|
The Bride of
Revelations
(Zechariah 4:7 KJV) Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt
become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
(Psalms 102:13 KJV) Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
These opening scriptures are highlighting an important event which was to take place
in revelation at end times, I began to see an awesome parallel in the Word concerning the days we as the temple we are living
in. Is not our body considered a temple? We are entering the appointed time in which God is pouring a double portion of favor
upon His Bride! Through out this page I will refer to the Bride as God/Christ/or Jesus's bride. In revelations watch
for who the Bride really is for in this time and age.
This is confirmed within these two verses as the word for ‘time’ in psalm
102 is ’eth’ which is the same as ‘kairos’ in the Greek, meaning ‘a window of time in which
God moves’. The second word for ‘time’ in this verse means “a fixed time or season, an appointed time,
a festival’. So we see that the Lord is arising to meet an eternal appointment in this season. This is the time that
was scheduled before the foundation of the earth and the appointment has not been canceled! This is the year of the Lord’s
favor when He is coming to comfort all who mourn in Zion. The
word translated ‘favor’ in psalm 102:13 is ‘to stoop in kindness to an inferior, to have pity on, to bestow’.
Zechariah says that the headstone is brought forth with cries of, “grace, grace”.
This word can also be translated as ‘favour, favor’. What does favor do? It opens up the way for one to move or
function freely. If you have favor with someone in a position of power, you are able to get doors opened for you in the direction
you need to go!! Zechariah 4:7 shows us that a double portion of favor is going to make the way open for this headstone to
be brought forth in the earth!
I began to be curious as to what this headstone was that Zechariah referred to. It
is composed of two words:
Eben - a stone, a plummet, a stone of fire, a precious stone
Rosha - the feminine word for head
So this headstone is feminine! This scripture is not referring to Christ, the head
of the Body but to someone who is at a similar level of rulership with Him – His Bride. We see here the beautiful portrayal
of the revealing of the Bride of the Lamb released to rule in the earth with a double portion of favor making way for her
as she walks. Isaiah 61:7 says this:
For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in
their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Esther pleased the king ore than all the other women and so he crowned her queen.
Esther 2:17 says that she received grace and favor in his sight. Another way
of saying this is, she received favor and favor – a double portion of favor!
When a Bride is crowned, she is given a position of authority in the kingdom and is
empowered to rule.
(Proverbs 12:4 KJV) A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband
The word for ‘virtuous’ here means ‘a force, an army, wealth, might,
power, riches, valor, virtue, strength’. The Bride of Jesus is a virtuous woman; a warring, brave, strong army in the
earth and she is the crown of her husband, Jesus.
(Isaiah 62:3 KJV) Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
She is a crown of glory, endued with favor, exercising righteous judgments in the
earth and extending the Kingdom. It is the favor of God poured out in the coming season which will cause His people to go
in and possess the land of their inheritance.
(Psalms 44:3 NKJV) For they did not get the land in possession by their own
sword, neither did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your face, because
You favored them.
God opened up the way at the Red Sea and
at the Jordan for His people to go through and in this day we shall see a double
opening, double favor, double anointing. Not only will there be evidence of the spirit of Elijah, but also of Elisha (who
had a double portion of anointing). This is why we will do greater works for the Kingdom in this day.
It states in Zechariah 4:7 that Zerubbabel was the one who would bring forth this
headstone, the Bride, who is a righteous plummet in the earth. What or who is he a picture of? I believe the answer is found
in digging deep into the meaning of his name. It is a composite of two words:
Zeru to flow
Babel comes from a root word meaning ‘ to overflow,
specifically with oil, to anoint’
So, wrapped up within this name is a double portion of flowing or an overflowing anointing.
It is this double portion of anointing that will be the hallmark of the Bride in this day; it is this which will bring her
forth to a place where she is recognized for who she is. As the crown of her Husband, she will carry the seal of His approval
and favor. She is going to arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is upon her.
(Psalms 92:10 NKJV) But You shall lift up my horn as the wild ox; and I shall
be anointed with fresh oil.
The word for ‘anoint’ in this scripture is only used once in the Word
and means ‘to overflow with oil’. The other words translated ‘anoint’ mean ‘ to rub in’
signifying a smaller quantity of oil being used. So the anointing described here is a double portion anointing, the same one
which flows over Aaron’s beard and onto his garments.
Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees; of David. Behold, how good and how
pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon
the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended
upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
This outpouring of anointing is connected to the unity of purpose, heart and mind
like the disciples on the day of Pentecost they were in one accord in one place. It also describes the anointing as being
a high-priestly anointing which is in actual fact a commissioning and anointing for a position, an equipping to carry out
an office. In the same way, the Bride is as Esther was crowned and thus equipped for her position, so too there is coming
in this season, an outpouring upon those who take up their positions and appointments in Christ.
The oneness of heart and mind is underscored by the fact that it is a single headstone
that is brought forth; a many-membered Bride, made up of mature sons with a single vision; to bring glory to their Bridegroom.
This headstone is also the plummet spoken of in Zechariah 4:10
(Zechariah 4:10
KJV) For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of
Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
A plummet is an instrument used in adjusting building erections to a perpendicular
line or to the upright. So this headstone or plummet is going to be a standard of righteousness against which all building
in the Kingdom will be measured and tested. That which is not upright will be torn down and rebuilt according to the standard
of righteousness because righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne. We see also from the above verse that
the seven spirits of God will rest upon this plummet or headstone, which is confirmed by Zechariah 3:8,9
‘Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee:
for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid
before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and
I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.’
