That is a good article about Jewish wedding traditions. Thank you for sharing it.
I do agree that the seven day period matches nicely to the seventieth week, but it is not something explicitly stated in scripture. In other words, there is nothing that specifically indicates a marriage of the church to Christ takes place 7 years, 7 months, or 7 literal 24-hour days before the marriage supper.
I think it is interesting that those who use the Jewish wedding argument to support a rapture of the church seven years prior to Christ’s return to set up His kingdom, also argue that the church cannot remain during these seven years because the church is not Israel and is not under Israel’s covenant.
Like a parable, it is possible to misread or read too much into the picture of marriage. For example, the church has been through horrific persecution over the centuries. What does that picture in relation to a wedding? I use this example because many argue that Christ will not allow His bride to go through the Great Tribulation.
There are more explicit explanations in scripture about the timing of the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 24 (and other Olivet passages), 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2, and 2 Peter 3.
All of these point to the rapture occurring at the onset of the Day of the Lord at which point there is sudden, cataclysmic, and fiery destruction. But this is not how Daniel’s seventieth week begins. It begins with a relatively and deceptively peaceful time.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
[God will] give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps not but if you are honestly searching for understanding of prophesy as I believe you are if you keep that in mind things will start to make sense for you.
>>also argue that the church cannot remain during these seven years because the church is not Israel and is not under Israel’s covenant.<<
Well, that is part of it but there are much more compelling evidences that the "church" will not be earth bound during that seven years. One would be that believers are promised to not be subject to God's wrath. Yes we will have tribulation while here but not that from God. The tribulations we experience are from Satan and those he controls. The events of Revelation 6 through the end are directed by God. Not once in all of scripture are true, faithful believers subject to God's wrath. Even when Israel sinned God allowed them to be persecuted by Satan and his minions but did not affect that wrath like He will during the events of Revelation.
>>For example, the church has been through horrific persecution over the centuries.<<
Yes it has but none of that as a direct result of God's direction. He allowed it and even told us it would happen. Satan is after all the current ruler of this world and he has been doing all he can to eliminate the believers. Keep in mind that Satan can not control the weather and events like are going to happen during that seven year period. That is directly orchestrated and controlled by God.
>>I use this example because many argue that Christ will not allow His bride to go through the Great Tribulation.<<
He won't allow that. These words "Kept from the wrath to come", " which delivereth us from the wrath to come", and "I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth" show that true believers will not be around during that time.
>>All of these point to the rapture occurring at the onset of the Day of the Lord at which point there is sudden, cataclysmic, and fiery destruction.<<
Once again you are squeezing events into a one day event. The "onset of the day of the Lord" is not a description of a one day event. Understand again that the "day of the Lord" is a period of time. That seven year period does begin with an illusion of peace signed by the anti Christ but begins to soon deteriorate as Revelation 6 on shows. We will "enter into His rest" at the end of the tribulation period and the beginning of the millennium.