Servias Ministries Blog

Below is the process passed down over the last 3,800 years. If you will take time to read this, you will better understand the preciseness of the entire Bible and how the wedding process is currently playing out:

“For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. …  Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”  (Revelation 19:7, 9)

Wedding-ring Jewish wedding bands are often inscribed with Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li (I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine).  The words of this verse are also considered an acrostic for “Elul,” reflecting our very real potential to enjoy a vibrant, intimate relationship with Adonai if we will only turn from sin in repentance and seek Him.

While the exchange of covenant vows between a man and woman who love each other is a blessing in any culture, there are aspects of the Jewish wedding celebration that are rich in Spiritual Truths.

This ancient ritual prophetically points to the coming of the Messiah and the great celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb.  It also teaches us unique lessons about God’s covenant Love for His people.

One would be hard pressed to find an occasion more joyous than that of a Jewish wedding.  In Hebrew, it’s called a simcha (a joyous occasion).

“Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom.”  (Jeremiah 33:10–11)

Jewish bride and groom, chatah, kittel. An Orthodox Jewish wedding in Jerusalem: Traditionally, on the day of his wedding, the chatan (groom) wears first wears the kittel (white linen garment), which signifies purity, Holiness and new beginnings. Thereafter, he wears it on special occasions such as Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Pesach (Passover).

There are three distinct parts to the ancient Jewish wedding:

shiddukhin (mutual commitment),

erusin (engagement), and

nissuin (marriage).

Shiddukhin: A Time of Mutual Commitment

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”  (Genesis 2:18)

Shiddukhin refers to the preliminary arrangements prior to the legal betrothal.

Ketubah.  Signing the ketubah (marriage contract): In ancient times, the ketubah protected the rights of the wife by specifying the groom’s responsibilities in caring for her, and the amount of support that would be due her in the event of a divorce.

In ancient times, the father of the groom often selected a bride (kallah) for his son, as did Abraham for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:1-4).

In ancient times, marriage was looked upon as more of an alliance for reasons of survival or practicality, and the concept of romantic love remained a secondary issue, if considered at all.  Romantic love grew over time.

Of course, the consent of the bride-to-be is an important consideration.  Rebecca (Rivkah), for example, was asked if she agreed to go back with Abraham’s servant to marry Abraham’s son, Isaac.  She went willingly (Genesis 24:57–59).

Likewise, we cannot be forced into a relationship with the Son, Yeshua (Jesus).

In the same way that Rebecca was asked if she would go with Abraham’s servant, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) asks us if we are willing to follow Him to be joined in a covenant of Love with Yeshua.

Traditionally, in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, the bride (kallah) and groom (chatan) are separately immersed in water in a ritual called the mikvah, which is symbolic of spiritual cleansing.

In Matthew 3:13–17, we read that Yeshua has already been immersed (baptized) by Yochanan (John) in the waters of mikvah at the Jordan River.

As the Bride-to-be, we are also asked to be immersed.

“Whoever believes and is baptized [ritually immersed] will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  (Mark 16:16)

The water for this mikvah bath is outside and fed by a spring, from which the natural water runs down a hill into the mikvah, just outside of Jerusalem.

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”  (Proverbs 18:22)

After the immersion, the couple entered the huppah (marriage canopy)—symbolic of a new household being planned, to establish a binding contract.

Here, the groom would give the bride money or a valuable object such as a ring, and a cup of wine was customarily shared to seal their covenant vows.

In this public ceremony under the huppah, the couple entered into the betrothal period, which typically lasted for about a year.  Although they were considered married, they did not live together or engage in sexual relations.

To annul this contract, the couple would need a religious divorce (get), which had to be initiated by the husband.

Matthew 1:18–25 provides an excellent example of this.

During the erusin of Yosef (Joseph) and Miriam’s (Mary), Yosef discovered that Miriam was pregnant, and he considered divorcing her, although he had not yet brought her home as his wife.

