eschatology, Wedding Song (Ps.45)

This psalm probably was written for the wedding of king Solomon, but it is definitely prophetic, so it is important to know that a Jewish wedding is made up of 3 stages (which nicely explains the order of the end times; the bride being all believers/the Church, the groom being Jesus, Rev.21):

1.  THE ENGAGEMENT (commitment, becoming a believer):  once a woman chose a husband, or the marriage was arranged, the bride's father and the groom would sign a legal contract called a ketubbah.  This created a marriage bond.  The couple was 100 percent married, but they did not have sex yet.

FYI:  there wasn't any "traditional wedding ceremonies" until hundreds of years after Christ's work on the cross.

2.  THE CONSUMMATION (the rapture of believers, and the tribulation/signs of the times for the rest):  the consummation would wait until both were of age, and/or until the groom raised the money/dowry as set out in the contract.  Then the groom notified the bride's father, who set a date to consummate the marriage at the bride's home.  The bride waited with her maidens for the arrival of the groom and his companions.  Once the groom arrived, the couple entered the chuppah room and consummated the marriage.  To prove the consummation, the groom would hand the bloodied "proof of virginity cloth" to the witnesses chosen by the bride's parents, who would then give it back to the bride for safekeeping.

Meanwhile, either in the next room or outside, the bride's maidens and the groom's companions waited and celebrated. They had to be ready or they would miss the celebration!  (In the tribulation, those becoming believers during this time period will be "ready" for the millennium.)

3.  THE WEDDING FEAST (the millennium, the 1000 year reign): when the couple was ready, the groom would lead the way in a procession to his house where there would be a long wedding feast and celebration.  At the conclusion of the wedding feast, the couple was completed the marriage ritual.  (This would describe the ending of the Millennium when ALL believers of all times enter heaven.)

Now, in the following psalm, note that the pronouns begin with caps to infer that this is actually speaking about Jesus...

(Psalm 45:1-17)  My heart overflows with a good theme;
I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.

3 Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One,
In Your splendor and Your majesty!
4 And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,
For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
Let Your right hand teach You awesome things.
5 Your arrows are sharp;
The peoples fall under You;
Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
8 All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies;
At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

10 Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear:
Forget your people and your father’s house;
11 Then the King will desire your beauty.
Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him.
12 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
The rich among the people will seek your favor.

13 The King’s daughter is all glorious within;
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
14 She will be led to the King in embroidered work;
The virgins, her companions who follow her,
Will be brought to You.
15 They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing;
They will enter into the King’s palace.

16 In place of your fathers will be your sons;
You shall make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever.

Today's takeaway: At some point, all believers will be caught up to be with Jesus/God in a oneness that we cannot even imagine right now.  And then in the Millennium, we will be able to celebrate!!!  And once that is done - heaven!!!  God uses something that we can all understand - the marriage - as an allegory of the oneness.  And still - what is to come will be much, much better than that!!!...

(Colossians 3:12-17)  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.