We read in Zephaniah 1:7 these
prophetic words: "Hold your
peace at the presence of the Lord God:
for the day of the
Lord is at hand: for the Lord has
prepared a sacrifice,
and has bid his guests.” In the
scriptures we read that a day is with
the Lord as a thousand years (Ps. 90:4,
II Pet. 3:8). Therefore that which is
spoken of as the "Day of the Lord" in so
many prophetic scriptures, must be
understood in terms of God's reckoning
of time from His perspective. This means
that His "day" is the great 1000-year
millennial Sabbath following man's six
days (6,000 years) of labor in the sweat
of his brow and in fruitless toil to
bring forth a lasting peace and a just
and equitable order on the earth.
Therefore the Lord has decreed that He
will fully take over the affairs of the
earth and no longer let man pollute and
destroy.
A reign in righteousness will
begin when His Day is
fully inaugurated.
The "Day of the Lord" does not
burst on us all of a sudden. It begins
or dawns gradually.
This can be seen from either of
two perspectives. It can be seen in the
natural phenomenon of a new day as it is
brought about by the turning of the
earth and the gradual increase of the
light of the sun in a particular spot or
area. Long before the sun actually
appears over the horizon, there is the
dawning of light and its increasing
brightness.
The gradual unfolding of the "Day
of the Lord" can also be seen from the
perspective of the beginning of a new 24
hour day as it was reckoned by the people
of Israel in the days of our Lord. Their
new day began at sunset and progressed
through the four "watches" of the first
twelve hours from 6:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.
This latter perspective is that which we
will present in this writing. Already we
are in the initial "watch" of the Day of
the Lord, as we shall see later in this
prophetic picture. But first, we shall
consider some other important factors
which are basic to our understanding of
this picture.
[scriptural
differentiations between the Bridal
rapture and the later Marriage Supper
rapture]
Now going back to the scripture
that introduced this writing. Notice the
reference to the presence of the
Lord and the sacrifice which he has
prepared, to which He has "bid" His
guests. Check the marginal reading for
the word "bid," and you will find that
the original Hebrew word means to be
"sanctified" or "prepared". It can also
be translated to be "set apart." Now
there is a two-fold setting apart; for
there is a two-fold sacrifice or feast
that is being prepared: the marriage
supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9), and the
supper of the great God (Rev. 19:17).
The one is to be the result of his grace
extended, and the other the result of
His wrath poured out. The one is for the
redeemed and glorified, and the other is
for the refuse of the earth. One is to
prepare for the inauguration of a
righteous rule and government on the
earth; the other is to sweep away man's
refuge of lies. The guests for each are
now being set apart.
Turn now to Rev. 22:17 and read
this invitation. "And the Spirit and the
bride say, Come. And let him
that hears say, Come. And let
him that is thirsty come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water
of life freely." Notice that it is the
Spirit AND the bride
issuing the invitation to come. Now
compare this with Rev. 19:9 where we
read: "Blessed are they which are called
to the marriage supper of the
Lamb." WHO does the calling? Is a bride
called or invited to her own wedding?
Ridiculous! She does the
inviting; and this is what Rev. 22:17
says. Therefore by the time the
invitation of Rev. 19:9 is fully issued,
the bride will have
been united with
her Lord in the
heavenlies in order that the
Spirit and the bride
may say come. Now when does this take
place?
