The Wedding of Christ and His Bride, Part 2
Version 4
By Mark Farquharson
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Bare in mind what I have already cover so far in this article when reading this section.
Matthew 25:1-13 {CLV}
1 "Then likened shall be the kingdom of the heavens to ten virgins, who getting their torches, came out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were stupid and five prudent.
3 For the stupid, getting their torches, got no oil with them,
4 yet the prudent got oil in the crocks with their torches.
5 Now, at the delaying of the bridegroom, they all nod and drowsed.
6 "Now in the middle of the night a clamor occurs: 'Lo! the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7 Then roused were all those virgins, and they adorn their torches.
8 Now the stupid said to the prudent, 'Give us of your oil, for our torches are going out.'
9 Yet the prudent answered, saying, 'No, lest at some time there should not be sufficient for us and you. Go rather to those who are selling and buy for yourselves.'
10 Now, at their coming away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who are ready entered with him into the wedding festivities, and the door is locked.
11 "Now subsequently the rest of the virgins also are coming, saying 'Lord! Lord! Open to us!'
12 Yet he, answering, said, 'Verily, I am saying to you, I am not acquainted with you!'
13 "Watch, then, for you are not aware of the day, neither the hour.
This parable is connected to what Jesus said in relation to his return in the Olivet Discourse. Then likened shall be the kingdom of the heavens to ten virgins. That is as the time of his return approaches. The prudent virgins are usually translated the wise virgins and the stupid virgins are usually translated as the foolish virgins.
These virgins are bridesmaids who come out to meet the bridegroom. However they do not know when He will arrive. They have torches to guide the bridegroom if He arrives in the night. The five prudent ones had additional oil. Five of them were stupid, because they got no oil with them, that is additional oil not in the torch. The bridegroom was delayed, and all the virgins nod and drowsed.
Now in the middle of the night a clamor occurs: 'Lo! the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' All the virgins awoke, and adorn their torches. The stupid virgins, torches where going out, they asked the prudent ones for oil. However if the prudent ones give to the stupid ones, there would not be enough oil for them all.
Now as the stupid virgins go away to buy oil, the bridegroom comes. Those who are ready that is the prudent virgins go with the bridegroom to the wedding festivities. They entered with him into the wedding festivities, and the door is locked. The five stupid virgins come and want the Lord to open the door, but the Lord states that He is not acquainted with them.
On this Old Earth?
There is a belief, that the wedding is on this old earth, lets review it:
It is reasoned that in the parable there is no indication that they leave, therefore they stay on the earth. This is backed up by the idea that two meetings in the bible represent the second coming. Past events in the bible can represent future events, however that does not mean a past event does represent a future event, or the event you think it represents. Lets now look at these two events.
1: Jesus Walks on Water, the Second Coming?: There is a belief that when Jesus walked on water it was prophetic of the second coming. It is coved in the bible in Matthew 14:22-36 & John 6:16-21. The disciples were on a boat that was in a storm, and one of the disciples, Peter walked on the water towards Jesus. Jesus does not take Peter back to were He had come from, the high mountain. Instead Peter escorts Christ to the boat. This shows that at the snatch away believers in Christ will not be taken to heaven according to this belief. However this walk on water may not even be reprehensive of the second coming at all.
All the disciples did not go out to meet Jesus on the water. Does this show that not all believers are eligible for the resurrection and that not all will meet with him? Was Peter representing the overcomers, while the other disciples represent the church?
This actually shows how wrong this belief is. All dead believers in Christ will be resurrected when He returns and all believers in Christ who are alive at that time will be transformed 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
Ephesians 4:4 one body and one spirit, according as you were called also with one expectation of your calling;" {CLV}
All believers have the same expectation, not different expectations. The fact is all Christians are NOT part of the body, those who are not part of the body, those who do not truly believe in Christ will miss out.
The belief has a problem, in the virgins parable only the virgins that meet Jesus Christ get in, not all the virgins get in, the door is shut, leaving those who did not meet Christ outside. However when Jesus walks on water only Peter meets him on the water, they go to the boat and get in, all the disciples stay on the boat, no one is thrown out. The virgins that do not meet the bridegroom, are shut out, but the disciples who do not meet Jesus on the water, are still in the boat when He comes and stay in the boat when he gets in. The two do not match.
2: The brethren went out to meet Paul when He came near Rome in Acts 28:15. Paul a prisoner was welcome like a visiting dignitary. The Brethren did not expect to go back to Jerusalem, but instead provided an escort to Paul’s destination Rome.
