Cordial Invitation to Your Own Wedding

Our Blessed Hope

Picture a bride in preparation of her wedding day. Beautiful gown. Hair done perfectly. Makeup just right. She's eating healthily to avoid gaining those extra few pounds. She's showering and grooming herself daily.

She doesn't know when the groom will arrive to pick her up.

The anticipation is maddening. Yet still, she takes care of herself and develops a routine to ensure that she looks and feels her best.

His arrival is imminent.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ as believers aligns perfectly with the Jewish wedding tradition.

This tradition is a prophetic blueprint of Christ’s relationship with His Church:

Wedding Stage	Hebrew Term	Jesus’ Fulfillment
Betrothal	Kiddushin	Jesus paid the bride price with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Preparation	Groom prepares a place	“I go to prepare a place for you…” — John 14:2–3
Waiting Period	Bride waits, unaware of timing	“No one knows the day or hour…” — Matthew 24:36
Surprise Arrival	Groom comes with a shout and trumpet	“The Lord will descend… with the trumpet of God” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Wedding Ceremony	Bride taken to groom’s house	“We will be with the Lord forever” — 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Marriage Supper	Joyful feast	“The marriage of the Lamb has come…” — Revelation 19:7–9

This model paints Jesus as the Bridegroom who returns unexpectedly to claim His bride—just as in Jewish tradition, only the father knows the exact time the groom will go.

See, the groom goes back to the father’s house to prepare the room or apartment for the couple. Before the groom can go claim his bride, his father has to approve the new accommodations.  Without his approval, the groom cannot go to meet the bride.

Hence the phrase that only the father knows the time.

In the Hebrew calendar, the sixth month is called Elul.  This is a month that is very often chosen for wedding ceremonies.

🔹 Elul (Month of Preparation)

• Elul is the 6th month in the Hebrew calendar, traditionally a time of repentance, introspection, and spiritual readiness.

• It’s known as the season when “the King is in the field”—a metaphor for divine nearness and invitation.

• Daily shofar blasts during Elul awaken the soul to prepare for judgment and redemption.

Directly after Elul is Tishri.  This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar and represent their New Year.

🔹 Rosh Hashana (Feast of Trumpets)

• Occurs on the 1st of Tishri, following Elul.

• Known as the “day no man knows” because it begins with the sighting of the new moon.

• Associated with the blowing of trumpets, awakening, and coronation of the King.

• Many believe this feast prophetically points to the Rapture—Jesus returning with a trumpet blast to gather His bride.

“At the last trumpet… the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” — 1 Corinthians 15:52“The Lord Himself will descend… with the trumpet of God.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16

As you can see, there are easily two comparisons to the phrase that Jesus used when He said that it is a ‘day or hour which no man knows – only the Father”.

We need to remember the comparison of our relationship to Jesus Christ as in a bride and groom and the wedding feast.  This is our Blessed Hope which we are promised.

Prophetic Wedding Model & Fall Feast Alignment

Stage	Hebrew Wedding Tradition	Biblical Fulfillment	Fall Feast Parallel
1. Betrothal	Kiddushin — covenant established	Jesus pays the bride price with His blood (1 Cor 6:20)	—
2. Preparation	Groom returns to father’s house to prepare a place	“I go to prepare a place for you…” (John 14:2–3)	Month of Elul — spiritual preparation and repentance
3. Waiting Period	Bride waits, unaware of exact timing	“No one knows the day or hour…” (Matt 24:36)	Elul — daily shofar blasts awaken the soul
4. Surprise Arrival	Groom comes with a shout and trumpet blast	“The Lord will descend… with the trumpet of God” (1 Thess 4:16)	Rosh Hashana — Feast of Trumpets, “day no man knows”
5. Wedding Ceremony	Bride taken to groom’s house	“We will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess 4:17)	Yom Kippur — atonement and union
6. Marriage Supper	Joyful feast with guests	“The marriage of the Lamb has come…” (Rev 19:7–9)	Feast of Tabernacles — dwelling with God

The wedding model reminds us that Jesus is not just returning as Judge, but as Bridegroom.

When going about your daily life, try to remember this comparison.  Would a bride who is looking forward to her wedding to her groom sit back and sleep or ignore any of the signs of her groom’s potential return? No!

She would be making sure that she is 100% ready when He could possibly come.

Matthew 25:1-13

25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ 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 for yourselves.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.