The Bridegroom Comes! 
Biblical Wedding Messages & Impending Calamity
By Dr. Richard Ruhling

 
Summary: An unprecedented earthquake may kick-off the end-times of Revelation, bringing “sudden destruction” for many and “the day of the Lord” (1Thessalonians 5:2,3), a phrase linked with an earthquake numerous times in Hebrew Scripture. It also signals “the Bridegroom comes,” an opportunity for the wise to enter the marriage. “He will make [them] ruler over all that He has.” (Matthew 25:10; Luke 12:36,44). 

Introduction:  
Christ’s parables of the wedding garment and the 10 virgins are so dissimilar, they leave us wondering, how do they fit? Christ taught with many models, but none like marriage.

More than other relationships, marriage has the possibility of happiness or unhappiness. More than any other experience, marriage tests our maturity, our ability to live for others. Christ is looking for maturity and only the wise are chosen, (Matthew 25:10). “He will make [them] ruler over all that He has," (Luke 12:44). The wise virgins are privileged to follow Christ wherever He goes in eternity, (Revelation 14:4). 

Because of this unbelievably high reward, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able when once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door," (Luke 13:24,25)

Basic to our striving is an understanding of what Christ wants from us. In this article we look at key points in each of seven wedding messages. We mustn't miss something that He wants.

1. A historical wedding message:

God said to Israel, “Turn, O backsliding children…for I am married unto you," (Jeremiah 3:14)

When did they get married? How did they get married? Does it have any significance for us?

“Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that our fathers…passed through the sea…all these things happened to them for ensamples [types, margin] and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come," (1Corinthians 10:1,11).

God took Israel from calamity in Egypt to a covenant (marriage) relationship at Sinai. They made the mistake of saying, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do," (Exodus 19:8). Perhaps millions of people facing death have promised to serve God if He would spare them, only to forget Him later.

When calamity comes as examples will suggest, we must seek a covenant relationship with God. We may not understand what this means now, but more information will be here later. 

Key Point: We may marry Christ by making a covenant with Him.

2. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king that made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding... Go ye into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage…" (Matthew 22:2,3,9).

1. Can we be His servants if we don’t invite others to what we are considering? 
2. The wise virgins have light showing the way to the marriage. The foolish don’t understand (no light) until it’s too late. “Lights burning" is also in Luke’s wedding parable, (Lk 12:35).

Key Point: "Lights burning" means sharing the wedding invitation with as many as possible. 

3. “The kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him.”  The foolish were out of oil for their lamps. “While they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not," (Matthew 25:10).

Christ’s words suggest serious loss for many believers. Could the oil shortage of the foolish virgins be from the other olive tree symbolizing the Old Testament  in Zechariah 4:2,3,12-14? We are familiar with much of the New Testament, but Christ referred to the Old Testament when He said, “Search the Scriptures…they testify of me," (John 5:39). Some Christians have little understanding in this area.  We need the attitude of a seeker as we ponder meanings.

The Rule of First Use can be helpful in searching the Scriptures. The meaning or context of a word or phrase where it is first used may give insight, especially if it applies in the end-time because Christ is the Word …“the first and the last," (Revelation 1:11). “the same yesterday, today and forever," (Hebrews 13:8). 

Applying this rule to the cry at midnight in this parable, we find the first occurrence with calamity in Egypt when God took His prospective bride to a covenant relationship at Sinai, (Exodus 12:29,30). This idea of calamity is also linked to the previous parable in which people made light of the wedding invitation.

“When the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies and…burned up their city," (Matthew 22:6,7). We may think that was about Jerusalem and not for us, but the signs for Jerusalem were mingled with signs for the end of the world, (Matthew 24:2,3). This suggests our need to facilitate information about the wedding. “That servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes," (Luke 12:47,48).

Key Point: Familiarity with Old and New Testaments may correspond to oil and aid our readiness.

4. The Lord’s Supper is a wedding message:
In first-century Jewish marriages, a father and his son would go to the home of the young lady. The two fathers would discuss the price of the dowry for which the bride could be bought while the young man would visit with the prospective bride. If the father’s negotiations went well and the young man was pleased, the father of the young man would take a bottle of wine and pour a glass. He gave it to his son who offered it to the young lady: “This is the new covenant of my blood.” It was a declaration that he would defend her with his own blood. [This same concept suggests protection for the bride of Christ through “tribulation," (Acts 14:22). Her acceptance of the cup was an acceptance of the marriage proposal. Focus on the Family broadcast, R.V. Laan, 10-3-01.

Christ said, “This cup is the new testament [covenant] in my blood," (1Corinthians 11:25). We call it communion, a word that means a spiritual union or marriage implied by a covenant. The calamity linked to this wedding message was Christ’s betrayal, trial and condemnation that night, and also the failure of the disciples to watch and pray--they fled.