Are these meetings like the second coming when the true believers in Christ go out to “meet” Jesus Christ?
Apantesis a Greek word is translated “to meet”, as in the official welcome of a visiting dignitary. When the Bridegroom comes, the virgins go out to “meet” Him, in Matthew 25:1-13. The same Greek word is used in the two meetings and the parable, but this does not automatically mean that these two meetings are representative. At that point in the parable they go in and the door is shut. According to this belief there is no indication that they are taken away.
While the parable gives no indication that the prudent virgins and the bride go anywhere, it does not rule it out, it does not mean they do not go away. You have to be careful with parables, they do not always represent exactly how things will actually happen. Actually there is an indication that they are taken away.
Matthew 25:10 ….the bridegroom came, and those who are ready entered with him into the wedding festivities, and the door is locked. {CLV}
They entered with him into the “wedding festivities”, the wedding festivities for a Jewish wedding back at the time of Jesus Christ‘s first coming, were not at the bride’s house. Jesus was using the setting of a Jewish wedding at the time, to indicate what would happen at the time He comes back. Going back to the “Wedding Festivities” parable, the festivities are being prepared at the Father’s House, not on the earth. This tells us that the bridegroom will take his bride away to the wedding festivities, which are at His Father‘s House.
"Watch, then, for you are not aware of the day, neither the hour.”
Getting back to this parable on the virgins: The whole message of this parable is, that you should be prepared and be watching for His return.
The Virgins
The parable only mentions these virgins, and the bridegroom, but not the bride, who are they? The guides and servants of the Bride and groom were the virgins or bridesmaids.
John 3:27-3:29 John answered and said, "A man can not get anything if it should not be given him out of heaven." You yourselves are testifying to me that I said, 'Not I am the Christ,' but that 'Dispatched am I in front of Him.'" He Who has the bride is the Bridegroom. Yet the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and is hearing Him, is rejoicing with joy because of the Bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, then, has been fulfilled." {CLV}
John is saying here that he was a friend of the bridegroom, however he is also the bride.
2 Corinthians 11:2 for I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God. For I betroth you to one Man, to present a chaste virgin to Christ. "{CLV}
Believers are betrothed to one man Christ and are spiritually a chaste virgin. This informs us that the virgins are believers, are the church. However they can not all be the chosen, those ones chosen by God, the sheep.
John 10:26-30 But you are not believing, seeing that you are not of My sheep, according as I said to you. "My sheep are hearing My voice, and I know them, and they are following Me. And I am giving them life eonian, and they should by no means be perishing for the eon, and no one shall be snatching them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to be snatching them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father, We are one." {CLV}
Jesus Christ will not lose anyone that God has given him, and He is the Ideal {Good} Sheppard who finds every lost sheep. Thus the five prudent ones, are the chosen ones who have an allotment waiting for them. Who then are the five foolish or stupid ones?
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 Yet I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deludes Eve by its craftiness, your apprehensions should be corrupted from the singleness and pureness which is in Christ. "For if, indeed, he who is coming is heralding another Jesus whom we do not herald, or you are obtaining a different spirit, which you did not obtain, or a different evangel, which you do not receive, you are bearing with him ideally. " {CLV}
However Paul feared for them, that somehow they should be corrupted from the singleness and pureness which is in Christ. That they would follow another Jesus that the one coming would herald, there by committing spiritual idolatry. They would follow a false Jesus, not the true one, that someone coming would herald.
2 Corinthians 11:7 Or do I sin in humbling myself that you may be exalted, seeing that I bring the evangel of God to you gratuitously? " {CLV}
Paul asked them if he sinned, by bringing the evangel to them freely.
Matthew 10:7-10 Now going, herald, saying that 'Near is the kingdom of the heavens!'" The infirm be curing, the dead be rousing, lepers be cleansing, demons be casting out. Gratuitously you got; gratuitously be giving." You should not be acquiring gold, nor yet silver, nor yet copper in your girdles, no beggar's bag for the road, Nor yet two tunics, nor yet sandals, nor yet a club; for worthy is the worker of his nourishment." {CLV}
Jesus told those who where going to herald, that they should not be acquiring gold, nor yet silver, nor yet copper. They where worthy of their nourishment. However Paul was not even asking them for nourishment for he had got his rations from the other churches.
