There are many today who don't believe in a rapture. Yes the word is in the Latin Vulgate but the original Greek meaning is "caught up" or "snatched away".
Part 1. THE RAPTURE
I was in church one Sunday and during a worship song, being sung in a language I don’t speak or understand, it came to my mind that in the coming months things will become very difficult. An instant later I heard in my mind “prepare your heart”. I did not know where that came from and couldn’t think of any scripture with that exact phrase. And by chance and accident I found myself studying the rapture and certain parables. All the commentaries and expositions repeatedly used a certain phrase. You guessed it, “prepare your heart, preparedness of heart.
The Blessed Hope:
It’s what life is all about; an absolutely stunning event is coming and it will soon take place. An event that cannot be denied by clever detractors or vain philosophical rhetoric.
It may seem strange to most that at some unknown conjecture in time true believers in Christ will be taken up; snatched out of this world (or dimension as we know it) into another realm. It is the blessed hope.
At the last supper Christ made a fascinating promise.
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (Jn 14:1-3)
Without question this statement is profound. Jesus knew that He would have to leave before the Holy Spirit would come and be given. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (Jn 16:7). It’s interesting to realize the opposite will occur before Jesus can return. Let that sink in. the indwelling Holy Spirit will be withdrawn when Jesus returns. What does that mean? The church, the body of Christ, indwelt with the Holy Spirit will be taken away. Another fact disclosed is that we will actually have a specially tailored environment prepared by Christ. If God prepared the world as we know it in six days, we can’t begin to grasp what’s in heaven. But as it is written, since the beginning of the world Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that wait on Him...for them that love Him. Read 1 Kings 10 here
I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. This is the most important thing in all of life and the source of all our joy.
It is important to understand there is a Jewish wedding tradition at play here. The ancient Jewish wedding ceremony is linked to the language of Jesus teaching. It’s regrettable that the Jewish roots of Christianity have been lost due to the anti – semitic mind set of the early and continuing Catholic church. We have lost a lot of scriptural perception as a result. The Jewish wedding celebration and ceremonies of the first century were quite different from our modern understanding.
The marriage started with the betrothal (ketubah) initiated by the bridegroom and established the marriage covenant. The (mohar) – was a price negotiated to purchase his bride. Just as the church is the purchased possession bought with a price, the blood of Christ. You were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph 1:13b, 14a). once the price was paid the bride was set apart (sanctified…. positional sanctification) for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant relation established the groom and bride drank from one cup of wine. It should be noted after the groom drank and presented the cup to the bride it was at this point she could accept or refuse by not drinking from the cup. This sealed the covenant.
It is most interesting that the bride must start a ritual of purification (mikvah) within four days before the wedding. It was a ritual of immersion in water as part of a physical and spiritual preparation of the wedding ceremony.
After the betrothal ceremony the bridegroom would go to his father’s house and prepare a room for her. This often involved construction. After the room was prepared a feast would be prepared. And all during this time he remained apart from her. Though not married yet they are committed by a covenant. The bride does not know when he will return. When the time comes, he leaves his fathers house accompanied by the best man and the male attendants usually a torch lit procession to retrieve his bride. Preceding his coming, there would be blowing of shofar’s and a shout, “the bridegroom is coming”! She is to be prepared ready to go with him in her wedding attire even though she doesn’t know the exact time of his return. She is actually picked up and carried to the fathers’ house on a palanquin, her feet never touching the ground. The bride and groom would then enter the bridal chamber and remain seven days during the wedding feast. When they came out, the brides’ veil was now removed for all to see her, the wedding celebration continued seven more days.
This is important to understand that this is the context of Jesus parable of the 10 virgins.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And 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, Truly I say unto you, I know you not. (Matt 25:1-12)
The parable Jesus told involves wedding preparations and a warning. It's easy to see more into this parable and symbolize things not there. But what is pointed out is…..
10 virgins – representing expectant Christian community (the church) Even though commentators warn not to consider the number of unprepared virgins it is alarming to see half were not prepared and should be noted.
The bridegroom delays (tarries)
Overriding theme – preparedness, even in face of long delay.
It’s not that the foolish didn’t bring oil, it’s that they didn’t bring enough. The main theme stresses preparedness for the coming. More than a passive watchfulness is required, there must be behavior acceptable to the master. It must be pointed out that the foolish had no vessels to be constantly replenishing oil in the lamp.
At midnight the cry rang out! Midnight is the symbol for the climax of eschatology. The bridegroom comes, the wise enter and the door is shut. The cries of the foolish are to no avail because this is the consummation of the age. They even desired and were waiting to enter the kingdom but never prepared their heart. Ponder the solemn words “I know you not”. It is the question of the union of the life with Christ. The distinction is between worldly Christian’s of now and then devotion and consistent, habitual devotion that endures the test; not always seen or heard in outward appearance, but a deep abiding within the heart of watching and anticipating the coming of our Lord and savior!