It has already been shown in a
number of prophecies and writings
through this ministry that the 144,000
firstfruits are to be united with the
Lord with glorified bodies at the
beginning of the tribulation as the
seventh trumpet begins to sound
(Rev. 10:7). This is because they have
been prepared ahead of time and are
first (firstfruits) to enter into
the glories of the heavenly realm. This
is in harmony with Rev. 19:7: "Let us be
glad and rejoice, and give honor
to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and his wife has made
herself ready.” There is
a difference between the marriage and
the marriage supper. The supper is for
the guests who are invited after the
bride has been joined with her husband,
although this feast is also a part of
the marriage festivities. Now since the
bride will have made herself ready
first, she is to be joined to her
husband at the beginning of the
tribulation as the seventh trumpet
sounds its initial blast. Then she will
be able to help prepare those who are to
be the guests at the marriage supper
which takes place when the great host of
saints are taken at the close of the
tribulation. This she will be able to do
because each of the 144,000 firstfruits
Bride company will have the power to
appear to the saints on the earth during
the time of tribulation. These
spirit-fortified saints will then be
issuing the call to many during the
tribulation to "take of the water of
life freely." Therefore it is during
the 3-1/2 years of tribulation that the
Bride is busily engaged in issuing the
invitation to "come," for she desires
that her marriage supper be a bounteous
occasion with many guests in attendance.
Since the Bride is made ready
first, symbolized by her being the
firstfruits to the Lamb (Rev.
14:4), she is also pictured in
Revelation, Chapter 12, as being "born"
out of the earthly church organism
first, and being "caught up" to the
throne (Rev. 12:1--2, 5). The "woman
clothed with the sun" of Rev. 12:1-2 is
not a picture of the heavenly bride of
Christ, but a picture of the present
church organism on
earth travailing to bring forth
mature sons. The first of these mature
sons to be glorified and "caught- up"
will be that “body” or company which is
to make up the heavenly bride of our
Lord. The fact that the "woman" brings
forth a "manchild" portrays the truth
that those who are brought forth and
caught up to the throne of God have come
into that spiritual maturity
of which the "manchild" is a type. What?
Do you think that the very choicest of
roles in the heavenly realm, that of the
Lord's own "Bride" is to be made up of
any but matured sons? These matured sons
(including both males and females) who
make up the Bride company shall watch
over and prepare those on earth during
the tribulation who are going to be
received into the heavenlies and make up
that vast host who are the guests at the
marriage supper.
This is in harmony with Psalm
45 where we have a picture of the King,
and then the Queen "in gold (spiritual
preparedness) of Ophir" (45:9), for she
is "all glorious within: her clothing
is of wrought gold." (45:13). Now notice
others besides the queen in Verse 14:
"She (the queen) shall be brought to
the King in raiment of needlework: the virgins
her companions that
follow her shall be brought to you."
Since they follow her,
it would indicate that they arrive
later. They are the "foolish virgins" of
Matt. 25:1-12, who are left behind when
the wise virgins (Bride) are taken at
the midnight hour. But the picture in
Psalm 45 shows that they shall also be
brought to the King, although later:
"With gladness and rejoicing shall they
be brought: they shall enter into the
King's palace" (45-15). The palace is
the inner realm of heaven where the
marriage festivities will take place.
But some may remark: "Doesn't it say in
Matt. 25:10 that the door was shut to
the foolish virgins?" True, they are
barred from being taken with the wise
virgins when they go in to the marriage,
but when that great event occurs, there
will yet be time
for the foolish virgins
to prove themselves
that the Lord may know them (see
Matt. 25:12 and compare with Deut. 8:2
for this use of the word "know").
Now turn to Luke 11:5-10. We
read a parable that Jesus told, about a
"friend" who seeks bread at midnight,
but receives the answer from his
would-be benefactor, "Trouble me not:
the door is now
shut, and my children are
with me in bed; I cannot rise and give
thee." (11:7). This is a parallel to the
parable of the virgins in Matt. 25. The
door was shut, and the children (the
wise virgins) were on the inside ("with
me in bed"). The "friend" or "foolish
virgin" was on the outside knocking even
as in Matt. 25:11. Now notice Luke
11:8-9: "I say to you, though he
will not rise and give him, because he
is his friend, yet because of his
importunity he will rise and give him as
many as he needs. And I say to
you. Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and you shall find; knock,
and it shall be
opened to you."
