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The Parable of:
The
“MissingBridegroom”
(JesusisComing Back)
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TheParableof:
“The Missing Bridegroom”
(Matthew 9:14,15)
Matthew9:14,15
14 Then came to him the disciples of John saying, why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, butthydisciples
fastnot?
15 And Jesus said unto them, can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as thebridegroomis
with them? but the days will come, when thebridegroomshall betakenfrom them, and then shallthey fast.
Comments:
In this parable,Jesusimplies thatHeis the ”bridegroom” and hisdisciplesare the ”childrenof thebridechamber“. He also said that the”bridegroom” would be ”taken” from them and then, ”mourningandfasting” would occur. Thus,Jesuswas telling them thatHewould be ”taken” from them and then hisdiscipleswould ”mournandfast“.
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Let’s see what theBibleassociates ”mourningandfasting” with by comparing Scripture.
Mourn
II Samuel1:12
12 And theymourned, and wept andfasteduntil even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel; because they werefallenby thesword.
II Samuel11:26
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband wasdead, shemournedfor her husband.
(Thus, ”mourningandfasting” were associated with someonesdeath.)
Jesus said the bridgroom would be ”taken” from them.
Let’s see what theBiblemeans when it uses the word ”taken“.
Taken(First meaning)
Acts8:32,33
32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for hislifewastakenfrom the earth.
Matthew24:39
39 And knew not until the flood came andtookthem all away;
(Thus, the Bible uses the word ”taken” in the sense of “losing ones life” or being “put to death”.)
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Taken(Second meaning)
II Kings2:9,11
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee, before I betakenaway from thee.
11 And it came to pass,…that, behold,there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire…and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Acts1:11
11 Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This sameJesus, which is
takenup from you into heaven, shallso comein like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Thus, the Bible uses the word ”taken” to also mean “being removed” or “going away”, in this case
to heaven.
Conclusion: 1
When Jesus said the ”bridegroom” would be ”taken” from them, He was saying that,He(bridegroom) would beput to death(takenfrom them) and that then hisdiscipleswould ”mournandfast“.
Thus, Jesus was predictingHis deathin this parable!
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Conclusion: 2
When Jesus said the ”bridegroom” would be ”taken” from them, He was also saying thatHe(bridegroom) would “go away” (betaken) orleave themfor awhile as He returned to heaven and this would cause them to be ”sadand tofast“.
Comments:
Since Jesus implied thatHewas thebridegroomin this parable, we need to see what the Bible says about the ”bridegroom“, by comparing Scripture.
Bridegroom
Isaiah62:5
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as thebridegroomrejoiceth over thebride, so shall thyGodrejoice overthee.
John3:29
Hethat hath thebrideisthebridegroom….
Revelation19:7
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for themarriageof theLambis come, andhis wifehath made herself ready.
II Corinthians11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espousedyouto onehusband, that I may presentyouas achaste virgintoChrist.
(Thus the Bible says thatJesus ChrististheBridegroomand theChurchis thebridejust as Jesus implied in the parable)155
By using the word ”Bridegroom” in this parable, Jesus was establishing the fact that a ”marriageorwedding” was to take place in the future betweenHimselfand
His people. Also through the use of the word ”Bridegroom“,Jesusgives usHopethat He will
come again for us.
Matthew25:6,10
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold thebridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Through the illustration of aweddingormarriage, Jesus showsHis Great Lovefor us and thedeep loverelationshipthatweare to havewith Him. The word ”bridegroom” connects thislovewith ourHopeforSalvation!
Isaiah61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; forhehathclothed mewith the garments ofsalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as abridegroomdecketh himself with ornaments, and as abrideadorneth herself with her jewels.
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Conclusions:
By telling the parable of theBridegroomto be ”taken” away, Jesus was able to convey several importanttruthsto His listeners.
1. He was able to tell them of Hisdeathwhich was soon to take place.
2. He was able to show Hislovefor them through the marriage relationship of theBridegroomand HisBride.
3. He was able to tell them that He would have to
leave themand return to heaven, but just like aBridegroomcomingforHis Bride,Jesuswouldcome againfor Hispeople.
Comments:
The Bible has clearly shown us that the parable of the ”Bridegroombeingtaken” is associated with thedeathof Jesus and hisleavingor returning to heaven.
The parable thus invites us to learn more about both hisdeathand his “returning” or ”coming again“.
