The Final Move of the Holy Spirit:
THE BRIDAL GENERATION
(The Last and Final Generation)
PART I.
FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
1. Bridal Identity
- Is the Church automatically the Bride? Are all the Church the Bride?
- How can Men be the Bride of Christ?
2. The Bride in Genesis
3. The Bride in Revelation
1. Introduction:
As we look at ourselves, so we are.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
(Prov. 23:7a)
WHAT IS THE THINKING OF YOUR HEART CONCERNING YOUR BEING A CHRISTIAN?
WHAT ARE YOU IN YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING?
There are many answers:
1. I am a sinner saved by grace
2. I am elect, I am chosen
3. I am a child of God
4. I am a co-heir with Christ
5. I am a servant of God
6. I am a soldier (warrior) of God
7. I am an intercessor
8. I am a royal priest, etc. etc. etc.
BUT HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?
I am the BRIDE of Christ!
I am the FIANCEE of Jesus!
I am the GIRLFRIEND OF THE CROWNED PRINCE OF HEAVEN!
I will soon be MARRIED to Christ!
What does this all mean? What are its practical implications? Is this matter even important?
THE MATTER IS OF TERRIBLE IMPORTANCE:
The BRIDAL CALL is the LAST AND FINAL CALL TO, AND OF, ALL CHRISTIANS:
Rev. 22:17 “And the SPIRIT and the BRIDE say, COME! And let him that is thirsty come!...”
It is NOT the Spirit and the church, or the Spirit and the son/daughter, or servant, or soldier.
It is the Spirit and the BRIDE!
WHAT IS AT STAKE? What are the things that are put in issue, threatened or
endangered if we do not understand and imbibe the final call, the BRIDAL CALL?
SO MANY:
1. The issue of the rapture and the tribulation period (the timing for us, whether we shall go
through the tribulation period)
(PLEASE KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT THIS, regardless of all the previous teachings you
have received or heard.)
2. The issue of our INTERCESSION (how effective, how acceptable)
3. The MANNER of our WARFARE
4. The MANNER of our SERVICE
5. The crucial, central issue of our INTIMACY with God
6. The QUALITY OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE!
7. Issues of PROTECTION and BLESSING
8. The issue of our ABILITY TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD.
These and many other issues are “placed on the table” as we determine whether we are the
BRIDE OF CHRIST or not!
SOME PRELIMINARY CLARIFICATIONS
FIRST:
Is it not AUTOMATIC THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHIRST, or that ALL CHRISTIANS
are the Bride of Christ?
NO SIR, NO MA’AM!!!
This is one of the most dangerous and damaging assumptions that has ever entered the Christian mindset this day and age.
This is CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE for the LUKEWARM and UNINSPIRED brand of Christian life that we see a lot of today.
NOT ALL CHURCH IS BRIDE!
1. “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to
him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds
may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. “(2 Cor. 11:2-3)
2. Some virgins are wise and some are foolish. The foolish ones were left behind when the
Bridegroom came. (Matthew 25:1-13) (THE WORD “VIRGIN” IS SYNOMOUS TO BRIDE OR
BETHROTHED, “ENGAGED”, OR FIANCEE.)
3. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses (WRITTEN TO CHRISTIANS), know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4 KJV)
There are at least TEN BASIC QUALITIES OF THE BRIDE as described in the Bible:
_ 1. The bride will be presented as a pure virgin to him (2 Cor. 11:2).
_ 2. The bride will be known for her righteousness, or righteous acts (Rev. 19:5-8).
v. 5 “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
v. 6 And I heard a voice 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.
v. 7 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.
v. 8 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.”
(NIV: righteous deeds of the saints.)
_ 3. The bridal church will be (Eph. 5:25-27):
a. Holy.
b. Cleansed and washed by the word of God.
c. A radiant church.
d. Without stain or wrinkle.
(QUESTION: who makes her these? Christ or she herself?
