Are You Preparing To Meet Jesus, The Bridegroom?

"Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he *said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19: 6-9) (Underlines added.)

Wow! What a powerful passage of Scripture! The Bride of Christ has been snatched off the earth and is about to begin the seven year celebration of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! In Jesus' revelation to the Apostle John, John was told to write, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!" (Verse 9) I don't know about you, but I can't wait for this incredible feast with the One who has taken away the sins of the world! But notice, only those who are invited can come. It's obvious to me then, that not everyone will be invited to this feast; only the bride of Christ.

“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22: 11-14)

When Jesus asked the man how he got into the wedding feast without wedding clothes he was speechless. It is clear that He had not prepared himself for the feast. It's quite obvious to me that when anyone is invited to appear in the presence of the King, he must follow the proper protocol. This man did not, so the king had him thrown out of the feast. In context, Jesus said, "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Those who are called are the ones that Jesus died for. Everyone! The chosen are those who are invited to the WEDDING FEAST. They have received Jesus as Lord and Savior in this life. They are living for Him. They are preparing to meet Him in the clouds! They are preparing for the wedding feast. They will celebrate with King Jesus for seven glorious years before returning to the earth with Him in His second coming! Jesus is coming soon for those who are looking for His return at any moment.

Who then is the Bride of Christ? The church? The body of Christ in the earth? The Scripture said, “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” (Verse 7) (Underline added.) If we drill down a bit we can find that the word "prepared" here from the original Greek means: to make ready. So the bride of Christ has made herself ready for the Groom, Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, are you preparing for His soon coming return?

Thayer's Greek Definitions says that the word "prepared" means: to make the necessary preparations; to get everything ready; and to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings. Are you making the necessary preparations to meet Jesus in the air? Will Jesus come only for those believers who are preparing for and looking for His return? The truth is His appearing is imminent!

The common belief that Jesus is coming for those who have simply prayed the "Sinner's Prayer" is a very dangerous one. A repeated prayer alone cannot save you. It doesn't authorize you to live as the world does, yet believing you will celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb. What saves a person is a total surrender to Jesus Christ. When a person totally surrenders everything to Jesus, He comes into them; they change. To say "Oh, I believe in God" won't save you. What saves you and me is not only surrendering it all to Jesus, but also living, moving, and existing to follow after and serve Jesus...now and forever!

"It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Revelation 19: 8) (Underlines added.) We know that salvation is the greatest gift we could ever receive. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9) We cannot earn our salvation. It is a free gift born of God's infinite grace! But Revelation 19:8 says "It was given to her (the Bride) to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean, and that the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Preparing to meet the King is born out of passion for the One who took upon Himself our sins, and delivered us from the the wrath to come. 

Thank God, we don't have to be perfect. But we should realize (because the Bible teaches us), that our passion as truly born again followers of Jesus should be focused on preparing ourselves to meet Jesus. His coming is imminent. I am preparing to meet the King. I pray that you are too!