What does "the bridegroom is coming" reveal about Jesus' second coming? Setting the Scene “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’” (Matthew 25:6) The parable of the ten virgins hinges on that electrifying announcement. The moment the shout pierces the night, the story turns from waiting to arrival. What does that little sentence teach us about Jesus’ return? Who the Bridegroom Is • Throughout Scripture, the bridegroom motif points to Jesus – John 3:29: “The bride belongs to the bridegroom.” – Ephesians 5:25–27: Christ loves the church as a husband loves his bride. • Identifying Jesus as the bridegroom instantly frames His coming as personal, covenantal, and joyous, not merely cosmic or judicial. The Certainty of His Arrival • The phrase “is coming” (present tense in the Greek) stresses a fixed, unstoppable event already in motion. • Acts 1:11: “This same Jesus… will come back in the same way you have seen Him go.” • Revelation 22:20: “Yes, I am coming soon.” Taken together, the shout in Matthew 25:6 affirms that the Second Coming is guaranteed, not hypothetical. The Surprise Element • “Midnight” underscores suddenness. No earthly schedule dictates the moment (Matthew 24:44). • 1 Thessalonians 5:2: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” • Because the virgins hear the cry unexpectedly, vigilance becomes essential; once the bridegroom appears, preparation time is over. A Public, Audible Event • A “cry” signals a public proclamation, not a secret or mystical occurrence. • 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 echoes this: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command… and the dead in Christ will rise first.” • Just as the virgins unmistakably hear the call, every eye and ear will be confronted with Christ’s return. Joy and Celebration • Weddings in Jewish culture were the height of festivity; the bridegroom’s arrival launched days of rejoicing. • Revelation 19:7 – 9 connects Christ’s coming to “the marriage of the Lamb.” • Believers anticipate not dread but consummated fellowship. Implications for Readiness • Oil-filled lamps represent prepared hearts; empty lamps expose casual faith. • The readiness theme dovetails with 2 Peter 3:11–14, urging holy, blameless lives “as you look forward to the day of God.” • No one can borrow another’s preparedness (Matthew 25:8–9). Personal faith and obedience matter. Key Takeaways • Jesus’ return is as certain as a bridegroom showing up for his wedding. • It will be sudden, public, and joyful. • The call demands continual vigilance and personal preparedness. • For those in Christ, the cry “The bridegroom is coming!” is not a warning of doom but an invitation to everlasting celebration. |
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