2 Corinthians 11:8-9 Other ecclesias I despoil, getting rations for dispensing to you. " And, being present with you and in want, I am not an encumberance to anyone (for the brethren coming from Macedonia replenish my wants), and in everything I keep and shall be keeping myself that I be not burdensome to you. " {CLV}
The brethren coming from Macedonia would replenish his wants, so that he would not be a burden to them. This was all done so that he would not be misunderstood, and thought of as the same as the false teaches.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, fraudulent workers, being transfigured into apostles of Christ. " {CLV}
False apostles, fraudulent workers, being transfigured, that is they masquerade as apostles of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:16-17 Again I am saying, no one should presume me to be imprudent. Otherwise surely, even if it should be as imprudent, receive me, that I also should boast some little! " What I speak, I am not speaking in accord with the Lord, but as in imprudence, in this assumption of boasting. " {CLV}
No one should presume Paul to be imprudent. Otherwise if he was imprudent he would not be speaking in accord with the Lord, but as in imprudence.
2 Corinthians 11:19 For with relish are you bearing with the imprudent, being prudent. " {CLV}
They were prudent, but they had to bear with the imprudent. That is they had to be tolerate of them, that were imprudent, the false apostles. However the prudent ones will not be taken in by these false apostles because they stay prudent. Related it back to the parable, those being prudent are of course the prudent virgins.
The imprudent will lead away from the Lord, those who are not prudent, that is the unwise, or foolish, or stupid, that is the stupid virgins. These virgins will then not be pure, and will have committed spiritual idolatry. These false apostles are also themselves the stupid virgins in the parable.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons, in the hypocrisy of false expressions, their own conscience having been cauterized;" {CLV}
The ones who are called but not chosen, are withdrawing from the faith. They will have given head to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons.
2 Peter 2:1-3 Yet there came to be false prophets also among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers who will be smuggling in destructive sects, even disowning the Owner Who buys them, bringing on themselves swift destruction." And many will be following out their wantonness, because of whom the glory of the truth will be calumniated, and in greed, with suave words, they will traffic in you, whose judgment of old is not idling, and their destruction is not nodding." {CLV}
Since Jesus Christ has gone many have followed the false teachers.
The number ten represents perfection of Divide Order, and the number five represents grace. However the numbers do not represent any true ratio. That is when the time comes for the wedding, that is when the Lord returns, it will not be that five out of ten actually go with him. For the actual ration of those who are prudent, out of the whole number of Christians out there in the world is a lot lower than five out of ten. Remember, Many are called, but few are chosen.
Olive Oil
Exodus 27:20-21 As for you, you shall instruct the sons of Israel that they shall take to you pure olive oil, pounded, for the luminary, to kindle the lamp regularly. In the tent of appointment, outside of the curtain which shall be over the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall arrange it from evening until morning before Yahweh. It shall be an eonian statute throughout their generations, for the sons of Israel.
People used olive oil in torches/lamps, including in the temple for the lampstand.
John 8:12 Again, then, Jesus speaks to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world. He who is following Me should under no circumstances be walking in darkness, but will be having the light of life." {CLV}
Jesus is the Light of the world. Those who follow him will be having the light of life.
John 12:35-36 Jesus, then, said to them, "Still a little time the light is among you. Be walking while you have the light, lest the darkness may be overtaking you. And he who is walking in the darkness is not aware whither he is going." As you have the light, be believing in the light, that you may be becoming sons of light. These things Jesus speaks, and, coming away, He was hid from them." {CLV}
Jesus warn them that the darkness could over take them. Believers have to walk in the light, lest the darkness over take them. They have to believe in the light, that is believe in Christ.
The burning torches in the parable represent the light that believers have. Believers are the light in the darkness of this world. When believers are called they have light, but the light of a number of believers goes out over time. They are lead away from the light and back into the darkness, their light goes out. In the parable the stupid virgins want more oil, for their torches are going out. In Ephesians 5:6-17 there are warnings for believers.
Ephesians 5:6-10 Let no one be seducing you with empty words, for because of these things the indignation of God is coming on the sons of stubbornness." Do not, then, become joint partakers with them, for you were once darkness, yet now you are light in the Lord." As children of light be walking (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), testing what is well pleasing to the Lord. {CLV}
Believers are the light, but once they were in darkness. They should not be seduced with empty words. Believers are warn not to be come joint partakers in the coming indignation. That is believers could become joint partakers, if they were seduced by empty words.
Ephesians 5:11 And be not joint participants in the unfruitful acts of darkness, yet rather be exposing them also, for it is a shame even to speak of the hidden things occurring, done by them." Now all that which is being exposed, by the light is made manifest, for everything which is making manifest is light." {CLV}
Believers are not to be joint participants in the unfruitful acts of darkness, yet rather be exposing them. If they are participants then they would be going back to the darkness that they had come from.
