Put all together, this symbolism may present a perfect picture of the Pretrib Rapture to you, if indeed a Pretrib Rapture even existed. But it doesn't. That's why it's so dangerous to build doctrine on symbolism, in which people can fasten any particular meaning to it they wish to attach.
True biblical doctrine is spelled out, and not hinted at, in the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit. He doesn't make vague suggestions, but says what He wants us to believe. There is absolutely zero Pretrib Doctrine spelled out in the NT Scriptures!! So, all of this symbolism can be attached to Pretrib Doctrine, Midtrib Doctrine, Postrib Doctrine, or any doctrine that one wishes to presuppose and then rationalize.
Let's take just your points here, and see how they fit into Postrib Doctrine, as well.
1. There is an element of surprise. No one knew when the wedding would take place except the father.
The Beast in the book of Revelation reigns without contest for 1260 days. Then the world rises up at Armageddon, which is a mobilization that obviously takes some time. Nobody knows when the trigger will be pulled on this apparently-nuclear war. It has the element of surprise.
We are told in Scriptures that even though Christians do not know the day or the hour, it is the unbelievers who will be surprised--not believers. And the book of Revelation indicates that Christ comes as a thief *at Armageddon!* Rev 16.15
2. There is a sense of imminency. The bride and her bridesmaids had to always be ready because they didn’t know the exact hour of the wedding.
Our readiness for Christ's Coming is said, by Jesus, to be a matter of doing good works, of doing the service of the Kingdom. This is not an any-minute expectation of the Kingdom! We do jobs not expecting an unexpected interruption, but rather, to maintain worthiness. It is *being worthy* that makes us ready--not intellectual alertness with the paranoia we could be caught in a sin! It's more like being a responsible worker than being a watchman expecting the enemy at any moment.
3. There is a seven-day period where the groom and bride are secluded.
a. This corresponds to Daniel’s Seventh Week, where one week represents seven years.
There is no future 70th Week of Daniel to be fulfilled. It took place as only a Half-Week immediately following the 69th Week, which was in the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. And it was to be followed by the fall of Jerusalem, which is what happened in 70 AD. There is no future Week of Daniel!
You might as well say the "seven-day period" refers to 7000 years of human history in which mankind waits to fully enter into immortality with Christ. You can make symbols mean whatever you want them to mean--this is not biblical doctrine!
4. There is a wedding feast during this period that culminates in the grand marriage supper.
All Christians are already betrothed to Christ and married by contract, even though our future immortality has not yet been settled. That will be the wedding feast, when we enjoy immortality and everlasting joy. This is as Postrib as you can get.
The Church cannot be glorified until the time of the resurrection of the saints. And that takes place, according the NT Scriptures, at the 2nd Coming of Christ, which is the last day of the age. It is when we become Christians that our engagement period begins, already finalized as a contract.
a. Those who were invited but did not come were locked out of the celebration in outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It goes without saying that when Christ comes again on the last day, the wicked and false believers will be excluded and sent off into outer darkness, while those who were faithful are invited into the glorious city of Christ.
None of this is necessarily Pretrib. Pretrib applications "do not fit" because there *is not Pretrib Doctrine in the Bible!!* By contrast, Postrib Doctrine is explicitly taught in the Bible, in Dan 7, in the Olivet Discourse, in 2 Thes 2, and in the book of Revelation. No Jewish marriage ceremony suggests otherwise.
