-radical-agenda…


1Timothy 5: 14-25 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.


15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.


Titus 2:3-5 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;


4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,


5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Why should we want to stand against this? There are so many reasons but flat out it is an evil work of the devil in the Bible clearly instructs us to stand against it.

Eph 5:11 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.


John 7:24 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Have You Heard That There Are Verses Missing From The New International Version of the Bible? Let's Get The Facts Straight.

Over the past few years I have been hearing that there is a problem with the New International Version of the Bible and how there are verses missing from it.  In reasearching this I found that there were some changes in the NIV Bible from the King James Bible versions. This concerned me and I let myself get all worked into a frenzy about everything that I had ever read in the NIV Bible right down to how can I trust any version of the Bible. Well, those worries may not have been completely unfounded, meaning that we should study the Word of God to be able to know it well enough to prove to God that were are workmen who can rightly divide the Word of truth. II Tim. 2:15. Those worries were unfounded because I jumped ahead onto the band wagon of the King James version of the Bible can be the only right verson, knowing better from all my fancy Bible schooling I that I have had which taught me to look at all the facts first and then I am free to jump to any conclusion that I want to. Now after my expert research skills were put to use, by asking Google, I found this really well laid out article explaining the in's and out's of what version showed up in history when and who is really behind this train of thought that the KJV is the only right version on earth. I decided that I would not try to restate the article  but rather I would just share it with you so that you can see for yourself. Using tools like the internet can be very useful as well as very confusing, I can expertly speak on this with great authority after getting myself really confused about a lot of different things,  so for me it's important not to use online sources as the final say.  Of course, you have your way of learning and gathering information and above all else, you are welcome to jump to whatever conclusion you want to,  but please do so after you check out this info first before jumping this time.  You might find that you have saved yourself from trouble.    

The shared article is below but let me share a few things first.  What this article says is most important to our understanding about how satan will use anything he can to take us out of God's Word. I don't know if you are aware of the movement of the King James only people but it's important for you to know that they have a strong belief that no other version but the 1611 KJV is the only one that should ever be read and believed. That is a religious spirit at work behind that belief and we can see how much that has caused a problem even causing us to want to throw away bibles and to stop reading them. I'm guilty to of being caught up in the worries of what to do with my bibles and of wondering if I was taught wrong my whole life. Those who have worried about such things, as I did, about this whole situation has made us angry and fearful and doubtful.  God doesn't give us a spirit of fear but rather a spirit of peace so our take away is that if we are presented with a concept that causes us worry or anger or fear then we really need to test that concept to see where it comes from or where it's beginnings are from. Today it is too easy to gather information due to the internet to not only dupe ourselves into making fast and uneducated and unfounded decisions about issues that really do nothing more then help us build up prejudices and hatreds and opinions that are ccausing us to waste time informing all the poor souls that have never heard our new found information or are now not as smart as us on this issue because we have seen a youtube video or have seen a Facebook post about it or read some article that has been reproduced over and over just to prove a point that we some how feel validation in knowing that others opinions support this new frenzy, that we forget to go back to the source, which is God and ask Him to lead us to what is true about the current issue and also we often loose the Christ likeness that we want to strive to live in. We can be sure of that by the way we aporoach the topic with others because our conversations about the issue usually invole such words and or thoughts that make us feel proud, validated, superior, disgust, disbelief, anger, and an urgency to tell everyone we know this awesome new information that will change lives forever. Notice what is missing in this new found information? Peace and lack of fear. 

The enemy against God's Word is so cunning and deceiving that we often don't recognize that it's him at work. Because of this we all need to step up our game and make sure that we are reading God's Word every day, putting on the armor of God and praying ever day which does several things for us, it helps grow out spirit which makes us strong and builds our relationship with God so that we can hear and know His voice and it helps us know how to test every spirit that brings new or really to be honest it is recycled, (because there is nothing new under the sun), information to us that draws us away from doing the things listed above that keeps our minds busy and in a whirlwind. 