The Greek word for “watch” is gregoreo, and it means to stay awake. That’s how Christ used it when He said, “Watch with me…could ye not [stay awake] with me one hour?" (Matthew 26:38,40). The idea of staying awake on the eve of Passover was Jewish Passover tradition. “Ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning…It is a night to be much observed [poor translation; it should be “much watching," (Exodus 12:10,42). Christians understand that Christ died as the Lamb at Passover (Isaiah 53:6,7), but we fail to see communion as replacing the Passover with “watching” [staying awake] as Christ asked.  We spiritualize watching to mean “be aware” and everyone thinks they are aware. Angels came to shepherds who were awake [watching], not to those who thought they were aware.

Key Point: “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find [awake] watching," (Luke 12:37).

5. The previous quote (in Luke’s parable) is linked to a rich promise...

“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 comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching…he will make them ruler over all that he has," (Luke 12:35-44).

Christ stressed the need to be watching and respond “immediately” with disciples who understood His clues pointing to Passover. “Watch” [stay awake] is found three times linked to “You don’t know the day or hour,” Matthew 24,25.  He was referring to a provision in the law for a late Passover in the 2nd spring month.

2009 may be the year to honor the Savior’s command to watch [be awake]. We say, Watch and pray, or “pray without ceasing,” why not on the only eve that Christ’s clues suggest?

Key Point: Watching on the eve of [2^nd] Passover may protect against calamity.

6.  The Laodicean Message (Revelation 3:14-21) is a wedding message because of six parallels to Luke’s wedding parable, (Luke 12:35-44).

1. “White raiment” is parallel to “loins girded,” a phrase linked to calamity in Egypt: (Exodus 12:11).

2. “Eye salve” is the need to see, like “lights burning” a phrase first linked to making a covenant, (Genesis 15:17).

3. Laodicea is the last church. “When He comes” is also end-time.

4. Both groups receive a “knock.”

5. Both are to “open.” Luke says, immediately. (Foolish virgins shut out for delay).

6. “Sit with me on my throne” is the same reward as “ruler over all that He has.”

We might wonder, “Is this the rapture; where’s the calamity that we have seen in previous examples?” The Bible is its own expositor and we focus on the “knock.”

We understand that through the Holy Spirit, Christ appeals to everyone, like knocking at the door of our heart, seeking entrance, to be part of all that we do. This is a good meaning, but Revelation is also an apocalyptic book with end-time meaning. To understand it, we ask, How did that lukewarm church (in danger of being “spewed out," Rev 3:16) end? It ended in an earthquake that destroyed the city. This supports calamity as a “knock” and the Hebrew word for “knock,” daphaq, includes a severe meaning as when men were beating the door open, (Judges 19:22).

We like Luke’s message, but not the Laodicean message. Covetousness is prevalent in Laodiceans who think themselves rich with goods and in need of nothing. Christ is outside knocking. For us as well as that ancient church, our treasures may have to go so we can decide if Christ is our Treasure with nothing else needed.

 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have," (Luke 12:32,33).

The early believers were eager to do as Christ asked. They “sold their possessions and goods and parted them… as every man had need.” (Acts 2:45). The Laodicean message is to a self-content church, focused on its possessions. We are like the rich young ruler; we don’t want to sell what we have. Christ’s “knock” (calamity) may help us surrender what might otherwise mean too much to us. “If the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up," (Matthew 24:43).

Key Point: Watching on the eve of 2nd Passover may be protective for the earthquake, and selling what we have, or willingness to let it go, may be important rather than a material focus. “If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief," (Revelation 3:3).

7. Beyond the Laodicean message, Revelation with its sevens shows how God will keep His covenant. “Let us be glad and rejoice…for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready," (Revelation 19:7). It begins with an earthquake as history repeats for modern Laodicea, (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The earthquake is encoded in Revelation 6:1 as the roar of the Lion of Judah, (Revelation 4:7; 5:5).“The Lord also shall roar…and the heavens and the earth shall shake," (Joel 3:16). This “roar” [earthquake] initiates the seals in Revelation 6), and the thunders in Revelation 10:3. It is probably the same earthquake that initiates the trumpets in Revelation 8:5,6 as it  brings “sudden destruction” and “the day of the Lord," (1 Thessalonians 5:2,3).

“The day of the Lord” is a phrase found 20 times in the Old Testament with earthquake (calamity) often in the context, ( Isaiah 2:12,21; Joel 2:10,11; Zechariah 14:1,5). Peter links “the day of the Lord” with the time of judgment, (2 Peter 3:7-10). The Greek word for judgment is krisis, and crises are mounting. Concerning judgment, God is not eager to condemn us, but our choices will reveal if we are wise or foolish by our readiness. If we make wise choices, God will deliver us as in Bible times.

Key Point: Familiarity with Revelation can help us understand where we are in the end-time as we see Bible prophecy being fulfilled. "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God," (Acts 14:22).

Key Point Summary: We may marry Christ by making a covenant with Him. We need to share the wedding invitation with as many people as we can. Familiarity with Old and New Testament may correspond to oil and aid our readiness. “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find [awake] watching.” Watching on the eve of [2^nd] Passover may protect against calamity. “If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief," (Revelation 3:3). An earthquake initiates the end-time tribulation. If this occurs, visit this site again for further information.

Questions or Discussion? Email Dr. Ruhling