The word apocalypse has come to denote a time of untold destruction. The point in human history when there will be great catastrophes that lead to the end of the world. Apocalypse has come to be synonymous with desolation, and films like "The Book of Eli," "Mad Max," "Revelation Road," and many other post-apocalyptic genre movies. But the term apocalypse has a forgotten meaning and it might surprise you.
Apocalypse comes from the word apokalypsis which means, "unveiling." Intriguing. Unveiling does not seem like such a terrible thing. It actually according to author Brant Pitre is part of a marriage symbol that has been lost. Pitre says,
"In the words of Scott Hahn; [Marriage] is also as symbol of a far greater mystery--the love that Christ has for the bride, the Church, the love that God has for His people. This mystery receives its most powerful expression in the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Saint John, otherwise known as the Apocalypse--from the Greek word apokalypisis, which literally means "unveiling." Like the story of Adam and Eve, the Apocalypse evokes images that are both nuptial and priestly, for veils were then, as now, as standard part of the bride's wardrobe. The bride's "unveiling"--apokalypisis--was the culmination of the Jew's traditional weeklong weeding feast." (Jesus the Bridegroom, The End of Time, pg 122-123).
There is powerful wedding imagery and terminology that God uses between Himself and His people. Jesus in His own words describes His coming as Bridegroom in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Here is the entire parable:
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:1-13).
John the Baptist also uses the bridegroom description for Jesus when He says, "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." (John 3:29). Our Lord Jesus then referred to himself as the Bridegroom whne he said, "Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them." (Mark 2:19). Jesus said this to some people questioning Him about his disciples not observing fasts and other strict rituals. The Bride of Christ comes up in the Revelation, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7). We can see there is this wedding imagery and terminology being used in the Scriptures for the relationship between Jesus and His people. In fact, the Lord Jesus says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:3). This echoes the Song of Solomon, and would be familiar language to Jewish people of Jesus' day, because in the Jewish culture, the Bridegroom leaves to go build a home for His bride and then comes back to get her and carry her across the threshold.
With this understanding we can approach the apocalypse with a new ardor and amore in our hearts! We are not to tremble and be afraid of the cataclysmic and catastrophic events that will precede the coming of the Bridegroom Jesus. Instead, we are to be like Five Virgins, keeping watch with excitement and zeal! We are not going to see an angry God with fiery eyes of rage and wrath, but rather our Husband and Lord with passionate flaming eyes that burn with love for us! If you are following Jesus Christ and know Him, you should be excited about the Apocalypse! It means the Wedding and "Unveiling" will take place! It is not to be dark and depressing hour, but the delightful and deliriously happy moment of our existence!
My warning to you is that if you fear the Second Coming, then you may be one of the disobedience Five Virgins. It says when Jesus returns the following will happen, ""Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7). The mourning is not a positive thing. When we weep for joy we don't call it mourning, we call it tears of gladness or happiness. These who mourn I believe are those who are not ready for Christ to return. They do not know Him, nor wanted Him to return, and fear His coming.
This is going to be what Jesus was the separation of the sheep and goats and say to the sheep:
"Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me," and then the Lord will say to the wicked, "Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
Make no mistake about the end. There will be calamity, great destruction, death (the whole earth will almost be destroyed, see), and it says, "The Lord will trod the winepress of His wrath and the blood will be up to the bridle, and 180 miles long." (Revelation 14:19-20). You can see the carnage of the wicked in the picture at the beginning of this post. But to those of us who wait expectantly, who keep watch (Matthew 24:42, Matthew 25:13) for Christ to return, and Know Him personally, we are not to be afraid or terrified by the coming tempest and judgment! For us it will be a joyful wedding feast! (Revelation 19:6-9).
I am of the opinion that many in the church are not ready of the return of Christ the Bridegroom. Worse than this I believe there are many church members and leaders who do not want Jesus to Return! That they would not get along with the Lord and that they are content with their control and systems, and rituals! But we are to be bride. We are to be submissive to our Heavenly Husband. For He is God! Our rebelliousness and flirting and fornicating with the Harlot Babylon and her daughters must stop! The voice says, "Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "'Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.." (Revelation 18:4).
The time is short and we need to be prepared for the Bridegroom's coming! We cannot be caught in bed with prostitutes (both literally, and symbolically of idols and other gods, including ourselves as god, money, and etc). We must be pure and prepared! We must stand firm in commitment to Christ; a marriage vow that began with a prayer (of salvation). Are you an oath breaker? Are you an adulterer? Do you dare to say you are married to Christ, but fornicate with other gods?! Repent down while you still can! For there are only two faces people will see when Christ returns! One face is of overwhelming love, fire of passion in His eyes, and a face of pure joy to greet His bride. The other face is of overwhelming judgment, fire of wrath in His eyes, and face of pure justice to greet the Wicked goats.
Which face shall you see? The time has come to ask this. For late is the hour, and short is the time tell the Coming of the Lord. You either are going to be part of the Wedding or suffer the Wrath. You get to choose. Which shall it be?
Comments
Post a Comment