THE MIDNIGHT CRY HAS ALREADY SOUNDED - CHRIST HAS GONE IN TO THE WEDDING - WILL YOU GO IN WITH HIM BY FAITH OR BE SHUT OUT?

Luke 12:35-36 ...'Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, WHEN HE WILL RETURN FROM THE WEDDING; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.'

The connections and implications of this Bible teaching are both incredible and serious. So please prayerfully and humbly study this with open eyes.

What do the verses above in Luke 12 tell us? What plain truth was Jesus teaching? That when He returns the second time, He will be returning 'FROM the wedding.' Therefore, BEFORE Jesus returns the second time, a wedding takes place - a wedding that Jesus Himself attends, because He said in Luke above that the "men's Lord", which must be Jesus Himself, when He returns, He returns from a wedding. Therefore a wedding takes place in heaven before Jesus returns. Plain and simple according to what Jesus said in Luke above right? Ok, so the next step is to find out what this wedding is.

Matthew 22:1-2 ...'And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.'

Clearly, the king in this parable is God the Father and the son is Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father. So God the Father has made a marriage for His Son Jesus. And this marriage, as we already found out, will take place BEFORE Jesus returns at His second coming. Ok, so what is this marriage? Let us first look at some interesting verses in Revelation regarding this:

Revelation 19:7-9 ...'Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage SUPPER of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.'

Revelation 21:2,9-10 ...'And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband ... And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.'

So who is the bride of Christ according to the plain thus saith the Lord? Is it the church on earth? No, it is the holy city New Jerusalem. This is plain and clear testimony that no one can deny. But how can a city be a bride, and how can Jesus be literally married to a city? This isn't your traditional wedding, but the terminology is used to denote a union between Christ and the holy city of God. But is it just the city of God that Christ is united with? No. Let us take a look at what was prophesied in the book of Daniel concerning this:

Daniel 7:9-10 ...'I beheld till the thrones were cast down [SET UP], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened ... I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was GIVEN HIM dominion, and glory, and A KINGDOM, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.'

Luke 1:31-33 ...'And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.'

In a traditional marriage on earth, it is the father that gives his daughter to a bridegroom. But what is our Heavenly Father giving to His Son Jesus? A kingdom, with New Jerusalem being the capital of that kingdom. It is the throne of Jesus' earthly father David. A kingdom that will reign over the earth made new for all eternity. This is the marriage that God the Father (the king) is making for His Son Jesus, as Matthew 22:1-2 says. It is the marriage, or union, between Jesus and the kingdom which will reign over the new earth, of which New Jerusalem will be the capital city, and of which Jesus will be King. This is the scene portrayed in Daniel 7 above. Daniel saw 'one like the son of man' being 'brought before the ancient of days.' This clearly is Jesus being brought before God the Father to be married, or united to His kingdom. But notice also, it is connected with judgment and the opening of the record books.

Please remember, this marriage between Jesus and His kingdom takes place BEFORE He returns the second time as we saw in Luke 12:35-36. This is so important to remember. The marriage takes place BEFORE Jesus returns.

Luke 19:12 ...'He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country TO RECEIVE FOR HIMSELF A KINGDOM, and to return.'

The nobleman is clearly Jesus. And Jesus confirms that He would go away (back to heaven after His resurrection) to what? RECEIVE A KINGDOM and THEN return. This is the marriage to take place before Christ returns. But what would this kingdom that God the Father is giving to Jesus and New Jerusalem be, without any subjects? What would any kingdom be like without any subjects to live and serve in that kingdom? It would be no kingdom at all. And so part of this marriage process in heaven before Jesus returns is making up the subjects of His kingdom. This is why in Daniel 7 we are told that 'judgment' is involved in this process and 'the books were opened.' What books? The record books of all our deeds and thoughts, which Ecclesiastes confirmed are involved in the judgment:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ...'Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.'

When Jesus was brought before God the Father as Daniel prophesied in Daniel 7, to receive His kingdom (the marriage), we are told 'the judgment was set.' So clearly, this judgment, of opening the record books of our every work and every thought is part of the 'marriage' process of making up the subjects of Christ's kingdom, which is completed BEFORE Jesus returns. This is a vital part of Christ receiving His kingdom from the Father, which is why Jesus is STILL our High Priest and Mediator during this time. He is mediating for His people, for them to be a part of His kingdom that He is receiving, and the fact that we need Jesus to be our High Priest in heaven, shows that the law of God is still valid and binding. Otherwise we would not need a high priest. Now Revelation does clearly say that New Jerusalem is the 'bride' of Christ, and the apostle Paul even said that 'Jerusalem above is our mother' (Galatians 4:26), which makes sense, because as Isaiah 9:6 prophesied, Jesus would be our 'Father' in our humanity. Now while the saints (the church) are not the bride of Christ, we will be the adornment of the city of God, look:

Revelation 19:8 ...'And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.'