Love is patient and kind

“… he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”  (Matthew 1:19–20)

During the erusin period, the groom was to prepare a place for his bride, while the bride focused on her personal preparations:  wedding garments, lamps, etc.

Although the bride knew to expect her groom after about a year, she did not know the exact day or hour.  He could come earlier.  It was the father of the groom who gave final approval for him to return to collect his bride.

For that reason, the bride kept her oil lamps ready at all times, just in case the groom came in the night, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn) to lead the bridal procession to the home he had prepared for her.

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), Yeshua (Jesus) likened the Kingdom of Heaven to this special period of erusin, when the groom comes for his bride:

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’  Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.”  (Matthew 25:6–7)

In Jewish weddings today, there are two cups of wine during the wedding ceremony.  After the rabbi recites the betrothal blessings accompanying the first, the couple drinks from the cup.  Since wine is associated with Kiddish, the prayer of sanctification recited on Shabbat, and since marriage is the sanctification of the bride and groom to each other, marriage is also called kiddushin.

So too today, in the season of Yeshua’s end-time return, we should be careful to remain alert and prepared for His coming, since Yeshua was speaking to His disciples prophetically about the condition of the Church in the last days.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 7: 21)

 Nissuin:  The Marriage

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  (John 14:3)

The final step in the Jewish wedding tradition is called nissuin (to take), a word that comes from naso, which means to lift up.

At this time, the groom, with much noise, fanfare and romance, carried the bride home.  Once again, the bride and groom would enter the huppah, recite a blessing over the wine (a symbol of joy), and finalize their vows.

Jewish-Marriage-Orthodox  It is traditional in some communities for the bride to circle the groom seven times and then stand to the groom’s right side under the huppah.  Since seven is the number of completion and perfection, this act symbolizes the “wholeness and completeness they cannot attain separately” (Aish).

Now finally, they would consummate their marriage and live together as husband and wife, fully partaking of all the duties and privileges of the covenant of marriage.

Likewise, the Messiah, as the Bridegroom, has gone to prepare a place for us.

The day of the return of the Messiah for His Bride is soon approaching.

Although, we know approximately the time of His return from the signs of the times, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”  (2 Peter 3:10)

The Bride (Believers in Yeshua) should be living consecrated lives, keeping themselves pure and holy in preparation for the Nissuin and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, when the Groom comes with the blast of the shofar (1 Thessalonians 4: 16) to bring His Bride home.

Christ’s Second Coming comes in two phases, once for the Church and once for Israel!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 4:

13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these Words.

There are those who would try to redefine Paul’s specific Words, I choose not to.  If Jesus was able to ascend, then so will we.  We will no longer be tied to only four dimensions and will experience interdimensional attributes.  Those who have gone to Heaven and returned experienced similar ascensions.  Why attempt to restrict Our Heavenly Father as though you need some scientist to validate HIS methods?  No man authenticates Our Heavenly FATHER but instead, HE will authenticate them if HE so desires.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Zechariah chapter 14:

3  Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.

4 And in that day His Feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

This passage refers to the second Coming of Christ as He returns to the earth.

After His Resurrection, Christ was only seen by those who Loved Him, and He was only touched by Loving hands. That should tell us something about the Rapture. Only His own will see Him at the Rapture, but every eye alive will see Him and tremble at the Second Coming.

In any reference to the Rapture there is no reference to satan. He’s not involved.  In fact, because there is no warning, it will catch satan by surprise. But note this: at the Second Coming of Christ, satan is bound.

The Beloved Disciple record in Revelation chapter 20:

2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

When the Rapture occurs, and satan undoubtedly knows it will, it will alert him that his time is short. At that point he will unleash his best destructive efforts.

