Marriage Imagery in Eschatology – Barabbas Road Church in San Diego

In this “Whiteboard Wednesday” YouTube video, Pastor Matt of Barabbas Road Church in San Diego explains how Jewish marriage imagery is utilized to describe the end times in the Bible. A topic that has been taught at his church in San Diego before, Matt depicts the process of a traditional Jewish wedding and how it is reflected in scripture to capture the image of the last days and the end of the world.

A traditional Jewish wedding began with a betrothal, or agreement, between two families. When a man was betrothed to a woman, he was legally married to her. However, the two people did not consummate their marriage at that time. Up to a year went by before the husband and wife came together as one flesh in sexual union.

During this waiting period, the husband would prepare a place for his wife – a home for them. The wife would maintain her virginity in order not to dishonor her father, her family, and her husband. When the husband finished his work, he would take his wife and bring her to the new home, often in the middle of the night or at an unknown time. Then the two would finally consummate their marriage.

Then came the time for celebration. The whole family would process through town and invite friends and townspeople they met along the way to join them in a marriage celebration feast. This grand party could last up to a week long and would be very festive.

This very same idea is captured in scripture when referring to Jesus, the church, and the end of the world. Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is the bride of Christ, made pure before him. Israel is a friend of the bridegroom, welcomed to join in on the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Just as the bridegroom prepared a place for his new wife, Jesus is preparing a place for his bride in heaven. This beautiful promise was presented to the disciples when Jesus was sharing the Last Supper with them in the upper room.

In the end, the church will be taken to heaven by God and tribulation on earth will follow. At the end of this great trial, Jesus will return with His holy ones to completely overtake the earth and bring the believers into the millennial kingdom, where they too will partake in the marriage celebration.

You can watch the whole Whiteboad Wednesday video below.