Ephesians 5:14-17 Wherefore He is saying, 'Rouse! O drowsy one, and rise from among the dead, and Christ shall dawn upon you!'" Be observing accurately, then, brethren, how you are walking, not as unwise, but as wise, reclaiming the era, for the days are wicked." Therefore do not become imprudent, but understand what the will of the Lord is." {CLV}
Rising here from among the dead is not talking about a physical resurrection here. Jesus described those who did not believe as being dead, even thou they were physically alive. That is spiritually they were dead. Here the drowsy one is to awaken, from among those who are spiritually dead. That is a spiritual awakening, at which point Christ shall dawn upon you. The brethren are to be walking not as unwise, but as wise. They are warned here not to become imprudent. Thus believes can become imprudent, their light can go out.
Yet those who are chosen as I have said earlier, will not be lost. The prudent ones will not become imprudent. However those who are called, but not chosen will become imprudent, they will be walking as the unwise, they will lose their light and go back to darkness.
However the fact that the chosen will not be lost, is not an excuse to put you torch under the bed, and go party with your unwise friends. If you think it is, then you may indeed be one of the unwise ones yourself. That being the case you will end up in the outer darkness, and while it will not be forever, it is not a holiday camp.
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city located upon a mountain can not be hid. Neither are they burning a lamp and placing it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it is shining to all those in the house. Thus let shine your light in front of men, so that they may perceive your ideal acts and should glorify your Father Who is in the heavens. {CLV}
Believers are the light of the world, as is Jesus Christ. Believers should not hide away their light, but should let it shine in front of men. This is so that they can perceive your ideal acts and will be drawn to the Father and glorify him.
Darkness Passing:
1 John 2:8 Again, a new precept am I writing to you, which is true in Him and in you, for the darkness is passing by, and the true light already is appearing." {CLV}
The darkness is passing, the spiritual darkness will pass, it will not go on forever. People who teach about a never ending hell, have the darkness going on forever, but the darkness is passing by. One day in the future it will have passed by, it will have gone, for good, never to return.
John 1:5-9 And the light is appearing in the darkness, and the darkness grasped it not." There came to be a man, commissioned by God. His name was John." This one came for a testimony, that he should be testifying concerning the light, that all should be believing through it." Not he was the light, but he came that he should be testifying concerning the light. " It was the true light - which is enlightening every man - coming into the world. {CLV}
Jesus Christ come to the world, He appeared in the darkness. All should be believing through the light. Christ which is the true light, will one day enlightening every man. The chosen are enlighten first, but everyone, will be enlightened one day. This will happen in the future as the nations are enlightened by the kingdom, drawing all inside.
Revelation 21:23-24 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should be appearing in it, for the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lambkin." And the nations shall be walking by means of its light, and the kings of the earth are carrying their glory into it." {CLV}
The nations will one day walk by the light of the city, which is the new Jerusalem. This city is the kingdom, which the nations will be walking by the light of.
Loyal Slaves
Luke 12:35-40 Let your loins be girded about and lamps be burning, and you be like men anticipating their own lord, when he should break loose from the wedding festivities, that at his coming and knocking, they should immediately be opening to him." Happy are those slaves, whom the Lord, coming, will be finding watching. Verily, I am saying to you that He will be girding Himself about and causing them to recline, and, coming by, will be serving them." And if He should be coming in the second watch, and if in the third watch, and should be finding them thus, happy are those slaves." Now this you know, that if the householder were aware at what hour the thief is coming, he would watch and would not let his house be tunneled into." You also become ready, then, for, in an hour which you are not supposing, the Son of Mankind is coming." {CLV}
Believers need to have their lamps burning, anticipating the return of their Lord. Happy are the slaves/servants whom the Lord finds watching when He comes. Those believers who are watching, with their lamps burning, the Lord will make himself ready and will cause them to recline, and the Lord will serve them. Believers are to watch, with their lamps burning, and have extra oil, for he could come in the second or third watch. That is staying loyal to Christ, walking in the light. They are to be ready, for, in an hour which they are not supposing, the Son of Mankind, that is their Lord Jesus Christ, is coming.