Here we have the assurance that during
the tribulation (after the midnight
hour) those who remain may receive that
which they need in order to eventually
have the door opened to them. The
"friend" asked for three loaves (11:5)
and is finally assured of as many loaves
as he needs. (11:8). Presumably, since
he asked for three loaves, he would get
what he asked for. These three loaves
correspond to the "asking", "seeking",
and "knocking"; and it is not until the
third loaf (the knocking) that the
assurance is given that the door will be
opened. The three loaves correspond to
the 30, 60, and 100 fold groups of
Christians. (Mark 4:20). It is only the
third loaf, 100 fold, who will "knock"
and have the door opened to enter into
the marriage supper of the Lamb in the
"palace" of heaven. The 30 fold and 60
fold will remain on the earth to enter
into the earth-based Kingdom.
Only the 100 fold, full grain
in the ear (Mark 4:28) Christian, will
have the wedding garment necessary for
the wedding supper. Notice Jesus'
parable recorded in Matt. 22:1-14, where
a certain "friend" is symbolically
expelled from the guests assembled for
the wedding feast because he did not
have on the specified wedding garment
(22:12-13). Such will be the fate of
many who are content to secure less than
the three loaves necessary for entrance
into the heavenly feast. The "garment"
is the same as that which is indicated
in Rev. 19:9; it is the "fine linen" of
righteousness. Think not that the
imputed righteousness of Christ is
sufficient. This only introduces one
into the 30 fold estate. The
righteousness of Christ must also be
imparted within (the 60 fold), and then
fully integrated into the fabric of the
soul, being "woven" by the working of
the Word and the Spirit, until a
beautiful garment (character) is the
result. This is possible only through
the Spirit-sanctified estate of the 100
fold, who have the extra oil in their
vessels.
A further indication that those
who are left when the first-fruits Bride
is taken will have the opportunity to be
made ready is found in Luke 12:35-36.
"Let your loins be girded about, and
your lights burning; And you
yourselves like to men that wait
for their Lord, when he will return from
the wedding; that when he comes
and knocks, they may open to
him immediately.” Since the wise virgins
(Bride company) go in to the
marriage when the Bridegroom
comes at the midnight hour (Matt.
25:10), the ones mentioned in Luke 12:36
are those left behind (foolish virgins)
who must wait for their Lord to
return from the wedding. But when
does He return, and what is the meaning
of the statement: "that when he comes
and knocks, they may open to
him immediately?" (Luke 12:36). We have
already seen the foolish virgins
knocking and being refused admittance to
the marriage (Matt. 25:10-12), but we
have also seen these same ones
represented by the "friend" in Luke
11:5-9 knocking after the children (wise
virgins) are on the inside, and
receiving three loaves (entering the
100 fold estate through the Holy Spirit
baptism); so we know that though the
foolish virgins were left behind, they
did go and "buy oil" (the Holy Spirit)
for their lamps and their vessels (Matt.
25:9). But what then? Read Luke 12:35-36
again. "Let your loins be girded about
and your lights burning." This would
indicate that oil had been secured. Then
the instruction is to wait (in
expectancy) for the Lord to return from
the wedding.
Here is a mystery that needs to
be unveiled. Shortly after the Bride
company has been received of the Lord
and joined in nuptial joy with Him in
the heavenly realms, both the Lord
Himself and the glorified saints will
begin to appear to those left
behind. The pattern for this was set by
Jesus after he was raised from the dead.