Salvation is a gift, but we are also called on to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Col. 3:5 etc.)
e. Without blemish.
f. Blameless.
_ 4. The bride of Christ will have the measure of the stature of the (Eph. 4:13, KJV) fullness of Christ
_ 5. The bride will come from a portion of the body of Christ, rather than being the entire body (Gen. 2:22 by application).
_ 6. The bride will have a sincere and pure devotion to Christ(2 Cor. 11:3). (PASSION)
_ 7. The bride will be watchful and prayerful (Luke 21:36).
_ 8. The bride will have been pressing for perfection (2 Cor. 13:9,11).
_ 9. The anointing, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, will be abundantly operating in the lives of those who qualify for the bride of Christ (Matt. 25:3-4).
_ 10. The bride will live in a state of readiness, eagerness, to meet the bridegroom (Matt. 25:10; Luke 12:35; Rev. 19:7).
THERE ARE MORE!, BUT THESE ARE THE BASIC.
_
THE POINT IS:
You are the same person, but you have a different MINDSET, APPEARANCE, BEHAVIOUR, ACTION, PRIORITY, FOCUS, if you move from just being woman or girlfriend to now about to be-married fiancée or bride.
There is a TRANSFORMATION, A CHANGE, A RADIANCE AND A GLORY FOUND IN THE BRIDE not found in the “ordinary” woman.
The endtimes call for the WEDDING of the Lamb and His Bride, and He is not picking up the unprepared, un-attired, unadorned fiancée.
He is picking up the READY BRIDE.
EVEN US, the wedding will NOT PROCEED if our girlfriend is not ready!
The BRIDE has to be PREPARED!
THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO WITH US:
“Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for us,
That he might sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water through, the word;
That he might present us to himself a GLORIOUS CHURCH (BRIDE), not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing,
But that we should be holy and blameless.”
EPH. 5:25-27 (KJV, personalized)
Second clarificatory issue:
CAN MEN (“MACHO”!) IMBIBE THE “BRIDAL” SPIRIT?
1. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28 NIV).
2. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.” (Gen 1:27 NIV).
Eve was an external manifestation of the feminine part in Adam. So whether we are male or
female we are the external manifestation of God’s image and are able to seek a relationship
with God as Eve did with Adam and vice versa.
AN INTERESTING FACT:
_ In Hebrew, God’s name (YHW) is the combination of the letters Yud and Hay.
_ The name for Adam is Eish, which is spelled using the Hebrew letters Aleph-Yud-Shin.
_ Eve’s name is Elisha, spelled in Hebrew Aleph-Shin-Hay.
_ The Yud in Adam’s name is the male characteristics of God, not found in Eve’s name and
the Hay in Eve’s name is the female characteristics of God not found in Adam’s name.
_ Therefore, whether male or female we can have a relationship with Christ in the sense of
intimacy, because we are all one in Christ. The “one in Christ” or “heis” is neuter, without regard to gender.
Examples of MEN in the Bible as “Bride” or having qualities of the Bride:
Paul said: “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ˜The two will become one flesh. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Cor 6:16-17 NIV). (THE “MARITAL” PARADIGM IS SUGGESTED HERE: “unites”, “one with”.)
1. Out of all the servants of God, David is the one of whom it was said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart” (Acts 13:22 NASB). It was not a woman after God’s heart, it was a man.
David always wanted to “gaze at the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in his temple” (Psalm “As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul longeth after thee.” (Psalm 42:1)
2. John the Beloved, who leaned on Jesus’ breast (John 21:20) described himself as one Jesus loved (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).