So a hallmark of this bridal company will be that the bride will operate in the
power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, the Spirit of Counsel and Might , the Spirit of Knowledge and
the Fear of the Lord. Isaiah 12 gives us a further explanation of how this Manchild will operate:
(Isaiah 11:3 KJV) And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the
LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness
shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his
mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
This Branch, which is also a plummet and a headstone, will exercise judgment in righteousness
because of the anointing. She will proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. She will declare
the year of the Lord’s favor in the earth!
In Zechariah 3:9, when God says, “I will engrave”, that word ‘engrave’
can be translated ‘ to open wide, to break forth, to let go free, to begin, to loosen’. The marking of God upon
this stone will bring about a tremendous release to the Bride of Christ in this season. It will be a release marked by a double
portion of divine favor. This servant that the Lord will bring forth is a bondslave Bride; One who has been set free but chooses
to follow wherever the Spirit leads. She is the branch which grows and bears much fruit out of intimacy with the Bridegroom.
(Psalms 110:2 NKJV) The Lord will send forth the rod of Your strength from Zion;
rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your people shall be willing in the day of Your power, in holy adornment from the womb
of the morning: You have the dew of Your youth.
This rod or scepter sent forth out of Zion exercises God’s authority through
the ruling reining Bride of God/Christ as she extends the influence of His Kingdom in the earth. The above verse says that
God’s people will offer themselves willingly at this time and they will say, “ here am I, Lord; send
me”. It also speaks of being set apart for His purposes in holiness, having been in a place of preparation for
such a time as this – and from this womb, and shall be brought forth with shouts of ‘favour, favor’
into the fullness of their inheritance in Christ/God, a place of bridal rule and authority.
At this time, the feast of Pentecost or Shavuot is celebrated. There are very significant
parallels prophetically for the Third Day Church in this feast. Firstly, it is celebrated 50 days after Passover. Fifty is
the number of Jubilee, a set time of freedom from slavery and debt. Shackles are broken off and prisoners released at this
time.
On the first Shavuot, God made arrangements with Moses to meet with His people, Israel:
(Exodus 19:10 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify
them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD
will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
As we go into this season of Pentecost, the Lord is requiring a sanctifying and setting
apart for His purposes. It is not acceptable to approach this time lightheartedly for we are entering one of God’s appointed
times in the earth and we do not want to miss the day of our visitation. The people were given two days to prepare and on
the third day, God showed up. The church and people has had two thousand years to get ready. During this time even the bride
has to prepare herself for this appointment – has she made herself ready – have you made yourself ready?
Have you forsaken all others to surrender yourself to the Lord like the bride shall?
Shavuot was God’s betrothal to His people Israel and in the manner of Jewish
wedding ceremonies, it had to take place under a canopy or chuppah. Exodus tells us that the people gathered at the foot of
the mountain or in Hebrew, ‘under, beneath, the womb’. So they were covered both by the cloud and the overhanging
mountain.
We are in the morning of the Third Day and in like manner, the presence
of God is going to descend with thunder and lightening and a thick cloud upon mount Zion. He is coming to seek the hand of
His Bride.
At the same time his heart yearns to know whether His people will say ‘yes’
to Him. In a Jewish wedding, the marriage covenant or contract is called ketubah and is a written document which is presented
at the betrothal ceremony. The betrothal is considered as binding as the wedding ceremony. On that first Shavuot,
the Midrash tells us that when God spoke, the people saw the sound waves as a fiery substance which divided and went to stand
before each individual as a tongue of fire. Each person had to say,” I will” and commit to this covenant with
the Lord. Then the fiery substance went and wrote on the tablets of stone. God engraved the ketubah on these stone tablets,
which were afterward broken by Moses because of the people’s unfaithfulness.
Exo 32:16 And the tables3871 were the work4639 of God,430
and the writing4385 was the writing4385 of God,430 graven2801 upon5921
the tables.3871
At Pentecost, the people were in unity in one place and the Holy Spirit was poured
out in tongues of fire, which rested on each one individually. This is considered to be the birth of the Church as we know
it and the ketubah is written on our hearts, which are turned from stone to flesh. Shavuot was the birth of the nation of
Israel and also a covenantal marriage ceremony between God and His people.
In this season God is bringing forth His servant, the Branch, out
of Zion
(New Zion?),
and His Bride, who will rule in righteousness in the earth. Once again, as the cloud of His presence overshadows
us, He is coming to receive from the bride and each one of us an answer. Will we be His vessels, brought to the Kingdom for
such a time as this? Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and her response was:
(Luke 1:38
KJV) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
He is the One who comes to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire! Are you
ready to receive a baptism of the fiery power of God in this day?
At this time God is laying a banquet before the bride and us a great wedding
feast and we each have an individual meal to share and eat, His specific purpose for us in these end times. Will we say
yes and consume it, will we align ourselves with His desired purpose for our lives, no matter what the cost? The Bride and
We are the one stone of Zechariah 3 on which the Lord wants to engrave the new name. This is the married name; and
leave maiden names behind and take on His Name and all that it embraces. Just as on the first Shavuot when God engraved
the stone tablets, the bride and we are going into the season when He is engraving stone again!
(Revelation 2:17 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it.
The word, ‘knoweth’ here means ‘to grasp or understand’. Only
you will fully understand the extent of the Lord’s purposes for your life. Others may not see what He is making of you
or even the bride but deep within your spirit will be written and deposited the blueprint of your destiny in the
Kingdom. The word, ‘name’ comes from the Greek meaning ‘authority, character’ and only the one who
‘receiveth’ this new name or ‘takes hold of’ this revelation of our authority and character in Christ,
will understand and walk in the light of that revelation.
JEREMIAH 6:26 O daughter of my people, dress in sackcloth and roll about in ashes! Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the
plunderer will suddenly come upon us. (NKJV)
"From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my
worshippers, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring My offering." (Zephaniah 3 verse 10)
The woman, who is called here a "remnant," keeps the commandments
and has the testimony of God.
