Rapture Ready?

Through the Gospels, Jesus relied on the Jewish wedding pattern for many of His parables. We can easily miss these allusions if we aren't familiar with the model of ancient Jewish wedding practices.

The Jewish Wedding
The first step, the Ketubah, or Betrothal, was the establishment of the marriage covenant, when the prospective bridegroom took the initiative and paid the price to purchase her.
Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the young man and woman were regarded as husband and wife. From that moment on, the bride was declared to be sanctified - set apart - only for her bridegroom.

After the marriage covenant was established, the groom left his bride at her home to go to his father's house, where he remained separated from his bride for approximately 12 months. This afforded the bride time to gather her dowry and prepare for married life.
During this period of separation, the groom prepared a dwelling place in his father's house to later bring his bride. At the end of the separation, the bridegroom came at night to take his bride to live with him. The groom, the best man, and other male escorts left the father's house and conducted a torch-lit procession to the home of the bride. Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom's arrival was preceded by a shout, which announced her imminent departure to be gathered with him.

The Ultimate Bride
The New Testament portrays the Church as the Bride of Christ in Ephesians 5:22-33. Paul continually reminds us of the purchase price and the covenant by which we, the Bride, are set apart, or sanctified.
One of the challenges in fully appreciating Paul's epistles is the need to understand the staggering and distinctive advantages afforded the Church, in contrast to those of the Old Testament saints. And it is this role as the Bride of the Bridegroom that is emphasized in the parables and in the Book of Revelation.

The Departure of the Bridegroom
The Bridegroom has departed, and His return to gather His Bride is imminent. He has gone to prepare a place for you and me. (He has been at it for 2,000 years! It must be an amazing place!)
This very doctrine of "imminence" is taught throughout the New Testament and is a cornerstone of the "pre-tribulational" view: there is no event which is a prerequisite condition for His gathering of His Bride.
Jesus (in the Old Testament) explains:
I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly. -Hosea 5:15

The Church has been promised:
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour [time] of temptation [trial], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. -Revelation 3:10

Isaiah 26:20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.

To the extent that there are geopolitical and other signs may suggest a soon return of the King on the horizon. This should, indeed, intensify our priorities to immerse in the Word, reexamine our commitments to our Coming King, stay informed on what is happening in the world (especially with Israel) and seriously address each day which remains with a high degree of urgency.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. -Matthew 24:44

1 John 2:28 "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."

While we do not know when the Rapture will occur, we can use spiritual discernment to see sign posts for His return. We still have our daily routines, but remember to "look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28



Are you really ready? Do you really take Him seriously? As we walk daily with the Lord, may we be able to say with Job: My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. (Job 42:5)

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