The Bible is a book based on covenants, not theology. YHVH Elohim, the God of the Bible, relates to his creation including humans through covenantal and not theological relationships. In his sovereignty, he has chosen to bind himself to the legal arrangement of covenantal or contractual agreements. When we view the Bible, the Word of Elohim, through this paradigmatic lens, many disjointed and seemingly incongruent aspects of man’s theological philosophies realign themselves and fall neatly into place. This is never truer than with the Abrahamic, Mosaic and New Covenants, which are neither opposed to each other in any way nor does one progressively supplant the other. Rather, they are a continuous and ever expanding flow of heaven’s grace toward man resulting in man’s potential adoption into the family of Elohim as YHVH’s resurrected, glorified and immortal sons and daughters.

As with any covenant or agreement, all is predicated not on the capricious whims or the vicissitudes of one party or the other, but on law. For YHVH Elohim, the Creator of everything, his covenantal agreements are founded on his Torah-law, which is a reflection of his holy and righteous character. Because he is the Creator, the Greater Power, the Initiator and Source of all life, power and knowledge, it is he who sets the terms of the covenants, not men. Because he is good and all love, these terms are always to men’s favor and benefit. He makes the covenant and then gives humans the free choice to enter into a covenantal relationship with him or not. These covenants set in motion the eternal law of cause and effect. The consequences for men are either blessings or curses, life or death depending on how humans collectively and individually respond to the Creator’s covenants and legal terms thereof. The covenants that YHVH made starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis forward to the New Covenant at the other end of the Bible follow a similar theme: accept the Creator’s covenantal arrangements and be blessed with life, disobey and be cursed with death. This is the recurring theme of the Bible. It is that simple!

YHVH made his first covenant with the Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This covenant was conditional: if they followed a few simple rules, they would be blessed with immortal life. If not, they would be cursed by being cut off from YHVH resulting in death. Next, YHVH made a covenant with Noah promising never again to destroy humanity by a flood, while at the same time giving humans several basic commandments to follow. This covenant would ensure the preservation of life on earth until he was ready to choose a people through which he could redeem humanity back to himself after the first humans broke relations with him in the Garden of Eden. After Noah, YHVH chose Abraham to birth a nation from which would be born a Savior who would redeem man from the penalty of death thus offering humans a path of reconciliation back to YHVH. The covenant that YHVH made with Abraham provided the basic framework for man’s salvation. Man was simply required to have faith in and obey YHVH. The descendants of Abraham became the nation of Israel, which after having been set free from enslavement in Egypt gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai where they entered into a special, covenantal relationship with YHVH Elohim. This was the next step in YHVH Elohim’s progressive process in redeeming humanity back to him after man was cut off from him at the Garden of Eden because of sin.

Marriage and family are always at the center of YHVH’s covenantal arrangements with people. Redemption from death, the consequences of sin, starts with marriage and family and radiates out like the spokes of a wheel and outward. The consequences—negative or positive—of familial relationships and the influences these have on its surroundings are also like the ripples made when a pebble is dropped into the middle of a lake. The bigger the “rock” or family, the bigger the waves that will touch further shores. The first family failed in its mission to be fruitful and multiply into a larger family that would become the immortal, glorified children and family of Elohim. So YHVH started over with Abraham and his pebble-sized family. Ultimately, his descendants—the nation of Israel—became a huge rock that shook and then overturned Egypt, the most powerful nation of its day, with the resulting waves shaking all of the land Canaan and the Near East and ultimately the whole world. 

Because marriage and family is the model that YHVH follows to redeem the world back to himself, and because marriage is based on covenantal agreements, YHVH chose this model as an allegorical prototype in his relationship with Israel. He would bind himself to Israel in a spiritual, covenantal “marital” relationship, then geographically place Israel strategically in the center of the world where the trade routes of three continents cross, and then commission them to be his kingdom of priests spreading the message of a man’s redemption far and wide.

The prophet Ezekiel, in allegorical symbolism, describes YHVH’s relationship with Israel by likening it to an abandoned child that a man found, adopted, raised and then eventually married.