Be encouraged and pray for wisdom and strength and unity. We are all in this together and remember, united we stand but once the enemy gets us divided we then often get prideful and then we fall, usually right into the trap the enemy set for us that God has already warnned us about. 

Amy Hosp

Here is the article that I promised. 

JesusAlive.cc Fish

Q: #258. Why is the NIV Bible missing some verses?

By: Steve Shirley

A: The NIV has 16 "missing" verses, all in the New Testament. I put "missing" in parenthesis because many scholars would say that they aren't "missing" at all, but rather, the Bibles that have them (like the KJV) "added" them when they never should have been included in the Bible in the first place.

First off, it is important to understand that we do not have the "autographa" or original manuscripts of the Bible. The versions of the Bible we have today are based on copies from these original manuscripts. We have thousands of fragments and copies of the original manuscripts (some dating before 100 A.D.) that are surviving today. These are used by scholars when they write different versions of the Bible, generally using what is considered the best manuscript evidence available at the time.

These copies agree more than 98% of the time in what they say, but there are some differences. It should be understood that as Christians, we believe that the "autographa" is infallible, however, because fallible man has been involved in copying or translating what God originally stated, MINOR errors have occurred (none that concern any major doctrine). Many of these have been corrected over time. This being said, the "missing" verses would fall into this category.

When the KJV Bible was written in 1611, it was written primarily using what is called the "Textus Receptus." This was a highly regarded source at the time. However, since the KJV was written, we have found many more ancient source texts to use that were not available to those KJV writers (i.e the Codex Sinaiticus - found in the mid 1880's). When these different sources are compared they sometimes (but rarely) disagree. Regarding the "missing" verses, nearly all of the manuscripts we have today do not contain the "missing" verses. Therefore, they are not believed to have been a part of the "autographa" and are removed from that version (the NIV places them in footnotes with an explanation). Some versions include them, but with a warning. The NASB has them in parenthesis and says in the footnotes "Early mss do not contain this verse." The NKJV says, "NU omits verse --" (NU = Nestle-Aland).

I should add here that many who make an attack against these verses being left out are "KJV only" people. They believe that the KJV Bible is infallible or error free. (This is refuted here: Q: #1) We must understand that all Bibles we have are VERSIONS or copies of the original. NONE are infallible or error free. When a "KJV only" person or anyone else voraciously attacks a version of the Bible that leaves out these verses, they are often stating that "their" version (which includes the verses) is the correct standard by which every other version should be judged. If the verses are in "their" version, they should be in ALL versions. Again, this is simply false. (They also attack for other reasons too, some of which have more validity.)

Let me close by sharing this truth with you. God has promised in (Isa 40:8)(1 Pet 1:23,25)(Mt 5:18) that he would preserve His word, and He has done just that. The Bible is the most tested, scrutinized, proven and enduring book in history. While there may be differences in different versions of the Bible, we can rest assured that God's word is preserved.

PS: For those of you who want to know, here is a list of the "missing" verses: (Mt 17:21)(Mt 18:11)(Mt 23:14)(Mk 7:16)(Mk 9:44,46)(Mk 11:26)(Mk 15:28)(Lk 17:36)(Lk 23:17)(Jn 5:4)(Acts 8:37)(Acts 15:34)(Acts 24:7)(Acts 28:29)(Rom 16:24).

*** It should be noted that these are also missing from other Bible versions like the NLT, RSV, NRSV, CEV

http://jesusalive.cc/ques258.htm

Avinu Shebashamayim Prayer For The State of Israel

We are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Have you ever wondered how to do this or what to pray for? Right now is a wonderful time to pray for the State of Israel. The link will take you to a site so you can read the prayer both in English and in Hebrew. At the very end of the page is the transliteration of the Hebrew and when you read those English letters you will be saying the Hebrew words.