Being Watch, But All Virgins Fall Asleep:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 Now concerning the times and the eras, brethren, you have no need to be written to, for you yourselves are accurately aware that the day of the Lord is as a thief in the night - thus is it coming! Now whenever they may be saying "Peace and security, then extermination is standing by them unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape." {CLV}
The Lord is coming as a thief, in that it will be a surprise, when they are saying "Peace and security, then extermination is standing by them unawares", that is they do not know it is coming, they do not know He is coming. Extermination? This is not their end, if you have read this far you should know of and believe in the salvation of all mankind. They will be resurrected and come before the Throne for judgement.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-7 Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief, for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be sober." For those who are drowsing are drowsing at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night." {CLV}
The chosen, the brethren are not in darkness, that the day may not be overtaking them. For the chosen are all sons of light, and sons of day. Consequently then the chosen may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass of faith and love, and the helmet, the expectation of salvation, for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching or drowsing, we should be living at the same time together with Him." Wherefore, console one another and edify one the other, according as you are doing also." {CLV}
God did not appoint the chosen "to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Even thou the chosen are told to be watching in a number of places in the bible, if they do drowse and are not watching they will still be living with the Lord.
Getting back to the parable, Even with all this warning about keeping watch for His return, near the time of his return, all the virgins fall asleep. That is both the wise and the stupid virgins all fall asleep. Because Jesus Christ is gone so long, most of the brethren will go to sleep.
The New Testament has numerous warnings about the growth in apostasy and deception with the advancement of this eon. This is why there are also numerous warnings in the New Testament about watching, and enduring until His return. Even thou all the wise virgins fall asleep, this does not count against them, they do not miss out on the wedding. Even thou the wise virgins had fallen asleep they were still prepared for his return, because they had the extra oil.
Friends:
John 15:14-17 You are My friends, if you should be doing whatever I am directing you." No longer am I terming you slaves, for the slave is not aware what his lord is doing. Yet I have declared you friends, for all that I hear from My Father I make known to you." Not you choose Me, but I choose you, and I appoint you, that you may be going away and be bringing forth much fruit, and your fruit may be remaining, that anything whichsoever you should be requesting the Father in My name, He will be giving it to you." In these things I am directing you, that you may be loving one another." {CLV}
No longer was Jesus terming the disciples slaves/servants, He declared them friends. This also applies to all true believers in Christ, those who are wise, prudent, loyal slaves, the chosen, the sheep, the Sons of God, are Christ‘s friends. Jesus also makes it clearly, that they did not choose Him, He chose them, and He appointed them. He makes it clear that no one who is chosen, does the choosing himself. No one can chose to be chosen.
While only the chosen, the loyal servants are declared the friends of Christ, and are called the Sons of God at this time, that does not mean the rest of mankind are never to be friends, never to be sons. In time all of mankind will be friends of Christ, His brothers, and all of mankind will be Sons of God.
Revelation 3:20-22 Lo! I stand at the door and am knocking. If ever anyone should be hearing My voice and opening the door, I will also be coming in to him and dining with him, and he with Me. " '"The one who is conquering, to him will I be granting to be seated with Me on My throne as I, also, conquer, and am seated with My Father on His throne." '"Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias."'" {CLV}
Jesus Christ is knocking now, and if you open the door, he will come in and dine with you. Those who are conquering/overcoming will be seated with him, on his throne. That is they will rule with him in the kingdom. .
The Householder:
In Luke 13:24-29 there is the householder, you can see parallels here to the above parable.
Luke 13:24-27 Be struggling to be entering through the cramped door, for I am saying to you, many will be seeking to enter and will not be strong enough." From which time the householder should be roused and latch the door, and you should be beginning to stand outside and to be knocking at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' and answering, he will be declaring to you, 'I am not acquainted with you! Whence are you?'" Then should you be beginning to say, 'We ate and drank in your sight, and in our squares you teach!'" He also will be declaring: 'I am saying to you, I am not acquainted with you! Whence are you? Withdraw from me, all workers of injustice!'" {CLV}
The household latches the door, and just like in the above parable those outside say, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' Like the Virgins parable, he says the same thing: 'I am not acquainted with you! He also tells them to “Withdraw from me, all workers of injustice!'" The Householder here is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 13:28-29 There will be lamentation and gnashing of teeth, whenever you should be seeing Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, yet you cast outside." And they will be arriving from east and west and from north and south and will be made to recline in the kingdom of God. {CLV}
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets represent the saints that came in the past. Those arriving from east and west and from north and south, are the Chosen, the sons of God from all the nations. Those that are cast aside that Jesus was addressing are the workers of injustice. Jesus was mainly address the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the workers of injustice at the time of His first coming. People where led astray by their teaching. This also applies to the false and blind teachers now and throughout the church era that have be leading many believers astray. These do not truly know Christ, and what Jesus Christ accomplished. They may know the words in the bible, but they do not have the understanding of their meaning. These are to caught up in the traditions of men, and the trappings of power and wealth.
