The signs of the times (16) Keep the garment clean

1. The signs of the times (16)Keep the garment clean Yoshinobu Namihira, MD, FACG 3000 halls ferry road Vicksburg , MS 39180 Phone 601 638 9800 ; fax 601 638 9808 E mail: namihira@earthlink.net www.betterlivingclinic.com www.namihira.org

2. How to dress for the wedding and the reception We have studied a number of passages in discussing what is happening during this sixth-plague announcement. You might want to turn back to look at them. Another interesting parable tells about the wedding supper but focuses on the call and the required preparation for it. Read the story in the first part of Matt. 22.

3. In comparing this story to the parable of the ten virgins, we realize that the wedding was the selection process, here represented as separating those who have accepted the king's garment and those who have not. We see the several events in the story

4. Warning • "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15)

5. So what does this warning in the middle of the 6th plague mean to us? We have been studying the end-time selection or judgment process following the source of the imagery in our verse. This is represented by the day of atonement on the sanctuary calendar. I believe it has already begun. It ends quietly like a thief, after the final challenge of the image to the beast and when the last decision is made for or against Christ. Then comes the noise as the seven last plagues fall. If probation closes when the plagues begin to fall, why does the warning appear here? It is actually part of a separate scene (introduced by "And I saw" in verse 13).

6. We are taken back in time in order to understand the final gathering of the kings under the sixth plague. The gathering apparently begins before the plagues begin but isn't completed until the end of the sixth plague. 1]The dragon,2] beast and 3]false prophet, along with deceptive miracles (v.14), were at work in chapter 13 to set up the image. The establishment of the image is here the gathering of the kings for battle. God's response � the plagues � was the final wrath predicted by the third angel

7. Consider the following scenario:As the four winds begin to build up, the three spirits or world religious powers feel (correctly) that the judgments of God are falling on the world. However, they do not acknowledge their own defiance as the reason. They rally the political powers and the inhabitants of the planet through miracles and human doctrine. As announced by the first angel, worship will be the issue,

8. Instead of giving glory to God following the pattern He established, Sunday worship, already popular, will be urged, hoping to satisfy God. We remember that the sun was worshiped by pagans as the source of life � a challenge to the true Creator who had sanctified His special day. The new day was borrowed by Christians of the early centuries in order to provide a compromised religion all could accept

9. Sunday sacredness has already been urged by the Pope (1989). Most who echo the call have not yet understood what they are doing. Because this doctrine is developing like a crusade flag for modern Christianity, it is easy to see that it could be at the heart of the issue for gathering the kings. Dear friend, wherever you are, I simply urge you to join me in watching and keeping our garments, as our verse advises, so that we not be found naked while thinking we are well clothed. My saying something doesn't make it true. Just study the Word for yourself. We all must have the robe of the righteousness of Christ (Isa. 61:10).

10. The raptureIn the last part of Matt. 24, we find that Jesus describes the deception that Jesus would not return until later. Here we are warned again under the metaphor of the thief who comes and surprises the wicked because they did not know when he was coming. This is important.

11. Plagues after judgment and before celebration Let's look at a piece of the original story that helped us establish the time above. Then we will add a passage to show how the plagues fit into the picture. We noticed that the imagery in our thief statement leads us to Luke 12. First the thief warning again. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15).

12. The story: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thiefapproacheth, neither mothcorrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

13. Do not fear • What is your and my Father’s good pleasure? • What is the bag which will not wax old? • What is the treasure in heavens which will not fail? • An important formula: • Where is your treasure , • That is where your heart is .

14. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:32-40).

15. Terrestrial meltdownPeter describes the judgment, the plagues, and the reward for the righteous without directly specifying the order. 2 Peter 3. • At the beginning of Daniel 12, we find the same picture of reward after the plagues, which this time are seen as the time of trouble.