Thus saith the Adonai Elohim unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Adonai Elohim, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Adonai Elohim. (Ezek 16:2–14)

Now that we have the overall pictorial outline of YHVH’s relationship with Israel, let’s pick up the story at the point where he is ready to marry his nation-bride. He formulated a marriage covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai as we are about to see. But even before that, while Israel was still enslaved in Egypt, YHVH made his intentions clear about his marrying her.

Then YHVH said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” And Elohim spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am YHVH. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by My name YHVH I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am YHVH; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your Elohim. Then you shall know that I am YHVH your Elohim who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am YHVH.’ (Exod 6:1–8)

In these several verses, YHVH lays out his plans for his bride-to-be in seven “I will” statements. They are:

1– I will bring you out (v. 6).

2 – I will rescue you (v. 6).

3 – I will redeem you (v. 6).

4 – I will take you as my people (v. 7).

5 – I will be your Elohim (v. 7).

6 – I will bring you into the land (v. 8).

7 – I will give it to you as a heritage (v. 8). 

Laying all of his proverbial cards on the table, YHVH makes known his intentions for his people. When he said, “I will take you as my people” (v. 6), this is poetic Hebraic marriage talk. In other words, “I intend to take you as my lawfully, wedded wife.” Israel’s ultimate destiny is a glorious one—to become like the shine like the stars in heaven among and above the panoply of the nations (Gen 22:17; 26:4; Exod 32:13; Deut 1:10; Dan 12:3)!

Again, marriage and family have always been at the front and center of YHVH’s plan of redemption for humans. Even today, the Bible reveals that redeemed believers are preparing to be the spiritual bride of Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of YHVH Elohim.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah. (2 Cor 11:2)

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he saith unto me, “These are the true sayings of Elohim.” (Rev 19:7–9)

What are the prophetic implications of and spiritual parallels between YHVH’s first marriage to ancient Israel at Mount Sinai and YHVH-Yeshua’s upcoming marriage to his bride—the saints who love him and keep his (Torah) commandments and have faith in Yeshua (John 14:15, 21; Rev 12:17; 14:12)? Why is Torah-obedience important in the Yeshua–bride equation? Do not all true Christians automatically become the bride of Christ? This may be a popular mainstream church concept, but it does not equate with the truth of the Bible when it comes to rewards in the kingdom of Elohim. Yes, it is true that all true Christians will receive the gift of eternal life, but beyond there are rewards. The levels of rewards are based on the works of righteousness that a Christian performs during their physical life. This is not a popular truth that is broadly proclaimed in churches on Sunday morning. Why? Because it sounds too much like a works-based salvation. Yes, one’s salvation is not based on works; it is by faith through grace. It always has been from the time of Abraham to this day as Paul clearly states in several places (Gen 15:6 cp. Rom 4:3, 5–6, 16, 22; Eph 2:8–9). But rewards in the in YHVH’s eternal kingdom are based on one’s works as Yeshua clearly reveals, 

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19–20)

The Scriptures contain numerous other passages that confirm this eternal truth—that rewards are based on good works, which are, in turn, based on Torah-obedience. No matter how one attempts to slice the Word of Elohim into disjointed pieces by inventing theologies that say otherwise, eternal rewards, beyond the basic gift of salvation and eternal life, are based on works of righteousness!

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matt 16:27)

And, behold, I [Yeshua] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev 22:12)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. (1 Pet 1:17)

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Rev 2:23)

YHVH Elohim as a Righteous Judge has always judged people according to their deeds whether good or bad, and he is not a respecter of persons (Deut 10:17; Job 34:19; Matt 22:16; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17)!

Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. (Ps 62:12)

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:10)

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 32:19)

Likewise, Yeshua will choose his bride based on her level of righteousness or her righteous deeds.

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ “ And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev 19:7–9 NKJV, emphasis added)

What are the righteous deeds of Yeshua’s wife-to-be? The Bible defines its own words. Righteousness is based, not on man’s traditions or what a church, denomination or a pastor says, but on YHVH’s Torah-law! YHVH’s Torah-law defines righteousness.