Isaiah 61:10 ...' I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'

Isaiah 49:13-18 ...'Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.'

Oh beautiful truth! The saints will be the adorning jewels of New Jerusalem, like a dress that adorns a bride. "Clothe thee (Zion - New Jerusalem) with them all (thy children), as an ornament ... as a bride does." NOTICE: Our righteousness, which we receive from Christ, will be the adornment of the city of Christ's everlasting kingdom, which God the Father is giving Him. Wonderful thought and precious truth! And it is in this judgment that takes place which will determine WHO will adorn New Jerusalem.

So now that we have an understanding of the wedding taking place in heaven, between Christ and New Jerusalem, between Christ and the kingdom the Father is giving Him, and that this wedding takes place BEFORE Jesus returns, and the subjects (children) of that kingdom are made up BEFORE Jesus returns. Let us apply this to the parable of the ten virgins.

Matthew 25:1-13 ...'Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.'

Many apply this 'coming of the bridegroom' and 'going in to the wedding' at the second coming. But this CANNOT be. For the wedding already takes place BEFORE Jesus returns, as we learned above.

Anyone who is willing to accept the plain truth of Jesus, will accept that Christ spoke the truth in Luke 12:35-36 when He said that He would return AFTER the wedding. Does that not clearly mean that the wedding has already taken place BEFORE Jesus returns? Yes, clearly it does. Which means the parable of the ten virgins, of the going in to the wedding is fulfilled BEFORE the second coming. After the 'midnight cry,' the wise virgins were 'READY' and 'WENT IN WITH JESUS TO THE WEDDING.' So there is a 'going in' to the wedding BEFORE Jesus returns the second time, because the marriage takes places BEFORE Jesus returns.

Now when we look at the details of this parable, we will be able to place a timeframe on it. So let us take a look. Jesus begins the parable by saying 'THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ....' Then? When? If we read through Matthew 24, we will see Jesus give a discourse on the signs of His return. He speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 (vs.2 & 15-20). He then speaks about the great tribulation period in verses 21-22, in which Papal Rome persecuted and killed tens of millions of people until Papal rule came to an end in 1798. In verse 29, Jesus speaks of signs in the sun, moon and stars. Those signs, as you will see from our page HERE, were fulfilled by 1833. And we know the signs we have shown in the page are the ones which fulfilled this prophecy, because in the prophecy Jesus said that the signs in the sun, moon and stars would be fulfilled immediately after the great tribulation period. The persecution of the great tribulation actually ended in the 1770's, before Papal Rome was finally taken off the throne of power in 1798. The first sign, the sign in the sun and moon, happened in 1780 - immediately after the great tribulation, just as Jesus said! Jesus then takes us to the second coming after this and goes on to give teachings on being ready for Him.

When we turn to Chapter 25, Jesus begins the chapter with 'THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins ....' When? The last sign given before the second coming was the signs in the sun, moon and stars. Remember, this parable is about the wedding, and we know the wedding takes place in heaven BEFORE Jesus returns. Therefore the 'then' at the beginning of this parable must be placed around, or just after the time of the last signs Jesus gave in Matthew 24, which were signs in the sun, moon and stars. These were fulfilled by 1833. So do we have anything that matches virgins taking their lamps and going to the wedding of the bridegroom, Christ, around this time? YES! This is the time approaching the fulfillment of the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel, which was fulfilled in 1844. Now we are told in this parable that the virgins 'took their lamps.' What does a lamp refer to in the Bible?

Psalm 119:105 ...'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.'

The great advent movement of this time caused immense interest in the Word of God all around the world, and especially the prophecies, with the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel receiving special study and interest. So the people of God 'took their lamps' (the Word of God) at this time and studied it like never before. They saw, initially, that the fulfillment of the 2300 day prophecy would be fulfilled in 1843, and 'went forth to meet the bridegroom.' William Miller and his associates preached it in America. Many believers preached it in Europe and Joseph Wolff preached it in Asia and the Middle East. So this message went right around the world.

We will explain what it means to 'go in to the wedding.' But remember! The wedding and the "going in" to the wedding takes place BEFORE the second coming.