In Revelation chapter 12:

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Rapture certainly takes place before the Great Tribulation, according to Scripture, but it’s not necessarily in that instant that the Great Tribulation begins.  The conditions in the world will change rapidly and people will look to someone to lead them through the expanding chaos.  How do you think people will respond when a significant departure of a large number of the population is suddenly missing?  The adversary is now supporting the idea that aliens and UFO’S are a viable option.

Things are lining up.  Is the conclusion of a convergence of multiple fronts at hand?  The answer to that question is above my pay grade.  Only FATHER knows!

Christ’s Second Coming comes in two phases, once for the Church and once for Israel!

He comes once for the Church to fulfill His promises to His Bride. He then comes again in power to fulfill all the commitments laid down by GOD in both the Old and New Testaments for the Kingdom on Earth, where He takes David’s Throne.

Jude wrote by The Holy Spirit in Jude:

14  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Who is Jude writing to?  He is writing to the chosen ones who are wrapped in the Love of Father God—kept and guarded for Jesus, the Messiah.  Notice that Jesus comes WITH ten thousands of His saints.  They had to be with Him in Heaven for Him to bring them with Him.

The Beloved Disciple John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 20:

6 Blessed and Holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

If there is a “first” resurrection, the must also be at least a “second” resurrection.  Further, we will be classified as “priests and kings”.  Levitical law did not allow Israelites to hold both offices so this refers to the true church of believers.

Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 61:

1  “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of Our God;

When Jesus read aloud the above passage, He stopped before that last phrase referring to vengeance of Our God.  Why?  It was not time yet for FATHER’S vengeance to arrive on earth.  Jesus does everything exactly on schedule.

The Beloved Disciple John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 19:

15  Now out of His Mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And He has on His robe and on His Thigh a Name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

It is vital that we make this very important distinction between these two groups in prophecy.

The Rapture is imminent thus it can occur at any moment without signs. There will not be a sign preceding it other than the very moment wherein there is a shout, the voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God. There simply is no precedent, no set of conditions by which we can know the Rapture is coming.

On the other hand, the Second Coming, which is the most documented period of time in the entire Bible, is yet to unfold. It’s the seven-year period about which more is written in the Scriptures than any other period of time. This seven-year period precedes the Second Coming. If we can tell when it starts, we can almost set the date of His Second Coming.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 1:

10   and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers (rescues) us from the wrath to come.

And in chapter 5:

1  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

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.

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and Love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Paul taught the church at Thessalonica about this topic when he visited them face-to-face.  This is why they had no need to be instructed about this Truth.

The rapture will come as a thief in the night to those who don’t walk in the Light.  We will not be surprised by His Coming.  Instead, we are to watch (be alert) and be sober (clearheaded).

The Rapture is to translate the true believers only. The Second Coming, on the other hand, affects all people on the earth.

We will suffer persecution but not the Great Tribulation!

It is imperative to understand the different kinds of suffering that we may endure here on earth as FATHER’S Sons and Daughters. Christian persecution is something that comes from the enemy working through people. What happens during the tribulation is GOD’S wrath being poured out upon this world. The source is very different, and the purpose is very different as well! FATHER does NOT bring persecution on His children, the enemy does! The tribulation is where GOD reigns down wrath and judgment upon this earth. These two types of hardships are NOT interchangeable!

Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 13:

10  And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.

12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.

Lot based his decision of where to dwell on what his soul through his eyes desired rather than seeking THE SPIRIT.  He gave priority to self rather than THE SPIRIT.

And in Genesis chapter 13:

14  And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward;

15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

The first lesson is to seek THE LORD concerning where to dwell.

And in Genesis chapter 18, the wrath of GOD is kindled:

20   And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

After Abraham’s attempt as negotiation, the process of judgment proceeded in Genesis chapter 19:

12  Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city-take them out of this place!

13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the Face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”

What is one major theme of the first example of FATHER’S Wrath?  The righteous will be removed from the sudden tribulation to come upon the unrighteous.

