Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go, you know, and the way you know" John 14:1-4.

Jesus said to His disciples, "You know where I go, and you know the way." Jesus returned to His throne in glory and the path to go to where He is is believing in Him and abiding by His commandments. The Word of God tells us that the unGodly will not enter into the kindgom of God: "Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God" 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

As I pondered Jesus's description of the kingdom of heaven, and the Word of God referring to Jesus as a bridegroom coming for his bride (the church), I thought of all the parallels of an engaged couple, the marriage, the marriage supper, the honeymoon and the oneness of the couple themselves. The church's relationship to Jesus Christ, compared in the scriptures to a groom and his bride, is truly a perfect allegory.

Most people are led to believe that it is impossible to live a holy life. I don't say that Christians will never sin, for if we do, the Word of God tells us that "we have an advocate with the father." The apostle John wrote, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He who says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him" 1 John 2:1,4.

The most beautiful relationships among men and women are those wherein a young man meets a young virgin in their youth, they marry and "become one flesh." The Word of God says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh" Genesis 2:24.

This is God's plan for His creation, which emulates the relationship between Jesus Christ and His "bride," the church of God. The apostle Paul, an overseer in the early church, wrote to the Christians at Corinth, "I am jealous over you with a Godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:2. Paul was troubled about the steadfastness of the church and cautioned them against being seduced by false doctrines. Here Paul makes the same parallel between the church and a "caste virgin" and referred to the church being "espoused," or engaged, to Christ.

The warning against false doctrines and wolves in sheep's clothing is the same today. Jesus said, concerning the time of the end, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" Matthew 7:15. He also said, "Take heed, that no man deceive you, for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many" Matthew 24:4-5.

Jesus relayed this parable to His disciples about the kingdom of heaven,

"The kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins (Christians), which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom (Jesus), and five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil (Spirit of God) 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 comes; go 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 have gone out (they were unable to see their way without light); but the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went out to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes" Matthew 25:1-13.

Our Lord and Savior will not return for "pretend Christians;" He is coming after His bride who is following His commandments, a chaste virgin prepared for her wedding.

As I thought upon these things today, I imagined how precise this comparison is, the bride (church) and the bridegroom (Jesus Christ). I began to consider how the ancient dowry fits into this allegory, then the Lord immediately revealed that to me as well.

God, being the Father of the bride, has prepared the "dowry" for His bride:

Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many mansions - I go to prepare a place for you" John 14:2-3.

The apostle Paul said, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing" 2 Timothy 4:8.

James wrote, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them who love Him" James 1:12.

The Lord has already prepared the dowry for the bride of Jesus Christ, as we can see through the scriptures describing what the Lord has prepared for us.

It is all very complete. Are you prepared for the return of the Lord, or will you be left behind, in the same manner as the five foolish virgins? If you aren’t saved, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Bible prophecy reveals there is little time left and your eternity destiny depends on your decision. God bless you.