The advent believers thought, due to the mainstream belief, that the 'cleansing of the sanctuary' in the 2300 day prophecy pointed to the cleansing of the earth. So naturally, they thought that this could only happen at the return of Christ. Therefore, they initially believed that the 2300 day prophecy pointed to the second coming of Christ, which is why they believed Christ was to return in 1843. But the year came and no second coming. After re-examining it, they realized that the starting point of the 2300 years (457 B.C.) did not start at the beginning of the year, but part way into the year. Thus, they realized that to have 2300 FULL years, they needed to include part of the following year. And so they came to the truth that the fulfillment of the 2300 years would be in 1844. This is the part of the parable of the virgins that says 'the bridegroom tarried.'

Now initially there was no specified date in 1844 that the Advent believers looked to for the fulfillment of the 2300 years and the second coming. And during this 'tarrying time,' uncertainty crept in, not knowing how long this tarrying time would be and the body of Advent believers 'slumbered and slept' just as the parable foretold. Then, half way between spring and autumn of 1844, light was given from God that the cleansing of the sanctuary would be a fulfillment of the day of atonement type in the Old Testament and that Christ would fulfill the type at the same time of year, which was the 10th day of the seventh month (Jewish time). This translated to being 22nd October 1844 in our calender. And thus the 'cry' was sounded 'at midnight' saying 'the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him.' All the Advent believers 'trimmed their lamps' and prepared to meet Christ. But due to their misunderstanding of what the term 'sanctuary' meant in the 2300 day prophecy, they thought they were going to literally meet Christ by His return.

This event was also prophesied to happen in Revelation 10. See our study THE OPENED BOOK for more evidence of this.

Of course, Oct. 22nd 1844 came and went without the return of Christ. Those who took no oil in their lamps, who didn't have a true faith this movement of God and the 2300 day prophecy, left the movement and rejected the greater light that was about to shine and MISSED THE WEDDING. Whereas those who had oil in their lamps. Those who truly believed in the message of God, and the fulfillment of the 2300 day prophecy in 1844, continued to study with the Spirit of God and received the light from God that the word 'sanctuary' in the prophecy did not mean the earth, but the real sanctuary of God in heaven, of which the one on earth in Old Testament times, was a copy. The faithful and wise virgins then realized that as the high priest on the day of atonement went into the most holy place to 'CLEANSE' the sanctuary of sin. So too did our High Priest, Jesus Christ, close His ministry in the holy place of the heavenly temple on 22nd October 1844, and moved into the most holy place to 'cleanse' the sanctuary of the sins of God's true people and to receive the kingdom from God (THE WEDDING), as we showed earlier in this study.

And so the faithful virgins (Advent people) went in, not literally, physically, but by faith into the wedding, into the most holy place with Jesus.

Why is this important? Well, what did our pioneers discover when they went into the most holy place with Jesus to the wedding? That the law of God is still binding, including the 7th day Sabbath of the 4th commandment. Great light was given to our pioneers because they had 'oil in their lamps.' They had faith in the time prophecy that God revealed to them and remained faithful to the truth, even after such great disappointment. Thus God increased their light. Now if you remember what we learned earlier, this marriage between Jesus and His kingdom, as Daniel 7 prophesied, is connected with judgment, and what message was proclaimed in 1844 at the end of the 2300 day prophecy?

Revelation 14:6-7 ...'And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'

Daniel 7:9-10 ...'I beheld till the thrones were cast down [SET UP], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: THE JUDGMENT WAS SET, and the books were opened ... I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.'

The announcement of Revelation 14:7 is clearly proclaiming the event prophesied in Daniel 7:9-10. Do you see this? It is the same event, of the time of judgment. But how do we know the timing of this, of 'the hour of His judgment IS COME' without any time prophecy given? We can't. But praise God He has not left us uninformed regarding this. The 2300 day prophecy of Daniel 8 points to a time when the 'sanctuary would be cleansed.' That is, the heavenly sanctuary, as there is no longer one on earth, and this would be the antitype fulfillment of the Old Testament type, whereby the high priest would enter into the MOST HOLY PLACE of the sanctuary to cleanse it from the sins of God's people. But anyone who would not afflict their souls during this time, to rid their lives of sin, were cut off from among God's people. So it was a time of JUDGMENT. Thus the fulfilling of the 2300 day prophecy, where Jesus our High Priest moved into the MOST HOLY PLACE of the heavenly sanctuary, is clearly the same event as prophesied in Daniel 7, of our Saviour being brought before the Father and the judgment being set. The proclamation of Revelation 14:7 of 'the hour of God's judgment is come' is the announcement of this event, which was given in 1844, when the 2300 years ended.

