The Prophetic Pattern of Christ's Return

New Testament key passages and Old Testament typologies that illustrate the pattern and key aspects of Christ's return.

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The Framework of Christ's Return in the New Testament

There are two key parables that describe the returning of the Lord - the servant and master parable in Luke 12:35-48(Mark13:33-37) and the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. They both say something about having lamps lit and burning when he returns and reference a wedding making a connection between them, but in Luke 12 the servants are waiting for "their master" to "return from the wedding"(Luke12:36) where the wise virgins who are ready, go in with "the bridegroom" "to the wedding"(Matt.25:10). He is only referred to as the bridegroom in the parable of the virgins and only as the master in the parable of the servants. The servants are not referred to as virgins and the servants are even told to "be like men who wait for their master"(Luke12:36), and so further separating them from the symbolism of female virgins waiting for a bridegroom. Another significant difference between the two is that in the virgins parable they are called to "go out to meet him" and those who are ready "go in with him" and the door is shut, but those virgins not ready are not allowed in. However, in the servants parable the master is at the door of his servants, knocking for them to let him in, and then breaking in as a thief where those servants are still not ready, who then receive their portion with the unbelievers(Luke12:46,47). These two parables together show two different types of the Lord's return at two different times, one for a bride before the wedding but only of those ready, and then after the wedding to the remaining servants.

In Revelation 19 the marriage has come and the bride is ready: " 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." ...“9Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”-Rev.19:7-9. And then we see those in fine linen returning with the King of kings and Lord of lords to earth, "11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war... 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses."-Rev.19:11,14.This verse gives us some more information on those who are returning with Christ, "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”-Rev.17:14. From these verses, it is the wife of the Lamb clothed in fine linen that is returning with Christ.

Jesus says that He will come to receive to Himself those He has prepared a place for: "2In My Father’s house are many dwellings; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also"-John14:2-3. This wording and scenario corresponds to the symbolism of the parable of the virgins and also to typologies in the Old Testament shown next.

In Paul's description of the rapture, he uses the key words "to meet the Lord in the air", similar to the parable of the virgins who go out to meet the bridegroom: "15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord"-1Thess.4:15-17. This corresponds to the virgins who go in with the bridegroom to the wedding. Also, the parable begins with the words, "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."(Matt.25:1). It is about "the kingdom of heaven" and references a future event using "then" and "shall be". Paul and scripture describe several heavens - the third where God is, the second is outer space, and the first is the air where the birds and clouds are. The Lord descends from the third heaven to the first heaven, so the word descends can be used without going all the way to earth. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, Paul also describes the rapture with the dead in Christ rising and those alive all being changed to incorruptible and immortal bodies at that time (so that we can be and "shall always be with the Lord").

Return of Christ Pattern in Old Testament Typologies

Isaiah 26

In Isaiah 26:16-21 is a compelling typology and pattern for Christ's return. In verses 16-18 there is a description of a woman in labor as in Matt.24:8 and 1Thess.5:3, describing the end times. Then in Isaiah 26:19 is a resurrection to life, "Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead." Next are verses also typically associated with a rapture: "20Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain"-Isaiah26:20-21. The phrase, "enter your chambers" is similar to Jesus' description of receiving those to Himself where He has prepared rooms for them in John 14:2-3. "Shut your doors behind you" is similar to the ten virgins parable where they enter into the wedding and "the door is shut". They are able to hide themselves "until the indignation is past" which together with "the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity" is a clear reference to the tribulation.

The pattern in this typology is first a resurrection and rapture, with the Lord's people in their chambers until the indignation or tribulation is over. This can only be an end time event considering that it is about the return of the Lord and there is a resurrection and "the earth will also... no more cover her slain".

There are also several verses before these about preparing for the Lord's return, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You"-Is.26:3. "8Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early"-Is.26:8-9.

Song of Solomon

In the Song of Solomon Ch. 2 is a typology of the bride of Christ and the bridegroom. "Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons... He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."-Song2:3-4. "8The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains... 10My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 11For lo, the winter is past"; (with these similarities to 1Thess.4:16-17-"16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel... And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.").

