The Betrothal

In ancient times, the Jewish marriage consisted of two parts; the betrothal (erusin), followed later by marriage (nissu'in). Our wedding day and our honeymoon will be celebrated in heaven. Seven days, the length of the Israeli honeymoon, pertains to our seven years in heaven. The wedding breaks down into seven parts:
1. the contract,
2. the price,
3. the cup,
4. the departure of the bridegroom,
5. the "stealing" of the bride,
6. the bridal chamber,
7. the marriage supper.

1. The Contract. Israeli marriages were by contract. The bridegroom would see the girl he wanted and simply go to her house with a contract of marriage. It would have in it the rules of the waiting period before the bridegroom would come back for his bride and other standard features of a normal matrimonial agreement.
2. The Price. Each bride had a price and the prospective bridegroom was expected to pay it. The bride's father received the money. It amounted to fair compensation to the fathers of daughters who had not enjoyed the advantages of strong male backs around the farms in that agrarian society. They more or less "consolidated their loses" when the young men inevitably came around to marry their daughters.
3. The Cup. The cup was a formality establishing the bride's answer to the proposal. When the contract and the price had both been presented, the bridegroom would pour a cup of wine for his intended and propose a toast to her. She could pick up the cup or she could withdraw, and this was her way of saying yes or no.
4. The Departure. As soon as the bride drank the cup the bridegroom would make a little speech on the order of , "I go to prepare a place for you." He then returned to his father's house to build her a bridal chamber-a little mansion for their honeymoon.
The Gospel works into this wedding tradition. Y’Shua made the same speech in John 14:1-3. He came to our house and brought a contract, a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Matt. 26:27) and He paid a price for us. He poured the cup for the believers at the Passover table, biding us "Drink ye all of it" (Matt. 26:27). The bride did not fear the departure of the groom since, of course, he had paid a price for her.
The bride would spend her time (up to two years!) gathering hr trousseau, getting her oil lamp ready to travel at night (Matt. 25:1-13) and keeping her veil on whenever she went out (in effect, keeping her faith in good order and not mixing with the world). Think about (up to two years) and a day to the Lord is as 1000 days. She waited at home every night for her bridegroom as the contract normally specified. She did not know her wedding day. Only when the bridegrooms's father gave approval of the new quarters was the groom free to claim his bride. This was to prevent the excited groom from throwing up some sort of simple shelter. So the bridegroom did not know the wedding day either. (Acts 1:7)
In accord with tradition, his arrival would totally surprise the bride and might happen while she was asleep.

5. The Stealing of the Bride. The bride was "stolen" in the sense that the groom would come completely unannounced in the middle of the night and seize her out of her bed. She would quickly put on her wedding garments and veil (Gen 24:65). In ancient times, she was escorted to the groom's home by a procession of people. She did not know where she was going, and with lamp in hand could only be led. All the Jewish brides were stolen out of their beds in the middle of the night by strangers they may have seen once, two years before.
The bridegroom comes therefore "like a thief in the night". When the chamber was finished and the bridegroom's father had approved, the groom would depart to get the bride and his father would invite the wedding guest. Our wedding guest in heaven, could be our Bridegroom's Father's friends - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, etc, etc.
6. The Bridal chamber. In those days, the bridal canopy (huppah) was a tent or a room where the union took place. The bride and groom would simply go into the bridal chamber and shut the door behind them. The "best man" could stay near the door. When the marriage was consummated the bridegroom would tell him that fact through the door and he would tell the other guests. (John 3:29) Then the celebration would begin. The bride and groom would remain in the chamber for seven days, at the last emerging for the marriage supper.
7. The Marriage Supper. Therefore, the "wedding week" celebrations concluded with the final feast, enjoyed by the family and guest (Rev 19:7-9). Similar to any bride, the believers have developed a loving, intimate relationship with Y’Shua. They not only watch for him, they long for His return. The only people He can call up to Himself are those who are waiting for Him. (Heb 9:28; 2 Tim 4:8; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 1:7)
True love is when the bridegroom comes for his bride, she will be about his business. She will be in the vineyards, bringing the harvest of lost souls into the kingdom of G-D. This is where the "bride" (Song of Solomon 4:8) is met by the lover of her soul when He comes (7:12).
After the meal the bride and groom would typically leave his father's house and go to the housing that the groom had arranged for them. And thus it will be that after seven years we will return to the Kingdom that has been prepared for us on earth. We will wear "fine linen clean and white". This biblical symbol goes all the way back to the Tabernacle. White linen was for the absolutely pure. The walls of the Tabernacle all around were pure white linen. Only the door was embroidered with colors; scarlet for sacrifice, blue for heaven, purple for royalty, the colors of Y’Shua. As He said in John 10:9, "I am the door".