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant
of her seed, which keep the commandments of Elohim, and have the testimony of the Messiah ... for the testimony
of God/Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
(Revelation 12 verse 17 & Revelation 19 verse 10).
"The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity,
nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth" (Zephaniah 3 verse 13).
Micah 4:6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that
I have afflicted;
Micah 4:7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign
over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
Micah 4:8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 51:16
says, “And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the
heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” Zion, therefore, is a term applied to God’s people, especially in Old Testament times.
Notice in Jeremiah 6:2 that Zion had one daughter. “I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.”
These passages clearly speak of a single woman if we look at teh verses without adding anything
to it.
I believe it is important to have full understanding of the words in passages. I believe the word
“comely” is often misunderstood. Below if the online dictionary definition of this word for deeper understanding,
as you will often see me do through out my writings.
come·ly
adj. come·li·er, come·li·est
1. Pleasing and wholesome in appearance; attractive. See Synonyms at
beautiful.
2. Suitable; seemly: comely behavior.
1. comely -
according with custom or propriety; "her becoming modesty"; "comely behavior"; "it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to
be constantly asking for money"; "a decent burial"; "seemly behavior"
becoming, comme il faut, seemly, decent, decorous
proper - marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness; "proper medical treatment"; "proper manners"
2. comely
- very pleasing to the eye; "my bonny lass"; "there's a bonny bay beyond"; "a comely face"; "young fair maidens" bonnie, bonny,
fair beautiful - delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration; "a beautiful child"; "beautiful country";
"a beautiful painting"; "a beautiful theory"; "a beautiful party"
Isa 54:17 No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
There Is His Bride, destined to rule and take dominion in the earth. Paul says, “I
press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me”. We must press in and possess our inheritance because
that day which is spoken of is this day in which we are privileged to walk the earth. We have been brought to
the Kingdom for such a time as this! We and the bride should prepare our selves and our lives for this event when the day
arrives we are prepared. When This delicate and comly woman comes forth we do not denounce her “If” indeed
“God’s Bride” is a single woman and not the church some believe is choose. We should be prepared for the
which God chooses not man.
Psalms 110:2 tells us that His people will offer themselves ‘willingly’
in this day of His power. This word means ‘to volunteer as a soldier’ or be set free. The word for ‘power’
carries within it the sense of bringing forth and travailing. God wants an army to bring forth and birth something in the
earth. The mighty army coming forth is the rod and branch that is sent forth from, “New Zion” and is arrayed in
the beauty of holiness. They have sanctified themselves, just like the sanctification for two days before Shavuot. The Bride
has been making herself ready for this morning of the Third Day!
Psalm 110, which is a Third Day psalm, says in the last verse;
(Psalms 110:7 KJV) He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he
lift up his head.
Note: The use of these words he/his/him has never been determined to be a man or woman.
This seems unconnected to the theme of the previous verses until we discover that
the word ‘drink’ means ‘to imbibe, banquet’. Here is the connection to the feast of the brides and
our inheritance which the Lord is laying before us at this time. The root word for ‘brook’ is translated ‘to
inherit, to be made to possess, to occupy’! So this Branch and the bride that is sent forth out of New Zion will
feast on her inheritance. She the Bride will experience the fulfillment of God’s promise to her – she will eat
of the fruit of the Promised Land!
(Isaiah 25:6 KJV) And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all
people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined
Pentecost is also called the Feast of First Fruits. When God met with the Israelites
and made covenant with them, they were to be a sign or a type in the earth, a firstfruits of what was to come:
(Jeremiah 2:2 KJV) Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the
LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
(Jeremiah 2:3 KJV) Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the first fruits of
his increase
This is to say that there are saved from many tribes and people, as there were many
people chosen to God. Some specific groups, some specific number out of tribes, some single people were choose, even tribes
were. God choose these people, he hand picks them from the multitude.
In Revelation, it speaks of another first fruits company who have God’s name
engraved upon them:
(Revelation 14:4 KJV) These are they which were not defiled with women; for
they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the
first fruits unto God and to the Lamb
God is once again bringing forth in a similar type to Israel, His earthly Bride and the company.
When He exchanged vows with them that first Shavuot, he promised:
(Exodus 19:5 KJV) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my
covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me
a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
These words, ‘a peculiar treasure’ are from the Hebrew word for ‘jewel,
wealth, to closely shut up’ and appear again in a prophetic scripture referring to these very days in which we find
ourselves:
(Malachi 3:16 KJV) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:
and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and
that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will
spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
God is in the process of ‘making up’ His jewels for His crown. This is
the Hebrew word meaning ‘to appoint or bring forth’. This is His first fruits the bride and the company. This
is His heavenly Bride, the one who is a crown to her Husband. In the same token there is company that is considered first
fruits. She the bride of God/Christ has been ‘shut up’ in a place of preparation but are entering the
time when He will openly display her as His treasure.
(Isaiah 62:3 KJV) Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
The wife of
the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is a crown of fiery precious stones. In Revelation 21, the Lamb’s wife is described
as having a foundation of precious stones and being utterly beautiful to behold:
(Revelation 21:11 KJV) Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto
a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal
When a baby is born, there is a moment in the labor called the ‘crowning of
the head’. We are in that moment even now at this Pentecost season. God is bringing forth the crown of the Head, His
jewels who are living memorials to show the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises.