My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. (Ps 119:172) 

Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful. (Ps 119:138)

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. (Ps 119:142)

Yeshua goes on to emphasize a works-based reward system in his Parable of the Ten Virgins as it relates to his bride that he is returning to marry (Matt 25:1–13). He likens his bride to the five wise virgins (against whom he juxtaposes with the five foolish virgins in the same parable), who had oil in their lamps. Oil is a Hebraism or biblical metaphor for both the Spirit of Elohim and the Torah. In other words, the prospective bride of Yeshua will be walking in both the Spirit of Elohim and the truth of Torah, which Yeshua tells us is a mandatory requirement if one is to have a relationship with YHVH the Father (John 4:23–24; 1 John 2:3–6). We learn that since there were five foolish virgins who were not allowed into the wedding supper this means that not all redeemed believers will qualify to be the bride of Yeshua. Why? Because they failed to have the oil of YHVH’s Spirit and Torah-truth in their lamps; that is to say, they had not properly prepared themselves to be the bride of Yeshua. Yes, they were saved (they were virgins as opposed to unsaved adulteresses or whores), but they had failed to meet the minimum requirements top be Yeshua’s bride. This fact should be a slap-across the face or a bucket of cold water over the head of every spiritually lukewarm Christian to awaken from slumbering and prepare, for the Bridegroom is coming, and no one knows the day or hour! As Yeshua said, some believers will be the least in YHVH’s kingdom and some will be the greatest (Matt 5:19). According to Yeshua, how obedient one is to his Torah-commandments will determine one’s level of rewards in his eternal kingdom (Matt 5:19).

Tying the Old and New Covenants together, we are about to discover that there are numerous striking parallels between the marriage covenant that YHVH made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and that which he is currently of making with his Christian bride. The Torah is the marriage contract or ketubah for each of YHVH’s marriages. The Torah spelled out the terms of this covenantal agreement. Exodus chapters 19 to 24 make this clear. Like a marriage contract, each party exchanges vows and agrees to follow the terms of the contract till death do us part! At Mount Sinai, the children of Israel vowed to obey YHVH all the word of the Torah (Exod 19:5, 8 along with Exod 24:3 and 7), and YHVH, for his part, vowed that Israel would become his special people above all other people on earth (Exod 19:5; 23:22) with all of the privileges and blessings resulting therefrom. For Christians, they confess their faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Rom 10:9–10), who Paul and John make clear is the Living Torah-Word of Elohim (Rom 10:5–8; John 1:1, 14). Those who place their faith in Yeshua not only receive him as their Savior, but also their Master, whom they will love by obeying his Torah-commandments (John 14:15, 21 cp. 1 John 2:3–6; 3:24; 5:2–3). And if there is any doubt as to what the commandments of Yeshua are, Luke in his Gospel clearly equates the commandments of Yeshua with the YHVH’s Torah-law (Luke 18:21). 

So let us now review the next few chapters in Exodus that lay out the step-by-step process of YHVH making a marriage covenant with the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, and discover how that parallels with the journey of the redeemed believer as they prepare to be the bride of Yeshua the Messiah.

Between Exodus chapters 19 and 24 are recorded the steps Israel took to enter into a marital or covenantal relationship with YHVH. In chapter 19, we discover the pre-marital preparations that YHVH required Israel to make before he would marry her and how that relates to present day redeemed believers. Next in Exodus 20–23 are recorded the terms of the marriage covenant. This prophetically points to the robes of righteousness with which Yeshua’s bride-to-be will be adorning herself. These were the marriage vows or ketubah to which Israel agreed to live by, and which would determine the nature of Israel’s and YHVH’s spiritual marital relationship. In three places (Exod 19:8; 24:3, 7), Israel agreed to these terms when she said “I do.” These vows are analogous to a believer confessing faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Finally, in Exodus 24, we find the covenant or marriage contract committed to writing and ratified or signed. We will see how this relates to the New Covenant that is written on the hearts of Yeshua’s bride-to-be.

Now let’s review the specific details of this marriage agreement between YHVH and ancient Israel, and see how it relates to us as redeemed believers in the end times. What are the parallels between the events at Mount Sinai, the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two and beyond and Yeshua’s second coming?