Since we have already learned about “death” from the parable of “Let the dead bury the dead”, we will focus on the ”coming again” ofJesusand see what theBiblesaysabout that event.
By using theConcordancewe will be able tofind textsof Scripturethat pertain to the return or second coming of Jesus.
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TheBible ConceptOf:
TheReturnorSecond ComingOf Jesus
BIBLE TEXT |
COMMENT |
John 14:1-3 …“I go to prepare a place for you.” …“I will come againand receive you unto myself that where I am ye may be also.”
|
The promise of Jesus to come againfor us. |
Luke 24:51 51 “And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.”
|
Jesus went to heaven after His resurrection. |
Acts 1:9-11 …While theybeheldhe was taken up and acloudreceived him…ye men of Galilee…this same Jesuswhich istaken[ up from you into heaven, shall so]{lang=” en-US”}comeinlike manner[ as ye have]{lang=” en-US”}seenhimgo into heaven.”
|
The mannerthatJesuswent to heavenas observedby the disciples. |
Matthew 24:30,31 “…[They shall]{lang=”en-US”}seetheSon of mancomingin thecloudsof heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trump, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
|
The mannerthat Jesus willcome again. |
Revelation 1:7 “Beholdhe comethwith clouds; andevery eye[ shall]{lang=”en-US”}seehim, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.”
|
AllwillseeJesus come. |
Matthew 24:27 “For as thelightningcometh out of the East and shineth even to the West, so shall also thecoming of the Son of man[be] {lang=”en-US”}.” |
Manner or way that Jesus will come (Visibleas the lightning) |
TheReturnorSecond ComingOf Jesus
BIBLE TEXT |
COMMENT |
Matthew 24:37-41 “Butas the days of Noe were, so shall also thecomingof the Son of manbe. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not untilthefloodcame, and tookthem all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, theone shall betaken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the oneshall betaken, and the other left…” |
As thefloodcame and “took” the wicked away, so when Jesus comes the wicked will be “taken“in deathagain. |
I Thessalonians 4:16,17 “For theLord himself shall descend from heavenwith 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 arealiveandremainshall becaught up togetherwith them in the clouds,to meet the Lordin the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” |
The righteouswill “ remain” or beleftalivewhen Jesus comes while the wicked will beslain. |
Luke 17:29,30 34-37 “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom itrained fire and brimstonefrom heaven and destroyed them all.Even thusshall it be in the daywhen theSon of man is revealed… I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; theone shall betakenand theother left. …Two shall be in the field; the one shall betaken, and theother left. And they answered and said unto him,whereLord? and he said unto them, Wheresoever the[]{lang=” en-US”}bodyis, thither will the [eagles be gathered together] {lang=“en-US”}.” |
The destruction of the wicked when Jesus comes will be like the destruction of Sodom: by fire from heaven.
Thebodyof the wickedtakenindeathwill be where the eaglesare. |
Matthew 24:27,28 “For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even to the West so shall also thecomingof the Son of man be. Forwheresoever thecarcassis, there will the [eagles be gathered together] {lang=“en-US”}.”
|
The eagleswill gather where the carcassesof the wicked are. |
Revelation 19:16-18 “And I sawheaven openedand behold a white horse and He that sat upon him was calledFaithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…And he hath on his vesture and on his thigha name written, King of KingsandLord of Lords.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,saying to all thefowlsthat fly in the midst of heaven, come andgatheryourselves togetherunto the supper of the great God: that ye mayeat the flesh of kings, and theflesh of captains, and the[flesh of mighty men]{l ang=“en-US”}…” |
The wicked will be food for the birds ([eagles]{l ang=“en-US”}).
|
Revelation 6:14-17 “…Every mountainandisland were movedout of their places,” …thekings ofthe earth…thegreat men, therich[…the m]{l ang=“en-US”}ighty…hid themselvesin the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and said… fall on us and hide usfrom the face of him who sitteth in the throne, and from thewrathof the Lamb for theGreat Day of his wrath is comeand who shall be able to stand?” |
Mannerof Jesus coming
(visible[ to the] {lang=“en-US”}wicked)
(Great physical changes to the earth) |
II Thessalonians 1:7-10 “…the Lord Jesus shall be revealedfrom heaven with his mighty angels,in flaming firetakingvengeanceon them that know not God …who shall be punished withe verlastingd estructionfrom the presence of the Lord …whenHe shall cometo be glorified in his saints…” |
The mannerof Jesus coming andwhat happensto the wicked and God’s people at His coming. |
I Thessalonians 4:16,17 “…the Lord himself shall descend fron heaven with ashout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God and thedead inChrist shall rise first: Thenwe which arealiveandremainshall becaught up together withthemin the clouds,to meet the Lordin the airand so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
|
The mannerof Jesus coming andhow we meet Him: (In theair, not on the earth). |
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BIBLE TEXT
|
COMMENT
|
I Corinthians 15:22,23 “…As in Adam all die even soin Christ shall allbemade alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits;afterward they that are Christ’s[at his coming] {lang=”en-US”}.”
