Matthew 25:1 ten virgins took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom
Revelation 19:7-9 the marriages of the lamb is come and the wife has made herself ready
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 we are espoused to one husband that we may be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ
Ephesians 5:29-33 the lord nourishes and cherishes the church for they are members of his body
Revelation 21:2 the holy city came down from heaven, prepared as a bride for her husband
Isaiah 52:1 Awake, put on strength O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments O Jerusalem
Hebrews 11:10-12 by faith, Abraham look for a city whose builder and maker is God
Revelation 3:10-12 hold fast to that which you have, let no man take your crown. Be an overcomer
Isaiah 54:5-6 thy maker is thy husband, the lord of host is his name
Note-Daniel and the Revelation –pp.641-643-Here was the bitterness of the little book of the church,[revelation 10:10.]Here was the coming of one like the Son of man, not to this earth, but to the Ancient of days. (Daniel 7: 13, 14.)
Here was the coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage, as set forth in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. The foolish virgins then said to the wise, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone [“going”margin] out.” “While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came.” This is not the coming of Christ to this earth, for it is a coming which precedes the marriage; but the marriage, that is, the reception of the kingdom (see comments on Revelation 21), must precede His coming to this earth to receive to Himself His people, who are to be the guests at the marriage supper. (Luke 19: 12; Revelation 19: 7-9.) This coming in the parable must therefore be the same as the coming to the Ancient of days spoken of in Daniel 7: 13, 14.
“And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” After the Bridegroom comes to the marriage, there is an examination of guests to see who are ready to participate in
the ceremony, according to the parable of Matthew 22: 1-13. As the last thing before the marriage, the King comes in to see the guests, to ascertain if all are properly arrayed in the wedding garment; and whoever, after due examination, is found with the garment on, and is accepted by the King, never after loses that garment, but is sure of immortality. But this question of fitness for the kingdom can be determined only by the investigative judgment of the sanctuary.This closing work in the sanctuary, which is the cleansing of the sanctuary and the atonement is therefore nothing else than the examination of the guests to see who have on the wedding garment.Consequently until this work is finished, it is not determined who are “ready” to go in to the marriage.”They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage.” By this short expression we are carried from the time when the Bridegroom comes to the marriage, entirely through the period of the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the examination of the guests. When this is concluded, probation will end, and the door will be shut.The connection of the parable with the message under examination is now apparent. It brings to view a period of making ready the guests for the marriage of the Lamb, which is the work of judgment to which the message brings us when it declares, “The hour of His judgment is come.” This message was to be proclaimed with a loud voice. It went forth with the power thus indicated between the years 1840-44,more especially in the autumn of the latter year, bringing us to the end of the 2300 days, when the work of judgment started as Christ began the work of cleansing the sanctuary.
As has been already shown, this work did not bring us to the close of probation but rather to the beginning of the investigative judgment. In this judgment hour we are now living. Today, as in the period
to which reference has been made, the judgment message is being heralded to all the earth. Today the solemn judgment proclamation is sounding “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” Revelation 14:6, 7.Before passing on to the consideration of the second angel’s message, let us contemplate for a
moment the importance and sublime significance of the wonderful truth here so clearly revealed. We are standing on the very threshold of the eternal world. God’s last message of mercy is now going to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. The final scenes in the great plan of salvation are even now being enacted in the sanctuary above. Think of it! The hour of God’s judgment is come. The investigative judgment that concerns every soul and that immediately precedes the coming of Jesus, is now going forward in heaven. A wedding garment the spotless robe of Christ’s own righteousness has at infinite cost been provided for all who will accept it. “How will it fare with thee and me when the King comes in?””My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man]sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2: 1.