He first ascended to the Father and then
returned, appearing to the
disciples and being seen of them for a
period of 40 days (Acts 1:3). Even so
will it be in the end time. After the
firstfruits Bride is translated
(corresponding in the pattern to the
resurrection of Christ), they shall
ascend to meet the Lord in the upper
stratosphere; then within a few days,
they shall return from the wedding to
fulfill their duties throughout the
tribulation period. Now we can
understand Luke 12:36. Those left
behind are to wait for the appearance
of the Lord and the glorified saints,
who will be able to materialize their
bodies and visit those left. Such
visitations will be the fulfillment of
the Lord (or members of His Bride)
coming and "knocking" (Luke 12:36), and
the expectancy of the waiting ones is to
be such that they will "open to
him immediately" (Luke 12:36), Such
visitations will also be a fulfillment
of Rev. 3:20, where Jesus is pictured as
"knocking" during the closing years of
the Laodicean era. Thus throughout the
entire period of the tribulation, the
Lord and the glorified members of His
Bride will continue to appear to those
who are waiting, expecting and "opening
the door." In the scriptures, forty
is the number of testing. Even so,
Jesus' appearance to the disciples for 40
days following His resurrection sets the
pattern for the end-time appearance of
Jesus and the Bridal company of 144,000
glorified saints during the testing
period of the entire tribulation.
[the four watches]
The Lord Jesus emphasized
repeatedly the necessity of "watching"
relative to His coming again. Notice His
words in Mark 13:33-37: "Take [ ] heed,
watch and pray: for you
know not when the time is. For the Son
of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority
to his servants, and to every man his
work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch [ ] therefore: for you
know not when the master of the house
comes, at even, or at midnight,
or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning: Lest coming suddenly he find
you sleeping. And what I say to
you I say to all. Watch."
The admonition to "watch" is intimately
linked with the references to the
"watches" of the night as they were
designated at that time under the Roman
rule. The first watch referred to as "at
even" was from six to nine; the second
watch was from nine to twelve and was
called the "midnight" watch; the third
watch from twelve to three was
designated the "cockcrowing" watch; and
the fourth watch from three to six is
spoken of as "in the morning".
[the first watch]
Although Jesus was emphasizing
the uncertainty of the exact time of His
coming. He was also giving a veiled
insight into the various phases
of His end-time coming. Actually there
is a phase or episode of His coming that
is fulfilled in each of the four
watches mentioned. According to the
Jewish reckoning of time, a new day of
twenty four hours always began "at even"
with the setting of the sun. Thus a "new
day" begins with the setting in of
darkness. However, "darkness" is always
associated with the world and not with
Christ and Christians. This is pointed
out by Paul in I Thess. 5:5-6: "You
are all children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the
night, nor of darkness. Therefore let
us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch
and be sober." In those days people
generally did very little after sunset
and with darkness setting in they went
to bed and to sleep, rising early in the
morning with the rising of the sun. But
notice that Paul says "Let us not
sleep, as do others
(the world); but let us watch".
Here we have an enigma which can only be
solved as we realize the difference
between Christians and the world.
Christians are "the children of light,
and the children of the day" and "not of
the night, nor of darkness.” Therefore
when Jesus speaks of His coming first
"at even," He is referring to that
end-time period when a new day
is beginning; to the world it means the
setting in of increased darkness, but to
those who are ''watching," this first
watch of the new day means an increase
of spiritual light or truth; it is his
coming in a further revelation of
Himself to give light (understanding)
to His intimate followers.
But it is a "new day" only to
those who are "watching,” to those who
are not sleeping as is the world. We are
now witnessing the "coming" of the Lord
''at even"—in the first watch of the new
day. Never before since the days of the
apostles in the first century has there
been such an increase in spiritual light
and understanding as in our day. To
those who are not asleep but are
watching, the Spirit of the Lord is
speaking, "Arise, shine; for your
light is come, and the glory of the Lord
is risen upon you." (Isa. 60:1).
But notice the very next verse. It shows
the contrast between that which is
taking place among the "watching "ones
in the first watch, and that which is
overtaking the world. “For, behold, the
darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people: but the Lord
shall arise on you, and
his glory shall be seen upon you.”
(Isa. 60:2). Thus the Lord is coming (in
the power of His Spirit) to bring light
and glory to His people. We are now in
the inception period of this coming; "at
even", or in the first watch of the new
day.