Exodus 19:1, The third month.YHVH gave his Torah-instuctions in righteousness to Israel at Mount Sinai most likely on the Feast of Weeks (Chag haShavuot or Pentecost, Lev 23:15–21), which occurred in the third month of the biblical year. On the very same day, some 1,500 years after YHVH gave the Israelites his Torah-law at Mount Sinai another momentous event occurred. On the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two, the Spirit of Elohim descended upon Yeshua’s disciples—the literal descendants of the children of Israel—who were gathered in one accord and wrote the very same Torah on their hearts in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer 31:31–33 and Acts 2:1, 37 cp. Heb 8:7–13). There is a continuity of theme and purpose between these two events: a legally delineated standard of righteousness. YHVH does not change, for he is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Exodus 19:2, Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai, also known as “the mountain of Elohim” (Exod 3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13; 1 Kgs 19:8), symbolized the exalted presence and heavenly government on earth of YHVH Elohim. Israel camped at the base of this mountain, positioning themselves through a process of sanctification to receive YHVH’s Torah. Empowered with the word of Elohim, YHVH commissioned the Israelites to be his special people, his kings and priests or ambassadors to take his instructions in righteousness to the world. Likewise, Yeshua instructed his disciples to tarry or position themselves on another mountain—Mount Zion in Jerusalem—until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). For what purpose? Once empowered by the Spirit, and with the Torah written on their hearts (Acts 2:37) and as devoted followers of Yeshua the Living Torah-Word of Elohim (John 1:1, 14), they would be heaven’s spiritual light to the nations (Acts 1:8), while walking out the Torah as his own chosen, special people as well as YHVH’s holy and royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9–10). Yeshua’s promise of empowerment and the commission he gave to his disciples leading up to and on the day of Pentecost has never changed from then until now. As redeemed believers in Yeshua, we are not only his disciples, but are the spiritual descendants of the ancient Israelites (Gal 3:29; Rom 4:16; 9:8–11 cp. Eph 2:11–19), and our mission is to pick up where or failed forefathers left off and finish the job of taking YHVH’s Torah (both the Written Torah and Yeshua the Living Torah) to the nations (Matt 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–18 cp. Matt 10:6)—a job that they failed to accomplish because of disobedience to the Torah brought on by hardness of heart and unbelief (Ps 95:7–10; Heb 4:1–7).

Exodus 19:3, Moses went up to Elohim. Moses acted as YHVH’s intermediary to prepare the Israelites for their “marriage” to him. In a repeat of history, Malachi prophesied that in the last day YHVH would send other intermediary forerunners to turn the hearts of the children back to the foundations of their faith including the Torah before the return of Yeshua, thus preparing the saints to be the bride of Yeshua (Mal 4:1–6). As YHVH gave the children of Israel, his spiritual bride, three days to prepare themselves to meet him (Exod 19:11), so YHVH is likewise giving his end time saints time to prepare to meet Yeshua, their heavenly Bridegroom at this second coming. As Malachi prophesied and Yeshua alluded to in his Parable of the Ten Virgins, returning to the ancient Torah-roots of the saints’ faith is central to this preparation process.

Exodus 19:5 (also Exod 24:20–26), If…then. The Mosaic or Sinaitic Covenant was a conditional covenant in that YHVH promised to bless the Israelites if they would obey him. At the same time, the previous covenant that YHVH made with Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) laid out the conditions for salvation; it was an unconditional covenant based on faith in YHVH alone. In other words, the Abrahamic Covenant shows how a person is to be saved, while the Mosaic Covenant shows how to walk in righteousness once one is saved. This fundamental truth has never changed from the time of Abraham until the New Covenant. The Testimony of Yeshua teaches us that while salvation is an unconditional gift (as per the Abrahamic Covenant) because it is based only on believing faith and heaven’s grace (Eph 2:8–10), at the same time, temporal and spiritual rewards are conditional and are predicated upon obedience to YHVH’s Torah commandments (as per the Mosaic Covenant) as we have discussed above. Thus, the New Covenant combines into one covenant the conditions for salvation and the blessings of both the Abrahimic and Mosaic covenants as Paul alludes to in Ephesians 2:12, when he says that the Gentiles are no longer “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants [plural—referring to both the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants] of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.” Thus, YHVH’s covenantal promises and the conditions and blessings thereof have never changed from the time of Abraham to Moses until now. They have merely been combined, updated to include Yeshua the Messiah, and expanded to include the entire world just as YHVH promised to Abraham:

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.(Gen 22:18)

And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen 26:4)

Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen 28:14)

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “AND TO YOUR SEED,” who is Messiah. (Gal 3:16)

My covenant. Here YHVH presents the terms of the marriage covenant (or ketubah) to Israel. Those conditions are his Torah-law. If they chose to accept YHVH’s covenantal terms, they would be his treasured possession (or am segulah), and would be above all the people of the earth.

