Ready for His Return: Living as Christ's Bride
Summary
The return of Jesus is imminent—nothing else needs to happen before He comes for His church. This reality is rooted in the promise of Scripture, where Jesus will descend with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God, calling His people to Himself. This event, often called the rapture, is not the same as the second coming, but a distinct moment when Christ comes for His bride, the church. The language and imagery used in the New Testament draw heavily from the ancient Jewish wedding tradition, where the groom pays a price for his bride, leaves to prepare a place for her, and returns unexpectedly to take her to be with him.
Our relationship with Jesus is a covenant, much like a marriage, sealed by His blood. We are called to be a pure and prepared bride, set apart from the world, living in the grace that enables us to walk in holiness. The process of preparation is not about earning salvation, but about living in readiness—working, serving, and cultivating intimacy with Christ. Just as the Jewish bride did not know the exact hour her groom would return, we too must be vigilant, keeping our spiritual lamps filled with oil, which represents intimacy with God.
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 illustrates the importance of being ready. Five were wise, keeping oil in their lamps, while five were foolish and unprepared. The oil is not knowledge or religious activity, but a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. When the bridegroom came, only those who were ready went in with him. This is a call to examine our lives: Are we living in daily intimacy with Christ, or are we distracted and unprepared?
The Jewish wedding culminates in a joyful celebration, just as the rapture leads to the marriage supper of the Lamb—a seven-year celebration in heaven while tribulation unfolds on earth. After this, the church returns with Christ, presented in glory. Communion serves as a reminder of the price Jesus paid and the promise of His return. Each time we partake, we remember that we are His, and He is coming back for us. The question remains: Are we prepared for His coming?
Key Takeaways
- The Imminence of Christ’s Return
Jesus’ return for His church is imminent—there are no prophetic events left to be fulfilled before this can happen. This should create a sense of urgency and anticipation in our hearts, not fear. The reality of His coming is meant to comfort and motivate us to live with expectation and readiness. [01:07]
- The Covenant Relationship: More Than a Contract
Our salvation is not just a transaction but a covenant, like a marriage, sealed by the blood of Christ. This covenant calls us to faithfulness, purity, and a life set apart from the world. Understanding our relationship with Jesus as a binding, loving commitment transforms how we live and prepares us for His return. [04:17]
- Preparation Is Not Earning, But Readiness
Just as the Jewish bride prepared herself for the unknown hour of her groom’s arrival, we are called to spiritual preparation. Our works do not save us, but they are acts of readiness—serving, loving, and living out our faith. True preparation is a daily discipline, not a last-minute scramble. [16:56]
- Intimacy with Christ: The True Oil
The parable of the ten virgins teaches that the oil in our lamps represents intimacy with Jesus, not mere knowledge or religious activity. Only those who cultivate a personal, ongoing relationship with Him will be ready when He comes. Intimacy is built in the quiet, hidden places—through prayer, worship, and time in His presence. [32:29]
- Communion: Remembering the Price and the Promise
Every time we take communion, we remember both the price Jesus paid for us and the promise of His return. The cup is a symbol of our covenant and a call to continual preparation. It is a reminder that we belong to Him, and He is coming back to take us to Himself—so we must live in a state of readiness and devotion. [38:47]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - The Imminence of Christ’s Return
[02:16] - The Meaning of “Rapture” and Harpazo
[04:17] - The Church as the Bride of Christ
[10:45] - Jesus’ Desire for a Pure Bride
[11:35] - “I Go to Prepare a Place for You”
[12:22] - The Jewish Wedding Parallel
[12:52] - The Betrothal and the Ketubah
[15:29] - The Price Paid and the Promise
[16:56] - Preparation of the Bride
[19:20] - The Groom’s Return and the Midnight Cry
[21:12] - The Snatching Away: Harpazo in Action
[23:17] - The Marriage Supper and Seven-Year Celebration
[28:13] - The Parable of the Ten Virgins
[32:29] - Oil as Intimacy with Christ
[35:42] - The Bride’s Preparation and Readiness
[37:35] - Communion: Remembering the Covenant
[38:47] - The Promise of His Return and Our Response
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living Ready for Christ’s Return
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### Bible Reading
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
2. Matthew 25:1-13
(Parable of the Ten Virgins)
3. Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, what are the key events that happen when Jesus returns for His church? What sounds and actions are described?
[[01:07]]
2. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), what made the wise virgins different from the foolish ones? What did the wise virgins have that the others did not?
[[28:13]]
3. Ephesians 5:25-27 compares the relationship between Christ and the church to a marriage. What does Jesus do for His bride, the church, according to these verses?
[[10:45]]
4. In the sermon, what is the significance of the oil in the lamps? What does it represent?
[[32:29]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says Jesus’ return is “imminent”—nothing else needs to happen before He comes. How should this truth affect the way believers live day to day?
[[01:07]]
2. The oil in the parable of the ten virgins is described as “intimacy with Jesus,” not just knowledge or religious activity. Why is this distinction important? How can someone tell the difference in their own life?