Another picture of these jewels is seen in the two wave loaves of finely ground
flour which are a first fruits offering to the Lord at the time of Shavuot (Lev 23:15-17). They symbolize those who have been through much refining and
purifying and are ready to be part of a first fruits company in the earth, jewels which have been cut and polished to fit
into a crown to glorify the King
All of creation is groaning, waiting for the manifestation or revealing of the sons
of God. The labor has reached the time of breakthrough – the crowning of the Female Head and the way is opening
up; the headstone is being brought forth with shouts of ‘favour, favor!’. Halleluiah! So arise and shine for the
glory of the Lord is risen upon you rejoice for teh Bride of God is coming!
(Isaiah 62:2 KJV) And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings
thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown
of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Ephesians
5:15-32
See then that ye walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all
things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and
he is the saviour of the body. That is not to say that
the Church is for sure the Bride figure we are looking for please do not mistake this as making it so read further.
Therefore as
the church is subject unto Christ, but is the bride subject to God? So let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that
loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord
the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is
a great mystery: but I speak concerning the bride.
In Ephesians 5:15-32 above, we see a relationship between husbands and wives laid
out: Husband head of wife Wives subject to husbands. Husbands love wives as Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it
Husbands love wives as their own Man leaves mother/father and is joined unto his wife (two are then one flesh). We are the
body of Christ and He is the head, but we are one in Him and He in us see John 17:18-26
1 John 4:12,13 1 John 3:24
Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,
which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that
were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the
bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out
to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil;
for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather
to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went
in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also
the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. Matthew 7:13-23 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know
you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
And in Matthew
25:1-13 we see the relationship of virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. Half of the virgins are foolish and have let
their oil run out over the night. When they are called to go out and meet the bridegroom, they don't have oil meaning they
don't have light, which means they can't see and therefore don't go out to the bridegroom. They don't try to get oil until
after it's too late to get the oil, Christ is the only way to receive this oil.
Hebrews 1:9 I believe
may be the oil representing the offering. Then we see those five virgins that did have oil go with the bridegroom to the marriage
and the door shut. This is a kingdom parable meant to show how the kingdom of heaven comes.
I think this
is the picture of the end-times church. There are some who really love God and there are some that are too content without
Him to have much to do with Him. See below.
Revelation 3:14-22
And
unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning
of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,
and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
First, in Revelation 21:1,2 New Jerusalem is seen by John "prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband." I would like to point out the word "as" which shows a relation without stating that New
Jerusalem is the bride. Also that New Jerusalem is a city. Is God or Christ marrying a city?
The 12 gates of
New Jerusalem mirror the 12 tribes Revelation 21:12 and the 12 foundations of it are named after the 12 disciples Revelation
21:14. This means New Jerusalem is designed around the people who founded God's people and represented God on the earth. These
are all they who lived by faith. Why would the bride have parts of her named after these things?
Wouldn't the
bride be the center or the center person beside God and Christ? You don't create a city that you marry that's named after
the ones you love, you marry the ones you love and name cities after them. This brings me to the second question. What is
God's most precious creation? All of history is played out for the benefit of redemption of humans to God. All other things
will pass away except those who love God. Marriage, is based on love and that's what God is.
He so loved us that
He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. Do you marry a city or do you marry those created in your image, such that marriage
is the joining of two into one. We have Christ in us when we place ourselves in Him by giving our lives to Him. So is the
bride a city, or a group of people that love God, or a person God choose to be joined with him to be the one who lays the
path shortly before or at the time of his return?
Hosea 2:14-23
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And
I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor
for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt
call me Ishi H376 Good husband; and shalt call me no more Baali. For
I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that
day 1948 thru present will I make a covenant for them with the
beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and
the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto
me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I
will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. And it shall come to pass in that day,
I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; And the earth shall hear the corn,
and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy
upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall
say, Thou art my God.
Matthew 25:1-13 (King James
Version)1 Then shall the kingdom
of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While
the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and
you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know
you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the
hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Who are the Just
Who are the
just? The answer is those who live by faith in Christ, or Christians, Jew and Gentile. However to be clear, national Israel
is yet blinded, Luke 19:41-44 and Romans 11, until the fullness of the Gentiles. Romans 11:25 So the majority of Jews will
not accept Christ until after the rapture.
Romans 1:16,17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:7-14
Know
ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to
do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And
the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might
come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Hebrews
10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
What
is faith then?
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Nobody
alive has seen Yeshua, yet we believe He is God. That is faith. Our faith is built upon belief in the Bible. Our belief in
Christ, whom the Bible is all about Revelation 19:10, is the evidence of what we can't see. Faith is what we cling to because
it is promised to be connected to our salvation, which is what we all hope for. So the just are those who accept Christ's
sacrifice for our sins and we repent for them. That's what He died on the cross for. They aren't just in themselves, but only
through believing in Christ.
Now the marriage aspect is limited
by certain time constraints because the marriage of the Lamb Revelation 19:7,8 happens before Christ returns in glory. Revelation
19:11-14 Therefore, the rapture to the marriage of the Lamb must happen before Christ returns in glory if we are to even attend
the marriage. Since we also are not appointed to God's wrath 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 which is coming on the children of disobedience
Ephesians 5:1-7 dwelling on the earth, we must be removed from the earth before it comes. God's wrath starts before He returns
in glory, in fact, according to scripture, the sixth seal comes before the day of the Lord (Joel 2:31) and the day of the
Lord is the beginning of God's wrath as also laid out in Isaiah 13:9-13. So there must be a catching away spoken of in 1 Thessalonians
4:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 before that point.
Galatians 3:25-29
But now that faith has come, we are no longer
under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have
clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male
nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according
to promise.
If we are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, then would this still apply when faith is no
longer required?
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.
During the millennium, will there be faith in Christ Jesus? He will be dwelling on the earth among us as the Meshiach
Nagid, having taken the kingdoms of the earth to rule with a rod of iron. This will be after the marriage of the Lamb. Revelation
19:7,8 So if faith is the evidence of things not seen, can there be faith when Christ is seen and known throughout all of
the world? Everyone will be required to travel to New Jerusalem or New Zion to worship Him.