The post-tribulation theory where the true church will suffer through FATHER’S judgment is rooted in not only a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between persecution (from the enemy) and the tribulation (where the wrath and judgment of God rains down), but it also comes from a grossly skewed picture of GOD that accuses HIM of doing things to HIS children that no good earthly father would ever do to his own children. This is the work of Satan to make God out to be such a terrible Father that nobody in their right mind would ever want anything to do with HIM and would only serve HIM out of fear and not because they really want to.

Our FATHER is the GOOD GOD; HE is a LOVING Father! He does NOT want the righteous to be crushed under HIS wrath and judgment!! The rapture is an absolutely incredible and beautiful picture of God’s Love and care demonstrated toward HIS children!

As to persecution, we could be facing some very dark times, and our comfort is that the Holy Spirit will be with us during those times. Where do we get such audacity, such arrogance as to assume that we’re going to escape what most of the Body of Christ has suffered. We can’t escape persecution.  This is why we are to be prepared with the whole armor of GOD.  Paul was notably persecuted throughout his ministry.

He recorded by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 6:

10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The adversary will lead those vessels of dishonor to persecute us in whatever manner possible.  We must not be ignorant of their devices as we submit to The Holy Spirit in all areas.  Yes, we will suffer persecution, but not be subject to the Great Tribulation.

We are to occupy till He comes!

Jesus spoke the following parable in Luke chapter 19:

11  Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the Kingdom of God would appear immediately.

12 Therefore He said: “A certain Nobleman went into a far country to receive for Himself a Kingdom and to return.

13 So He called ten of His servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

14 But His citizens hated Him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

15 “And so it was that when He returned, having received the Kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom He had given the money, to be called to Him, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, Your mina has earned ten minas.’

17 And He said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, Your mina has earned five minas.’

19 Likewise He said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is Your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

21 For I feared You, because You are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’

22 And He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

23 Why then did you not put My money in the bank, that at My coming I might have collected it with interest?’

24 “And He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’

25 (But they said to Him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)

26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

27 But bring here those enemies of Mine, who did not want Me to reign over them, and slay them before Me.'”

We are not to sit idly by and do nothing awaiting His return.  But instead, we are to be productive for the Kingdom.

Back in 1996, a certain “prophet” strongly suggested in his teachings that Jesus would return at Tabernacles in the fall of that year.  One family in particular, sold all their possessions and simply waited for the feast days to begin.  They were devastated and homeless.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 24:

36  “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Notice that Jesus rewarded His servants for their performance.  He does not expect the same performance from everyone, but our performance is based on what we have been given as “talents” before we were formed in the womb.  Don’t compare yourself to others!  Simply be productive with what you have been given and you will be rewarded appropriately.

There are two aspects of going to Heaven.  One is the fact that you made it there.  The other is the rewards from what you accomplished for the Kingdom prior to the harpazo.  These are referred to as crowns of authority.

We should look at His delay as a further opportunity to achieve results for Him.  Some results will come by testifying, some will come by works, and some will come by financially supporting others who are in need.

The last servant did not know Jesus and suffered judgment.  Those whom he represents will go through the Great Tribulation.  Productive servants will be spared this judgment on the world.

Would Jesus express His Love for His Bride any less than how we are called to Love our wives (or husbands as the case may be)?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:

25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also Loved the church and gave Himself for her,

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word,

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Paul provides us with THE STANDARD of how Jesus sees His Bride!  He cherishes her and only wants the best for her.  He would in no way put her in harm’s way to suffer the wrath of GOD.  A Loving FATHER will not hurt HIS Son’s Bride with judgment meant for the lawless!

28 So husbands ought to Love their own wives as their own bodies; he who Loves his wife Loves himself.

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

For those of you who have truly been in Love, you can appreciate this passage.  You will steer away your spouse from any risk of pain, affliction, or death.  Instead, you will protect your spouse by any means necessary at your disposal.  Would you expect Jesus to be any less Loving toward His Bride?