[[32:29]]
3. The Jewish wedding tradition is used as a picture of our relationship with Jesus. What does it mean for us to be a “prepared bride”? What does preparation look like according to the sermon?
[[16:56]]
4. Communion is described as a reminder of both the price Jesus paid and the promise of His return. How does this change the way we approach taking communion?
[[38:47]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that the reality of Jesus’ imminent return should create “urgency and anticipation in our hearts, not fear.” Do you feel more urgency or more fear when you think about Jesus coming back? Why? What would help you live with more anticipation?
[[01:07]]
2. The parable of the ten virgins warns against being unprepared. What are some distractions or habits in your life that might be keeping you from being ready for Jesus’ return? What is one step you could take this week to refocus?
[[29:17]]
3. The oil represents intimacy with Jesus—time spent in prayer, worship, and His presence. What does your daily or weekly routine look like when it comes to building intimacy with God? Is there a specific way you want to grow in this area?
[[32:29]]
4. The sermon says, “Work doesn’t get you saved, but work does prepare you.” What are some practical ways you can serve, love, or live out your faith as part of your preparation?
[[16:56]]
5. Communion is a reminder that we belong to Jesus and He is coming back for us. How can you make communion more meaningful in your life? Is there a way you can use it to remind yourself to live in readiness and devotion?
[[38:47]]
6. The Jewish bride didn’t know when her groom would return, so she stayed ready. What would it look like for you to “keep your lamp filled with oil” in your current season of life?
[[30:45]]
7. The sermon challenges us to examine our lives: Are we living in daily intimacy with Christ, or are we distracted and unprepared? What is one thing you want to change or commit to this week in response to this challenge?
[[31:49]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group live with readiness, intimacy, and joyful anticipation for Jesus’ return. Pray for the grace to set aside distractions and to grow in love and devotion as His bride.
Devotional
Day 1: The Imminent Return of Christ—Be Ready at All Times
The return of Jesus for His church is described as imminent—nothing needs to happen before it occurs. Just as the Jewish bride did not know the exact hour her groom would come, so too must believers live in a state of readiness, prepared for Christ’s sudden return. The rapture is not a distant or uncertain event, but a promised moment that could happen at any time, and it will be marked by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. This is not meant to frighten, but to comfort and motivate the church to live expectantly, keeping their hearts and lives prepared for the coming of the Lord. [01:07]
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV)
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can live today as if Jesus could return at any moment?
Day 2: The Church as the Bride—A Call to Covenant and Purity
Believers are not just members of a congregation, but are the very bride of Christ, bound to Him in a covenant relationship. This covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus, calls the church to be set apart, holy, and faithful, not entangled with the world but devoted to Christ alone. Just as Paul expressed a godly jealousy for the church to be presented as a pure bride, so too are we called to guard our hearts and minds from deception and to remember the simplicity of the gospel: we are saved by grace, not by works, and are called to live in the purity that Christ desires for His bride. [05:10]
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (ESV)
For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to renew your devotion to Christ and turn away from worldly distractions?
Day 3: Prepared by Grace—Sanctified and Set Apart
Christ’s love for the church is demonstrated in His desire to sanctify and cleanse her, setting her apart from the world. This sanctification is not just a religious term, but a daily reality—Jesus gives us the grace and ability to live differently, to be washed by the Word, and to be presented to Him as a glorious, spotless bride. The process of preparation is ongoing, requiring us to read, believe, and apply God’s Word, so that we are not just hearers but doers, living out the holiness and purity that Christ desires. [10:45]
Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Reflection: How can you intentionally set yourself apart for God today through time in His Word or in prayer?
Day 4: Intimacy with Christ—The Oil That Prepares Us
The parable of the ten virgins teaches that it is not enough to simply know about the coming of the bridegroom; only those who have oil—symbolic of intimacy with Christ—are ready when He arrives. Intimacy is cultivated not by studying prophecy alone, but by spending time with Jesus, shutting out the world, and allowing your heart to be filled with His presence. When the cry comes at midnight, only those who have been diligent in their relationship with the Lord will be prepared to meet Him, for He is coming for those He knows—those who have truly known Him. [32:29]
Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV)
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Reflection: What is one way you can deepen your intimacy with Jesus today, shutting out distractions to spend time with Him?
Day 5: The Promise of Celebration—Living in Hope and Preparation
The marriage supper of the Lamb is the ultimate celebration, where Christ and His church are united forever. Every time we take communion, we remember the price Jesus paid and the promise that He will return to drink the cup anew with us in His Father’s kingdom. This hope is not just for the future, but a call to live now in joyful preparation, working diligently, keeping our garments pure, and looking forward to the day when we will be with Him forever. The signed covenant, sealed in His blood, assures us that we belong to Him, and our lives should reflect the anticipation and readiness for that glorious day. [38:47]
Revelation 19:7-9 (ESV)
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Reflection: As you remember Christ’s sacrifice, how can you live today in joyful anticipation and preparation for the celebration to come?
Quotes
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