The Unveiling of the Sons of God:
After the spiritual union, the wife will remove her veil.
Romans 8:16-17 The spirit itself is testifying together with our spirit that we are children of God. Yet if children, enjoyers also of an allotment, enjoyers, indeed, of an allotment from God, yet joint enjoyers of Christ's allotment, if so be that we are suffering together, that we should be glorified together also." {CLV}
The children of God, the chosen, are suffering together that they should be glorified together.
Romans 8:18 For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us. For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God. {CLV}
The whole of creation has a premonition, about the future event of the unveiling of the sons of God, the unveiling of the chosen. At that time the glory will be revealed in the sons of God. The whole of creation is not just talking about mankind, but all that was created. This includes all the animals which will be resurrected in the future and all the spirit beings.
Romans 8:20-22 For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation" that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God." For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. {CLV}
Creation itself will be freed of the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God. That is the rest of mankind and the animals will be freed of the slavery of corruption over time, that is not all at once. This also includes the evil spirit beings, that is the demons and Satan himself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption. They were created by God, and are there for a part of creation, and will be freed from the slavery of corruption. They were not voluntarily subjected. It was not of their choosing that they become evil, and became slaves of the corruption. Creation will be Freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
For more on animals being saved refer to my article: All Animals Saved
For more on demons being saved refer to my article: All Demons and Satan Saved
Romans 8:23 Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body." {CLV}
The brethren are groaning in themselves awaiting the sonship.
The Wedding Feast of Samson:
Judges 14:7-8 And he goes down and speaks to the woman, and she is right in the eyes of Samson;" and he turns back after [some] days to take her,....{CLV}
That is after some time away He returns. Jesus Christ has been away and is going to return, to take his bride.
Judges 14:10-12 And his father goes down unto the woman, and Samson makes there a banquet, for so the young men do;" and it comes to pass when they see him, that they take thirty companions, and they are with him. And Samson said to them, `Let me, I pray you, put forth to you a riddle; if you certainly declare it to me [in] the seven days of the banquet, and have found [it] out, then I have given to you thirty linen shirts, and thirty changes of garments;"{CLV}
Samson makes a feast, at the town where the woman was. Going back to what I said about wedding festivities near the beginning of the article, I said they would be at the father’s house or a great hall. Samson did not go back to His father’s house. However when Jesus Christ returns for his bride He will not stay here on the earth for the wedding feast. The parables tell us that the feast, festivities are at His father’s house.
Matthew 22:2 “Likened was the kingdom of the heavens to a man, a king, who makes wedding festivities for his son.”…..8 "Then he is saying to his slaves, 'The wedding, indeed, is ready, yet those invited were not worthy.9 Go, then, to the exits of the roads and whosoever you may be finding, call to the wedding festivities.' {CLV}
Luke 14:16 Now He said to him, "A certain man made a great dinner, and invites many….23 And the lord said to the slave, 'Come out into the roads and stone dikes, and compel them to enter, that my house may be crammed. {CLV}
The guests are invited to come to the wedding, great dinner, which is where?
While some could point to Samson’s feast and say it was in her town, meaning that the chosen do not go anywhere. The festivities, the feast is not being prepared on this earth. As I stated at the beginning the feast or festivities last a week, here it is for a week. The riddle is not of interest to us in this study.
Judges 14:15-17 And it comes to pass, on the seventh day, that they say to Samson's wife, `Entice your husband, that he declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and the house of your father with fire; to possess us have you called for us? is it not?. And Samson's wife weeps for it, and said, `You have only hated me, and have not loved me; the riddle you have put forth to the sons of my people--and to me you have not declared it;' and he said to her, `Lo, to my father and to my mother I have not declared [it] --and to you I declare [it]!. And she weeps for it the seven days [in] which their banquet has been, and it comes to pass on the seventh day that he declares [it] to her, for she has distressed him; and she declares the riddle to the sons of her people. {CLV}
What I would point out about the riddle is that she knows about the riddle at the beginning of the feast. She weeps for seven days over this riddle. On the last day they want to know the answer so they threat her. She had distressed him, because she had been weeping seven days.