30 For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones.

31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so Love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Why is this such a great mystery?  It is because people do not understand the brevity of Agape Love and Its application toward us.  The Love of Jesus is beyond our understanding but that should not dissuade us from pursuing a deeper understanding every single day of our life.

Would you separate yourself from all who Love you to pursue certain death for those who not only don’t Love you but don’t even know you?  Would you willingly suffer extreme pain and death for the ungodly?  Would you do it for your son or daughter?

It is rather easy to put a plan together, but implementing the plan is where the challenge lies.  Jesus suffered full separation from FATHER for you and me.  Why would He put His Bride in harm’s way?

Paul ends this passage with a very critical phrase: let the wife see that she respects her husband.

What is your level of respect for Jesus?  The word respect means: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.  How frequently I see people place certain people on a pedestal: movie stars, athletes, singers, wealthy people, etc.  Where is Jesus in your level of respect and admiration? 

What is the point of Paul’s comparison?  He knew that the Bride would be taken from the earth before Jacob’s Trouble.  His two letters to the Thessalonians reveal this.  If you focus on what he said in these letters, you will find that he wrote about the rapture in his initial visit to their church.

Jesus’ imminent return does not justify us becoming unproductive in our individual callings.

Once again, Paul refers to the Bridegroom’s return as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

1  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

And in 2^nd Thessalonians chapter 2:

1  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

There are many opinions about the return of Jesus, and we are not to be shaken or troubled by them.  Some say that there will be no true harpazo, and His Bride will endure seven years of tribulation (the time of Jacob’s trouble).  They don’t understand the unfailing Love FATHER has for His Sons and Daughters to make up the Bride of Christ.  Jesus is not coming for a battered bride.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 25:

1  “Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom.

2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

We are to stay prepared and productive each and every day.  If you are not fruitful in your daily life, then you will not be seen as mature in your walk.  Jesus did not call us to sit around and do nothing awaiting His return.  Don’t look at any perceived delay as a sign that He has changed His Mind about returning for His Bride.  Instead, look for opportunities to be a witness and blessing to those around you.

5 But while the Bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!’

7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the Wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

12 But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

There are plenty of people who have developed a doctrine to rationalize their spiritual inactivity. Jesus knows who they are but does not “know them”.  They will not be able to watch the return of Christ and think that they can somehow be included due to their own unwillingness to embrace what Jesus clearly states in The Word.

Jesus also spoke in Matthew chapter 24:

45  “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom His Master made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant whom His Master, when He comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that He will make him ruler over all His goods.

48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My Master is delaying His coming,’

49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the Master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for Him and at an hour that he is not aware of,

51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the other hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess.

Actions speak louder than words!

We must realize that Jesus’ return is imminent and nothing else is required for Him to return for His Bride!

“Imminent” is a word that means “it could happen at any time.”  Jesus Christ the Bridegroom could arrive at any moment to sweep His Bride away.  The word imminent refers to the next expectation, the next event in FATHER’S program. The Bride must be ready and waiting to be gathered up by the Bridegroom. The Bible describes a wide variety of events that will happen subsequently, but there is no precedent condition for the Bridegroom’s arrival. We can expect Him at any time.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:

20  For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious Body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

And in Titus chapter 2:

11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Also in Hebrews chapter 9:

28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Paul refers to the Bridegroom’s return as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

1  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

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.

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and Love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

And Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 22:

7  “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this book.”

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Jesus urges us to conduct our lives in a moment-by-moment expectancy of His return.  Shouldn’t this be in our consciousness every day?  It is my highest priority to start the day in prayer.  I would urge you to do the same for it will establish a proper perspective as you carry out your duties for the day.

It is clear that Paul walked in the same manner.

He wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 4:

13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of THE LORD is at hand.  What day will it be?  Who knows and does it really matter?  Let us each focus on producing righteous works while we have the opportunity to do so.  Those righteous works will be rewarded when we stand at the Bema Seat of Christ.