The Bridegroom Is Coming

The Bridegroom Is Coming

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

and night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language 

where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

Its rising is from one end of heaven,

and its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat."

Psalm 19:1-6

As we journeyed down the road this morning on our weekly trek to pick up my 93 year old mother-in-law for the weekend, we were greeted by these magnificent sunrays piercing through the rain clouds to brighten the morning sky and enlighten our path. (Photo taken through the car window!)

When I read the verses above, especially the one saying that the sun is "like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race"... I can't help but smile at the imagery that invokes in my mind.  Beyond the earthly bridegroom, who certainly would be exuberant in his awakening the morning after his wedding night...but think about our bridegroom...Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God...when He breaks forth through the clouds to claim His bride...the Church:

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,

and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 

and they will see

the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory.

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet,

and they will gather together His elect from the four winds,

from one end of heaven to the other."

Matthew 24:30-31

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 

with the voice of an archangel,

and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Then the scene shifts to heaven, and even though I may not have the order of this progression correct, these are events that are yet to come...

"Then a voice came from the throne saying,

'Praise our God, all you His servants and those 

who fear Him, both small and great!'

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude,

as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings,

saying,

"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and His wife has made herself ready."

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,

clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me,

"Write: Blessed are those who are called to the 

marriage supper of the Lamb!"

And he said to me, 

"These are the true sayings of God."

Revelation 19:5-9

The final words of the book of Revelation, and of the Bible itself say:

"He who testifies to these things says,

"Surely I am coming quickly."

Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 

Amen.

Revelation 22:20-21

Isn't it amazing how God speaks to us through His sunbeams breaking through the clouds on a drizzly morning as we journey down the road?  I wonder how often He has been trying to get our attention at other times and we just weren't paying attention?  Makes you want to sit up and take notice, doesn't it? Also makes me want to be sure that I am ready to go at a moment's notice....how about you?