Dear John and Doves:
 
    In the parable of the ten virgins Jesus said, "while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept" (Matt 25:5). This implies that there is a strong probabality that the Bridegroom will tarry - delay his appointed time of arrival, and this will cause all the virgins to either slumber or sleep.
 
    A clue is given in chapter 2 of Solomon's Song as to when the Bride can anticipate her departure.  In verse 10 the Bridegroom says, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs".... It is springtime!  Even so, the Bridegroom does not come for her at what appears to be an appointed time, because later in chapter 3 verse 1 the Bride is found saying, "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.  I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth:  I sought him, but I found him not."
 
    In chapter 4 verse 8 the Bridegroom extends his invitation by saying to the Bride, "come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me to the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon" - the highest, most conspicuous and beautiful mountain in Palestine or Syria and estimated to be at least 10,000 feet high.  But it is not until chapter 5 verse 2 that things begin to get serious.  For this time the Bride is awakened by what might be described as a midnight cry.  Unlike the foolish virgins who "slept" in a deep sleep, the Bride merely slumbers as her tender heart easily "waketh" to a heavenly call. "It is the voice of her beloved that knocketh saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night."
 
    Just as in the parable of the ten virgins, the Bride rose and went "out to meet him, but could not find him."  In both accounts there is a short time lapse between the night cry and the actual Rapture:-  The foolish virgins did not have enough time to replenish their oil, and in Solomon's Song 6:11 the garden is still budding and producing fruits.
 
    In verse 12 the Bridegroom's love sweeps up the Bride in a manner of the swiftest chariots known at the time.  It is obvious that the rapture occurs here, for in the following verse a plea is given among those who see the Bride leave to "return" so that they may observe her uniqueness.
 
    Significantly, the Bridegroom tarried from what appeared as a springtime Rapture to one at a later time.  Because fruits and budding pomegranates could still be seen in the garden, the time between the Bride's anticipated departure and the actual "catching up" was just a matter of weeks.
 
    This should offer hope for those of us who are expecting the Rapture within a few days.
 
    In footnote pomegranates do not ripen until the middle of October in Palestine.
 
In Jesus,
 
David and Susie Parker