Exodus 19:6, Kingdom of priests. It was not only YHVH’s intention for Israel to become his spiritual “wife,” but also a kingdom of priests or, otherwise stated, kings and priests to lead the rest of the world into relationship with YHVH. This is the same ministry that YHVH has destined for the glorified and resurrected bride-wife of Yeshua during the Millennium according to the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Even now, the saints are preparing to fulfill this role through on-the-job training when Peter refers to the saints as “a holy priesthood” and “a royal priesthood” (2 Pet 2:5, 9). It is the heaven-ordained mission of the saints to pick up where the children of Israel “dropped the ball” and failed in their divine call to evangelize the world from the land of Canaan—a geographical location situated strategically between three continents.

Exodus 19:8, We will do. When the children of Israel, the bride of YHVH, said “I do” to YHVH three times (see also Exod 24:3, 7), they were accepting the conditions of the Mosaic Covenant and promising to take YHVH as their “husband” and to obey his Torah-commandments. This, in effect, were their marriage vows or ketubah where they promised to obey their “husband,” who in turn promised to bless and care for them. Similarly, on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 new believers said “I do” to YHVH-Yeshua when they repented of their sins (i.e., Torahlessness; see 1 John 3:4; Acts 2:38), put their faith in Yeshua the Living Torah-Word of Elohim and the promised Messiah, and were then baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:41). In so doing, they became betrothed to Yeshua (2 Cor 11:2), and began preparing for their ultimate marriage to him which will occur at his second coming (Rev 19:7–9).

Exodus 19:10, Consecrate them. Prior to YHVH appearing to the Israelites from Mount Sinai, Moses ordered the nation to prepare or sanctify itself through cleansing including washing their clothes. This physical act points to a higher principle: on cannot come into the holy or set-apart presence of YHVH with dirty spiritual clothes. Even in our day, YHVH is not coming back for a bride who is wearing filthy spiritual garments, but one who is without spot and wrinkle (Eph 5:27). No! His bride will be wearing pure white robes which are the righteous deeds of the Torah-obedience (Rev 19:8 cp. Matt 5:19), and the righteousness of Yeshua (Rom 5:21; 8:1–4, 10; 1 Cor 9:21; Eph 2:6, 10; Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22–24; Phil 1:11; Tit 2:14; Heb 13:21).

Exodus 19:11, Ready for the third day. The Israelites were given two days to prepare for YHVH’s coming on the third day. Similarly, the church or bride-to-be of Yeshua which has its roots in the first century ad has been given two prophetic days or 2,000 years to prepare for his second coming. He will come in the third millennia (or third prophetic day) after Yeshua’s first appearance. Hosea the prophet predicted this long ago:

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto YHVH: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hos 5:14–6:1–2)

Exodus 19:15, Do not come near your wives. In preparation to meet YHVH, the Israelites were to abstain from all sexual relations with their wives. Similarly and on the spiritual level, the end time betrothed saints of Yeshua are to remain as “chaste virgins” unspotted from all spiritual relations with the world and the devil in preparation for their marriage to Yeshua. Without holiness, no one will come into the presence of Elohim (Heb 12:14), much less be married to his Son. Additionally, YHVH is presently calling his people—Yeshua’s betrothed bride—out of spiritual fornication with the world system or Babylon the Great (Rev 18:4; 2 Cor 6:17).

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:16–18)

Exodus 19:16, 19, Thunderings and lightnings. As there was lightning, thunder, clouds and smoke at YHVH’s presence, when he came down from the mountain, so there was a rushing wind and fire on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two. The same and much more will occur at Yeshua’s second coming, when he comes down from heaven for his bride (Matt 24:29–30; Rev 11:14–19). As the shofar blast announced YHVH’s arrival at Mount Sinai (Exod 19:16), even so, the shofar will also sound at Yeshua’s second coming for his bride (Matt 24:31; 1 Thess 4:16; 1 Cor 15:51–53; Rev 11:14–19). This speaks prophetically of the shofar blast signaling the new moon of the seventh month on the Day of Trumpets or Yom Teruah, when the saints will be resurrected (changed in the moment of a twinkling of an eye at the last or seventh shofar blast) when meeting Yeshua in the air (1 Cor 15:51–53; Rev 11:14–19).