16. Keeping our clothes • "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15). • The message to the final church, Laodicea, charged us to buy white clothes. We need to keep them. Are we once saved, always saved? According to our verse, only if we are diligent to keep our clothes. This means be faithful in our walk � our behavior. • We need not fear nakedness, however, because Jesus is eager to give us the power to walk in purity of character. Praise God.

18. Sequence of events in being received into heaven

20. The Jewish wedding custom • The bride of Messiah

21. Pre arrangement by boy’s father • Marriage contract • Dowry [from bride to bridegroom’s family ] • Bridal {price} payment{ [ from groom to bride’s family ] • Ritual immersion • Betrothal • Bridal gift [from groom to bride] • Intense and serious preparation for both groom and bride • marriage ceremony step by step • 1.groom’s party , early mission team • 2.”behold, the bridegroom is coming” • 3.sounding of shofar [ a ram’s horn] • 4.entire bridegroom's procession • 5. marriage supper • 6.husband takes his bride to their new home to live together

22. Jewish Wedding Customs and the Bride of Messiah Written by Glenn Kay • T here are many customs appointed by God as teaching tools. In a unique way, the Jewish Wedding Ceremony (as opposed to any other cultural expression) is a detailed illustration of the Messiah's relationship to His bride. • The Shiddukhin - Arrangements preliminary to Betrothal • What is Shiddukhin? • Shiddukhin refers to the first step in the marriage process - the arraignments preliminary to the legal betrothal. It was common in ancient Israel of the father of the groom to select a bride for his son.

23. Biblical Example of Shiddukhin - Genesis 24:1-4 • Notice in this passage Abraham - makes arrangements for his son Isaac's wedding. While the father usually had the responsibility in Abraham's life it was not possible. It was acceptable for the father to delegate this responsibility by designating a representative - called a shadkhan - marriage broker or matchmaker.

24. Genesis 24:1-4 • New King James Version (NKJV) • A Bride for Isaac • 24 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; 4 but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

25. The next phase of this step was the - Ketubah • Ketubah means - "written" Written in Hebrew as - hbtk. The ketubah was and still is today the - "marriage contract." The ketubah includes the provisions and conditions of the proposed marriage: • The groom promises to support his wife to be. • The bride stipulates the contents of her dowry - financial status. • We see this described in - Gen. 24:52-53. Despite the fact that this was an "arraigned marriage", it appears that the consent of the bride was very much a part of the ketubah - (Gen. 24:5).

26. Genesis 24:52-53 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 52 And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

27. Genesis 24:5 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 5 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”

28. The Mohar - or Bridal Payment • This is sometimes called - the Bride price. It is a gift paid by the groom to the bride's family - but ultimately belongs to the bride. It changed her status and set her free from her parent's household. We see this illustrated in two Biblical examples: • Isaac and Rebecca - Gen. 24:53[silver, gold, clothes] • Jacob and his wives - Gen. 29:20,27[7yr for leah, 7yr for rachael]

29. Genesis 24:53 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother

30. Genesis 29:20 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her • Genesis 29:27 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

31. The Mikveh - or Ritual Immersion • Although not mentioned in the narrative - to prepare for betrothal it was common for the bride and groom to separately take a ritual immersion. The ritual immersion - mikveh -taken from the Hebrew - hwqm was prior to actually entering into the formal betrothal period, and was symbolic of spiritual cleansing.

32. Illustrated in Messiah's Bride • The shiddukhin starts with the father's selection of a bride for his beloved son. So too - were we selected by the Father to be His Beloved Son's loving precious bride - (Eph. 1:4). As in the case of Isaac - there is also a matchmaker - (II Cor. 11:10-12). We also have a legal contract - a ketubahhbtk - which is the New Covenant itself in which: • The groom promises love and care for His bride- and to give Himself for her . He also has paid the proper price for His bride - (His own life). • The bride promises to pay her dowry- her financial status - that of her yielded life and to keep herself for Him - (I Cor. 6:20).

33. Ephesians 1:4 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

34. Corinthians 11:10-12 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! • 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast

35. 1 Corinthians 6:20 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[a] and in your spirit, which are God’s.

