Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: Stay with us as Dr. Gary Hedrick focuses on prophecy and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Today, right here on Messianic Perspectives. Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctively first-century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Aiello. Today, Dr. Gary Hedrick continues our current series on the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. He'll be discussing the many striking similarities between ancient Jewish wedding customs and the events of the second coming. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer, so have your pencil and paper ready. Now, with today's study, here is Dr. Gary Hedrick.

Dr. Gary Hedrick: All right, thanks and welcome to another edition of the program, listening friend. It's good to have you with us today as we continue our series of studies on the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Our key passage for this series is found in Revelation chapter 19, beginning in verse seven. Here's what it says: "Let us be glad and rejoice"—by the way, this is the voice of the multitude mentioned in verse six—"Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." Verse eight: "And to her," that is, to his bride, "was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white." Then he gives us the interpretation: "For the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

The white wedding garment represents righteousness and purity. Even today, when a bride walks down the aisle in a white wedding gown, she's signifying the fact that she's a virgin. She's never known a man intimately. That's what the white gown represents: purity and righteousness. When we were in Israel recently, we saw some of the robes that are being made for the priests in anticipation of the rebuilding of the Temple. These robes are made from a special flax material. Six threads are woven together according to the guidelines prescribed in the Talmud, and the robes are white, representing God's righteousness.

When it says here in Revelation that the bride of Christ is arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, it means she is clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That's the principle of exchange that we find in the New Testament. My sin has been imputed to Jesus Christ, and his righteousness has been imputed to me. That's the miracle of the atonement. Jesus, Yeshua, died for me. When he died on the cross, he put on my sin. When I trusted him by faith, I put on his righteousness. That's the great exchange.

You see how that places all the credit where it belongs? When I came to Christ, what did I contribute to the transaction? Only one thing: my sin. That's all. What did he contribute to the transaction? His righteousness. You see, salvation is his work, not mine. My only contribution was my sin. He took care of the rest. It puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

Sir Alexander Fleming was the great British bacteriologist who discovered penicillin. His medical research was largely responsible for the advances that have been made in our lifetime in fields like bacteriology, chemotherapy, and immunology. But what many people don't know about Sir Alexander Fleming is that he was not only a great scientist, but he was also a committed Christian. Shortly before his death in 1955, this great scientist was interviewed in England.

Recognizing that they were in the presence of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, a member of the press corps said, "Dr. Fleming, what is the most profound thought that has ever entered your mind?" They expected him to reveal some profound scientific observation or maybe some complex chemical formula that he was able to unravel in his research. But the old man furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and this is what he said. He said, "I believe the most profound thought that has ever occurred to me is the one expressed in this little verse: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

And he was right. It is profound. The love of God expressed in the atonement of Jesus Christ is also a paradox because on the one hand, the atonement is so simple a little child can understand it. Yet on the other hand, it's so complex you could spend a hundred lifetimes studying the atonement and still feel that you're only scratching the surface.

So it says in verse eight: "And to her," that is, to his bride, "was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." So the white garment represents righteousness, the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to the saints. Verse nine: "And he saith unto me, 'Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he saith unto me, 'These are the true sayings of God.'"

Now, what is this event known as the marriage supper of the Lamb? When will it take place? Who will be in attendance? These are all questions that can only be answered when we understand the ancient Jewish wedding customs. Why? Because that's the imagery he's using here, that of a Jewish wedding. In the New Testament, the church is referred to as the bride of Christ. Jesus is the bridegroom. That's how the New Testament describes the relationship between Christ and his church. Christ is the bridegroom; the church is the bride.

Let's look at some of the parallels between these ancient Jewish customs and the relationship between Christ and his church. First of all, in ancient times, it was customary for the father to select his son's bride. Even today in Orthodox Judaism, many Orthodox communities, this is often the case. Sometimes the young man won't even see his bride until the day of the ceremony. In Genesis chapter 24, we have that beautiful story about Isaac and Rebekah.

