Vocabulary.com gives the definition for Midnight as the moment at which one day ends and the next begins — it’s twelve o’ clock at night. At midnight, the date changes, and the time also changes from PM to AM. According to the Moon and Night Photo Calculator, Midnight describes that time when the sun is farthest below the horizon, and corresponds with when the sky is darkest.
The Bible talks about the midnight hour in several places. People went through different experiences during this hour; receiving blessings or judgment, depending on whether they were on God’s side or not!
In the book of Exodus, we read of Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal to recognise and obey God’s word and His signs to let His people, the Israelites leave the land of Egypt. God gave a warning to Pharaoh that if he continued with his stubbornness, He (God) would go throughout the land and slay the first – born male child in every Egyptian household with no exception. Because of his negligence to obey, God’s judgement fell, causing a great outcry throughout the land with only the Israelite households being spared! In Ex. 12:29, 30 we read:
At midnight the LORD killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh (who ruled Egypt) to the firstborn son of the prisoner sitting in jail. Also all the firstborn animals died. That night someone died in every house in Egypt. Pharaoh, his officials, and all the people of Egypt began to cry loudly. ERV
In Acts 16:23ff, we read of Paul and Silas who had been beaten up and thrown in jail because of their faith. Something very unusual happened at the midnight hour as we read below:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. ESV
In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus gives a parable about Himself as the Bridegroom coming to wed His bride. She, together with her team are meant to be ready and on the lookout, since He is to come at anytime without warning! Some in the bride’s team are negligent in their preparation and when the alert for the Bridegroom’s arrival rings out, are not ready to meet him nor participate in the wedding! It ends up being very tragic because as they go to finalize their preparations in order to meet the needed requirements, the Bridegroom goes in with those who are ready and the door is shut so that no one else is allowed in after that!
“…It was already midnight when the cry rang out, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’
The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ‘No, indeed,’ the wise ones answered, ‘there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.’ So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. “Later the others arrived. ‘Sir, sir! Let us in!’ they cried out. ‘Certainly not! I don’t know you,’ the bridegroom answered.” And Jesus concluded, “Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.” GNB
Just as in normal timing, when the clock strikes midnight, we move from pm to am, spiritually also there’ll be no turning back once the midnight cry to meet the Bridegroom rings! Those who are ready will accompany Him into the wedding feast, while those who aren’t will be locked out! The signs across the world indicate that spiritual midnight when our Bridegroom comes will soon overtake us. This calls upon each of us to make the necessary preparations so that we are on the right side of midnight when our Bridegroom comes. This will qualify us to join Him in celebrating the wedding supper of the Lamb as His bride, the church. Let us not be negligent and fail to heed the many warnings given in God’s word. This will help us to be ready for the Master when He comes.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please forgive us for the times we’ve been negligent in taking seriously the signs that point us to the nearness of Your return. Help us to be wise in heeding the warnings so that we may make the necessary preparations before time runs out.
