The 12 Ancient steps of the Jewish wedding The virtuous women/bride of Christ

I sat at church one day a few months ago and I felt God say... You need to go back to the ancient past, to prepare/understand the future... I had no idea what it meant until I went on a camp in May which was called: Give me oil in my lamp...(a teaching by Eunice vd Merwe from myrrh ministries) Months before that I heard a teaching about the 10 bridesmaids Math 25 When the Bible speak of 10 bridesmaids/virgins it talks about 10 believers. 5 were ready/prepared and 5 were not/foolish It shocked me deeply to know some Christians including myself might not be ready when our Bridegroom returns. Therefore I bring you this teaching of the 12 steps of the wedding feast and how relevant it is to us today as we prepare as the Virtuous Bride of Christ. (John 3:29) Many truths and treasures are forgotten and often hidden, simply because believers do not know or even consider Jesus in His original context. The ancient Jewish wedding is a custom we should understand because Jesus Himself followed the steps of a Jewish bridegroom,when taking His own Bride, we, the Church. You will see how Jesus intimacy and love for His bride become evident. As you compare the jewish wedding steps to our relationship with God the Father, The Holy Spirit and Yeshua ha Mashiach, Jesus our Messiah!!! The marriage custom is laid out in 12 steps and ties in with the 9 trees mentioned in the Bride's garden in Song 4:12-14 and the 9 fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) each one in order as it is written in the Word. And each one being a characteristic of a virtuous women. Our God is a God of order and detail. May these Truths change us May this change be evident in our words and deeds May our words and deeds become the SOUND of the Bride.... May the sound of the Bride be in harmonious accord with the Spirit as they call out in Rev 22:17 Come! All who are thirsty, come and drink.... 1. Step (Hebrew number 1 means: Father) The Father chooses a bride for his son Just as God the Father chose us the church as the Bride for JESUS, HIS Son! It is the Father who nudge our hearts, and calls us to enter into this union with our Bridegroom Messiah Gen 24:35 First tree : Pomegranate Cut open it has 613 seeds, 613 commandments in Torah, The Bible says, they will know us by our LOVE. No matter how deep you feel indebted to God for all you have done or not done, He loves you and has forgiven you. It was because of His love for us that He sent His Son First fruit: Love John 6:45-44 Stop grumbling among yourselves, The Messiah Yeshua answered. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the determined day.

2. in Hebrew means: Household, House of tent The Price was secured for the bride The Father and the Bridegroom negociated a price, in case something happened to the groom, she was secured. Second tree: Henna, is the colour red, it means to cover, to be covered by the blood. Second fruit of the Spirit: Joy Joy is something we can have despite our circumstances, The Joy of the Lord is my strength. It is His Joy within us. The enemy tries to rob us for our joy leaving us feeling powerless and defenceless. But He can not touch God's Joy that is supernaturally within us. Yeshua left His home to come to earth to pay the ultimate Price for his Bride, with His Blood (Henna) and so He would return to prepare a place for us in Heaven Hebrew 12:2 Looking unto Yeshua the Author and Finisher or our Faith. Who for the joy (second fruit) that was set before Him endured the Cross, disdaining the shame, and has conquered all and is at the right hand of the Throne of God. 3. Gemel, meaning: To lift up, into, a camel this was the engagement party. Betrothal ritual, a cup of wine was lifted, in the right hand and drunk by the Bride as a sign of betrothal, (promise) Math 26: 27-29 And Yeshua took the cup in His right hand, lifted it, blessed it, and gave it to His followers, saying, drink ye all of it, For this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. Third 3 nard therapeutically brings peace, quietness, rest Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and anointed Him with nard, she washed His feet and dried it with her hair, In arabic nard means: lock of hair, in Greek- Gennuine oil Nard hebrew light When Mary anointed Jesus feet with nard (light) she anointed Him as the Light of this world Mary found peace and rest in the gift of Grace Jesus gave her... Third fruit of the Spirit: Peace shalom Isiah 9:6 For us a child is born and His name shall be: Prince of PEACE God has anointed you and me with His gift of Grace so we can be set free from the axiety and stress of life, pouring our hearts out to Him in total surrender, and enter into HIS PEACE. Step 4 Door, pathway, entrance, enter The written marriage contract was drawn up. The bride is promised to be provided for in every way. All her needs will be provided for by her Bridegroom. The Word is our written wedding document, it tells us all that our Bridegroom has done for us and will do for us and more.... The Messiah is the door, the pathway by which we can enter into the Fathers House Fourth tree: Saffron most expensive oil, reddish colour, harvested by hand with great patience,75 000 blossoms make half a kilo saffron. Cooking, Saffron speaks of the delicate, intricate dealings of our lives, how He patiently change us, removing our veils/masks He is such a gentle God full of Compassion Psalm 86:15 Fourth fruit: patience Step 5. Hay, to reveal, window The Bride reveals her choice. The first time she has a say