The prayer for the government is a biblical prayer, and is read during the Saturday morning service on Shabbat. The concept of praying for the wellbeing of the government was started in 586 B.C.E. by the prophet Jeremiah after the first expulsion from Jerusalem. Seeing as the Jewish people could not govern themselves, they implored God to guide their foreign rulers. David Abudarham first introduced this prayer into the modern siddurim (prayer book) in the 14th century. Jews have adopted different prayers for the governments of the countries in which they live. The prayer is read aloud after the Torah reading, but before the Torah is placed back into the ark. This blessing asks God to guard the proceedings of the government and the nation’s leaders.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/govprayer.html
Sources: Eisenberg, Ronald L. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA: Jewish Publication Society, 2004; "Praying the Welfare of the State of Israel"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4mQPigRpRU

Avinu Shebashamayim

God in heaven, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, 

bless the State of Israel, 

the first flowering of our redemption. 

Shield it with Your love, spread over it Your canopy of peace; 

provide light and truth to its leaders, 

and direct them with Your good counsel.

Strengthen the hands of those who defend our Holy land, 

deliver them and crown their efforts with triumph. 

Bless our land with peace, O God, 

and its inhabitants with lasting joy, and let us say, Amen.

Avinu Shebashamayim tzur yisrael v'goalo 

bareich et m'dinat Yisrael reishit tzmi'chat g'ulateinu.

Hagein aleha b'evrat chasdecha 

ufros aleha sukkat sh'lomecha;

ush'lach orcha vaamitcha l'rosheha sareha v'yoatzeha,

v'takneim b'eitza tova milfanecha.

Chazeik et y'dei m'ginei eretz kadsheinu,

v'hanchileim Eloheinu y'shuah, v'ateret nitzchon t'atreim;

v'natata shalom ba'eretz, v'simchat olam l'yoshveha.

He Turned Aside To Investigate

A Thought for the Week:

When Moses saw the burning bush, he turned aside to investigate. Only then did the Holy One reveal  Himself to Moses. Our problem is that we do not take the time to turn aside and investigate. We all intend to grow spiritually. We all imagine that one day, we will take time to study, take time to grow in Torah and the Word, to do a mitzvah (commandment), a good deed, by more like Yeshua and to pray regularly. But you can’t take good intentions to the grave. A famous rabbi once said, “Do not say to yourself, ‘When I have more time, I will study God's Word more. Perhaps you will not have more time.’”  Do not say, when I have more time, I will turn aside, you might not have more time.  

Taken from First Fruits of Zion at www.ffoz.org

Here are some traditional Jewish morning prayers that you can pray to help you start your day communicating with God for the day.

The Hebrew transliteration is first and the English follows. By reading the transliteration you are reading the pronunciation of the Hebrew words. 

Modah Ani|Prayer Upon Arising

Modah ani l’faneycha, (ruacḥ chai vekaiyam,) melech chai vekaiyam, shehechazarta bi nishmati bechemla, rabbah emunatecha.

I give thanks to You, living and eternal King, that you have mercifully 
returned my soul within me in compassion, great is your faithfulness.

Yotzer Hame’orot|Blessing for the Morning
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu. Melech ha’olam, yotzer or uvorei choshekh, oseh shalom uvorei et ha’kol. Baruch atah, Adonai, yotzer hame’orot.

Blessed be He, Adonai, Our Elohim, King of the universe, who forms light and creates darkness, who makes peace and creates all things. Blessed be He, ADONAI, who forms the lights. Blessed be you, Adonai our Elohim, King of the Universe, who removes sleep from mine eyes, and slumber from mine eyelids.

Yirat Adonay Fear Of Hashem
Reishit chokhmah yrat Adonay, sekhl to lekhol oseihem, tehillato omedet la’ad. Baruch shem kevod malkhuto le’olam ve’ed.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Adonai. Those who perform His commandments have a good understanding; His praise endures forever. Blessed be the Name of His glorious Kingdom forever and ever.

Do You Respect The Bible?