Please see our page on the 2300 DAY PROPHECY OF DANIEL HERE to see the clear evidence for 1844.

The judgment, the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the 'wedding,' of Christ receiving a kingdom from the Father, are all one and the same event, and that event began in 1844, as you will see from our page on the 2300 day prophecy. Christ has gone in to the most holy place before the Father to be married to His kingdom and to make up its subjects. The midnight cry has sounded for God's people to go with Jesus by faith into the most holy place in heaven.

If we do not follow Jesus by faith into the wedding, then how can we be part of the kingdom He is being given?

The marriage SUPPER of the Lamb (Matthew 22:10-11; Revelation 19:9) will take place AFTER the wedding and AFTER Jesus returns to take us to heaven. THEN we will take part in the marriage 'supper.' But we first need to enter into the marriage by faith, through God's Word and faith in His Word, with Jesus into the most holy place in heaven, where Jesus can cleanse us of all our sins and MAKE us righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:19).

This is so important for us to understand. Jesus is right now, and since 1844, been in the most holy place in heaven, receiving the kingdom from God the Father and making up its subjects. If we refuse to accept this truth and do not follow Jesus by faith into the wedding, then we cannot be part of His kingdom. This is why God pronounced the churches who rejected this truth as 'fallen Babylon' (Revelation 14:8). Now another important truth regarding this is to do with God's law, the ten commandments. Just as the day of atonement type in the Old Testament was a time of, not just cleansing the sanctuary, but of the people afficting their souls and putting away their sins, or being 'cut off' from among God's people (Leviticus 23:29). So is this a time of putting away sin, or of being blotted out from the book of life. As God's word clearly says, no fornicator, whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, no sorcerers, no murderers, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie shall enter the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:3-5, Revelation 22:15). But rather, those who 'DO' God's commandments (Revelation 22:14). Those who 'KEEP the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus' (Revelation 14:12), will enter in.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ...'Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: FOR this is the whole duty of man. FOR God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.'

James 2:12 ...'So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.'

The reason we need to KEEP the commandments of God is because we will be judged by it, as the above verses reveal. And keeping the commandments of God is the EVIDENCE that we have the faith of Jesus. It is the outworking of the gospel and righteousness of Christ in us (Romans 8:3-4). This is what is involved in the investigative judgment taking place now - to see if we have truly received the righteousness of Christ or not, which is made manifest in our obedience or disobedience to the commandments of God. This is all part of Jesus receiving the kingdom from the Father and making up the subjects of that kingdom. So those who reject this truth. Those who reject ANY of God's ten commandments, including the 4th. Those who seek to ALTER any of God's commandments, including the 4th, cannot be part of the kingdom of God. They can knock on the door of the first apartment in the sanctuary all they want, but that door is closed and Jesus will tell you, 'I know not who you are.' But there is a door open, where Jesus will receive you, and that door is the door to the most holy place where Jesus is with the Father receiving His kingdom. The holy place where the ark of the testiment is:

Revelation 11:19 ...'And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.'

What is inside the ark of God's testament? What was inside the copy on earth? The ten commandments. Which was a copy of the heavenly (Hebrews 9:23). So therefore, the ark of the testament in heaven also contains God's moral law - the ten commandments.

The midnight cry has sounded. Jesus has gone in to the wedding. He is receiving the kingdom from God the Father and is making up its subjects. This has been going on since 1844 and will end one day very soon, as the signs foretell that we are at the very end of time. Will you go in by faith with Jesus into the most holy place in heaven? The door is still open. Jesus is still our High Priest right now. But when the wedding comes to a close and Jesus has finished the day of atonement judgment, probation will close and so too the door of mercy. Be not deceived by the fallen churches of Babylon who reject this truth. But heed God's call to 'come out of them' (Revelation 18:4). And go IN to meet the bridegroom at His wedding in the most holy place in heaven, where you can receive His righteousness, which is made manifest in obedience to God's commandments, and be part of His everlasting, righteous kingdom.

The 2300 day prophecy of Daniel is the main evidence in support of the year 1844 and you can see that evidence on our page - 2300 DAY PROPHECY OF DANIEL. But our early pioneers also used another prophecy, the 'seven times' of Leviticus 26, known as the '2520.' You can see how our pioneers used that prophecy also in support of the year 1844 on our page THE 2520.