Preparing for a Marriage

"Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart), 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."
Revelation 3:20 KJV

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready."
Revelation 19: 7

We can only imagine what it will be like on that great day when we see our Lord face to face. We get a glimpse of what is to come when we look into the pages of God's love letter to us. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a plan of God for man and His grace extended to mankind. We also see our Lord as a "holy God" who is righteous and is coming for a bride that is also righteous and holy.

All the righteous, who will live in the New Jerusalem, make up "the Bride of Christ." There is only one true universal church of the Living God. All are a part of the one true church, who have been bought by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and continue on following Him in spirit and in truth. Denomination does not matter, dedication is what we are known by in the Lord's eyes. It is not the name written on our church doors which is important, it is the name which has been written in our hearts, of our Lord and Savior. We must be faithful followers of our Savior.

Those who believe and receive the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ are all as 'one new man' in God's eyes. Together, all are members of the body of Christ, who will be a part of the New Jerusalem of God.

Those who are betrothed to the Lord look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. We have a blessed hope in the second coming of our Lord, for the catching away of the true church. In the days of the Bible Prophets and Israel's covenant with the Lord, we see these were referred to as being married to Jehovah God. God made a covenant with Israel under the law, and we have been given a new covenant under grace, by the Lord Jesus Christ. The new covenant is for both Jew and Gentile, and is a better covenant, which is one of grace.

Although the Bible uses the phrase “I am married unto you” for the Jews and backsliding children of Israel in the Old Testament, it uses no such phrase in the New Testament. The term was used then in a civil sense, referring to Israel as a nation, (Jeremiah 31:32), and in a spiritual sense, to a remnant of them. God was as a husband to them, and made a covenant under the law, which had the nature of a matrimonial contract. John Gill says in his commentary, "it was the day of their espousal; they were betrothed to the Lord, and he acted the part of a husband to them in nourishing and cherishing them in providing food and raiment for them; manna that continued with them, and clothes that waxed not old; and in protecting them from their enemies, and bringing them to a good settlement in the land of Canaan." The covenant made with the children of Israel will be honored, even with their seed who repent and receive the Living Lord as their Savior.

Part II

The new covenant is for both Jew and Gentile, and is a better covenant for the Church of our risen Lord and Savior. Rather than being married unto the backslider, we see the Bible says that the Church is the 'Bride of Christ,' who will be at the marriage supper of theLamb. Believers are the church, which was secretly betrothed to Christ in eternity. (John Gill Commentary) God will honor the covenant made with the remnant, or seed of the Children of Israel, who turn to Him and recognize Jesus as their Lord. They will be part of the New Jerusalem of God, of which all true believers will be a part.

As the Bride of Christ, we have a blessed hope. We look for the Day of the Lord, when Christ shall call for His bride. We shall then be a part of that great city, which John saw coming down from heaven, adored with jewels, as a bride for her bridegroom. The New Jerusalem is referred to in Scripture as "the bride, the Lamb's wife" in Revelation 21, 9-11. She will have the 'glory of God' and her light will be like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Even the land shall be called "Beulah," which means married.

We are told in Hosea 3: 16 that in that day, the people shall no longer call Him"Baalim" which means, my Lord, but will call Him "Ishi"....which means "my Husband." Ishi is also a symbolic name of Israel. God said, "I will betroth thee to me forever; yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee to me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. Jehovah's covenant relationship with His people will be re-established, as He will betroth her to Himself forever, in righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord promised to bring Israel into a closer relationship with Him than saying, "my Lord."

We also have many promises and must be anticipating our Lord's return. There are many people who will be caught by surprise when the Lord calls for His bride, as with the voice of an archangel. Many are like the servants who felt their lord would delay His coming, and slept when they should be watchful and waiting. Those who are not watching and waiting, will be left behind, and not be part of the Bride of Christ. We must be as the wise virgins in the parable given in God's Word, watchful and prepared for the Bridegroom's return. On that great day, we shall also know the Lord in an eternal covenant relationship.

We are to keep our wedding garments without spot or blemish, as the Lord is coming after a special bride. It is not just any bride which the Lord is coming to claim as His own, but only those who have been faithful and true to Him. Those who are part of the bride of Christ must prove to be true to Him and pure in His sight. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. The bride of Christ must be a holy bride and be separated from the world, although we are in this present world.

We see the admonitions given to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation to return to God. The Church of Ephesus was told to remember from whence they had fallen, and repent and do their first works; or else the Lord would come quickly unto them and remove their candlestick out of his place, except they repent. Although they were presently as part of their bride, they were not assured of being a part at the marriage supper of the Lamb on that great day of the Lord, unless they repented and did their first works. They were to return to fellowship and communion with the Lord.

