"But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap;

The kingdom

"Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."

Another parable He put before them. "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a man who has sown good seed in his field,

"For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,

"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

Ten

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything, and because you hold fast truths and practices precisely as I have taught them to you.

These are those who had not defiled themselves with women: they are as pure as virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men, as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Which

Just so let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

"Have your girdles on, and let your lamps be alight;

so that you may always prove yourselves to be blameless and spotless--irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as heavenly lights in the world,

Went

From this time onward there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who love the thought of His Appearing.

in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

But I think it right, so long as I remain in the body, my present dwelling-place, to arouse you by such reminders.

eagerly looking forward to the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens, all ablaze, will be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the fierce heat?

The bridegroom

"Can the bridegroom's party mourn," He replied, "as long as the bridegroom is with them? But other days will come (when the Bridegroom has been taken from them)

"The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,

"Can a wedding party fast while the bridegroom is among them?" replied Jesus. "So long as they have the bridegroom with them, fasting is impossible.

"Can you compel the bridal party to fast," replied Jesus, "so long as they have the bridegroom among them?

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

I am jealous over you with God's own jealousy. For I have betrothed you to Christ to present you to Him like a faithful bride to her one husband.

Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her;

Let us rejoice and triumph and give Him the glory; for the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready."

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God and made ready like a bride attired to meet her husband.