In Messianic Judaism God's Word is highly respected. We don't put our Bibles on the floor and when the Torah scroll is carried around the room we reach out and touch it with either our Bible, or our hand and then kiss that which touched the Torah scroll. We don't do this to worship the Bible or the Torah, but instead we do it to show respect to Yeshua who is the Word!
Can you image not having a Bible in your possession? I have too many of them, I do study from all of them at different times since they are all different versions. To think of only having one Bible and getting one for the first time in my life as an adult.... What a treasure that would be to me.
I have seen preachers throw their Bibles on the ground during a service which I cannot image what they are thinking. Yes, the Bible is a book but it is what is in the that book that is important. It is respect for not only Yeshua who gave His life for us, but also for our creator, God, who loved us enough to send us His Son.
I'm guilty of not reading my Bible everyday and like many of you I've gone through times where I did read it everyday for a long stretch of time, but I can't think of a single reason why I would not or could not read my Bible everyday, or at least turn on a recording of the Word, but after seeing this, I will strive to be more disciplined to read my Bible everyday so that I will have more and more of the Word in my heart.
Tons of reasons to read our Bibles, but what I think of more and more is that one day we may have our Bibles taken from us and I wonder how much of it will I really have hidden in my heart so that I will not sin against God when that time comes. I have several notebooks that I have just sat and copied the Bible into at different times in my life which I always think is a good plan because if my Bibles are ever taken from me, I will still have a copy of the Word in what will look like just a journal.

Have you ever thought what you would do if your Bibles were ever taken from you and if so what is your plan to keep God's Word in your heart if that were to happen?

How the rapture of the body of Yeshua and how it is like a Jewish wedding ceremony

A friend of mine sent me a wonderful article about the rapture of the body of Yeshua and how it is like a Jewish wedding ceremony.  I have posted the article below and hope that you will find it informative and enjoy it as much as I have. 

Jewish Wedding Ceremony

By Joy Wriston

http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/wriston1.html

---

I was brought up in a church that believed in the Pre-Trib Rapture but in college encountered other views. I noticed that they mostly used the same verses but interpreted them differently so wondered if my interpretation could be the one that was wrong. Then I discovered Zola Levitt and his explanation of the Jewish roots of the Rapture confirmed for me that the Pre-Trib view is the accurate one.

This is my synopsis of his teaching gleaned from his book, An Israeli Love Story ( a fictional story which explains the Jewish wedding ceremony). Anyone who wants to research this further can do so as there are many articles from different sources on the Internet.

The First Century Jewish Wedding Ceremony

In the first century, when a young man saw a young lady he liked, he consulted with his father. Sometimes the father picked the girl and no consultations were necessary. But when the father approved of the choice of a bride, the young man would go to her house and speak with her father. (p.105)

At the bride’s house three very important things would occur: The groom would make a covenant with the bride, an actual contract; he would drink a cup of wine with her which sealed the covenant and he would pay the bridal price for her to the father. The bridal price was to make sure the groom was serious about the covenant—he had to pay a price. After the covenant was made, the cup had been drunk and the price paid, the groom would make a speech to the bride telling her that he was going to leave her and return to his father’s house to prepare a bridal chamber for her, sort of a honeymoon suite.

The words he would say were “I go to prepare a place for you.” He would be gone for a long time. He would have to build and finish the bridal chamber and have it approved by his father. It would have to be stocked for enough provisions to last for the prescribed seven days for a honeymoon of that time period.He would want it to be beautiful for her.

It had to be done right to win the approval of the groom’s father. During that year or so that the groom was building the bridal chamber, if anyone asked him when the wedding would be, he would say. “I don’t know. Only my father knows.”And that was true.He couldn’t go back to get his bride until his father approved the chamber and told him to go get her.(pp.106-108)

Meanwhile, the bride was waiting with dignity. She wore her veil whenever she went out so that other young men would know that she wasn’t available. Now she was called “set apart,” “consecrate.” And “bought with a price.” She was no longer her own person but an individual contracted to another and she conducted herself in a way that respected that agreement. She didn’t seek after other young men. She prepared herself for marriage by gathering her trousseau and waiting for her groom. She was at home every night, especially as time went on and she knew he could be coming.

