Preparing the Bride and Her Children for His Return

From the Series: Ordinary Saints: Lessons from the Ante-Nicene Church

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We are not merely raising children; we are preparing the Bride of Christ. This calling reaches far beyond teaching good behavior or passing down sound doctrine. It is about forming hearts ready for the coming King. It is about cultivating a living hope, a holy anticipation, and a steady expectation that Jesus Christ will return for a people who are watching, waiting, and faithful.

For example, picture a parent gathering the family at the end of the day, sharing one way they saw God at work, and then praying together, “Lord, help us be ready when You come.” These small, daily moments—reading a Bible story about Christ’s return, singing a worship song focused on hope, or simply asking, “What would it look like if Jesus came back today?”—can nurture holy anticipation. Children learn to look beyond routine, seeing their story caught up in God’s greater purpose.

Scripture reveals this clearly:

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)

This is not distant theology; it is history’s direction. Christ is coming, and His Bride is being prepared now. I see this preparation in the individual believer and in what we pass to the next generation.

When I look at the early Church, I do not see indifference about His return. I see expectancy. Their lives were shaped by it. They greeted one another with a simple yet profound declaration: “Maranatha,” “Come, Lord Jesus.” That hope was not abstract; it shaped how they lived day to day. There was urgency, yes, but also holiness, watchfulness, and longing.

Jesus Himself warned:

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning… for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35–40)

To live watchfully is not to live anxiously, but attentively. Our lives move toward a real moment before Him. That awareness changes how we speak, choose, and endure.

And this is where the responsibility deepens.

We are called not only to live this way, but to teach it to our children. Not just how to live, but why. Obedience isn’t just discipline or structure—the King is returning.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!'” (Revelation 22:17)

When that truth takes root, it shapes daily choices. It clarifies suffering. It replaces fear with hope. Children who know this are not just well-behaved; they are anchored, seeing their lives in light of eternity.

At this point, I can imagine a reader quietly wrestling with this. “How do I teach something I don’t feel strongly about myself?” That question is honest. The answer is not to force emotion, but to return to truth. As we fix our eyes on what God has revealed, our hearts begin to align with it. Expectation grows from understanding, and longing grows from knowing Him. One simple step is to take a moment each day, perhaps after dinner or before bedtime, to read a short Scripture about Christ’s return together, or to pray, “Lord, help us to watch for You.” You might also ask your children, “What did you notice today that reminded you of Jesus?” Small, regular practices like these help nurture expectancy in both you and your children.

You may feel, “What if I haven’t modeled this well?” God’s grace meets us here. What matters is direction, not perfection. A heart turning toward Christ, even now, can shape a new legacy.

Readiness isn’t taught only with words; it is seen in how we live.

Early believers did not just prepare in theory. They lived as if they expected Him. Their homes, gatherings, and daily lives reflected that reality. Our homes today should also echo that hope, not fear, not pressure, but steady, joyful anticipation. For example, a family might create a tradition of lighting a candle together at dinner once a week and taking turns sharing one thing they are looking forward to when Christ returns. Simple habits, like keeping a special “hope jar” where each family member can write down prayers or thank-you notes for the future with Jesus, can become meaningful rituals. Even asking during bedtime, “What are you thankful for today, and what are you hopeful for when Jesus comes?” turns ordinary moments into opportunities to nurture eager expectation. In this way, the home’s atmosphere is filled with reminders that our story is moving toward Him.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

This is not escapism. It aligns with the truth.

And in this, something forms not just in us, but in those watching. Children see that faith isn’t confined to a moment or place; it’s a way of living for what’s to come. As we leave, we will not ultimately be measured by what we said, but by what we lived. Faithfulness in this present hour prepares the next generation for that coming Day. It shapes how they will stand, endure, and respond when Christ returns.

A reader may pause here and feel a sense of responsibility. But there is also assurance. God does not ask us to produce readiness by our own strength. He is forming His Bride. He works with His people. We are invited to join in what He is already doing. Do not walk this alone.

This preparation is communal. The Church is being made ready together. As we encourage one another, pray for one another, and remind one another of what is to come, we strengthen that shared hope. The cry of the Bride is not meant to be isolated; it is meant to rise together.

One simple way to foster this is to join together with other families for a regular time of prayer or a short, shared devotional. This could be as easy as gathering once a month with a few others to read a passage, pray for readiness, and encourage each other in hope. Creating a small prayer group or inviting neighbors for a weekly meal followed by a time of sharing can help nurture anticipation and deepen connection. Through habits like these, families experience firsthand that we wait for Christ together, building each other’s hope along the way.

So what does this require of us today?

The Church is not simply existing; it is being prepared. Children are not just raised; they are discipled in hope. Readiness is not just an idea; it is something we live out each day. In the end, the legacy we leave is this:

People who know Him.
A people who love Him.
A people who long for His appearing.

A Bride made ready.

Let us actively prepare, encourage, and live as a people who joyfully declare: Come, Lord Jesus.

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Sources:

• The Holy Bible — Revelation 19:7–9; Revelation 22:17; Luke 12:35–40; Titus 2:11–13; 2 Timothy 4:8
• Hermas, Mandate 13
• Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 50
• Didache, ch. 16
• Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Philadelphians

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