[the second watch]
Turning back to Mark 13:35, we
notice that Jesus also warned that as
the Master of His house He would also
come "at midnight." Midnight concludes
the second watch of the night; but as we
have already seen, since the Hebrew day
began at sunset, it is actually the
second period of a new day. We must keep
in mind the double significance
of the prophetic picture. To most of the
world the "day of the Lord" is a period
of increasing darkness. (See Joel 2:1-2,
Zeph. 1:15). But to God's called out
remnant who are "watching" and are not
of the night, nor of the darkness, and
who are not asleep, it
is a time of increasing light.
Concerning the Lord's coming "at
midnight," we read in Matt, 25:6, "And
at midnight there was a cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom comes."
The "wise virgins" were taken into the
marriage, and the "foolish virgins" were
left. This coming at midnight is
referred to elsewhere as Jesus' coming
"as a thief." Notice Rev. 3:3, "If
therefore you shall not watch,
I will come on you as a thief,
and you shall not know what hour
I will come on you.” Notice the
warning of being unprepared as
were the foolish virgins. The same
warning note is sounded in Rev. 16:15,
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is
he that watches, and keeps
his garments, lest he walk naked, and
they see his shame." A thief, when he
breaks in to take something, does not
announce his coming, and the only
evidence that he has "visited" is that something
is missing. He comes "at
an hour when you think not"
(Luke 12:40). He comes to "make up His
jewels" (Mal. 3:17). These "jewels" are
the 144,000 firstfruits who are virgins
(wise virgins) and who are "redeemed
from among men, being the firstfruits to
God and to the Lamb" (Rev. 14:4). They
will be translated at the beginning of
the tribulation period, for they are
"accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man" (Luke
21:36). Concerning these "jewels" the
Lord says, "I will spare them, as a man
spares his own son that serves
him." (Mal. 3:17). Since they have a
ministry to fulfill on the earth during
the tribulation, the Lord speaks
further, "Then shall you
return, and discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between him
that serves God and him that serves
him not." (Mal. 3:18). Concerning the
"thief-like" coming of Jesus we read in
Matt. 24:43, "But know this, that if the
goodman of the house had known in what watch
the thief would come, he would have watched,
and would not have allowed his
house to be broken up" (or
"through"--see Luke 12:39. The "house"
referred to is the church, which is the
"household of God" (Ephes. 2:19). This
is the "price" he exacts of a careless
household which is not "watching" and
not ready. He "breaks through"
and takes the wise virgins, for "they
that were ready went in
with Him to the marriage" (Matt. 25:10).
This is in harmony with Rev. 19:7 which
says "Let us be glad and rejoice, and
give honor to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his
wife has made herself
ready."
[the third watch]
Again going back to Mark 13:35
we see a further coming of the Lord “at
the cockcrowing." "The cockcrowing" ends
the third watch, which was from midnight
to three. It was undoubtedly during this
very watch that Peter denied his Lord.
Previously, as they went out into the
Mount of Olives following the Passover
supper together, Jesus had said to
Peter, "Verily I say to you,
That this day, even in this night,
before the cock crow twice, you
shall deny me thrice." (Mark 14:30). It
happened even as Jesus had spoken (see
Mark 14:66-72). Thus, in the scriptures,
"the cockcrowing" is prophetically
connected with Peter's denial. What does
this show us? It shows us that those who
are not taken at the midnight hour, and
are left to go through the tribulation
period, have at some time and in some
measure denied their Lord. The
tribulation is therefore to test them
and prove them that the Lord
might know them, and that they
might be made ready to be called to the
marriage supper. When the Lord comes "at
the cockcrowing," it is for all those
who have been made ready during the
tribulation, both the "foolish virgins"
and what might be called the
"tribulation saints" (those who have
come to know the Lord during the
tribulation period and have had
sufficient time to develop from a
"blade" to a "full corn in the ear"
Christian). (Mark 4:28). Even as in the
natural, the crowing of the cock awakens
those who are sleeping, so will it be
when Jesus comes "at the cockcrowing;"
those who are "asleep in Jesus" will be
raised. Immediately following, the
saints who are alive shall be "caught up
together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air." (I Thess.
