In Matthew 25 we read, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me …” we find written in the last chapter of the Bible. Therein it also states, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (v. 14). In the 19^th chapter of the Revelation we read in verse 7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready …” In Matthew 25 we read once more, “… the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” Since the Gospels were written we also find the statement, “They shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mt. 24:40-41).

Taking into consideration the fulfilments of the predicted events that would be before the return of Christ, our Lord says, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Mt. 24:33-34). Also in Luke 21 our Lord speaks about the signs of the time, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. … So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand … Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Lk. 21:28, 31+36). All things take place when the time is fulfilled. Precisely half of those who went out to meet the Bridegroom and waited for His coming were ready to enter the marriage supper. The rest stood before the locked door, knocking. But it was too late — too late for ever. The urgency with all Bible-believing Christians is that they do not take a risk and think to themselves, “We are going to make it anyhow.”

Those belonging to the Bride Church will most certainly receive the promise of the Bridegroom for this time; they are called the children of promise (Rom. 9:8; Gal. 4: 28). They receive the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). To them applies Eph. 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” According to Isa. 8:16, the testimony was to be bound and the word sealed in the disciples. We must know the necessary scriptural criteria to be ready for the rapture. With the help of God we have to fulfil the required conditions. The foolish virgins took their lamps; they had light. The wise virgins also took oil in their vessels, so they could refill their lamps and the smoking wick would not be quenched moving right into the decisive midnight hour. Throughout the Scripture oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The anointing with oil was always connected with the consecration to God. Kings and priests were consecrated to God through the anointing and thereby placed into their ministries.

The prophetic word has, as soon as it has been revealed, become a brightly shining light in the darkness during this important time period. It clearly illuminates all the things pertaining to the end-time, but does not permit a private interpretation (2. Pt. 1:16-21). We are now experiencing in actuality what is written, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105). Bible prophecy must now, as it was at the first coming of Christ, be recognised and understood in its fulfilment. The question is, What applies to each individual of what our Lord said? “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” or, “but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Lk. 19:41-42) or even, “he came to his own, and his own received him not”. (Jn. 1). God forbid that this should repeat itself with anyone. In the contrary, may all readers experience the following, “but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name!” (Jn. 1:6-13) and also, “… and as many as were ordained to eternal live believed.” (Acts 13:46-49). Blessed are those who this applies to, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” That is what counts now, because towards the end, Bride and Bridegroom are in agreement. The announcement, “Surely I come quickly.” is replied to by the Bride, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say Come.” Now the time is at hand. At the evening time of the “day of salvation” God gave light; now at midnight the wake-up call goes forth and soon the eternal morning will dawn. The Apostle Paul would cry out anew, “Maran-atha.” Come soon! (1. Cor. 16:22).

In Matthew 25 we read, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me …” we find written in the last chapter of the Bible. Therein it also states, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (v. 14). In the 19th chapter of the Revelation we read in verse 7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready …” In Matthew 25 we read once more, “… the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” Since the Gospels were written we also find the statement, “They shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mt. 24:40-41).

Taking into consideration the fulfilments of the predicted events that would be before the return of Christ, our Lord says, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Mt. 24:33-34). Also in Luke 21 our Lord speaks about the signs of the time, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. … So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand … Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Lk. 21:28, 31+36). All things take place when the time is fulfilled. Precisely half of those who went out to meet the Bridegroom and waited for His coming were ready to enter the marriage supper. The rest stood before the locked door, knocking. But it was too late — too late for ever. The urgency with all Bible-believing Christians is that they do not take a risk and think to themselves, “We are going to make it anyhow.”

Those belonging to the Bride Church will most certainly receive the promise of the Bridegroom for this time; they are called the children of promise (Rom. 9:8; Gal. 4: 28). They receive the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). To them applies Eph. 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” According to Isa. 8:16, the testimony was to be bound and the word sealed in the disciples. We must know the necessary scriptural criteria to be ready for the rapture. With the help of God we have to fulfil the required conditions. The foolish virgins took their lamps; they had light. The wise virgins also took oil in their vessels, so they could refill their lamps and the smoking wick would not be quenched moving right into the decisive midnight hour. Throughout the Scripture oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The anointing with oil was always connected with the consecration to God. Kings and priests were consecrated to God through the anointing and thereby placed into their ministries.

The prophetic word has, as soon as it has been revealed, become a brightly shining light in the darkness during this important time period. It clearly illuminates all the things pertaining to the end-time, but does not permit a private interpretation (2. Pt. 1:16-21). We are now experiencing in actuality what is written, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105). Bible prophecy must now, as it was at the first coming of Christ, be recognised and understood in its fulfilment. The question is, What applies to each individual of what our Lord said? “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” or, “but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Lk. 19:41-42) or even, “he came to his own, and his own received him not”. (Jn. 1). God forbid that this should repeat itself with anyone. In the contrary, may all readers experience the following, “but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name!” (Jn. 1:6-13) and also, “… and as many as were ordained to eternal live believed.” (Acts 13:46-49). Blessed are those who this applies to, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” That is what counts now, because towards the end, Bride and Bridegroom are in agreement. The announcement, “Surely I come quickly.” is replied to by the Bride, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say Come.” Now the time is at hand. At the evening time of the “day of salvation” God gave light; now at midnight the wake-up call goes forth and soon the eternal morning will dawn. The Apostle Paul would cry out anew, “Maran-atha.” Come soon! (1. Cor. 16:22).