Note: this closeness to the heart of Jesus (a bridal quality) enabled John to know who is the betrayer (Luke 13:21-28)
Being male is not an issue. All it takes is a heart devoted to know and love Him Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine…”
_
Men who clearly understood Jesus as Groom…
3. John the Baptist
"You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and is now complete. He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:28-30)
4. Paul
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” (2 Cor. 11:2)
THE BRIDAL PARADIGM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
1. Started all the way in CREATION
2. God created man in His image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26)
Man is the “image and glory of God” (I Cor. 11:7a), while “woman is the glory of man” (I Cor. 11:7b). (NOTE: WOMAN IS NOT THE IMAGE OF MAN, SHE IS STILL THE IMAGE OF GOD, but she is the GLORY of man.)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ONE TO BE THE GLORY OF ANOTHER?
“GLORY”
Hebrew: (Young’s Analytical Dictionary Concordance of the Holy Bible)
1. Addereth – ADORNMENT
2. Hod – BEAUTY, MAJESTY
3. Yeqar – PRECIOUSNESS, RARITY, SPECIAL
4. Kabod – WEIGHT, AUTHORITY
(“ichabod” – means the glory has departed)
5. Tsebi – BEAUTY, DESIRE
6. Kleos - CELEBRITY
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE MEANT FOR THE BRIDE…
“Husbands love your wives as Christ LOVED the church, and gave himself up for her… that he might her to himself as a GLORIOUS CHURCH, without spot, stain or wrinkle…” (Eph. 5:25- 27)
Jesus wants His beloved glorious!
Therefore, when the Bible says “man is the image and glory of God” (I Cor. 11:7a), while “woman is the glory of man” (I Cor. 11:7b), it MEANS:
God wants to give man:
1. Addereth – ADORNMENT
2. Hod – BEAUTY, MAJESTY
3. Yeqar – PRECIOUSNESS, RARITY, SPECIAL
4. Kabod – WEIGHT, AUTHORITY
(note: “ichabod” – means the glory has departed)
5. Tsebi – BEAUTY, DESIRE (desirability)
6. Kleos - CELEBRITY
THIS IS THE GLORIOUS BRIDE! THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF MAN FOR GOD AT THE
GARDEN OF EDEN! GLORY! This is because God designed for man and woman to be His
BRIDE!
Look at the “bridal” principles in creation (Genesis 1):
1. In the beginning God has already prepared a place for His Bride (Garden of Eden); 5 days
of prior creation before man was created on the 6th day;
2. In the Garden God walked and talked with man (intimacy) (Gen. 6:8) “Enoch walked with
God…” (early case of pre-trib rapture)
3. God created only one man in the beginning (God desires one-on-one relationship and
intimacy)
4. God saw the need for man to have a bride of his own (Gen. 2:18 – It is not good for man
to be alone…)
5. He created the woman FROM THE SIDE of the man while the man slept.
PARALLEL TO CHRIST:
a. the Church (Bride) was taken from the side of Christ when they pierced him at the cross (this was a bloody process)
b. Christ was “asleep” (dead) (in his death the Church – the Bride, was born)
c. Eve was only from the side of Adam, not from his whole body (the Bride is only from the side of the Body of Christ, not from the whole “body”, the Church)
2. The Abraham, Isaac, Eliezer, and Rebekah typology
(Please follow in your Bible in GENESIS 24)
Abraham – represents God the Father
Isaac – represents Jesus
Eliezer – the faithful assistant, represents the Holy Spirit
Rebekah – represents the church, the Bride
1. Abraham (God) looks for a wife for Isaac (Jesus)
2. He sends Eliezer (the Holy Spirit) to look for a bride for his son (v. 3)
3. The wife must be from their own family or relatives (v. 4)
4. Abraham (God) sends the Eliezer (the Holy Spirit loaded) with gifts and presents (v. 10)
5. The test of the potential bride is SERVICE (“if she offers me a drink and the camels too”)
v. 14
(Note: after we were saved, our very first identification of ourselves is that we are servants of God; we “serve” the Lord)
6. The sign of the bride-to-be is that she is QUICK to respond and to serve (v. 18, “quickly”)
7. Another sign is her EAGERNESS to serve (“quickly emptied”, “ran back”….) v. 20
