The bridegroom’s arrival is representing Christ’s return and the end of this present evil age. May we prepare with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind to be ready when He comes that we might go forth to the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1
The subject of the parable may be the ten virgins nevertheless the focus of this parable is the bridegroom.
It is the bridegroom that the virgins were waiting for. It is the bridegroom who is coming. It is the bridegroom who closes the door. Like with other elements of the parable so with the bridegroom the Lord does not refer to new concepts and ideas but rather uses those things which are known from Scripture to paint the picture of the Kingdom of Heaven. The prophet Isaiah famously illustrated the rejoicing of God over His people as a bridegroom rejoicing over the bride: “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5).
Early in Christ’s ministry the Lord gave evidence that He was that bridegroom of Isaiah 62 and that He is one and equal with God, when He said, “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” ( 9:15). Immediately after revealing Himself as the bridegroom, a ruler came to Jesus worshipping Him. What greater confirmation of the identity of the bridegroom than this? Jesus revealed Himself as the bridegroom and immediately Jesus the bridegroom was worshipped. Jesus Christ Himself is the bridegroom.