People will still have
to accept Christ when He dwells among us, but this will be after the bride is married. This doesn't mean that nobody else
will go to heaven and we must put on our immortal bodies for that, which are what the fallen angels disrobed from to come
to earth in Genesis 6 according to Jude 1:5-7.
Jude 1:5-7
I will therefore put you in
remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed
them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved
in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about
them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire.
Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that,
when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were
of old, men of renown.
Revelation 3:10
Because thou
hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rapture:
If our rapture to Christ isn't until He returns in glory,
who are those riding on white horses dressed the exact same as the wife the bride who is arrayed in after the marriage that
took place in heaven? (not to be confused with the marriage supper of the Lamb which I believe will occur on earth during
the millennium as the bride is presented as His wife to the guests. Do a google search on ancient Jewish wedding customs
Notice
that the resurrection of Revelation 20:4,5 (which by sticking to the single resurrection belief must preceed our rapture to
Christ in the clouds) happens after Christ has defeated the armies at Armageddon AND after Satan is bound for the millennium.
That means that Christ will be residing on the earth for that 1,000 years, where does 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 fit into that?
Why rapture to the clouds when Christ has already returned and defeated the armies and bound Satan and begun His rule? The
timing just doesn't fit with the whole council.
Pre-trib ignores 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 and post-trib is built on many
assumptions that don't fit with a plain reading of scripture. Hardly anyone sees the other clear clues. The bride is a delicate
comely woman.
Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
Now this
I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold,
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This could even be that the Bride
may have died and come back at some time in her life sent back from heaven, or sent from heaven? Just as a thought. Why are
we being removed from the earth? Because God's wrath is coming upon all who dwell on the earth, and we're not appointed to
that wrath, therefore, we cannot be on the earth when it comes. Not only that, but we have a wedding to attend the marriage
supper of the Lamb and bride.
Revelation 19:6-8
And I heard
as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean
and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Notice this wedding, marriage of
the Lamb, takes place before Christ returns in glory as we see just a few verses later, when the bride of Christ is returning
with Christ at His coming in glory...
Revelation 19:11-14
And I saw
heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no
man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the
armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
So if we're married before Christ
returns at Armageddon to destroy the beast, false prophet, and the gathered armies, then we must have been raptured before
that time because we follow Him on white horses arrayed in that same fine linen, white and clean which is the righteousness
of the saints.
What could be a general timing
of the rapture? Nobody not even Jesus knew the day or hour but the Father, but Luke 17:24-37 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 give
us a general look at the season. In that respect it is a secret. However, when it happens, it will be accompanied by a trumpet
blast and a shout that will probably both resonate throughout the atmosphere. They may not understand what it is, but it won't
be a secret any longer at that point. For those who already know about the rapture, I hold that a pre-wrath rapture is what
the Bible points to. Mid-trib is also a possibility
So who is the bride of God or Christ
and not appointed to the wrath of God that will be coming on the earth. Beware your pre-conceived notions and dig into the
Word of God for answers. They're all there. Most of all, don't take my word for it. Double check me, that's what we're supposed
to do.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble
than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so.
I honestly do not think a single person, a group of people, or the church should be ruled out, in my eyes this is a decision
of God's. I think in one way or another all could be considered, but I would not be to hasty to rule out one person.
If I had a choice, I would say choose me! As should each of us.
Most
believe that this person in question, "His wife," the Bride of Christ/God. Notice, however, what the verse
says: "She has made herself ready." God does not lead us in wrong directions, so what this description
suggests is true. The woman—the Bride, has had to do things. She had to perform certain actions to get herself
into position to be ready to marry Christ. It was not merely a matter of repenting, getting baptized, and receiving God's
Spirit. She had to do something to be prepared to be in the Kingdom and marry her Savior. Note that is false prophets or otherwise false or untrue what is said in Romans 16:18-19 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf. But
yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
This verse records in advance that the bride "has
made herself ready." When God comes she is prepared to take her place beside Him. This indicates she yields to God
to be ready exactly when He is, but it does not say how painful it is for her or what she has to go through to be ready. Preparing for a wedding between a man and woman is stressful. Besides the bride and groom
beginning to blend their lives together, a multitude of arrangements must be completed so that the marriage ceremony proceeds
smoothly. Jesus Christ is energetically working now to prepare her to take Him as our Husband. Paul writes in II Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Jesus adds in John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation." There will also be times of stern correction (Hebrews 12:5-11). It can be very painful if we fail to yield because He will apply whatever pressure is needed to motivate
us to use our free moral agency rightly. Does it not seem wise to yield? Why not make it easier on ourselves?
At this time, the bride of Christ, has made herself
ready and is clothed in white linen, which represents her righteous acts. The implications are clear: Getting ready, walking
worthy, and overcoming are the righteous acts of the saints that prepare her to be His wife in the resurrection to the Kingdom
of God.
The fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Consider that
the marriage analogy carries right through from the Old Covenant into the New. Under the New Covenant, the church is seen
as a bride preparing for marriage. There is a major difference, however, between the Old
and New Covenant marriage analogies. In the Old Covenant, when Israel agreed to God's proposal, and Moses performed the
ritual described in Exodus 24, they were married. When we enter into the New Covenant, we are not married yet. We are like
a bride preparing for marriage, even though we have already agreed to the New Covenant. God has made this change to resolve
the weakness of the first covenant, which will be eradicated before the actual ceremony and union take place. Revelation 19 is the announcement that the bride is now ready and the marriage can take place. There are four
things that a marriage relationship must have to really be successful: 1) A marriage must
have love. A loveless marriage is a contradiction in terms. 2) A marriage must have intimate
communion, so intimate that the bride and groom become one flesh. The two become one. 3)
A marriage should have joy. This will be a natural result if love exists in the marriage. The joy of loving and being loved
is like nothing else. 4) A marriage must have fidelity, loyalty, and faithfulness. No marriage
can last without it. The weakness of the first covenant will be resolved and eradicated,
before the actual ceremony and union take place. This time, Christ/God will be married to a wife who has already proved that
she loves Him, that she is capable of intimate communication, that she is happy with Him as her Husband, and that she is faithful
in every aspect of her life. Notice how attention is drawn to her preparations, as well
as her righteous acts. Could her righteous acts have anything to do with the preparation? Absolutely. Could it have anything
to do with her being qualified? Absolutely. Works of her righteous acts are represented here. We
should not be misled into thinking that her deeds, her righteous acts, have earned her salvation. All through the Bible, it
maintains a delicate balance between grace (what is given) and obedience (the proper response). Here, that balance is shown
by the wife's garments being granted to her. She has worked, but the gift is still given. It
takes work to make a marriage successful. It takes work to make the relationship with God successful. If like her we
do the right kind of works, there is no doubt that the relationship will be successful as will ours with him, and God will
be well pleased with not only her but with us as well. And we will also enter His Kingdom. Most believe that this person in question, "His wife," the
Bride of Christ/God. Notice, however, what the verse says: "She has made herself ready." God does not lead
us in wrong directions, so what this description suggests is true. The woman—the Bride, has had to do things.
She had to perform certain actions to get herself into position to be ready to marry Christ. It was not merely a matter of
repenting, getting baptized, and receiving God's Spirit. She had to do something to be prepared to be in the Kingdom and
marry her Savior. Note that is false prophets or otherwise false or untrue
what is said in Romans 16:18-19 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf. But
yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
This verse records in advance that the bride "has
made herself ready." When God comes she is prepared to take her place beside Him. This indicates she yields to God
to be ready exactly when He is, but it does not say how painful it is for her or what she has to go through to be ready. Preparing for a wedding between a man and woman is stressful. Besides the bride and groom
beginning to blend their lives together, a multitude of arrangements must be completed so that the marriage ceremony proceeds
smoothly. Jesus Christ is energetically working now to prepare her to take Him as our Husband. Paul writes in II Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Jesus adds in John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation." There will also be times of stern correction (Hebrews 12:5-11). It can be very painful if we fail to yield because He will apply whatever pressure is needed to motivate
us to use our free moral agency rightly. Does it not seem wise to yield? Why not make it easier on ourselves?
At this time, the bride of Christ, has made herself
ready and is clothed in white linen, which represents her righteous acts. The implications are clear: Getting ready, walking
worthy, and overcoming are the righteous acts of the saints that prepare her to be His wife in the resurrection to the Kingdom
of God.
The fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Consider that
the marriage analogy carries right through from the Old Covenant into the New. Under the New Covenant, the church is seen
as a bride preparing for marriage. There is a major difference, however, between the Old
and New Covenant marriage analogies. In the Old Covenant, when Israel agreed to God's proposal, and Moses performed the
ritual described in Exodus 24, they were married. When we enter into the New Covenant, we are not married yet. We are like
a bride preparing for marriage, even though we have already agreed to the New Covenant. God has made this change to resolve
the weakness of the first covenant, which will be eradicated before the actual ceremony and union take place. Revelation 19 is the announcement that the bride is now ready and the marriage can take place. There are four
things that a marriage relationship must have to really be successful: 1) A marriage must
have love. A loveless marriage is a contradiction in terms. 2) A marriage must have intimate
communion, so intimate that the bride and groom become one flesh. The two become one. 3)
A marriage should have joy. This will be a natural result if love exists in the marriage. The joy of loving and being loved
is like nothing else. 4) A marriage must have fidelity, loyalty, and faithfulness. No marriage
can last without it. The weakness of the first covenant will be resolved and eradicated,
before the actual ceremony and union take place. This time, Christ/God will be married to a wife who has already proved that
she loves Him, that she is capable of intimate communication, that she is happy with Him as her Husband, and that she is faithful
in every aspect of her life. Notice how attention is drawn to her preparations, as well
as her righteous acts. Could her righteous acts have anything to do with the preparation? Absolutely. Could it have anything
to do with her being qualified? Absolutely. Works of her righteous acts are represented here. We
should not be misled into thinking that her deeds, her righteous acts, have earned her salvation. All through the Bible, it
maintains a delicate balance between grace (what is given) and obedience (the proper response). Here, that balance is shown
by the wife's garments being granted to her. She has worked, but the gift is still given. It
takes work to make a marriage successful. It takes work to make the relationship with God successful. If like her we
do the right kind of works, there is no doubt that the relationship will be successful as will ours with him, and God will
be well pleased with not only her but with us as well. And we will also enter His Kingdom.
Jewish Wedding
The first step, the Ketubah, or Betrothal, was the establishment of the
marriage covenant, usually when the prospective bridegroom took the initiative and negotiated the price (mohair) he must pay
to purchase her.
Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was established, and the young
man and woman were regarded as husband and wife. From that moment on, the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified
- set apart - exclusively for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant relationship that had been established, the groom
and bride drank from a cup of wine over which the betrothal had been pronounced.
After the marriage covenant was established,
the groom left his bride at her home and returned to his father's house, where he remained separated from his bride for approximately
12 months. This afforded the bride time to gather her trousseau and prepare for married life.
During this period of
separation, the groom prepared a dwelling place in his father's house to which he would later bring his bride. At the end
of the period of separation, the bridegroom came - usually at night - to take his bride to live with him. The groom, the best
man, and other male escorts left the father's house and conducted a torch-light procession to the home of the bride. Although
the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom's arrival
was preceded by a shout, which announced her imminent departure to be gathered with him.
