Jewish law wants the entire community to bring joy and happiness to both the Kallah (bride) and Choson (groom). Most of the laws and customs relating to the wedding ceremony, its preparations and Seudas Mitzvah (festive reception meal) date back to our Patriarchs and the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The Talmud teaches that, originally man and woman were created as a single being or entity. Togetherness is their natural state. Their love stems from this natural tendency to be one. Our sages tell us that prior to the marriage neither man nor woman is considered a complete entity. The marriage is the joining of the two halves - man and woman - into one complete wholesome being (John 17:19-26). To take it a step further, we are taught in Chassidic philosophy that upon birth each body contains a portion of one soul, and at the marriage the two parts unite as one soul once again. Thus, it is at the time of the wedding that the creation of bride and groom is completed and is therefore, such a meritorious occasion. The wedding day has, for both the bride and groom, all the sanctity and solemnity of Yom Kippur. Both have fasted until after the chuppah ceremony through which time they seek G-d's forgiveness for any past wrongdoings. The groom, who dons a kittel (white robe) under the chuppah, and the bride in her gown, are attired in white symbolizing angelic purity and freedom from sin. They pray that the Al-mighty "open a new gate for us as the old gate is closed" so that their new life together evolves from a pure and fresh beginning. During each day of their marriage the bride and groom will strive to grow and adjust to each other in order to establish the foundation for a Bayis Ne'eman B'Yisrael - a faithful Jewish home.
In Jewish society, the marriage contract was generally made between the Fathers of the bride and groom who normally had not seen each other before they were engaged. The Groom makes a covenant or contract promise. The Ketubah is a document that is used for the purpose of assuring the bride will be provided for. Once this document is signed and witnessed by two people then it is binding and the couple are considered married. They drink (Matthew 26:27-29) a cup of wine (Luke 5:33-34) to seal the covenant. The Groom pays a price to show he is serious and makes a spoken promise to his bride that he would come back to claim her soon, this is the Engagement Promise. Although considered married at this point, they separate for a time. The bride remains with her family and waits and wears a veil. This shows she belongs only to the groom. She prepares for her wedding by making blankets, and other useful things. She also shows gratitude to her family for raising her and she mends any hurt relationships. No matter what, she had to be ready because the groom will come to get her at night. The groom leaves to go and prepare a bridal chamber - he works on it (John 14:1-4) until it pleases his father. The Chuppah canopy is derived from this type of a bridal chamber.. When the bridal chamber is finally finished and all is ready, the groom then returns for his bride without notice (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The marriage ceremony then takes place and the wedding banquet follows. The wedding banquet was one of the most important and joyous occasions in the Jewish life and could last for up to seven days. Jesus compares Heaven to the wedding banquet that a king had prepared for His only Son. The oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and all things are now ready, a royal feast where the best of everything is available and plentiful. Indeed Jesus first miracle was at the wedding feast of Cana when He miracuously turned water into the best wine (see John 2:1-11). In Biblical times the kittel was worn by all the men attending the wedding. The Kittel is a white robe, it looks somewhat like a bathrobe. It is a garment worn at Passover. It is also worn by the Groom at a wedding. The word Kittel is rooted in the Hebrew word Katal - "To Slay". This garment worn by priests during certain sacrifices such as Passover or Yom Kippur. It was the Jewish custom for the host (John 3:27-36) to provide each guest with a wedding garment see Sampon and the 30 wedding garments in Judges 14. In Judaism the Sabbath is seen as the bride. In Biblical Christianity, the Church, the Body of Believers is seen as the bride and the Messiah is the bridegroom. The Father (not Babylon) makes and approves the choice. In John 6:44: Jesus said: "No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." In 2 Corinthians 11:2 we read: "For I, Paul have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin (not a whore or harlot as in Revelation 17 &18) to the Messiah."
A Traditional end to a Jewish wedding serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, even during the most joyous of celebrations. Life is fragile. In a Jewish wedding, we break a wine glass as a symbol of our past. Forgiveness is an end to a shattered past. As the Groom smashes the wine glass under his foot everyone shouts Mazel Tov! Which means Good Fortune, may your lives from now on be not shattered, but full of fortune and joy.
In Matthew 22:2-14 we read: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city (Babylon). Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
In Luke 14:16-24 we read: "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
In Matthew 25:1-13 we read: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins (the saved church) , which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy (Acts 8:18) for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know (John 10:27) you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Half the "saved" church was foolish according to Jesus.)
In Revelation 19:7-10 we read: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him (and only Him) glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of G-d.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship G-d! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Who are these that would not come? The entire unsaved world.
