Day 22/40 Do you have enough oil? Jesus, the groom, is on His way

God calls us: Prepare yourselves!

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (1 Peter 4,7)

Time continues to move forward, and people, including Christians, are still asleep. We see the signs described in Matthew 24, but we want to close our minds and not listen. Many people tell themselves that we know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come, thus quoting only part of Jesus' warning.

Yes, we know neither the day nor the hour, yet most people fail to fully understand this quote. Jesus warned his disciples as follows:

Therefore watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. ( Matthew 25:13 )

Therefore —why does Jesus begin with the words "Therefore?" There must be a reason. Jesus had just told his listeners the parable of the ten virgins . All the brides were ready, waiting for the bridegroom's arrival, but the bridegroom was delayed. When the young man arrived with his entourage, everyone jumped up in a hurry. Five of the virgins didn't have enough oil with them. They had to stay behind to get fresh oil for their lamps. The five wise virgins, however, had been prepared; they had extra oil with them and were able to follow the bridegroom immediately. In the parable in Matthew 25, the oil represents the Holy Spirit and the intense preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. It thus represents the deep spiritual readiness acquired through faith, good works, conversion, and living according to God's ways. The oil cannot be shared, as it represents a personal reserve that must be accumulated through personal effort and patience in anticipation of the coming of Jesus.

The parable of the ten virgins is a call to vigilance and patience , as the supply of oil is collected "drop by drop" over time, and no shortcuts or quick preparation are possible. Just as every bride needs time to prepare for her wedding, the wedding with our Bridegroom Jesus also requires intensive preparation.

• Have you prepared for the wedding with the Lamb of God?

• Have you repented, washed yourself, or been baptized, and learned to live a pious life dedicated to God?

• Have you read the Word of God and do you keep God’s Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)?

• Have you allowed yourself to be transformed by the Holy Spirit? Have you filled up on fuel?

• Are you ready to meet your groom now or do you think you still have a long time?

  
  

How much time do we have left? We don't know the exact time of the wedding or the time of the great wedding feast, but Jesus, our Bridegroom and Host, gave us signs to look out for. ( Matthew 24 ,2 Thessalonians 2 , see above) We see all these signs around us. There are wars. The world is full of lies and deceit. Lawlessness is already at work, and it looks like the construction of the new temple is about to begin.

The chuppah is the canopy under which the Jewish bride and groom gather during the wedding ceremony, symbolically representing the shared home the couple will build. This open roof also represents Abraham's hospitality and God's protective presence. Blessings are recited and the marriage contract, among other things, is read under the chuppah.

We're hearing all sorts of dates for when the so-called rapture will take place. Many hope it will take place on Yom Tz'ruah (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Trumpets, around September 24/25, 2025. Others say it could take place on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, around October 2, 2025, and still others say it could be during Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, in 2025, since this is the festival on which the Lord communed with the Israelites in the desert. The chuppah (wedding canopy) also commemorates the tabernacle.

Others are also thinking of Christian holidays, such as All Saints' Day on November 22, 2025. It all sounds plausible, but we can't be sure. The question is, will it even take place this year? Doesn't the temple have to be built first? We can only hope that we can reach many more people so that they can surrender their lives to Jesus in time. He alone can lead us to the Father. ( John 14:6 )

Only the Father in Heaven knows the exact hour. He alone determines when He will send His Son Jesus, our Bridegroom, to take the Bride.

Now I have a question: Are all Christian believers part of the bride of Christ?

My personal opinion is that only some belong to the bride, and that many others are "only" invited to the wedding celebration or the grand wedding feast. At a Hebrew wedding, it was customary for the official ceremony to take place in a small circle, and only afterward did the guests arrive for the grand feast. So, I assume that the bride is brought first, and only afterward do the wedding guests arrive for the celebration. They can "consider themselves blessed that they have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!" (Revelation 19:9)

Whether you're the bride or a wedding guest, whether you're one of the five wise virgins or the five foolish virgins, it's up to you. What can and should you do?

Öl. Wein und Brot

• Have you given your life to Jesus?

• Are you following Jesus? He alone can show you the way to the Father and eternal life.

• Prepare for the marriage of the Lamb. Repent, repent, keep the commandments, and spend time with the Bridegroom.

• God is love and wants to save us all.

I pray that many more people will surrender their lives to Jesus and allow Him to save them. I pray that many more people will follow their soul's call and repent and dare to start anew with Jesus. I hope that even more people will say:

"Jesus, go before me on my path through life. I want to follow you faithfully. I want to hear your voice. Please, Jesus, forgive me my sins, give me a new life, and lead me to our Father."

Shofar Horn for Yom Terua / Rosh Shana or the Feast of Trumpets