After the groom received his
bride, together with her female attendants, the enlarged wedding party returned from the bride's home to the groom's father's
house, where the wedding guests had assembled.
Shortly after their arrival, the bride and groom were escorted by the
other members of the wedding party to the bridal chamber (huppah). Prior to entering the chamber, the bride remained veiled
so that no one could see her face. While the groomsmen and bridesmaids waited outside, the bride and groom entered the bridal
chamber alone. There, in the privacy of that place, they entered into physical union for the first time, thereby consummating
the marriage that had been covenanted approximately one year earlier.
After the marriage was consummated, the groom
came out of the bridal chamber and announced the consummation of the marriage to the members of the wedding party waiting
outside. Then, as the groom went back to his bride in the chamber, the members of the wedding party returned to the wedding
guests and announced the consummation of the marriage.
Upon receiving the good news, the wedding guests remained in
the groom's father's house for the next seven days, celebrating with a great wedding feast.
During the seven days of
the wedding feast, the bride and groom remained hidden in the bridal chamber (Cf. Genesis 29:21-23, 27-28) for the
seven days of the huppah. Afterwards, the groom came out of hiding, bringing his bride with him, but with her veil removed
so that everyone could see her.
The Ultimate Bride
The New Testament portrays the Church as the Bride
of Christ in Ephesians 5:22-33 (Paul even quotes Genesis 2:24 as the union at the Parousia of the Bridegroom
in v.31!); cf. Romans 7:4; 2 Corinthians 11:2; James 4:4. In the opening verses of John 14, the
marriage covenant is confirmed. Paul continually reminds us of the purchase price and the covenant by which, the Bride, are
set apart, or sanctified. In Revelations The Bride of God or (Christ?) is much the same.
Note on Bride of Christ vs. Bride of God: In some sense I hope you are seeing what I am, why
does so many people refer to this "Bride" and call this person the Bride of Christ? Clearly nothing in the writing about
this Bride refers to her as such. She is referred to in Revelations as the Bride of God and teh Bride of the Lamb. Maybe I
am missing something but I have searched over and over for something to come to a conclusion other then someone else's commentary.
This is not to say they may not be right, but if we go by passages and scripture from Revelations from which the Bride appears
nothing states this to make this conclusion.
Ecclesiology vs. Eschatology
It is this distinctive nature of the Church that
is often overlooked by students of prophecy: it is more a matter of ecclesiology than eschatology.
One thing that seems
to highlight this distinctiveness is the strange remark Jesus made regarding John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:11
Verily
I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he
that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
What does that mean? Jesus goes on to explain,
Matthew 11:13
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
It is John the Baptist that closes the Old Testament, not Malachi. A profound distinction appears to
be drawn between the saints of the Old Testament and those of the New.
And it is this role as the Bride of the Bridegroom
that is emphasized in the parables and in the Book of Revelation.
The Departure of the Bridegroom
The
Bridegroom has departed, and His return to gather His Bride is imminent. He has gone to prepare a place for his bride and
company. (He has been at it for 2,000 years! It must be a spectacular abode!)
This very doctrine of "imminence" is
taught throughout the New Testament and is a cornerstone of the "pre-tribulational" view: there is no event which is a
prerequisite condition for His gathering of His Bride.
The Great Tribulation
There are those who
believe the Church will go through the Great Tribulation. In exploring this issue, it is essential to distinguish between
persecution, which clearly has been the lot of the Church for 19 centuries, and "the Great Tribulation" of eschatological
significance. The persecution - and tribulation - of the Church and his people was clearly promised to us:
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The source of this tribulation is the world and, of course, Satan. However, "the Great Tribulation"
of eschatological significance is quite another matter.
Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning
of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The context here is clearly Israel. Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament:
Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Note that "thy people will be delivered": the focus of the "Great Tribulation" is Israel. That is why
it is called "the time of Jacob's Trouble":
Jeremiah 30:7
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the
time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Jesus (in the Old Testament) explains:
Hosea 5:15
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence,
and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.
To "return," He must have left His place! The offence referred to is singular and specific: their rejection
of Him. In "their affliction" they will ultimately repent and He will respond.
The Great Tribulation also involves
more than the wrath of the world or the wrath of Satan: it involves the indignation and wrath of God. In contrast, the People,
the Bride and the Church has been promised:
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
by our Lord Jesus Christ,
And,
Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through him.
And, specifically,
Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee
from the hour (time) of temptation (trial), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Peter also emphasizes,
2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Here, Peter is using the judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah "as an example," as Jesus also did, in which
the prior removal of Lot was a precondition before the angels could do their work.
It requires precise definitions
of the terms used, and great care to understand how each of the elements of the revealed truth relate to each other.
But
the fundamental doctrine of imminence has to be forfeited with any view that requires the Great Tribulation - or any other
precedent event - to occur prior to the Rapture.
Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Are you going to escape these things that shall come to pass? If so, how? Or are you relying on the
notion that the Lord is "delaying His coming?" This could be a very dangerous presumption. Do your homework. It is important.
Note These scriptures talk mainly of the people but still the Bride is separate,
this also leads one to believe it very well may be one person, and a group of people the company.
Marriage Supper
Revelation 19:7-9
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage
of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which
are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
I do not believe the marriage of the Lamb (verses 7,8) and the marriage supper of the Lamb (vs. 9)
are the same event. The marriage supper in Jewish tradition was held 7 days after the actual marriage. The marriage supper
is when the Bridegroom presents His bride to the guests of the marriage supper. I believe these verses place it after the
end of the 70th week on earth such that all those resurrected in Revelation 20:4,5 can attend and have the bride presented to them, since they will be in heaven too, just not the bride
of Christ.