The tradition was for him to come at night, especially midnight, to try to take her by surprise. It was to be “an abduction.” The bride would be waiting with her “bridesmaids,” her sisters or whomever she wanted in her wedding party. They would all have oil in their lamps just in case the groom did come at night. As time went on they were sure to be ready every night. (pp.109-110)

One night the groom did finally come. It was customary for the groom’s party to shout as they neared the bride’s house.When the bride heard that shout, she knew her groom had come to get her. The groom and his friends would rush in and grab every girl in sight, being sure to get the one with the veil (the bride). He needed her veil as the party would be going through the streets and she was not yet married. The bride’s father and brothers looked the other way as long as it was the young man with the contract. (p.110)

The entire wedding party would head towards the groom’s house, traveling through the streets and laughing. People would know there was a wedding going on but couldn’t tell who the bride was because the bride was covered by the veil. The bride and groom would enter the bridal chamber while the wedding party waited outside along with the wedding guests (friends of the groom’s father). Everyone waited outside the wedding chamber until the groom told his trusted friend through the door that the marriage was consummated.

Then the guests began celebrating an accomplished marriage. The guests would spend the next seven days there celebrating until the bride emerged with her veil off. Now the couple were husband and wife. Then there would be the marriage supper where everyone would joyfully congratulate the new couple. Afterwards, the young couple would leave the father’s house and go to a permanent home the husband had prepared for them. (p.111-113)

Jesus as the Bridegroom

The New Covenant

Hebrew 8:8 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 which states:

“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord.‘But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquities and their sin I will remember no more.”

The New Covenant had to do with the Messiah’s coming and had to be signed in blood. Abraham had to divide animals when the Abrahamic Covenant made the Jews the chosen people (Genesis 15:10). In Moses’ day, the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts saved the firstborn of the Jewish believers (Exodus 12:7). Then later on Mount Sinai, the Mosaic Covenant was established. It required repeated blood (animal) sacrifices specified in the Law for the forgiveness of sins/offenses against God (Exodus 20:24).

The Davidic Covenant included burnt and peace offerings which required the shedding of animal blood (2 Samuel 6:17-18, 1 Chronicles 16:1-3). It’s the blood that makes the Covenant go into effect. When the Messiah (Jesus) came, John the Baptist called Him ,“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Isaiah 53:7 says the Messiah “would be led as a lamb to the slaughter.” When Jesus died on the cross, it was as a sacrifice for us; dying in our place with our sins placed on Him.

That the relationship of God and Israel has always been a marriage is made clear in the book of Hosea. In Jeremiah 31:32 God says He has been a “husband” to Israel.Paul compared marriage to being like the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). The church is referred to as the bride of Christ or betrothed of Christ (Revelation 17:9; Ephesians 5:25-28; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4).

Jesus said that He only came for the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” When Gentiles came to faith in the Jewish Messiah they were grafted into the Jewish tree, and were called the spiritual seed of Abraham (Matthew 15:24; Romans 11:17).

The Cup

At the Passover supper Jesus drank the cup with his disciples and stated “This is My blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28) God promises, “I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) In the Jewish faith, the cup at the Passover supper is called the “Cup of Redemption.”

The Price

Jesus paid the bride price. He even asked His Father if it was worth it. (Luke 22:42-44) In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but yours be done. And His sweat fell like great drops of blood while He was contemplating the cross. God sent an angel to strengthen His Son. That was His answer. Jesus paid the price for us.

“I Go to Prepare a Place for You”

In John 14:2-3 Jesus tells His disciples, “ In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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.” His ascension into heaven is recorded in Mark 16:19-20 and Luke 24:50-51.

