There is one element in this doctrine of the “rapture” of the saints which seems to be hinted at in most of the Bible passages concerning it but which does not seem to have received the degree of attention it deserves. In its simplest form it meets the student of prophecy in the parable of the ten virgins. That this parable was spoken specially for the warning of saints alive at the Lord’s return can hardly be questioned. “Then (in the day when ‘the lord of that servant cometh’—Matthew 24:50) shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins”. The interpretation of the details of the parable is not without its difficulties. The words “they all slumbered and slept” cannot possibly refer to the sleep of death, but is rather to be taken as a picture of the ecclesias in the Last Day—all, without exception, being caught unawares by the Lord’s appearing. It may be taken as certain that no matter how careful and rigorous one’s scrutiny of Scripture in an attempt to know clearly beforehand the precise details of the divine “programme”, all—repeat, all—will be startled and shocked by the actual event and its accompanying cry: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him”. H.W.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 01:24:25 +0000
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