Who choses to work rather than accept G-d's free gift? Religious people insist that they want to earn their own way - they freely choose not trust Jesus. Religious people always want to depend on their own works, their own self-righteousness, to make them "acceptable" before G-d. Look at the denominational churches dear one and watch them as they work to fill their pews. Look at the prodigal son's brother. No one is righteous, no not one - and no one can say that he earned his own way. We all deserve eternal punishment. These "workers" turn down Jesus free gift and G-d's free invitation. "Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of G-d not by works, so that no one can boast."
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him (Jesus) and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42). We all should choose to simply sit down and listen unto the Lord Jesus Christ whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light!
Who are these that will harm and even kill G-d's servants? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.” In Matthew 24:48-51 Jesus warns: "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Pastors please pay attention to this warning! In Luke 12:41-48 we read: Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers." "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." In Matthew 23:8 we read: "But be not ye called Rabbi (teacher): for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren (followers)..
What is the missing wedding garment? The Bible often explains what is proper attire for the wedding feast! It is your responsibility to clothe yourself properly!
Romans 13:14: "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as G-d's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
1 Peter 5:5 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "G-d opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Rev 19:7-9 - "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”'
Revelation 22:14: "Blessed [are] they that do his commandments (that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb) that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Revelation 7:13-17: "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation (they were not raptured), and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of G-d, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and G-d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
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The fiery furnace is the Lake of Fire. The place of weeping and gnashing of teeth is obviously not heaven or pardise.
Matthew 8:12 "But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:41,42 "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50 "and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 22:13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Matthew 24:51 "He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:30 "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 12:46 "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers."
Think that once you are saved that you are always saved dear one?
Many so-called "believers" are on their way to the lake of fire. Notice the place with the hypocrites and worthless servants is the same place with the unbelievers. In Revelations Jesus warns His believers to come out of the great whore Babylon and her harlot daughters - have you come out? The Furnace is the lake of fire, and these wedding parables all deal with G-d's final judgment. The Darkness is the temporary place which holds those who are sleep awaiting the final Judgement when all who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life are thrown (along with death and hades) into the Lake of Fire to burn for ever - this is the second death. In Hebrews 6:4-6 we read:"For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of G-d, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them (see my teaching on many antichrists) again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of G-d afresh, and put [him] to an open shame." In Genesis 6:4-7 we read: "And G-D saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." In Acts 8:13-24 we see that Simon the Sorcerer had once believed and even had become baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. Simon had also been following after Philip constantly and observing all that Philip was doing. But Simon had returned to the vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Peter declared this to be a true proverb (2 Pet 2:20-22) when he used it to condemn those who forsake their conversion and return to the vomit of this world, as Lot, Solomon, Demas, and others have done. To escape the demonic pollutions of this world and then return to be entangled and overcome in them again puts a man in a worse condition than before his conversion. This is a great reminder to us. Our salvation can be forfeited by our own actions. If we purposely choose to leave Him after we have come to the Lord, then we have personally severed ourselves from G-d. Peter tells Simon that he needs to repent and change his heart before G-d. Simon is told to pray personally to G-d for forgiveness. G-d is the only one who forgives sins. No man can pray to forgive your sins. Therefore we must all personally repent and pray to G-d to forgive us.
Is There an Unforgivable Sin?
In 1 john 2:27 we read: "But the anointing (Christ) which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (not in religion). The Holy Spirit convicts men of their sin and draws them to the Savior (John 16:8-11; 3:5-6) not to denominational churches (Revelation 17 & 18). 'Him that cometh unto me (not unto religion), I will in no wise cast out' [John 6:37]. 1 Corinthians 1:10 states: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Is Christ (the annointing) divided dear one? We all should be one - See:(John 8:31-32, 14:15-24, 17:22-23; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:3-6,13; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 3:13-15; 1 John 2:3-6; etc.)
"And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." -Genesis 6:3 "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." -Matthew 12:31-32 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." - Hebrews 6:4-6 Matthew 7:21-23 states: "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew (John 10:27) you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Mark 3:22-30 states, "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebub,' and, 'By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.' …'Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation;' because they said, 'He has an unclean spirit'" In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus says to the Pharisees, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" (See many antichrists)
'For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins' (Hebrews 10:26). (Read Romans 1:16-32 and see some of the demons in Babylon and her harlot daughters.) "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living G-d" (Hebrews 10:31). "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6). Come out of Babylon and her harlot daughters!
What Sins are forgivable?
In Romans 7:15-8:2 we read: "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of G-d after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank G-d through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of G-d; but with the flesh the law of sin.There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." But, dear one Paul was not condemned because Paul was still in Christ Jesus and Paul did not want to sin.
Judas betrayed Jesus once and was damned. Peter denied Jesus three times but Peter is in Heaven - why? Because Peter did not want to deny Jesus and Judas did. Your intentions are what Jesus will judge at the end. (See Hebrews 6:6.)
Where are you dear one, what do you intend to do next and are you ready for the last judgement?
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