Joel Richardson, Christian author and speaker, has a proof on the timing of the rapture vs the tribulation. The first paper and proof was last week. This paper is his second proof; it is the parable of the Ten Virgins. The parable was in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. Most sermons on the subject emphasize Matthew 24, but this parable is in His same lecture, in the same space, but one chapter later. So we have every right to give it an End Times interpretation. He explains how the Jewish marriage supper is an allegory of us Christians (the Bride of Christ) having a wedding supper with the Groom (Jesus). And how it proves a post-tribulation rapture; a rapture after most of the tribulation; not a pretribulation one, as we will summarize. The Parable is told in Matthew 25:1-13:
…the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
First, the groom is not marrying 5 women at once. The word ‘virgin,’ in this case, is simply a young woman, unmarried. The 5 who got in to the wedding supper might just be bridesmaids, or the bride’s entourage. The important lesson usually taught here is that another 5 of the 10 young women were not preparing for the groom’s arrival, so they were not allowed in the wedding feast. Applying that to us, if we are not loving our Lord enough to be anxiously looking for His arrival, and eagerly awaiting the opportunity to escape the sins of earth, we are not true Christians. Do not get lost in the world, people, and learn to focus to the necessity of your abiding in Christ instead (John 15:1-6). Otherwise, you may miss heaven, Jesus is saying in those sections of verses. If your priorities did not get radically changed (into a new person) when you got “saved,” you may not end up saved.
But Joel has in mind another emphasis on the verses. He believes, and with good reason, I think, that it answers the question, “Do Jewish wedding rituals in the first century prove a pre-tribulation rapture—or a post-tribulation one?”
Why is the timing in the wedding rituals an issue? First, pre-tribulationists believe Christians go straight to heaven at rapture. But there is a problem. Somehow they have to try to enjoy the marriage supper, while the new Christians and Jews and their unsaved families are getting murdered by the millions during the tribulation back on earth. Kind of a downer idea, isn’t it? Uh, I’m not ready for dessert. (Yes, they are aware (Hebrews 12:1)). But truth is, first century Jewish wedding customs placed the marriage supper at the home of the bride, NOT at the home of the groom or his parents. For the Last Days, that means we do NOT have the marriage supper in heaven (Father’s house), but on earth, at the New Jerusalem (Bride’s house). After that supper, according to custom, the groom would take the bride to his house–in our case, heaven. (J. Snodgrass, Stories of Intent.)
So here is the order of events: the Groom (Jesus), at His Second Coming/Rapture (another blog proves they are the same event) leaves His house (leaves heaven), and makes His way towards earth, then pauses in the clouds, waiting for His angels to act. His angels ride with him (not us riding with him). When the groom is visible from earth (that’s where the cosmic disturbances bring that about for the whole world), the shout and trumpet blast are given, and, if we are ready (ie, having been born again and love Him, and are looking for His arrival), we (the bride) come up to greet Him (in the clouds) and escort Him back to her house on earth. Like coming to greet a visiting dignitary and escorting him back, a popular treatment at any time. A big meal is served, and the father (God the Father) gives his daughter (us, the Bride) to her groom (Jesus, the Groom), with his blessing, and then they go back to his house to consummate the marriage. That’s when we go to heaven. (I have another blog on when we go to heaven).
To prove the point another way, notice my underline in v. 10 of Matthew 25 above. Note that 1) the bridegroom came, 2) the prepared young women went in with him to the wedding feast, and 3) the door was shut. That’s it—clearly those last two were done in one place. No mention of flying off to the groom’s place yet. The supper, clearly, was there—at the bride’s dwelling.
I hope this gives the proper meaning of this allegory, and helps you believe how pretribulation rapture is a figment of an 1830 imagination (I have another blog on that). This is one of many proofs of the opposite—it is post-tribulation.
If we live in that time, we will have a target on our backs. Temptation to abandon Christ will be great. (Or, believing in a false doctrine will be great). The Scripture says we must endure to the end to reach heaven. May God show us how to endure the tests of the man of sin, if we are alive in those last days, and may God show us how to prepare for His coming. We don’t want to miss heaven. No. Nyet.