There is a view that the feast was before the wedding. During the time of the feast the bride would be getting herself ready and not be at the feast. In this view the feast is on the earth, before Jesus Christ returns. However this conflicts with the view that the bride is at the feast. Now the bride who is now getting herself ready for Christ’s return is also the friends of the bridegroom. John who prepared the way for Jesus Christ’s first coming is a friend of the bridegroom, but he is also the bride. Are the friends of the bridegroom going to have a feast or are have a feast before Jesus Christ returns? Referring to what happened with Samson, he return to get her, Christ has not returned. The feast is not before Jesus Christ returns which He has not done. Will there be a feast when Christ returns on this old earth, no there will not be. When Jesus Christ returns He will take His bride from the earth. As I have already said the feast is not being prepared on this earth. When Jesus Christ returns the bride will be ready, and He will take her to the feast.
The view that she was not at this feast is wrong. It does not say that she was getting herself ready or that she was not at the feast. Referring back to the virgins parable, when the bridegroom comes, the wise/prudent virgins go to meet him, and go into the wedding festivities. That is when Jesus Christ comes the bride is to be ready, and goes to the festivities. It does not say that when the bridegroom comes he waits and has a feast while the virgins are still getting ready, before taking them. The whole point of the parable is that they are to be ready when he comes. Those who are not ready go to get more oil. However when they return they are not allowed in. There will be no time give to get ready when he returns. You will have to be ready, or you do not go with him.
Judges 14:18-15:2 And the men of the city say to him on the seventh day, before the sun goes in:--`What [is] sweeter than honey? And what stronger than a lion?' And he said to them:` Unless you had ploughed with my heifer, You had not found out my riddle.. And the Spirit of Yahweh prospers over him, and he goes down to Ashkelon, and smites of them thirty men, and takes their armor, and gives the changes to those declaring the riddle; and his anger burns, and he goes up to the house of his father;" and Samson's wife becomes his companion's, who [is] his friend. And it comes to pass, after [some] days, in the days of wheat-harvest, that Samson looks after his wife, with a kid of the goats, and said, `I go in unto my wife, to the inner chamber;' and her father has not permitted him to go in, and her father said, I certainly said, that you did certainly hate her, and I give her to your companion;...{CLV}
We find out that Samson got angry and left her behind, after the feast. Later he again returns for her, but her father has given her to someone else. In the view that the feast is before the marriage, without the bride, it is thought that he left without claiming her at the end of the feast. That after the feast the groom went to claim his bride in those days, but in this case he did not. However that is not the case, it does not mention that he did not claim her. What it is tell us is that he left her behind, after the feast. If you go back to before the banquet that he made, it says “and he turns back after [some] days to take her” Judges 14:8. He came to get her before the banquet, not after. Why mention that he came to get her, if he does not do that until after the feast.
Getting back to the parables, the bride does not know when the groom will come. However if there is a seven day feast beforehand, then the bride will know when he comes to take her.
Elijah Ministry, is this the feast beforehand?
In May 2009 the Elijah Ministry began. This is meant to prepare the way for Christ to return. If you go back to the first coming John the Baptist prepaid the way for Jesus Christ’s first coming. John was a type of Elijah, not that he was Elijah reincarnated, for he was not Elijah, but that he was a type of Elijah.
Luke 1:13 Now the messenger said to him, "Fear not, Zechariah, because hearkened to is your petition, and your wife Elizabeth shall be bearing you a son, and you shall be calling his name John."…..1:17 And he shall be coming before in His sight in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the stubborn to the prudence of the just, to make ready a people formed for the Lord.” {CLV}
John 1:19-22 And this is the testimony of John when the Jews of Jerusalem dispatch to him priests and Levites that they should be inquiring of him, "Who are you? And he avows and denies not and avows that "I am not the Christ." And they ask him again, "What are you then? Are you Elijah? And he is saying, "I am not." Are you the Prophet? And he answered, "No.” {CLV}
Now before Jesus Christ returns Elijah is to come:
Matthew 17:10-13 And His disciples inquire of Him, saying, 'Why, then, are the scribes saying that Elijah must be coming first? Now He, answering, said to them that "Elijah is indeed coming, and will be restoring all." Yet I am saying to you that Elijah came already, and they did not recognize him, but they do to him whatever they will. Thus the Son of Mankind also is about to be suffering by them." Then the disciples understand that He spoke to them concerning John the baptist. {CLV}
Elijah had come already at the time of Jesus Christ first coming. Jesus was refer to John the baptist, who had come with the spirit and power of Elijah, but was not actually Elijah. Yet Jesus was prophesying here a future coming of Elijah, not of the actual prophet Elijah, but a type of Elijah.
This is the Elijah Ministry, which are the friends of the bridegroom, just like John the Baptist is, but also part of the bride. Thus they are now preparing the way for Christ’s return. Later this Elijah, which is the bride will be part of the process of restoring all.