36. The Mohar - is also illustrated in our relationship to Yeshua– • we are told in (I Cor. 6: 19-20) that we have been redeemed with a price. • We are also told that our bride's price is not just silver and gold but His own life (I Pet. 1:18-19) • Both bride and groom have undergone the waters of mikveh or immersion– • Yeshuaat the beginning of His ministry ( Mat. 3: 13-17) and • we His bride in the cleansing waters( Eph.5:26-27, I Cor. 6:11). [baptism]

37. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[a] and in your spirit, which are God’s.

38. 1 Peter 1:18-19 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

39. Matthew 3:13-17 • New King James Version (NKJV) • John Baptizes Jesus • 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” • 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. • 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[a] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

40. 1 Corinthians 6:11 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

41. Ephesians 5:26-27 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish

42. Aspects of the Betrothal • After the couple had undergone - Mikvehhwqm (immersion) , each separately, they would appear together under the Huppah - or canopy - and in public they would express their intention of becoming betrothed or engaged. From ancient times - the wedding canopy has been a symbol of a new household being planned - (Ps. 19:5; Joel 2:16). While under the Huppah the couple participated in a ceremony in which some items of value were exchanged - such as rings, and a cup of wine was shared to seal the betrothal vows.

43. Psalm 19:5 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

44. Joel 2:16 • New King James Version (NKJV) • 16 Gather the people,Sanctify the congregation,Assemble the elders,Gather the children and nursing babes;Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,And the bride from her dressing room.

45. After the ceremony - the couple was considered to have entered into the betrothal agreement. This period was to last for one year. During this time the couple was considered married - yet did not have sexual relations - and continued to live separately until the end of the betrothal. We see this time of betrothal illustrated in the gospels as reflected in the lives of Yoseph and Mary - (see Mat. 1:18-25).

46. Matthew 1:18-25 • New King James Version (NKJV) • Christ Born of Mary • 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” • 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” • 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[a] And he called His name Jesus.

47. The Matan - or Bridal Gift • Following this betrothal ceremony the groom would return to his home to fulfill his obligations during the betrothal. But just prior to leaving he would give his wife to be a Matanntm - or bridal gift, a pledge of his love for her. It's purpose was to be a reminder to his bride during their days of separation of his love for her, that he was thinking of her - and that he would return to receive her as his wife.

48. The Couple's Responsibilities During the Betrothal • During betrothal the groom's responsibility was to focus on preparing a new dwelling place for his bride and family: • In Biblical times this was most often done not by building a new home - but by simply adding additional rooms to the family's existing home. • The Rabbi's determined that the place to which the bride was to be taken must be better than the place she had lived before. [ upward progression ] • It was not the groom's duty to determine when the place he was preparing for the bride was ready - his father would make that determination and give the go ahead to receive his bride. (this is significant ) • The bride also was to keep herself busy in preparation for the wedding day - specifically wedding garments were to be sewn and prepared. (this is also significant )

49. Illustrated in Messiah's Betrothal to His Bride • As the betrothal includes the blessings of the wine under the huppah, one of the last of Yeshua's actions was to bless the cup of the New Covenant - the cup of the ketubahhbtk - that contract of marriage. He too stated that He would not tasted again until a later time, when he would drink at the wedding feast. The image of our betrothal also answers the question of whether believers can loose their salvation. The Scripture points to the fact that we are betrothed to the Messiah - we are in that engagement period prior to the wedding:

50. As in any betrothal - the promise is so sure of our wedding that it would take a religious (get) divorce to nullify the contract. • This divorce (get) is only available to the husband. • This too is promised by God in Hosea 2:19-20 - He promises that He will betrothal His people to Himself - forever. Would God ever divorce His people - (Malachi 2:16) - certainly it is not in His character to divorce. • The lesson or implications are quite clear - we are secure in our Messiah's contract with us - we cannot break it - and He promises that He will not break it - (Jn. 10:28).