4:13-17).
This coming of Jesus "at the
cockcrowing" immediately follows the
tribulation period, for it is "in those
days, after that tribulation" that He
shall "send his angels, and shall gather
together his elect" (see Mark 13:24-27).
A more detailed picture of the order of
events "in those days, after that
tribulation" is given in the book of
Revelation. Just before the seven vials
of wrath are poured out on the earth
(see Rev. Chapter 16), the elect saints
are united with the Lord and begin their
ascent toward the temple in heaven. This
is pictured in Rev. 14:14-16 by one
"like to the Son of man, having
on his head a golden crown, and in his
hand a sharp sickle." By this sharp
sickle He reaps the "harvest of the
earth," gathering the ripened grain into
the "barn" of His heavenly kingdom, for
"then shall the righteous shine forth as
the sun in the kingdom of their Father"
(see Matt. 13:30, 43). These glorified
saints are seen in Rev., Chapter 15,
after their gathering to the Lord,
singing a song of victory and
deliverance (15:2-4). Immediately
following the reaping (gathering) of the
elect saints, we read in Rev. 14:17-19
of an angel with another sharp sickle
with the command to "gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth; for
her grapes are ripe." The sickle is
thrust in to gather the vine of the
earth and cast it into the great
winepress of the wrath of God. This
"wrath of God" is the result of the
seven "vials of wrath" being poured out
on the earth (see Rev. 15:1,7; 16:1).
Not until these vials of wrath begin to
be poured out on the earth, do the
saints who have been translated and
gathered to Jesus enter into the temple
in heaven to share in the marriage
supper of the Lamb. (Rev. 15:8).
At the same time the saints are
participating in the marriage supper of
the Lamb in the temple in heaven, there
is an invitation going forth for another
supper which is taking place on the
earth. We read in Rev. 19:17 these
words; "And I saw an angel standing in
the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the
midst of heaven (Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of
the great God; That ye may eat the flesh
of kings, and the flesh of captains, and
the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh
of horses, and of them that sit on them,
and the flesh of all men, both free and
bond, both small and great." There are
two
kinds of guests at this supper:
the thousands of humans who are to be
slain in the outpouring of the vials of
wrath, and the fowls of the air who will
eat their fill of the flesh of the dead.
The marriage festivities in heaven will
come to an end just before the final
vial of wrath is poured out on the
earth. Then down to earth will descend
the Lord Jesus, followed by the
multitude of saints "on white
horses, clothed in fine linen, white
and clean" (see Rev. 19:11-14).
[the fourth watch]
Now we are ready for the final
phase of the "coming" of the Lord as it
is symbolized by the "watches" as
recorded in Mark 13:35. The final watch,
which was from three to six, is referred
to by Jesus as "in the morning." This is
when the Lord "comes with ten thousands
of his saints" (Jude 14). He arrives
just as the final vial of wrath is
poured out, for "he treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of
Almighty God" (Rev. 19:15). He is
revealed from heaven "in flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thess. 1:8).
This is when He comes "with power and
great glory," being seen by those on
earth who have survived the atomic
holocaust which rages throughout the
seven vials of wrath. What the
inhabitants of the earth will actually
see first is the "sign" of the Son of
man in heaven (Matt. 24:30). This is the
"glory cloud" which will begin to be
seen when He gathers His elect just
before the final vials of wrath. It will
be this supernatural light appearing in
the sky that will cause the "tribes of
the earth" to mourn. Finally they shall
see the Son of man coming "in the clouds
of heaven" with power and great glory
(Matt. 24:30). The "clouds" which
surround Him as He appears are the hosts
of the redeemed and glorified saints.