However it is also thought that this is the time of the feast. The length of the feast is thought to be either a week or half a week. That being seven or three and half years, as a day can be a year. This means an end in December 2012 or May 2016. First it is important to note that I am not date setting for Christ’s return, and that both of these dates have now past.
The reason to look at this is not for date setting, but two other reasons. First it shows that Jesus Christ is going to return soon, as Elijah has already returned, and just like John did is preparing the way. The second is the question of, is the Elijah Ministry the feast.
No it is not the feast before the wedding. I am not saying this Elijah Ministry has not come, what I am saying is that I do not believe that it is the feast. I do not believe there is a feast before the wedding. As I said before the Bride is to be ready, because she does not know when he comes.
It is thought that Christ presence is here during this time, so he is with his friends. This does not mean that this is the time of the feast. I do not deny that Christ presence is here during the time of the Elijah Ministry. While Christ’s presence is here during the time of the Elijah Ministry, his presence is here all the time.
Revelation 1:12-13 And I turn about to look for the voice which spoke with me. And, turning about, I perceived seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like a son of mankind, dressed in a garment reaching to the feet, and girded about at the breasts with a golden girdle."....1:20 the secret of the seven stars which you perceived in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are messengers of the seven ecclesias, and the seven lampstands are seven ecclesias." {CLV}
The lampstands are seven ecclesias, and Christ’s presence is among them, He is the one in there midst.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are, gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them." {CLV}
Where two are three brethren are gathered in the name of Christ, He is there in the midst of them. His presence has not just recently returned to be in the midst of the Elijah ministry, His presence has been here since he left, when even two or three are gathered, his presence is there.
I believe there has to be an actual return, for there to be the feast, which has not happened.
Revelation 19:7-9 We may be rejoicing and exulting and will be giving glory to Him, for the wedding of the Lambkin came, and Its bride makes herself ready." And to her it was granted that she may be clothed in clean, resplendent cambric, for the cambric is the just awards of the saints." And he is saying to me, "Write: 'Happy are those invited to the wedding dinner of the Lambkin.' And he is saying to me, "These are the true sayings of God." {CLV}
The Wedding dinner of the Lambkin, is more commonly know as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This wedding dinner is be prepared at the Father’s house. That is where those invited go, to attend the wedding dinner.
The Wedding Close at Hand:
I do believe that while Jesus Christ has be gone along time, that His return is close at hand, it is just round the corner. It is very late in the night, and the time is close at hand, when a clamor will occur, and 'Lo! the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
I urge you to be watching and be ready, it is not to much longer before the bridegroom comes, and takes those who are ready to the grandest and greatest wedding ever.
The Wedding on the Day of the Lord
Jesus Christ will return on the Day of the Lord, it is at this time He will take His faithful bride to the wedding that is being prepared in heaven at His Father’s house. The wedding is on the Day of the Lord, at the start of the millennium. There are other important events that happen on this day, some of which I have already covered briefly in this article. However this article is just about the wedding itself, as such those other events will not be covered in this article. The events to do with His return are covered in much greater detail in my article: “Christ’s Second Advent, the Day of the Lord”
What I want to do here is briefly show how the wedding fits in with other events on the Day of the Lord.
Before the Day: 1, The bride is to be ready at all times.
2, People will be eating, drinking and getting married. Carrying on as normal, right up to the Day of the Lord.
True believers to look up, their deliverance is drawing near.
3, The resounding of the sea and the shaking of the earth.
4, Men in fear, apprehensiveness of that which is coming.
5, The Lord Jesus Christ who is the bridegroom will return, like lighting. It will be a surprise to most of the world. All the world will know He has returned.
6, Those who are Christ’s who are dead will be resurrected, and all those who are Christ’s will be transformed gaining immortality.
7, Those who are Christ’s will be Snatch Away, to meet Jesus Christ in the air. The Bridegroom collects the faithful bride to take her to the wedding.
8, The bride and bridegroom go to the wedding in heaven.
9, The Wedding: The Spiritual union.
10, The unveiling of the sons of God.
Note: CLV: Concordant Literal version
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2010-2011. Version 1, June 2010; Version 2, an updated on previous version with additional material 12 June 2010. Version 3 an update on the previous version with additional material 1 January 2011. Version 3A, small update to previous version, 6 July 2010. Version 4 February 11 2017 Editing.
Back: The Wedding of Christ and His Bride Part 1
Song: The Bride Is Ready