Love Under Fire

“Behold, the Bridegroom Is Coming”

The coming of Christ as High Priest to the Most Holy Place for the cleansing of the sanctuary (Daniel 8:14), the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13), and the coming of the Lord to His temple (Malachi 3:1) are the same event. This is also represented by the bridegroom's coming to the marriage in the parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25. LF 176.1

In the parable, when the bridegroom came, “those who were ready went in with him to the wedding.” This coming of the bridegroom takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents Christ's receiving of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, the capital and symbol of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb's wife.” The angel said to John, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.” “He carried me away in the Spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:9, 10). LF 176.2

The bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the book of Revelation the people of God are described as guests at the marriage supper. If guests, they cannot be the bride. Christ will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven “dominion and glory and a kingdom,” the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2). When He has received the kingdom, He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords to redeem His people who are to eat of the marriage supper of the Lamb. LF 176.3