8. Another sign is she wants to COMPLETE AND FULLY CARRY OUT HER SERVICE (ALL the camels drank) v. 20
9. She was sensitive and caring (“we have plenty…of room for you to spend the night” NIV) SHE GAVE AND OFFERED MUCH ROOM TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (Eliezer) v. 25
10. She is MARKED with ornaments (ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms) v. 47c (the BRIDE is MARKED)
11. She was given MORE GIFTS (gold, silver, jewelry, costly clothing) v. 53
12. Her brethren were also blessed v. 53b (note: this is very Filipino; bless the family)
13. She wanted to meet the Groom (Isaac) RIGHT AWAY (was longing to see him) v. 56-57 (her family wanted her to stay ten more days but Rebekah said no, I will go now)
14. She will possess the gates of her enemies (v. 60) – “The gates of hell will not prevail against it (the church)” Matt. 16:18
15. She was willing to be fully led by Eliezer (the Holy Spirit) v. 61 (“Eliezer took Rebekah”)
16. She met Isaac “in the evening” (v. 63-64), that is, “at the end of the age” (“night is coming when no man shall work”; “midnight”)
17. He brought her to the bridal chamber “and she became his wife and he loved her” v. 67
NOW WE TURN TO THE BRIDAL PERSPECTIVE of JESUS HIMSELF:
1. Jesus was the first to introduce the bridal paradigm to the Church. Jesus referred to Himself as a Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15);
2. He compared the kingdom to His Father arranging a marriage for Him (Mt. 22:2);
3. He described Christian life and ministry as preparing for and meeting Him as a Bridegroom (Mt. 25:1);
4. He will return in answer to the prayers of His Church crying out in her bridal identity (Rev. 22:17).
5. Jesus began His public ministry at a wedding (Jn. 2:1-12),
6. He ended it declaring that the kingdom of God was like a wedding (Mt. 22:1-14).
7. Jesus began His ministry to the apostles by revealing Himself as the Bridegroom God (Mt. 9:15)
8. Jesus’ ministry was first introduced by John the Baptist, whom Jesus said was the greatest of all the prophets, functioning as a friend of the Bridegroom (Jn. 3:29);
9. The Bible ends with the Apostle John revealing the Bride (Rev. 19-22).
10. The last call and prayer on earth that Jesus will answer is the call of the Bride to come (Rev. 22:17,20)
WHY IS THIS REVELATION MADE CLEAR IN THESE LAST DAYS ONLY?
_ The generation in which Jesus returns will be the most sinful and emotionally broken generation in history (Dan. 8:23; Mt. 24:10-14; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Scripture describes it as having great anger, fear, cold love (selfishness), lawlessness (rebellion), betrayal (broken relationships), hatred, sexual perversion, and occult bondage.
_ “In the latter time…when the transgressors have reached their fullness… “ (Dan. 8:23)
_The Holy Spirit’s emphasis of Jesus as a Bridegroom God has been strategically reserved for the last generation to empower the Church to overcome the most lawless, fearful, demonic, and sexually perverted generation in history.
SO IN THESE LAST DAYS, IMBIBING THE BRIDAL CALLING IS NOT AN OPTION! IT IS A MUST!
IT IS DANGEROUS NOT TO HAVE THE BRIDAL UNCTION IN THESE LAST DAYS!
THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS
You will see an amazing revelation here:
What happens to the churches depends on whether they have the BRIDAL ANOINTING!
The 7 Churches are THE SEVEN TYPES OF CHURCHES IN THE LAST DAYS!
They live during the time of the Tribulation period leading to the Great Tribulation period!
KEEP AN OPEN MIND!
1. The Church in EPHESUS (Rev. 2:1-7)
Good points:
- works, labor
- patience
- cannot tolerate evil men
- tried false prophets
- persevering (v. 2-3)
BAD POINT: you have “left your first love”
(NOTE: the word “first” is not “first in time” but FIRST as in MOST IMPORTANT, PRIMARY,
FOUNDATIONAL, FUNDAMENTAL…)
What is the “FIRST LOVE”? Jesus Himself answers this:
_ Mat 22:36 - Master, which is the GREAT COMMANDMENT in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt LOVE THE LORD thy God with ALL thy HEART, and with
ALL thy SOUL, and with ALL thy MIND.