Part 1. THE RAPTURE
I was in church one Sunday and during a worship song, being sung in a language I don’t speak or understand, it came to my mind that in the coming months things will become very difficult. An instant later I heard in my mind “prepare your heart”. I did not know where that came from and couldn’t think of any scripture with that exact phrase. And by chance and accident I found myself studying the rapture and certain parables. All the commentaries and expositions repeatedly used a certain phrase. You guessed it, “prepare your heart, preparedness of heart.
The Blessed Hope:
It’s what life is all about; an absolutely stunning event is coming and it will soon take place. An event that cannot be denied by clever detractors or vain philosophical rhetoric.
It may seem strange to most that at some unknown conjecture in time true believers in Christ will be taken up; snatched out of this world (or dimension as we know it) into another realm. It is the blessed hope.
At the last supper Christ made a fascinating promise.
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (Jn 14:1-3)
Without question this statement is profound. Jesus knew that He would have to leave before the Holy Spirit would come and be given. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (Jn 16:7). It’s interesting to realize the opposite will occur before Jesus can return. Let that sink in. the indwelling Holy Spirit will be withdrawn when Jesus returns. What does that mean? The church, the body of Christ, indwelt with the Holy Spirit will be taken away. Another fact disclosed is that we will actually have a specially tailored environment prepared by Christ. If God prepared the world as we know it in six days, we can’t begin to grasp what’s in heaven. But as it is written, since the beginning of the world Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that wait on Him...for them that love Him. Read 1 Kings 10 here
I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. This is the most important thing in all of life and the source of all our joy.
It is important to understand there is a Jewish wedding tradition at play here. The ancient Jewish wedding ceremony is linked to the language of Jesus teaching. It’s regrettable that the Jewish roots of Christianity have been lost due to the anti – semitic mind set of the early and continuing Catholic church. We have lost a lot of scriptural perception as a result. The Jewish wedding celebration and ceremonies of the first century were quite different from our modern understanding.
The marriage started with the betrothal (ketubah) initiated by the bridegroom and established the marriage covenant. The (mohar) – was a price negotiated to purchase his bride. Just as the church is the purchased possession bought with a price, the blood of Christ. You were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph 1:13b, 14a). once the price was paid the bride was set apart (sanctified…. positional sanctification) for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant relation established the groom and bride drank from one cup of wine. It should be noted after the groom drank and presented the cup to the bride it was at this point she could accept or refuse by not drinking from the cup. This sealed the covenant.
It is most interesting that the bride must start a ritual of purification (mikvah) within four days before the wedding. It was a ritual of immersion in water as part of a physical and spiritual preparation of the wedding ceremony.
After the betrothal ceremony the bridegroom would go to his father’s house and prepare a room for her. This often involved construction. After the room was prepared a feast would be prepared. And all during this time he remained apart from her. Though not married yet they are committed by a covenant. The bride does not know when he will return. When the time comes, he leaves his fathers house accompanied by the best man and the male attendants usually a torch lit procession to retrieve his bride. Preceding his coming, there would be blowing of shofar’s and a shout, “the bridegroom is coming”! She is to be prepared ready to go with him in her wedding attire even though she doesn’t know the exact time of his return. She is actually picked up and carried to the fathers’ house on a palanquin, her feet never touching the ground. The bride and groom would then enter the bridal chamber and remain seven days during the wedding feast. When they came out, the brides’ veil was now removed for all to see her, the wedding celebration continued seven more days.
This is important to understand that this is the context of Jesus parable of the 10 virgins.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And 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, Truly I say unto you, I know you not. (Matt 25:1-12)
The parable Jesus told involves wedding preparations and a warning. It's easy to see more into this parable and symbolize things not there. But what is pointed out is…..
10 virgins – representing expectant Christian community (the church) Even though commentators warn not to consider the number of unprepared virgins it is alarming to see half were not prepared and should be noted.
The bridegroom delays (tarries)
Overriding theme – preparedness, even in face of long delay.
It’s not that the foolish didn’t bring oil, it’s that they didn’t bring enough. The main theme stresses preparedness for the coming. More than a passive watchfulness is required, there must be behavior acceptable to the master. It must be pointed out that the foolish had no vessels to be constantly replenishing oil in the lamp.
At midnight the cry rang out! Midnight is the symbol for the climax of eschatology. The bridegroom comes, the wise enter and the door is shut. The cries of the foolish are to no avail because this is the consummation of the age. They even desired and were waiting to enter the kingdom but never prepared their heart. Ponder the solemn words “I know you not”. It is the question of the union of the life with Christ. The distinction is between worldly Christian’s of now and then devotion and consistent, habitual devotion that endures the test; not always seen or heard in outward appearance, but a deep abiding within the heart of watching and anticipating the coming of our Lord and savior!
