The Bridegroom Coming for His Bride – You Too Can Now Understand This, as it Relates to YOUR Life.

To understand some scriptures in the bible, it is important to first learn the culture, and traditions, of the people living at the time of Christ. Knowing these things shed light on the messages that Jesus is trying to help us understand with his metaphors.

Let’s begin by learning the tradition of the Jewish people, at the time of Christ, relating to a wedding. What were some of the things done in preparation of a wedding back then?

The ancient Jewish tradition surrounding the bridegroom is deeply symbolic and rich in meaning, especially when viewed in the context of biblical marriage customs.

The Role of the Bridegroom in Ancient Jewish Weddings

In Jewish tradition, marriage was not merely a contract between two people but a covenant that mirrored God’s relationship with His people. The process involved several important stages:

The Betrothal

A Jewish wedding began with a formal betrothal, known as kiddushin, which was much more binding than modern engagements.

The groom would negotiate a mohar (bride price) with the bride’s father, symbolizing his commitment and ability to provide.

Once agreed upon, the couple was legally bound but did not yet live together.

The Preparation Period

After the betrothal, the bridegroom returned to his father’s house to prepare a place for his bride. This could take up to a year.

The bride, in turn, would prepare herself, remaining pure and watching for the bridegroom’s return.

The Bridegroom’s Return

The wedding date was not set in advance but determined by the bridegroom’s father.

At an unexpected hour—often at night—the groom would come for his bride with a joyous procession of friends and family.

The bride had to remain ready, as she did not know when he would arrive.

The Wedding Ceremony & Feast

Once the groom arrived, he would take the bride to the wedding ceremony, which was followed by a grand feast.

The celebration often lasted for seven days, symbolizing joy and the completeness of the union.

This was quite the process indeed. It was organized, detailed, as was the format for all people to follow.

We have learned that Jesus teaches us using metaphors, making his words easier to understand as we can relate his desired thoughts in the format of something that is already understood through a concept such as coming for the bridegroom.

So, what do the scriptures teach us about the second coming when used in this type of format? Let’s jump right into the bible.

Biblical and Messianic Significance

These traditions are echoed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in relation to His role as the heavenly Bridegroom:

Jesus as the Bridegroom – Just as a Jewish groom prepared a home for his bride, Jesus told His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you…” (John 14:2-3).

The Church as the Bride – This is a very important detail indeed. The believers are seen as the Bride of Christ, awaiting His return. The “church” is symbolic for “Those who are believers of Christ”, and is not to be understood as an actual church organization.

The Sudden Return – The unexpected arrival of the bridegroom in Jewish custom is reflected in Jesus’ teaching about His return: “No one knows the day or hour, only the Father...” (Matthew 24:36). Just like “only the father of the bride” would be the one that knew when the bridegroom would return for the bride, so it is that only God the Father is the one who knows when Jesus Christ will return for His second coming.

The Wedding Feast – The ultimate fulfillment of this tradition is seen in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9), where Christ and His Bride (the Church) will celebrate together in eternity.

This tradition offers a beautiful parallel between earthly marriage and God’s redemptive plan, emphasizing readiness, faithfulness, and joyful anticipation of Christ’s return.

So, to me, this is the greatest take away from using this analogy of the Bridegroom coming to take the Bride to the Fathers house that he has prepared.

We must come to understand that Jesus Christ is coming to earth, not to gather all people, but He is coming for a specific group of people…His Church, or those who believe in him. This is a unique experience between Him and ONLY this group of people. We believers are the BRIDE that He is coming for, to take back to His Fathers house that He has prepared for them.

Understand that you are in a very unique group of people. You are not “of the world,” but belong to Him. Because of this, He is coming to “rescue” you from this mortal world. Can there be anything more exciting that this?

I would like to explore this coming of Jesus Christ in two different formats, and let you decide which one rings true with you.

First let’s consider this coming in the context of the Rapture of the Church.

The Rapture: Jesus Comes for His Bride

The Rapture is when Jesus comes for His bride, the Church, to take believers to be with Him in heaven. This is distinct from the Second Coming because Jesus does not set foot on the earth but meets the saints in the air.

Key Scriptures for the Rapture

1. Jesus Promised to Return for His Own
   • John 14:2-3
     “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.”

➝ Jesus is preparing a place in heaven and promises to receive His followers unto Himself.

2. The Rapture Happens Suddenly
   • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
     “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

➝ The Church (Jesus’ bride) will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

3. The Rapture is a Mystery
   • 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
     “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

➝ The Rapture is an event where believers will be transformed instantly into their glorified bodies.

4. Jesus Delivers His Bride from Wrath
   • 1 Thessalonians 1:10
     “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
   • Revelation 3:10
     “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

➝ The Church is not appointed to wrath (tribulation), so believers are removed before God’s judgments begin.

Summary of the Rapture

• Jesus comes for His bride.
• Believers are caught up in the air to meet Jesus.
• Happens before the tribulation (pre- or mid-trib view).
• A mystery not fully revealed until the New Testament.
• The Church is taken to be with Jesus in heaven.

Now, let’s consider Jesus coming for His bride in the context of His “Final, and Second Coming.”

The Second Coming: Jesus Returns with His Bride

The Second Coming happens after the tribulation when Jesus comes with His saints to reign on the earth. This is a visible event where every eye will see Him.

Key Scriptures for the Second Coming

1. Jesus Returns with Power and Glory
   • Revelation 19:11-14
     “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [...] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

➝ Jesus returns with His saints (His bride) to judge the wicked and establish His Kingdom. This fact might be telling, depending upon how you interpret this. Knowing that He will come WITH His saints who have already died, or is this with His saints that He has just raptured from the Earth, as well as those who have already died?

2. Every Eye Shall See Him
   • Revelation 1:7
     “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

➝ Unlike the Rapture (which is sudden and unseen by the world), this event is visible to all.

3. Jesus Touches Down on the Earth
   • Zechariah 14:4
     “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

➝ Unlike the Rapture, where believers meet Jesus in the air, in the Second Coming, Jesus physically touches down on earth.

4. Jesus Judges the Nations
   • Matthew 25:31-32
     “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

➝ Jesus judges the nations and establishes His rule on earth.

5. The Saints Rule with Christ
   • Revelation 20:4
     “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

➝ After the Second Coming, Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom, and believers reign with Him.

Summary of the Second Coming

• Jesus comes with His bride (the Church).
• Happens after the tribulation.
• Jesus physically touches the earth on the Mount of Olives.
• Every eye will see Him.
• He defeats the Antichrist and judges the world.
• Jesus sets up His 1,000-year Kingdom.

So, now we understand that Jesus will come to earth to get His believers. I ask that you prayerfully ask God for understanding as to which of these events He is actually referring to. Will it be in the form of the Rapture, or will it be at the time after the 7 year tribulation period just before the battle of Armageddon, and the end of this mortal world. You decide.

Regardless of your belief, the message remains the same. Let us have our lamps filled with oil in preparation to His coming. Love and serve others. Repent and utilize the atonement in receiving forgiveness for your sins. Keep the faith. Help one another in “holding on to the iron rod.” By doing these things, you can feel prepared for the “Glorious feast” as we celebrate being rescued from the evils of this mortal world. We will live with Him…”I can only imagine.”

My prayers are with all of you, and I can not wait to meet with you, in “The house that the Father has prepared for us.” Amen? Yes… AMEN!

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