Christians have the Lord as their blessed hope and are waiting for their heavenly Bridegroom. The day of the Lord and of judgment, however, is linked to His coming as “a thief in the night.” That event is for unbelievers, though they may be professing Christians, but in name only, for they are not born again. When Jesus comes back from heaven as He promised, He will call us with a powerful shout, take us out of this world, and prepare us for the Lamb’s wedding. On the other hand, it is also true that, for this wonderful occasion, “‘His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Rev. 19:7–9).

These verses review how the believers since Pentecost have lived in this world while preparing for the wonderful event of the Lamb’s wedding. The fine linen represents how they lived during the time that the Lord Jesus in heaven is still rejected on earth. Their acts of righteousness are being done because they love their heavenly Bridegroom. How can this Bride do so? By being fully devoted to her heavenly Bridegroom. She respects and honors the rights of the Lord Jesus while He is absent from this earth. May we live in such a way that we realize our Lord’s presence, moment by moment, until the Rapture.

What a difference this is from those who only live for pleasure, peace, and prosperity, because they do not have the blessed hope. We who live in the expectation of Jesus’ return at any moment do so with a life full of excitement as we look forward to His coming.