Daniel 12:11,12
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and
the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that
waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Here we have a starting point for both the 1290 and 1335 days, the abomination of desolation. There's
a difference of 45 days that places the event at the 1335 day mark outside the 70th week of Daniel. And in each verse, we
are talking about a group of people who are blessed. In Revelation, they are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Firstly,
this is a blessed thing to have been included in, so I don't think this is the great supper of God, where the birds dine on
the flesh of the dead armies. Second, I realize there are lots of blessings to groups in scripture. However, the placing of
this in Revelation 19:9 is after the marriage is already finished. We know this because the marriage of the Lamb is come and
the bride is no longer the bride, but called the wife. This is only possible after a marriage ceremony. After the ceremony,
a blessing is given to those called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. That means the marriage supper is separate from the
marriage itself. I believe these are the guests to the marriage supper are spoken of in the kingdom parable of Matthew 22:1-14.
The marriage takes place in heaven and at that point, the only ones in heaven are the bride, Christ,
the angels, and the Father. The guests have to attend the marriage supper on earth, so the marriage supper of the Lamb would
have to take place after Christ returned in glory with His wife. Otherwise, there could be no guests except the angels. The
timing of the blessing for those who wait and the blessing for those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb fit
the criteria and make sense since Christ will be presenting His bride to those who will be resurrected at the end of the 70th
week. That gives a month and a half to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb as well as all the other events that will
be happening to usher in the millennium such as building the millennial temple in Ezekiel 40-47.
We need a little background on Jewish wedding tradition. It was not like ours are now, but even with
ours, the marriage supper is not the marriage. The wedding supper (reception) comes after the ceremony. From what I've read
on ancient Jewish wedding tradition, there was a seven day wedding feast while the bride and groom remained hidden in the bridal chamber.
Then after that time, the bride and groom emerged and the groom presents his bride to those at the wedding feast. This shows
that the marriage and wedding feast are separated by time. The timing I get from scripture, but I think the principle is set
up by this tradition.
So in Revelation 19:9, those who come to the marriage supper are blessed. Then in Daniel
12:12, we see a space of time after the 1290 days where those who wait until that time are also blessed. I think these
blessed people from these two scriptures are the same. Like I said, I can't link them absolutely, but what other event after
the marriage and outside of the 70 weeks would people be blessed that wait for it from prophecy?
Simchat Torah, which is a Hebrew term which means "rejoicing with/of the Torah". The annual cycle of reading the
Torah is completed and begun anew, with the last section of Deuteronomy and the first section of Genesis read in succession
after a festival parade of the Torah scrolls amidst singing, dancing and (typically) a moderate consumption of alcohol. It
is one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar. -Wikipedia reference
So now is a time to rejoice, and make ourselves ready. My Lamp is filled woth oil and ready, with ample bottle to spare,
is yours?
Most readers of Preparing Christ's
Bride are familiar with Digital Angel Corporation's development of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip. Veterinarians
are already implementing the use of these implantable identification devices for maintaining records of family pets. Recently,
Fox News quoted Scott Silverman, CEO of Applied Digital Solutions:
When we first announced VeriChip, a network poll asked
people if they would put one in their bodies," Silverman tells WebMD. "Only 9 percent said yes. After FDA approval, 19 percent
said yes. When former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson joined our board, the rate went up to 33 percent. But our own study shows
that if you ask people whether they would have a VeriChip implant to identify their medical records in case of an emergency,
the positive response goes to 80 percent.
Recently, Senators
Bill Frist (R) and Hillary Clinton (D) joined forces to submit Bill S. 1262, or the Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act.
Which, if passed, paves the way for easy acceptance of this type of technology (read about it). While such implants are still voluntary, we are told in Revelation 13:16-17: He also forced everyone, small and great,
rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless
he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
It is reported by researchers that the only
effective area to implant the RFID is in the forehead or hand. While the companies involved have tested other areas like under
the arm, the "IDEAL" locations match exactly those described in the Bible.
These ID chips run on lithium batteries.
In Rev 16:2 it says: there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast - If the lithium in
the chip escapes into the body, that's exactly what will occur!
Today, Scott Silverman made the news again (article) announcing that he would be presenting a live "chipping" and demonstration of the FDA approved VeriChip on one of his corporate
executives. Mark you calendars for September 19, if you would like to view the 8 a.m. live webcast .
Want to learn more about the RFID chip and Bible prophecy? Check out this article: The Time of the Mark is Here.
Dear Bride, as these technological advancements underscore for us that the time of the end is approaching, be comforted
by the words of Peter who wrote: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto
the day of judgment to be punished. We are to wait eagerly for our Savior, Jesus Christ, not fearfully of the temptation to
take such a mark- a temptation that will one day come on all those who dwell on the face of the earth. Having your lamp trimmed
with oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit), there is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1, WBS)
THREE COUNTRIES JOIN INTO ALLIANCE TO BE KNOWN AS A "NEW UNION"
New Curreny card to buy, sell, and trade with soon coming.
Even more concerning
is that a bill may have already been passed that within 5-10 years United States will join into a "New Union" with Mexico
and Canada. Not that I do not like these folks but this is not a good thing. First of all our United States Constitution will
be ripped up and another on put into it's place. (remember we have already lost lots of rights these past couple years.) Why?
Because we will no longer be just teh United States. The Second not-so-good idea is that with this a new currency or better
put lack there of happens. Instead of money we will not buy, sell, or trade without this new money card which willbe forced
upon the people as a new standard. This also is a huge sing of the "Mark of the Beast". I urge all individuals to contact
their senators and congressmen, and country officals and get this thing amended while you still can fight it.
|
