Most of us have been to a wedding. They are pretty much the same with a few nuances sprinkled in. The typical ceremony goes like this:
Dearly beloved and honored guests:
We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to unite and in the bonds of holy matrimony. If any one can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
The officiant may tell a short story or offer up a prayer and then the vows are read.
"Do you, bride, take groom, for your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part?"
It ends with a question: Do you bride take groom to be your lawful husband? This is the confirmation that the bride is here of her own free will and is willing to be joined to the groom forever. She still has a chance to say No of course (except back in history when brides were given to husbands for alliances with other kingdoms)
In the end, the official proclaims "with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate"
Scripture teaches us about the significance of the wedding. In Revelation, the wedding ceremony is used to highlight the culmination of mankind's history and the reconnection and fusion of mankind with his Creator.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Revelation 19:7
It is a beautiful depiction of how we are accepted back into the family of God. It makes perfect sense.as sons and daughters of the Most High, we chose to reject God's council and go it alone. We have made a mess of His creation and the only way back in is through adoption or marriage. Both of these concepts are revealed in the New Testament.
So let us take another look at the wedding script from the standpoint of Revelation:
We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to unite and in the bonds of holy matrimony. We will be in the literal sight of God for this ceremony.
If any one can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Lucifer will have been restrained or destroyed at this point and will not be able to bring any charge against us.
Then the vows will be read "do you take this Lord to be your lawful husband?" Lawful indeed as it is His law we have been charged to follow which is summed up in Love for one another.
Then the focus will be on us to answer this declaration. Do we?
We have a choice. God will never force us into anything. He has chosen us as His Bridegroom but we must respond one way or another. He will be sad if we say no just like any bridegroom would be but elated if we say YES!
‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ Revelation 22
We are the wife of the Lamb. We are to be wed to the King of the Universe. We will be treated extremely well like a husband cares for his wife. The exchanging of rings is another depiction of our choice to accept the title of bride of Christ.
As a sign of my love That I have chosen you
Above all else With this ring, I thee wed.
We must choose to be one with Him. we are not being coerced or forced to be joined with Him. Ultimately it is up to us to say I Do. This is how God intended it all along.
So repeat after me and take on this covenant with the Lamb that you may be joined together forever and become one with Him. Choose Jesus and choose life. Be one with Him and let no man separate.
"I, state your name, take you, Jesus, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until one day do us join forever." AMEN
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