Folks, this scene breaks my heart! It makes me downright angry too! To think that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for us, for us to have everything; granted many gifts to us; and then for the Church to not be eagerly yearning for his sudden appearance is an insult to the Father!

      I would like to think of the other scenario. I can see the scene. The trumpet of arrival has sounded! A call rings out "Come ye out"; and immediately there is a flash of a beautiful young, gorgeous girl darting about in the shadows from the light of her oil lamp; then just as suddenly; she is bursting out through a window and straight toward the outstretched arms of the one she loves!

      Oh what a beautiful scene! Oh what a wonderful feeling! Doesn't Jesus deserve such a scene?Wouldn’t any bridegroom exult in such a scene?

      Oh, I wonder what I could have done, to deserve God's only son!

      Can you imagine the long kiss and embrace that the young couple enjoyed on this occasion? Assuredly there was a lot of extra exhilaration in this meeting. Having claimed his bride, the groom's party would then proceed on a proud and victorious, and robust procession back under cover of darkness toward the Father's estate!

      The bride and the bridegroom would also dress in their elaborate wedding garments and be carried aloft on the trip back home, being treated as a King and Queen all along the way.

      So, the bride and bridegroom, along with all their friends in the bridal party trekked on back home to the Father's house. A typical bridal parade might include; a train of baggage, muscians, kinsmen, and a whole lot of fun-filled noise.

      Upon arrival at the Father's estate, the new couple would be greeted like royalty. Immediately after the greetings the bride and the groom would retire into the specially prepared place for the bride called the "Huppah". The Huppah symbolized the fact that the bride was now under the canopy of the groom's roof of protection. The word Huppah, means canopy.

      Oh, to be under our Bridegroom’s canopy today!

      The bride and bridegroom would spend the next week inside alone. It was, in essence a honeymoon, but more than that, it was a time of total privacy whereby they had all provisions possibly needed, already laid up in store.

      Meanwhile, the Father was acting as the host for a lavish feast for the entire week. He undoubtedly talked glowingly of the majestic Bride that had been purchased for his honorable Son. The Father treated his guests to a sumptuous feast, and waited with eager anticipation for the reemergence of the bridegroom, when yet another elaborate final celebration would finalize the marriage.

      After this week of celebration and enjoyment, the young couple began their lives together as a family, a journey in life that would last eternally.

      The new bride would remain inside the Huppah for yet another seven days, hidden from view, untill her new life could be assimilated to her suitability. Every detail of her needs and desire was accorded the utmost priority!

      This is precisely the pattern that Jesus will utilize for the Church when it is raptured. He will carry us away to Heaven, to be protected under the canopy of his roof, while the rebellion back on the earth is being subdued. Our needs will be accorded highest priority in his house!

            HIGH IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE ABOVE
            MY MANSION IS PREPARED,
            THERE IS THE HOME, THE REST I LOVE,
            AND THERE MY BRIGHT REWARD.

            WITH HIM I LOVE, IN SPOTLESS WHITE,
            IN GLORY I SHALL SHINE;
            HIS BLISSFUL PRESENCE MY DELIGHT,
            HIS LOVE AND GLORY MINE.

            ALL TAINT OF SIN SHALL BE REMOVED,
            ALL EVIL DONE AWAY;
            AND I SHALL DWELL WITH GOD'S SON
            THROUGH GOD'S ETERNAL DAY!"

      As Abraham was willing to submit his son Issac as a payment to God; so our Heavenly Father also has deemed the Church to be a worthy bride for his son, Jesus; and has submitted to arrange the full bridal payment for our betrothal to him.

      Jesus might have refused to pay the bridal price. He could have argued to his Father; Do you realize how much payment is required to obtain her? Isn't her price a little too high? Can't you negotiate some more reasonable Mohar for her?

      No doubt, this kind of predicament arose in the minds of some Jewish young men. Not all grooms could pay an extravagant bridal-price. But, the fact that Jesus submitted himself to his Father's will out in the Garden of Gethsemane, shows that he loved us enough to pay the ultimate price.

      It was on the cross, that Jesus drank the Cup of Acceptance to his Bride! He extolled the glory and majesty of God while upon that tree, and finished his "Shiddukhin" mission. He signed the "Ketubah" with his own blood, and imparted the free gifts (the Mohar and Mattan) of Salvation and eternal life to his betrothed! Have you accepted them?

      Jesus has embarked upon his mission to construct a Huppah for his bride to dwell in, and some day soon when his Father judges that all is completed, He will announce to Jesus to go and steal off with his waiting "Kedushet", or bride! Can’t you just see Jesus streaking out the portals of Heaven on his way To fetch away his Bride?

      For those of us who make up the Bride of Christ, the next thing we can expect to hear is a roaring blast of the Shofar, or the Trumphet, calling us to immediately; in the twinling of an eye; to bound up and out of this world and zoom off to the opened wide arms of our bridegroom, "Jesus himself"!

      Do you want to fool around in this old world clinging on to things here and there, or to postpone the impending call to come out? If so, then perhaps you probably are in love with another lover.

      In a flash, even a twinkling of an eye, our lives will find an eternal abode, either with the one who loves us enough to die for us; or with the one who has made you his prostitute, the Devil.