Exodus 19:17, Moses brought. Moses brought the people out to meet YHVH. Similarly and in the last days, those saints coming in the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist will bring to Yeshua’s bride-to-be the message of the repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. These messengers are presently preparing the saints of Yeshua to meet him at his second coming.

Exodus chapters 20–23, The marriage covenantal terms written out. Exodus chapters 20 to 23 contain the ketubah or marriage contract that YHVH gave to Israel and which she vowed to obey, when she said “I do” to YHVH three times (Exod 19:8; 24:3, 7). These are the terms of marriage covenant where YHVH promises to bless and care for Israel if she will remain faithful to him and him alone. The Torah gives instructions on how the people of YHVH are to hear and do all that he has commanded, that is, how to love him with one’s total being and how to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Likewise, the saints are now called to love Yeshua, their Bridegroom, by keeping or obeying his commandments.

Exodus 24:1, Come up to YHVH. The leaders of Israel (Moses and the 70 elders) and the priests (Aaron and his sons) went up to meet YHVH. This group prophetically points to the wise virgins in Yeshua’s parable (Matt 25:1–13), and to the end time saints who keep YHVH’s commandments and have the testimony of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12), who will be the bride of Yeshua, and who will also rule as kings and priests in Yeshua’s millennial kingdom (Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

Exodus 24:3, 7, All the words which YHVH has said, “We will do.” Israel the bride agreed to the terms and conditions of the ketubah (the Torah) that YHVH offered her.

Exodus 24:4, 6, The Book of the Covenant. The ketubah was written out. This marriage agreement involved all 12 tribes of Israel. YHVH has never made any salvational covenantal agreements with Gentiles. Similarly, the New or Renewed Covenant is made only between YHVH and redeemed Israelites from the houses of Israel and Judah (Heb 8:8). Only redeemed Israelites from the 12 tribes of Israel will be allowed into the New Jerusalem, for that city contains no Gentile gate (Rev 21:12). Strangers and sojourners from the nations (i.e., the Gentiles or people of the nations) are welcome to join (or be grafted in to) Israel if they agree to follow YHVH Elohim, keep his Torah-commands, and to put their faith in and become disciples or followers of Yeshua the Redeemer of Israel (Exod 12:49; Rom 11:16–32; Eph 2:11–19).

Exodus 24:5, Young men…who offered burnt offerings. The firstborn males of each family were originally the priests of their homes (before YHVH instituted the Levitical priesthood in Exod 32:26–29). Presently, fathers and husbands are to be the priests over their homes with Yeshua as the Great High Priest over everyone (1 Pet 2:9 cp. Eph 5:23).

Exodus 24:6, 8, Moses took the blood. Moses sprinkled one half of the blood of an innocent, sacrificed animal on the altar (a prophetic picture of the cross) and the other half on the Israelites. This prophetically pointed to Yeshua shedding his blood on the cross and cleansing us through the sprinkling of his blood to redeem them from sin’s death penalty, so that we might enter into a New Covenant relationship with YHVH (Heb 9:18–22) in a sinless state (1 Pet 1:2, 19; Heb 9:12; 10:19–22; 12:24; Rev 1:5; Matt 26:28; Eph 1:7; 1 John 1:7). The wine Yeshua drank with his disciples at the last supper, thus ratifying the New Covenant, signified the blood he was about to shed at the cross (Matt 26:26–28). When we as redeemed believers drink the third cup, which is the communion cup, and eat of the unleavened bread of communion at the Passover seder each spring, we are signifying our marital commitment to YHVH-Yeshua. We are accepting the terms or ketubah of the covenant—the New Covenant, which includes the Torah being written on our hearts by the Spirit of Elohim (Jer 33:31–33; Heb 8:8–10).

Exodus 24:7, We will do. Israel agreed to the terms of the ketubah the third time. As Israel pledged loyalty and obedience to YHVH, even so, we, as Yeshua’s betrothed bride, are also required to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Yeshua was raised from the dead, and then make him the Lord of our lives by obeying his commandments (John 14:15, 21) and walking in righteousness, which is obedience to YHVH’s Torah (Rom 10:4–13; Ps 119:172).