Matt. 24:31, rather than giving an
account of something following His
appearing in power and glory, is
an explanatory detail encompassed within
the overall picture of His glorious
return, to show the meaning of the
"clouds" which accompany Him. The clouds
are the "elect" who will have been
gathered previously and who appear with
Him in His manifestation of great glory.
[summary]
Now let us summarize. We are to
be watching for His coming. But
before we fully know how to "watch," we
must understand the different phases of
His coming as portrayed by Jesus in Mark
13:35. Right now He is coming "at even,"
the beginning of the Day of the Lord,
and we are watching for and are even now
participating in a greater
revelation of Himself
as He comes in the power of His Spirit
to give light and understanding of His
end-time purposes for His Church. He is
now visiting His temple in a time of
quickening, cleansing, restoration, and
preparation for a second Pentecost and a
mighty world-wide outpouring of the Holy
Spirit such as the world has never seen.
This preparatory move of the Spirit is
to make ready a people who shall be used
mightily in the time of tribulation
which is coming, and who will be an
instrument in the hand of the Lord to
reap a great harvest throughout the
earth. Are you "watching" daily that He
might give you greater light and
understanding, moving with the Spirit
into that which He has purposed for this
end time?
Are you also watching for His
coming "at midnight?" Is the "lamp" of
His word burning brightly? Do you have
extra oil in your vessel, that you might
have the "spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of him?"
(Ephes. 1:17). Is that oil of His Spirit
in sufficient supply that the love of
God may be shed abroad in your heart?
(Rom. 5:5). Do you know the "love of
Christ, which passes knowledge,
that you might be filled with
all the fullness of God?" (Ephes. 3:19).
You see, beloved, there is a lot more to
having extra oil them claiming to have
had an experience. The 144,000 Bride
company which shall be received of the
Bridegroom at the midnight hour are
those who "follow the Lamb wherever
he goes" (Rev. 14:4). Are you
hearing His voice and following Him in
everything? Whether you qualify for the
Bride or not, it is important for you to
be as ready as possible To receive the
mighty outpouring of the Spirit which is
to follow shortly after the Bride is
translated, for it will come upon a
prepared people; a people who will be
used mightily by the Lord during the
harvest days of the tribulation period.
And in that day, if you are not taken as
a part of the Bride, then quickly
"watch" for the secret appearance of the
Lord or one of his glorified saints,
even as the Lord appeared to His
disciples in the upper room after His
resurrection (Luke 24:36), or to the two
who walked on the road to Emmaus (Luke
24:13-31), or to others in that day.
Yes, "let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning; and you
yourselves like to men that wait
for their lord, when he will return from
the wedding; that when he comes
and knocks, they may open to
him immediately" (Luke 12:35-36). Since
those who are glorified do not need
doors to be opened to them (see John
20:19), the "knocking'' and the
"opening" is a spiritual readiness to
receive, even to those who are
"watching."
After the mighty and glorious
ministry of the saints on the earth
during the tribulation, then there must
be a readiness and "watching" for
Jesus' coming "at the cockcrowing." For
that is when all those truly sanctified
will be changed and "caught up" to be
with the Lord (I Cor. 15:51-54), I
Thess. 4:14-17). Then, after the
marriage supper in heaven, the Lord
will return with all of His saints to
rule and reign on the earth. This is His
coming "in the morning" in power and
great glory. "So now, my people, is the
time to hear the voice of your
God and prepare. The Spirit is saying
'come,' for the hour is late and my
people are so woefully unprepared for
that which is soon to unfold. There is
much for my people to enter into before
the Bride is taken. It is now the Spirit
who says ‘come;’ in this new day of the
Lord's visitation and unveiling to His
people. But in time it will be Spirit
and the Bride who will say ‘come;’ for
saints in glorified power will be
working diligently with saints yet in
earthly vesture to secure an abundant
gathering to the Lord, for the
day of nuptial festivities will be
drawing near and garments of
beauty and glory must be donned by all
who would enter therein."