Home » Jewish Wedding Custom - The Two Witnesses - Knowing the beginning from end

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And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  -Revelation 11:3 KJV

Flowing like honey over the hills, flocks of goats, sheep, milk camels, and donkeys reach Jabbok. Servants tending to each herd repeat a speech given by their master to Esau: "They are your servant's Jacob's. It is a present for my lord Esau. He is coming behind us."

On seeing his brother, Jacob hurriedly divides his wives, Leah and Rachel, then approaches Esau and bows seven times. Esau runs to meet him and falls on his neck weeping. Breaking the hug, he notices his wives and children. "Who are these with you "Here are my children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Jacob, now named Israel by God, introduces his two wives and eleven children to his brother Esau. Esau's warm greeting was certainly a relief after Jacob's restless night and encounter with angels in Canaan. Wrestling with his own identity, Jacob grapples for a blessing from God. Thus he named the place, Mahanaim  (two camps). For when Jacob received word of Esau's arrival with 400 men, Jacob feared for his life and divided his enclave into two camps.

Prophetically, God too, divided Israel into the house of Judah, the southern kingdom, and the house of Israel, the northern kingdom. Both houses went into captivity, Israel to Assyria, and 125 years later, Judah to Babylon. Though, Judah and a remnant of Israel did return to the land, much of Israel was dispersed into the heathen nations, turning away from God's commandments. Just as God is restoring his tribes literally, He is also using this as an allegory for the restoration of Jews and Gentiles.

Since two witnesses are required as eyewitnesses to the betrothal and to sign the Ketubah, like Israel and Judah, Jewish and Gentile believers make up Israel, the one true bride of the Messiah. Both serve as witnesses and give testimony to what God has done in the past and is doing now to bring about His kingdom on this earth. True believers are returning to their Biblical roots as God's chosen ones, making up these "two people groups" unifying Israel.

As you spend time with the Beloved, ask for a deeper revelation of who you are in Him. Ponder whether you have become like Israel as so many in the Church today have be- come, by turning away from their Hebraic roots and chasing after the pagan ways of the world. Or, are you like Judah and have guarded God's law in your heart but are blind to the advancing light and the revelation Messiah Yeshua is reveal- ing in these last days? Selah-think about it.

 

To learn more about the ancient wedding customs and how it relates to the bride of christ, get a copy of Rebecca's bestselling book, His Majesty Requests on her website http://ratw.org or amazon.com.