Matthew 24:36-51
Arranged marriage is no longer practiced in this time in
this country.
But throughout history, (and even in this country in
earlier times,) arranged marriage was not only practiced – it was common. There
are countries in the world today, (India in particular,) where arranged
marriage is still widely practiced.
In Israel, in Christ’s time, arranged marriage was
common. When Jesus begins to speak of the Rapture of the Church, (admittedly in
a veiled way,) He uses the motif of a Hebrew wedding ceremony to explain what
is about to happen when His Church is caught up to heaven.
He speaks of this in a couple ways: 1) That no one knows
the day or the hour of the “ceremony” but the Father, and 2) That those who are
a part of the wedding party need to always have “oil” in their lamps.
How fascinating Jesus speaks of the Rapture of the Church
as a wedding ceremony!
Indeed, when we look over in Rev 19 we see that we, (The
Church,) are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. We also
read in the New Testament that His Church is referred to as the “Bride of Christ.”
Is it any wonder we teach a personal relationship with Christ? Can religion fit
into this scenario at all? (As Paul might say, “Absolutely not!”)
And so we go on with our lives knowing at any moment
Christ will return for His Church. Since the restoration of Israel in 1948,
there is not a single prophetic declaration remaining in God’s Word which must
be fulfilled prior to the Rapture of the Church. Indeed, the Rapture of the
Church is the next event on God’s prophetic calendar - and it is imminent.
Therefore we must always be ready for Christ to return
for His bride - at the very moment His Father instructs Him to. We must be as
careful as one watching for “a thief in the night.” We have little time to tell
our friends and loved ones about Christ. We need to be wary of His soon return.
And when He comes, what will I be found doing?
-Pastor Bill
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