38 This is the FIRST and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
THIS IS THE FIRST LOVE - BRIDAL TYPE OF LOVE! ALL CONSUMING! TOTAL! This is what
the Ephesian church left, though they were faithful and “good”!
What was the warning to the Ephesian Church for leaving its first love?
“Repent, do the first works (not first in time but first in importance) or else I WILL COME
QUICKLY AND REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND from its place, unless you repent.” v. 5
WHERE IS THE LAMPSTAND FOUND? In the INNER COURT (Holy Place, type of the Bridal
Chamber)
WHAT IS THE PLACE CALLED WHERE THERE IS NO LAMPSTAND? The OUTER COURT.
What happens to the outer court in the last days?
_ Rev 11:1 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without (outside) the temple (OUTER COURT) LEAVE OUT, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall THEY TREAD UNDER FOOT FORTY AND TWO MONTHS.”
What is 42 months?
42 divided by 12 months is 3 AND HALF YEARS.
What is 3 and ½ years? The HALF of the TRIBULATION period. (Daniel 9:25, 27; Rev. 13:5)
(“time, times, and half a time” – Jewish for three and half years)
The second half is the GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD.
Jesus was WARNING the Ephesian church that if it did not repent and return to its “first love”, “I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY”, which suggests the rapture and the implication that the Ephesian church might BE LEFT BEHIND and go through the GREAT TRIBULATION period because it has no lampstand!
So what determines the “fate” of the Ephesian Church, whether it joins the rapture or go through the tribulation period, is whether it has the Bridal qualities or not.
The Ephesian Church is a TYPE of the end-time church which is DOCTRINALLY SOUND, MORALLY UPRIGHT, FAITHFUL, BUT HAS NO INTIMACY WITH GOD, having “left its first love”!
2. The second type of church is the Church of SMYRNA: (Rev. 2:10)
Good points:
- Tribulating
- in poverty but rich
- Blasphemed by the Jews (“which are of the synagogue of Satan” – suggests a time when the temple is already rebuilt…)
Bad point: NONE
Exhortation given:
- “Fear not what you will suffer” (v. 10)
- You will be imprisoned
- “you will have TRIBULATION TEN DAYS”
- Remain Faithful!
-
IMPT. NOTE: After the FEAST OF TRUMPETS is the FEAST OF ATONEMENT .
IN BETWEEN them is what Jews call the “TEN DAYS OF AWE”
Feast of Trumpets is the “last two minutes”, the warning call before the second coming.
“Day of Atonement” is the Day of “AT ONE MOMENT” (the RAPTURE).
IN BETWEEN THEM is a time of greatly increased birth pains (“ten days of awe”). WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It means that:
The Church of Smyrna is a type of the END-TIME CHURCH that is called to PERSECUTION (imprisonment), possibly even martyrdom.
There is nothing wrong with this church, in fact, IT IS A BRIDAL CHURCH, BUT IT IS CALLED TO PERSECUTION/IMPRISONMENT.
NOT ALL END-TIME CHURCH IS CALLED TO MARTYRDOM. (NOTE: Rev. 2:10, “The Devil shall cast SOME of you into prison…)
But there is a remnant, a portion, of the end-time church that is going to be ready to lay down its life for the Groom. (Rev. 12:11 “And they overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.”
3. Third type of church in the last days: the church in PERGAMOS (Rev. 2:12)
Good points:
- They lived in a place “where Satan has his throne” (Jerusalem in the 1st half of the tribulation period?)