|
At the coming of Christthe righteous dead willreceive life again. |
I Corinthians 15:51-54 “Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall allbe changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,and the dead shall beraised inco rruptable, and we shall be changed. … thismortalmust[put on immortality] {lang=”en-US”}.”
|
At the trump of God,the righteous[ will be given]{lang =“en-US”}immortality. |
Matthew 25:13 “Watchtherefore, for[ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh] {lang=”en-US”}.”
|
Be ready alwaysfor Jesus to come. |
Matthew 24:44 “Thereforebe ye also readyfor in such and hour as ye think notthe Son of Man cometh.”
|
[Jesus will come]{lang= “en-US”}unexpectedly. |
II Peter 3:10,12 “But theday of the Lordwillcome as a thief inthe night; in the whichthe heavensshall pass away with agreat noise, and the elements shall melt withfervent heat,the earthalso and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
|
When Jesuscomes as athiefthere will be a loud noiseandgreat heatwhich will burn the earth and the heavens. (It willnot[be an invisible coming]{l ang=“en-US”}).
|
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Conclusions(Regarding the Second Coming of Jesus)
1. Jesus was taken upin the cloudsand He willreturnin the clouds in like manner.
2. PeoplesawJesus go into heaven and they will
seeHim when He returns from heaven.
3. Every eye willseeJesus when He comes in the clouds.
4. Thecoming of Jesuswill be asvisibleas the lightning from East to West.
5. When Jesus comes thewickedwill be ”taken” indeathjust like the wicked were “taken” in death by
thefloodduring Noahs time.
6. The wicked will be destroyed or “taken” in death byfire and brimstone from heaven, just like the wicked were destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah.
7. The bodies or carcasses of the wicked will become food for the birds.
8. There will be greatphysicalchangestothe earthwhen Jesus comes. Every island and mountain will be moved out of place.
9. When Jesus comes, not only will weseeHim, but we willhearHimshoutand we willhearthe “trump” or trumpet of God.
10. At the Second Coming of Jesus the ”dead in Christ” will be ”made alive” andcaught up togetherwiththeliving righteousto meet the Lordin the air.
11. No one will know the day nor hour when Jesus will come again and so we must always be ready.
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Doctrinal Truth(Taught byJesusin the Parable of
“The Missing Bridegroom”)
1. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride.
2. The “missing Bridegroom” represents two different events:
1. Thedeathof Jesus which would take Him
away from His disciples.
2. Theleavingof Jesus for heaven which would
take Him away from the Church.
3. By using the illustration of aBridegroomandBride, Jesus showed His Great Love for us through the wedding ormarriage relationship.
4. The Bridegroomcomingfor His Bride helps us understand howJesuswillcome againforHis people.
5. Thecoming again of Jesusis clearly outlined in the Bible with regard tohowHe will come and how His coming affects both the righteous and the wicked.
6. Jesuswentto heavenin the cloudsand He will come again in the clouds.
7. When Jesus left for heaven peoplesawHimleaveandevery eyewillseeHim come again.
8. When Jesus comes again there will begreat physicalchangesto theearthlike islands and mountains being moved. (continued on next page)
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9. When Jesus comes again we willhearHimshoutand thetrumpetof God will sound.
10.When Jesus comes again the wicked will be slain or ”taken” indeathand theirbodieswill become food for the birds.
11. When Jesus comes againthe righteouswill ”remain” or beleft aliveand the righteous dead will be “made alive” or resurrected.
12. When Jesus comes again both the living righteous and the resurrected righteous will be ”changedin the twinkling of an eye” and they will begiven immortality.
13.The living righteous and the resurrected righteous will be “caught up together” and they will “meet the Lordin the air“. This clearly shows that Jesus doesnotset His foot on the earth at His Second Coming.
Thus, anyoneclaimingto be Christ and walking on this earth is afalse Christ.
14. No one will know thetimewhen Jesus will
come again and so we must always be ready.
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