If she says, no, everything is still hers.(Grace) When a jewish daughter is born, the parents purchase a costly oil for her to keep for her bridegroom, the sign that she said yes, was by anointing her bridegrooms feet. That yes: meant she came into agreement with her bridegroom. 5th Tree: Calamus it means uprightness ( it is a reed that grows straight up in mud) Righteousness 5th Fruit: Kindness, uprightness of heart So the bride has a say she chooses her groom by saying YES anointing His feet as an act of Kindness Coming into agreement with her bridegroom, as we come into agreement with Yeshua Mary anointed Jesus feet claiming Him as her bridegroom. We have a choice to say Yes to all the Promices and Gifts He has for us.....As a virtuous women we have to claim them all. Step 6 Vav: to secure, a peg or nail The number of man, man was created on the 6th day Communion Drink the cup, eat the bread, New Covenant The betrothal secured/sealed Gifts were given at this stage too. 6th tree: Cinnamon Holiness Communion is one of the most holy things to do that sets us apart 6th fruit: Goodness (Ps 23) They drank the cup to secure that they were married and set apart (Holy, Cinnamon) and pledged to be good to each other. Ex 33:19 The Lord replied: I will make all my goodness pass before you, for I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. Jesus blessed the bread before He broke it for the communion. The blessing is put in place before the brokenness came...There's another scripture I think its in Psalms, I will answer you before you call. That is the Goodness of our God. Yeshua also gave us many gifts, and the virtuous women knows how to take hold of each one, the Holy Spirit with all of His gifts, Prophecy, Messiah's Peace, His Joy, His Knowledge, Eternal Life, His Righteousness which is our Cover, and best of all His love Everlasting. Step 7. Zayin, cut, to cut off, a weapon Mikvah /water/ babtism turning away from former life starting a new life with her beloved 7th Tree: Frankincense intercession The fragrance of prayer A form of purification Hebrew laban to make white 7th fruit: Faithfulness The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy one of Israel says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations, to the one who is the servant of rulers, Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. Isaiah 49:7 She promise faithfulness to her husband

Step 8. Chet, chamber, separate, private The bridegroom departs and goes back to his Fathers house to prepare a place for the wedding and his new bride. She waits for Him in Jerusalem to return. This could take a month or 2 years... The Father of the groom decides when the house is ready for the bride. 8th Tree: Myrrh The Death of Jesus, He goes to prepare a place for you and me. 8th Fruit: Gentleness The character Christ and the virtuous women, she takes on the character of Christ. Myrrh : bitter (Mar) Myrrh story of Esther, what an example of a virtuous women, she went in front of the King, knowing her life could be taken, She gave Him her past, her present and her future...... Step 9. tet to surround, a snake, to twist Now the time of waiting comes! (This is where we are today) The bride would wait and prepare herself making all the preparations to be the best bride she could be. She doesn't know the exact time when her Beloved will come for her, this time is only known by the Father. When the Father sees that all of His Sons preparations for the wedding chambers is ready, then He will allow His Son to transport His Bride to His home. Matth 25 he would come in the night and every night she would put on her wedding dress, she had to be ready for her bridegroom. The full armour becomes our wedding dress we put on everyday. As we wait/prepare and become ready... The sign that she was waiting for him was she had her oil lamp burning in the window, if it was not burning, the bridegroom turned away.... 9th Tree Aloe waiting an aloe tree only gives oil after 30 years Jesus started His ministry at 30 And what do we need when we wait for something? 9th fruit: Self control Today we have perversion, sexual promiscuity, the crisis of the the times (snake) The Bride is the only one that will keep standing in this time..... Step 10 Yod a deed, to make, hand The bridegroom comes to get his bridegroom, like a willing kidnapping... Rapture the blow of the shofar, she must be ready to run to her Beloved Math 25: 6 At midnight the shout went out HERE's the Bridegroom, Come out to encounter Him This is the place where we need to know who we are, what our identity is, to rule and reign with Him, we have the authority They blew the shofar, and the bride new He was here, (The trumpet Revelation) Step 11. Kaf To cover, to allow, strong open hand, arm The Bridegroom takes his Bride away to the place that he has prepared ,and the marriage is now consummated. The Tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) serves as the Huppah, raised over the couple, they stand under the Huppah, she comes under the covering of the her Bridegrooms authority, (As we come under the Father's authority, and authority of the church) they spend 7 days in the Huppah (honeymoon)

Step 12 Lamed, prod, toward, staff And now it is time for the wedding feast to begin! Our wedding feast will be in the place that Yeshua has prepared. After the 7 days in the Huppah the couple join the wedding guests Yeshua will be crowned as King and given the staff, Authority and Rule Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall they sons marry you: and as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over yourselves Rev 19: 7-9 Let us rejoice and be delighted and give Him Glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has fashioned herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Then the angel said to me: Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, There are the true Words of Elohim- God We will dance and play our tambourines like Miriam did, We will hear our Bridegroom rejoice over us! A feast like no other!! You are the virtuous Bride of Christ ....Let your lamps be full, let your hearts be full of what He has already given you. Just take it, its yours.......let these Truths change you, let this change be evident in your words and deeds, let your words and deeds become the sound of the Virtuous Bride of Christ.....