- Not denied the faith, even when there was persecution (v. 13)
Bad points:
- It was ANTI-ISRAEL !(v. 14)
-
Rev. 2:14 (KJV)
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to CAST A STUMBLINGBLOCK BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
- The Pergamos church is the only church in Revelations that has an ANTI-ISRAEL SPIRIT
- This was accompanied by a tolerant spirit for pagan practices (allowing food sacrificed to idols)
- And sexual liberalism
LET US CHECK BALAK AND BALAAM:
Numbers 22:ff
1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab (BALAK) was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
- It also practiced the sin of the Nicolaitans (v. 15)
NICOLAITANS:
- “bought” church office
- Practiced idolatry and immorality
WARNING:
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the SWORD
OF MY MOUTH. “ (Rev. 2:16)
Where in Revelations is found that a sword is coming out of the mouth of Jesus?
REV. 19
11And 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.
12 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.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD. Rev. 19:16
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
That the Pergamom Church,
- which is anti-Israel
- Morally liberal
- Highly “political”
- Tolerant of pagan practices
IS GOING THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD! Because Revelations 19 speaks of the end of the Great Tribulation Period.
Where is the “Bridal” issue here?
The BRIDAL QUALITIES that Pergamos does not have:
1. It does not love what the Groom loves (God loves Israel so much!!)
2. Pergamos was spiritually unfaithful (it okayed eating food sacrificed to idols)
3. It was sexually liberal
SO BECAUSE PERGAMOS WAS NOT A “BRIDAL CHURCH”, it will go through the Great
Tribulation period!
4. The Church in THYATIRA
(Rev. 2:18)
Good points:
- Works
- Love (charity) – implies much resources
- Service
- Faith (faith for works, such as big projects)
- Patience
BAD POINT:
-allowed Jezebel “who calls herself a prophetess” to seduce my servants and to eat food sacrificed to idols
WHO WAS JEZEBEL?
1. Wife of Ahab the King (I King 16:31) – Jezebel is a politically powerful woman
2. She had the prophets of the Lord killed (I Kings 18:4, 13) SHE WAS ANTI-PROPHETS
3. OPPOSED ELIJAH (I Kings 19:1-2) – The Jezebel spirit in the last days opposes the last days’ prophetic moves of the Holy Spirit (remember in the last days the Lord will send the spirit of Elijah, Mal. 4:4-5, Matt. 17:9-13)
4. Killed by Jehu (2 Kings 9:30-37)
The Thyatira Church is warned:
“Repent!!” (Rev. 3: 21)
But because she did not “I will cast her into a SICKBED, and those who commit adultery with her INTO GREAT TRIBULATION, unless they repent!” v. 23
I will KILL HER CHILDREN WITH DEATH, AND ALL THE CHURCHES SHALL KNOW I AM HE WHO SEARCHES AND HEARTS. “ v. 23a
NOTE: THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS A MEANS OF EXPOSING THE CONDITION OF THE CHURCH!
So Thyatira is
the end-time church anti-prophetic church (although it has big projects -- faith, lots of funds -- charity).
It will go through the GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD!
BUT THERE IS A PORTION OF THE THYATIRA CHURCH THAT IS BRIDAL!!
Look at verse 24:
Rev. 2:24
“Now I say TO THE REST in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets):
I WILL NOT IMPOSE ANY OTHER BURDEN ON YOU, ONLY HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME…
I WILL GIVE YOU AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS (with Jesus) (THIS IS THE MILLENIAL KINGDOM) v. 26 and 27
SO you see here, the Church is not the Bride always! SOME WILL GO THROUGH the Great TRIBULATION, others will not.
5. The Church in SARDIS (Rev. 3)
Good point: NONE!
Bad Point: “I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are DEAD!!”
(The Sardis church is the DEAD CHURCH!)
Admonition:
- Be watchful (v. 2)
- “strengthen that which remains (they are about to die)”
- Hold fast to what you have (they are about to be lost)
- REPENT!!! (v. 3)
WARNING to Sardis:
“Remember what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. BUT IF YOU DO NOT WAKE UP, I will come like a thief, (KJV: “I WILL COME UPON YOU like a thief) and you will not know what time.” (Rev. 3:3)
“I WILL COME UPON YOU”… not to you, but UPON you!
