15
I have been asked to give a general outline of the events and their sequence of fulfillment which are listed in the book of Revelation. It is a subject which fits well with the subject of Signs, for it is filled with the signs and happenings which climax the age in which we live. It is also necessary that we understand that the book of Revelation is not written in a chronological order. It cannot be read in the manner with which one would read a history book or a book projecting the chronology of the future.
By way of example, the result of the fullness of the Spirit being manifest in the church will result in the Marriage of the Lamb. A pre-tribulation event which will take place while the doors of salvation are yet open. ìThe Spirit and the Bride issue an invitation to the unsaved to come and participate in the waters of life, that is, salvation. Rev. 22:17 This is a period of time which the Scriptures call the midnight hour. The closing hour of the old order and the introduction of a new season. Jesus likened the marriage to the kingdom of heaven. Which makes it a mighty important happening to those who would be in this all important body of believers, the Bride of Christ. Mt. 25:1 Immediately our attention is drawn to an immense difference among these ten virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. All knew that the wedding was about to take place but not all prepared for it. All had lamps but the preparation to keep them burning was unimportant to one half of them. That is a severe number, fifty percent, for it indicates the number of totally unprepared Christians that there will be in that day.
Another vital fact in this, which is related by the Lord Jesus, is that they ALL slumbered and slept. A condition which usually would indicate a lack of spirituality. At midnight the cry of the Bridegroom is heard by all of the ten virgins. They immediately respond and the five wise trim and fill their lamps so that they may see their way to the meeting and the marriage. The lamps of the unwise had gone out, for lack of oil, or the anointing of the Spirit. Their request to borrow from the wise was refused and they had to go out to find oil for themselves. Where do you find it in the middle of the night? As scheduled the Bridegroom came, those properly prepared entered in with Him and the door was shut. The foolish came with the plea of Lord, Lord which categorized them as people excluded from the wedding. Jesus classified them as being people who were not obedient to the will of the Lord and a people whom He never had known. MT. 7:21-22 The five unwise are the remnant of the womanís (the Bride) seed. Rev. 12:17 They will enter into the great tribulation and will suffer the full anger of the dragon.