As we’ve been looking at the preparation of the bride for the soon coming of the Lord, the Scripture says very clearly that He’s coming as a thief in the night:  No man knows the day, no man knows the hour.  People over the years have tried to pinpoint the time of the return of the Lord.  But instead of being one of the scoffers that Peter talks about that would come in the last days, we just say, “It’s sooner than when we first believed” (a reference to Romans 13:11); amen?  Because it is a sure thing.  Jesus said, “…I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).  Hallelujah!  John tells us in the first epistle that every man that has that hope, in the return of Jesus Christ, purifies himself, even as He is pure (1 John 3:3).  The Scripture says we are blessed, because that’s going to be a day that we’re going to see Him and, the Bible says, we shall be like Him.  Aren’t you going to be glad to lay off all this ugly flesh?  Thank God for justification.  Thank God for redemption.  Thank God for sanctification, but glorification is on the horizon!  We’ll be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Scripture says, at the last trump of God (1 Corinthians 15:52); the dead in Christ will rise first, and those of us that remain will be caught up together to be with Him, and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).  The Scripture says that, in preparation for that great blessed hope (Titus 2:13) that we’re looking for, we’re purifying ourselves as He is pure.  The Scripture says it this way:  The bride is making herself ready (Revelations 19:7).  Amen?  And He’s coming for a bride that is a chaste virgin, pure, no relationship with the world’s system at all.  Pure, innocent.  The Scripture says, “To the pure, all things are pure” (Titus 1:15); amen?  And He’s coming for a church that is pure, spotless, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27), so “what manner of men ought we to be if we’re recognizing this day and this hour that is upon us?” Peter says (2 Peter 3:11-12).

The Bible says, in this last hour, false prophets, false teachers will arise, deceiving many.  If the time were not shortened, even the very elect would not be able to stand (Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22).  All of these admonitions—watch and pray that you don’t enter that temptation (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38, Luke 22:40 and 22:36), don’t let this day come upon you unawares (Luke 21:34).  All of these admonitions—what have we changed in our lives to prepare for that?  Can you look at things in your life and say, “You know, I’m doing things differently than I did thirty days ago”?  One of the things the Scripture says is, as that blessed hope becomes a reality to us, we’re looking up; our redemption is drawing nigh (Luke 21:28); amen?  By looking up, all that means is we’re now focusing in the eternal realm in the heavens, we’re looking for that city whose builder and maker is God, that city that has foundations (Hebrews 11:10), the apostles and the prophets with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20).  The Scripture says, “He’s going to appear to those that love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).  Can you say that your heart’s changed in your love, your expectation for that return?  Is there anything here in this world that would hold you back that you have an affection for?  Are any of us in danger of being Lot’s wife and looking back?