The
coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing
of the sanctuary, brought to view in Dan. 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to
the Ancient of days, as presented in Dan. 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to
his temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this
is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described
by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25.
In the summer and autumn of 1844, the proclamation, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh," was given. The two classes represented by the wise and foolish virgins were then developed,--one class who looked with joy to the Lord's appearing, and who had been diligently preparing to meet him; another class that, influenced by fear, and acting from impulse, had been satisfied with a theory of the truth, but were destitute of the grace of God. In the parable, when the bridegroom came, "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage." The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of his kingdom. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called "the bride, the Lamb's wife." Said the angel to John, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." "He carried me away in the spirit," says the prophet, "and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God."[3 REV. 21:9, 10.] Clearly, then, the bride represents