The Bride Awaits

Jesus is still at his Father’s house preparing a place for us. And we are awaiting His return in a consecrated way—bought with a price; set apart (1 Corinthians 6:20; John 17:14-26, Romans 12:2;1 Peter 1:15-16.) “We are to act like the covenanted bride and be waiting at all times for our Bridegroom to come.We are to have oil in our lamps and be ready to travel, even at night (Matthew 25:1-46). Our oil is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity who came to the Jews at Pentecost after the Messiah ascended. We are each to be filled with the Holy Spirit and always ready to go (Acts 2).

Jesus performed a vast Jewish courtship with His believers. “The Lord will return for His bride. There will be a bridal chamber in heaven where Jesus and the church will spend seven years - like the ancient seven days, and there will be a marriage supper like the Jews used to have. Every detail of Jesus’ great wedding will be accomplished and it will be carried out in the exact traditions of the Jewish people, because Jesus is Jewish!”

The Return of the Bridegroom

In the Jewish holy days, “Shuvuot (Pentecost) – that’s the harvest holiday. All summer following Pentecost the people plant and till the ground. But when the trumpet sounds, on what we now call Rosh Hashanah, the old Feast of Trumpets, the crops are in and the harvest is finished. Jeremiah, just to mention one prophet, could see that we wouldn’t be ready—not all of us.

“The summer is ended and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).Paul gave us a wonderful picture of that moment when the groom will return for His bride.” For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). (pp. 149-151)

That fulfills everything.You have the shout of the bridegroom to notify the bride of his coming; you have the trumpet to finish the harvest and to proclaim liberty for God’s people. We (Jews) used to blow the trumpet on each Jubilee to proclaim liberty…well, this is real liberty (Leviticus 25:10).

Just as a Jewish bridegroom called for his bride unexpectedly, and took her to his father’s house, Jesus will take His Bride (believers) away quickly, changed in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52). The Bride is to be ready and waiting with her veil on so that anyone who sees her pass will not know who she is.

People in today’s world also don’t recognize the bride of Christ. They see people going to church but don’t recognize them as the Bride. It’s as if true believers are wearing a spiritual veil making them unrecognizable to the world. After the Bride has gone on to her wedding, the world still won’t recognize who she was.

The House of the Father of the Groom

When the bride and groom arrive at the groom’s father’s house they will find a large gathering of wedding guests who are friends of the father. When the Bridegroom brings us to His Father’s house we will also find the Father’s friends there as wedding guests. These are the Old Testament saints, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the prophets, and the faithful chosen people who lived prior to the coming of the Messiah.

But first the bride and groom must go into the bridal chamber for seven days. And the groom’s friend waits outside the chamber until he hears the groom’s voice. Then he tells the guests when the marriage is consummated. In John 3:29 the Pharisees were questioning John the Baptist if he was the Messiah. John told them: “He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom who stands nearby and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” The marriage is accomplished when the bridegroom’s voice is heard.

The “honeymoon” in heaven is the judgment seat of Christ. We will go before the Messiah and He will look at our works done for Him while we were in the flesh.We (believers) are all His servants and we do both good works and bad. In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 Paul wrote:

“No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it for it is to be revealed with fire and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on remains, he will receive a reward (crowns). If any man’s work is burned up he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

This has nothing to do with sins. They were all covered at the cross. God isn’t going to charge us for what is already paid for. If you accept Jesus as Messiah (Savior) all your sins are forgiven. The “honeymoon” is where the groom removes the bride’s veil and knows her secrets. Even with our “bad” works, love is the healing factor. If you want a “good honeymoon” follow the Lord and do your good works for him. Either way, keep in mind that Jesus loves you and will be very glad to see you.

The Marriage Supper

The announcement has been made that the marriage is consummated. The Lord has examined everyone’s works and the crowns have been awarded. Now there is great rejoicing and celebration. The marriage is official and the great marriage supper (what we would call the reception) will commence. The Bride will be greatly honored:

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8).

Notice that the Bible now says “wife” instead of “bride.” The honeymoon is finished and we are now married to the Lord. After the supper is over, we’ll leave to live and reign with our Husband in His millennial kingdom.