Exodus 24:9–12, Went up. Only after the blood of the sacrificed animal was shed and sprinkled over the people were the elders permitted access into the holy presence of Elohim. Only through the shed blood of Yeshua and through the veil of his flesh are we able to come boldly to Elohim’s throne of grace (Heb 10:19–20; 4:16).

Exodus 24:11, They ate and drank. The elders eating and drinking in the presence of Elohim is a prophetic picture of the celebratory nature of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).

Exodus 24:12, Tablets of stone. The Torah-law or ketubah was written on tablets of stone then. Now it is written on the tablets of the hearts of redeemed believers by the Spirit of Elohim (Jer 31:31–33; Heb 8:8–10).

Exodus 25:8, Let them make me a sanctuary, that I might dwell among them. Once married, YHVH instructed the Israelites to build a house for the newly married couple, where they could live together in a peaceful marital relationship. This was the Tabernacle of Moses (Exodus chapters 25 to 31). The saints are now the temple of the Set-Apart Spirit (1 cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21–22; 1 Pet 2:5; Acts 7:48), and YHVH wants to dwell in the set-apart temple of our hearts and minds. We stay set-apart by following YHVH’s Torah, by loving, obeying and abiding in Yeshua through the empowerment of his Spirit of Elohim in our heart, thoughts, words and actions. If we do these things, we will be the chaste, virgin and righteous bride ready to meet Yeshua at his second coming.

But we have not even heard the best part of the story yet relating to the marriage YHVH to the Israelites and Yeshua to his bride! Why are the parallels between YHVH’s first marriage to Israel so strikingly similar to Yeshua’s future marriage to those in his church that qualify for this highest honor and reward? It is because the YHVH who married Israel at Sinai, is, in fact, the pre-incarnate Yeshua (Acts 7:35ff; 1 Cor 10:4; John 5:37; 8:58)! In our day, history is repeating itself. YHVH Yeshua is “marrying” his people all over again. This new marriage covenant is called the New or Renewed Covenant. The Israel of YHVH Yeshua’s first marriage committed adultery and abandoned her “marriage” to YHVH-Yeshua. The biblical, Torah-law penalty for adultery is death. Yet, as a loving and faithfully committed husband, Yeshua took the death penalty for her sin (and our sins too) on himself and died in Israel’s (and our) place. He is now remarrying Israel, but not the old Israel, which is dead, but a spiritually redeemed, reborn or one new (wo)man that is neither Jew nor Gentile (Eph 2:11–19; Gal 3:28–29) Israel. This is the backstory behind the gospel message and Yeshua’s death on the cross! 

How can the wonderful truth of the good news of this everlasting gospel message not cause one to declare in exaltation and praise to the Most High Elohim:

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. (Ps 8:4–5)

This glorious, revolutionary, life-changing message should be (and eventually will be) proclaimed in every media outlet, across all of the airwaves and on every cable channel, on every online media platform, from every stadium the world over and from every church pulpit around the globe! It should cause an immediate awakening in every cultural and lukewarm Christian (and everyone else for that matter too) resulting in instantaneous spiritual revival from one end of the globe to the other! The breadth, scope, the height and depth of this truth is impossible for our feeble pea brains to comprehend. Heaven has stooped low, very low indeed, to offer a loving hand up to every human who will in faith embrace the unchanging Truth of this almost inconceivable message—one of hope, love, grace, redemption and inclusion in the glorified and immortalized family of YHVH Elohim. Make no mistake! This is the ultimate message of inclusion along with its cousins of diversity and equity, which potentially includes every human of every background, race, culture, nationality or creed, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, male or female. This divine Truth and reality is for those who will accept the terms of this covenant with the Creator of the Universe as revealed in his Word, the Bible. 

Paul quoting and then commenting on a Scripture passage in Isaiah, sums it this way:

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of Elohim in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which Elohim ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Elohim hath prepared for them that love him. But Elohim hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Elohim. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of Elohim knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Elohim. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Elohim; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of Elohim. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Elohim: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Messiah. (1 Cor 2:6–16)