The Church of Smyrna was told: "be faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life." In other words, to receive a crown of life, they had to remain dedicated in faithfulness to the Lord. Pergamos was another church told to repent, or else the Lord would come and fight against them with the sword of His mouth. The church at Sardis was told to be watchful and to strengthen the things which remained, that were ready to die. Can we imagine things that remained, yet were ready to die? This is the spiritual condition of so many churches today, and these need to be strengthened by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Just as the Lord told the Sardis church He had not found their works perfect, He also tells churches this today, who will hear His voice. These in the Church were to repent and remember what they had heard and received. They were admonished to hold fast and be watchful. If they overcame, they were promised they would be clothed in "white raiment" and their names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life. Jesus would confess their names before his Father and the holy angels.

We see great examples and truths in the Book of Revelation admonishing souls to hold on to the Lord. The book admonishes backsliders to return to God, and tells how one must have a repentant heart, holding fast the Word of God. Satan has convinced many people that Revelations is only a book of prophesy about the future. Many miss opportunities to use this great book as a springboard for presenting the gospel message, and showing forth God's requirements for righteous living in our Christian walk. If souls have questions about the book, God has equipped us, by His Spirit, to be able to give answers and also present the message of the cross throughout the entire Bible.

The teachings in Revelations are also important teachings, revealing what one must do to obtain a crown of life. Not only do we see the conditions which will come upon this world revealed in a time of great tribulation to come, but we see conditions exposed which cause souls to be left behind, in that great Day of the Lord. We also see the glorious events which await a child of God and promises to claim, as we await His appearing.

Philadelphia's church, in Revelation 3: 11, was told the Lord would come quickly and "to hold fast what they had, that no man take their crown." We must also hold fast what the Lord has given us and be watchful. We are to be ready, for we know not the day or hour of the Lord's appearing for His bride. From the above churches, we see that God is only coming for a bride without spot or blemish. To be part of the marriage supper of the Lamb on that great day, we must be faithful in our commitment to the Lord while on earth.

We will be carried by Jesus to the Father's house, as in the Jewish weddings of the past, in which we will partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. When the bride was carried by the bridegroom to the Father's house in Jewish weddings, the marriage was then consummated. It was a time of joyous celebration by all those present. In Bible days, a proposal of marriage was taken more seriously than those today, as the Jewish customs were different.

Can we imagine brides today not knowing when their wedding day would be? This was the way it was in Bible days, and the custom of the Jews. Only the Father knew the day or hour when the groom would go to call for His bride. At the right moment chosen, the Father would tell his son to go get His bride. This is the way it will be when the Lord calls for His bride.

The bride knew not the day when the wedding would be, but only knew she must be prepared at all times, for the call of the bridegroom. In ancient days, the bridegroom and his wedding party would walk to the bride's house in a possession, when the Father announced to his son it was time to "go get his bride. The shout would go forth all along the way, "the bridegroom cometh...the bridegroom cometh!" The bride and her family would know before the arrival of the wedding party to their home, that it was time and the groom was now coming for his bride. They would be listening for the call of those who passed the word along, from house to house, all along the way to the home of the bride.

We are betrothed to Christ, being prepared 'through holiness' for the soon coming marriage of Christ and His Church in heaven. We do not grow into holiness, but rather we grow in holiness. In other words, Christ is not attempting to make us holy enough over time so that we may be good enough to be His bride, but has already made us holy through His Holy Spirit. He is teaching us things through our spiritual growth. Sin is to be conquered by the Christian, not continually fought against in an effort to become more holy. We are made more than conquerors through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We could never overcome sin on our own, and are told in Zechariah 4:6 that it is ‘not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Only through the Lord's spirit and because of His blood, are we made victorious. Our part is to put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man of the spirit, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness.

Our fight, as Christians, is against temptations to sin. We grow in faith when we walk in obedience to God's Word and continue to do what He has called us to do. Sin should not and cannot be, a true believer's lifestyle. Old things are passed away and behold all things are become new. We all need spiritual growth and to become more holy, or "more like Jesus." As we resist the enemy, he has to flee from us; just as promised by God's Word. Learning how to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might will help new Christians be equipped by God to stand in spiritual battles. Temptations will come into all lives, but for every temptation, God has provided a way of escape. Knowing God's Word gives us a way to resist the enemy and to be victorious in this present life.

We give thanks to our Lord for giving us the free gift of salvation and for the promise that He will come again for us one day soon. Until that day, we must be watchful, prepared, and live in obedience to our Lord's commands. We must be ready, as our Lord could call for us at any time. We have blessed promises to claim each day. For the child of God, the best is yet to come! May the name of Jesus be praised now and forevermore!

Blessings in Christ,
Jo Ann Kelly © 2005
J. P.'s Inspirations
http://www.my.homewithgod.com/jpinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits intact, for non-profit ministering purposes.

"Illustration from Faith --Works"