When Abraham was old, he decided it was time for his son Isaac to get married. He was too old to travel, so he sent Eleazar, his trusted servant, to find a bride for his son Isaac. In that story, Abraham represents God the Father, Isaac represents God the Son, Eleazar represents God the Holy Spirit, and Rebekah represents the church. It is a beautiful story, a beautiful illustration. God the Father has sent his Holy Spirit to call out a bride for his son. That's us, the church. That's what the Greek word ekklesia means, literally those who are called out. That's us. That's the church. We have been chosen by the Father to be the bride for his son.

Now, we have to be careful when we use this word "church," especially with a capital C, because many of our Jewish friends, when they hear the word church, they think of ecclesiastical Christendom. When you say church to them, it conjures up images of Roman Catholicism, the papacy, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and all sorts of anti-Semitic things that have been done in the name of the church to the Jewish people. But that's not what the New Testament means when it uses the word church.

It's not some ecclesiastical organization with big block buildings, vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and bingo on the second Tuesday of every month. That's not the church. That's an organization, yes, but it's not the church of Jesus Christ. That's not the church that's described in the New Testament. The New Testament church wasn't a building. In fact, there were no church buildings as such until a couple of hundred years after the time of Christ. The early church met in homes, and the early church had no papacy either, or anything like that.

What is the church? The true church of Jesus Christ consists of every believer, past, present, and future, who has lived since the day of Pentecost. The true church is not a denomination. In fact, it crosses denominational barriers because God has his people in virtually every Christian denomination. There are people who think the Baptist way is the only way to heaven. Others think the Methodist way is the only way. Still others think the Presbyterian way is the only way.

It's like the story of Saint Peter giving someone a guided tour of heaven. They passed one door and Saint Peter said, "That's where the Pentecostals are." Then they passed another door and he said, "That's where the Methodists are." Then they came to another door and Saint Peter said, "We've got to be very quiet here." The man said, "Why?" Saint Peter said, "Because this is where the Baptists are, and they think they're the only ones here."

You might think that's funny, but I'm a Baptist and I can tell you there are some of us who are almost that bad. There are other groups and denominations as well who think they're the only ones going to heaven. But let me tell you something, the true church of Jesus Christ crosses over denominational boundaries. It consists of every believer, past, present, and future, who has lived since the day of Pentecost. We are the bride of Christ.

The New Testament teaches that our marriage to Jesus Christ was arranged by God the Father. Ephesians chapter 1, verses four and five say that God the Father hath chosen us in him, that is, in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. You see, it's an arranged marriage. God's elect were chosen. That's what the Greek word for elect means: to choose. God's elect were chosen when? Before the foundations of the world. That's the first parallel between the ancient Jewish marriage customs and the relationship between Christ and his church: the bride was chosen by the father.

We've got a lot more material to cover, but that's all of our time for today. We'll continue next time. I'll see you then. You take care. Bye-bye.

Liz Aiello: Thank you Gary, and thank you listening friend for tuning in today. If you liked what you heard today, you'll be pleased to know we've taken all of the programs in this series and placed them on one convenient CD entitled "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb." It's available for your contribution of just six dollars or more to help us keep this program on your station. Most of us already know how the traditional Passover observance points to the Messiah in so many ways, like the three pieces of matzo representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the breaking of the middle piece symbolizing the death of the Son. So the Passover traditions point to the Messiah, and so do many of the Jewish wedding traditions.

For instance, the ancient marriage feast lasted for seven days, and the New Testament teaches that there will be a wedding feast in heaven for the bride of Christ, and it will last for seven years. Seven days and seven years; the parallels are amazing. That's what this series is all about. Just visit our secure online store at messianicspecialties.com to place your order. If you would prefer to order by mail, just address your request to Messianic Perspectives, P.O. Box 345, San Antonio, Texas, 78292. To order by phone, use our toll-free order line. The number is 1-800-926-5397.

Have you enjoyed this edition of Messianic Perspectives? Why not continue to learn about the Jewish roots of your Christian faith by inviting a speaker from CJF Ministries? Call our toll-free number, 1-800-926-5397, and we'll be happy to handle all of the details. And as always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. I'm Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Dr. Gary Hedrick continues our series of prophetic studies on the Marriage Supper of the Lamb right here on Messianic Perspectives.