This suggests JUDGMENT. The Sardis Church is NOT A BRIDAL CHURCH because no bridal church is dead.
But there is a Bride in the dead Sardis Church:
“ (Yet) Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. “ (Rev. 3:4)
Later (in part II) we will learn about Bridal qualities (one of which they love to WALK WITH THE GROOM…)
And then there is a very thought provoking line that follows, in v. 5:
Rev. 3:5
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. “
DOES GOD BLOT OUT NAMES FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE???
Remember this was spoken to the DEAD CHURCH (Sardis).
ARE WE DEAD?
6. The Church in PHILADELPHIA (Rev. 3:7-13)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. “
Good points:
- Faithful though has little strength
- Kept God’s Word
-
THE BRIDE KNOWS THE WORD
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God praying on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…
EPH. 6:18
The Philadelphia Church…
- HAS NOT DENIED HIS NAME v. 8 (implies that they insist on the true Christ in the midst of impostors and pretenders)
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” v. 9
IS A VERY CLEAR BRIDAL CHURCH! The Groom wants the world to know that this Church is LOVED!!!
- Has not denied the Groom’s name
- “kept the Word” (faithful)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN WILL WORSHIP AT THEIR FEET?
(v. 9)
It means that the power and authority of this Bridal Church is such that even Satanists will surrender to them and worship God at the feet of this Bridal Church.
WHAT IS THE “REWARD” OF THIS CHURCH?
REV. 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. (Philadelphia will not go through the Great Tribulation period!!)
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I WILL WRITE UPON HIM THE NAME OF MY GOD, AND THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD, WHICH IS NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. “
WHAT IS THIS “NEW JERSUALEM,” THIS NEW CITY?
Rev. 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as A BRIDE adorned for her husband.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee THE BRIDE,
THE LAMB'S WIFE.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the GLORY OF GOD…”
7. The Church in LAODICEA
Good points: NONE!
Bad points:
- Neither hot nor cold, lukewarm
- Says she is rich and does not need anything
- Does not realize that she is naked, wretched, poor and blind
THE EXHORTATION:
The Lord says to her:
v. 16 I will spew you out of my mouth…
v. 18 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.
WHAT IS GOLD REFINED BY FIRE?
THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) ALL INVOLVED FIRE!
DOES THIS SUGGEST, THEREFORE THAT THE LAODICEAN CHURCH WILL GO
THROUGH THE TRIBULATION PERIOD?
Yes, it seems very clear that this is the gold “refined by fire”.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE LORD DOES NOT LOVE THE LAODICEAN CHURCH?
v. 19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
_
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN AND SHOW?
That ONLY THE BRIDAL CHURCH has special protection in the endtimes.
- She keeps her first love
- She has not lost her lampstand (she is an inner court church)
- She has not denied her Groom’s Name
- She has kept the word
- She is pure
- SHE HAS BRIDAL INTIMACY with the Lord!
Where is the bridal intimacy of the Philaldelphia Church?
Rev. 3:7
“Behold I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, where no man can shut.”
THE OPEN DOOR suggests the opening of the bridal chamber, a call to intimacy, no man shut it because it is the Groom Himself that is opening it.
It means ACCESS TO THE THRONE ROOM, TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES, TO THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH.
It means worship, intercession, intimacy with God!
IT MEANS A CALL FOR THE WEDDING FEAST, THE END OF THIS AGE!
The Spirit and the Bride say, Come!..
Today, let us not forget that while we are saved, and servants, soldiers, sons and daughters, we are MOST OF ALL SPOUSE, the Bride of Christ, THE ENGAGED FIANCEE OF THE CROWNED PRINCE of Heaven!
By faith, let us feel His embrace!
Let us pray…
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