"13The fig tree puts forth her green figs... Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!"-Song2:13. This is an interesting verse with the fig tree mentioned putting forth green figs where the call to his love to rise up and come away is repeated, in which is a connection to the parable of the fig tree from Jesus discussing the end times in Matt.24:32 and Luke21:29. "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff"-Song2:14. So here in verse 14 the bride is now in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places or in the places Christ, the rock, has prepared for her and where he sees her face and hears her voice, suggesting close proximity. And then in verse 15 we have a hint at the tribulation and judgment in this pattern with, "Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines", which can be considered a very short and poetic, yet effective description of the tribulation and the purpose for it. "16My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. 17Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether."-Song2:16,17. These two verses are definitely suggestive of the marriage of the lamb, the good shepherd with the sheep and the bride seems to be asking him to return to her at the end times when the day breaks and the shadows flee away like a young stag on the mountains of Bether or separation.

6I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil away from me."-Song5:6-7. The virgin who isn't ready when the bridegroom comes is represented in these verses. By the time she answers the door, he has already left. She goes out looking for him, but the watchmen strike and wound her and remove the veil - a wedding garment, similar to this passage, "11But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen."-Matt.22:11-14 (as in Rev.17:14).

Isaac and Rebekah

The story of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24) is a typology of Christ and His bride. Isaac is a type of Christ in several ways including a miracle birth by God's promise and also the sacrifice of Abraham. He is not seen or mentioned again in scripture until his bride shows up - symbolic of Christ being in heaven for a time. Abraham's servant is a type of the Holy Spirit in finding, preparing the bride, bringing comfort to Isaac and telling him all things. Rebekah is at the well with a jar giving water to others - symbolic of believers in Christ bearing the water of life or living water - so she is ready and then is chosen by God for Isaac. She is given two bracelets weighing ten shekels of gold which is an interesting connection to the parable of the ten virgins' symbolism - and Abraham's servant also has ten camels with him. She willingly agrees and follows Abraham's servant on a long journey to meet Isaac and he is out in a field or goes out to meet and receive her.

Joseph In Egypt

Joseph is also a type of Christ with less emphasis on the bride typology and more on the suffering servant and as the Lord rejected by his brothers/brethren but then ultimately recognized and accepted. Joseph is given all power and authority in Egypt second only to Pharaoh because of his dream interpretation and prophetic insight. This typology has a component that is commonly mistranslated that believers are to store up food to get through the seven year tribulation. On the surface it seems to make sense, but is not a valid interpretation or application of this typology. As a typology it is Christ who is given authority and stores up for the famine and then distributes to those who come to him and only he knows how to do this. Christ is the manna in the wilderness and the bread of life and all who come to Him will have life and that is the symbolism of the typology.

The Old Testament typologies were lived out in the natural to illustrate the spiritual principles that we can understand and learn from for our lives. And we also know it is wise to take prudent measures for reasonable emergency planning. But Jesus taught to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and let God add the provisions to our lives that we need in Matthew 6:25-34, "33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."-Matt.6:33-34. Admittedly this takes a measure of faith, but that's the point of it, "for we walk by faith, not by sight"-2Cor.5:7. In Luke 12 just before the parable of the servants and master returning from the wedding, Jesus is talking about this very subject. The arrangement is not accidental and notice that it clearly addresses both seeking after food and being anxious separately, so the lesson is not just saying to "not worry". "29And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you... 33(store treasure in heaven) 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."-Luke12. The next verse is, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning" beginning the parable of the servants and master. There are several points in Luke 12:18-34, but the main idea is to rely on God and put our trust and faith in Him to provide.

Pattern of Preparation and Readiness

There is a strong parallel between the parable of the ten virgins and Ephesians 5 where Paul uses symbolism and imagery in that parable within a passage that explains and describes how believers should be prepared for the Lord. Also, Galatians 5 and Colossians 3 have parallel passages and connections to Ephesians 5.

"3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity {comparable to virgins}, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ... 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light {as with a lamp} 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, 10finding out what is pleasing to the Lord. ... 15Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity {active faith and kingdom transactions}, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit"-Eph.5:3-18(NIV/NKJV). The connections with the parable to the ten virgins are highlighted and the other ideas that Paul ties in describe how to apply those principles.

"16I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."-Gal.5:16-25.

"1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth....12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."-Col.3:1-17. Ephesians 4:17-32 has the parallel passage to this section.

Two Distinct Imageries

There are two clear and distinct imageries of Christ's return illustrated in scripture. One is of the bridegroom returning for the bride before the wedding. The other is of the King of kings and Lord of lords returning to earth with His bride.

The way that we should be preparing for the Lord's return according to scripture is to, "8walk as children of light 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, 10finding out what is pleasing to the Lord.... 15Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity"-Eph.5:8-16.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special/chosen people, zealous for good works."-Titus2:11-14.

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."-1John3:2-3

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords."-Rev.19:11-16.