A  Bride Prepared      

Introduction

From the very beginning, Jesus Christ has made known to us His intention to marry a most exquisite Bride.  The marriage of the Lamb to His spouse will commence the eternal covenant longed for by Jesus Christ from time immemorial.  From the days of Israel’s espousal in the wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2) up until the marriage of the Lamb, Jesus Christ has loved His Bride-to-be with a perfect love that surpasses anything we can remotely imagine (Ephesians 3:19).  Their wedding will be the most superb ceremony the heavens and earth have ever witnessed.  Though this may sound like a dream or a fable, it is, in fact, a magnificent reality.

Brethren, we have only a short time to prepare.  Many of those who consider themselves to be a part of the Church of God are not prepared to be the Bride of Jesus Christ.  The seventh doctrine of Jesus Christ is, “Go on to perfection;” this is what the Bride must be doing (Hebrews 6:1-2).

It should go without saying that Jesus is going to be extremely selective when taking His wife for ever more.  Though the world prefers to believe that Jesus accepts us in our current condition –“just as you are”– it is obvious from the Scriptures that His Bride will be arrayed in the purest white wedding gown – symbolizing her perfect love for Him, her spotless spiritual condition, and her eternal faithfulness in marriage.

Are we absolutely certain that we meet that criteria – in other words, are we as ready and prepared as we can possibly be?  Anyone who assumes that they have attained to the perfect measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, underestimates the supreme perfection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13).  To what degree of excellence must the Church brethren attain in order to be ready?

When comparing the unity of mind and heart within the marriage relationship to the bond of unity that exists between Christ and the Church brethren, the apostle Paul called it a great mystery.  What is the significance of the wedding of Jesus Christ to the Church?  Who is the Bride?  Remarkably, it is revealed that not everyone will participate in the marriage supper.  Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!  What can we do to ensure that we will be invited to take part in Christ’s wedding?

Prophetic Scriptures bring to light the splendor of the ultimate nuptial ceremony.  We do not wish to miss out on the most splendid wedding of all time.  What an incredible truth that our Lord and Master has chosen to make us His Wife by entering into an eternal pledge with us.  Mere words fail to portray the most glorious ceremony ever, which Christ has reserved for His Bride alone.  Divine music will reverberate across the heavens, and gleaming, brilliance will illuminate the throne room, as the Bride is presented to her Lord.  She will be accepted by Him, adorned in her radiant white silk wedding gown – and upon her head she will wear a beautiful sparkling crown (Ezekiel 16:12).

We are Betrothed to Christ

Even now, we are engaged.  This is the only time of preparation for us to become a pure virgin betrothed to Jesus Christ our Bridegroom.  “I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)   He is going to enter into an eternal new covenant marriage relationship with spiritual Israel – the Church of God – which will never be broken.  “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”  (Hebrews 8:8, Jeremiah 31:31-32)

“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 who are invited unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, these are the true sayings of God.”  (Revelation 19:7-9)

The Church of God is not ready for the wedding. The lack of concern and respect of brothers and sisters in Christ for one another shows that we have a ways to go.  The split and scattered state of the Church attests to the fact that the Bride of Christ is not yet prepared.  After years of Christian living sermons explaining how we must let our light shine – the fruit of our lives is hardly distinguishable from those in the world.  We are not living according to the rules of the Kingdom – now – as we should be.  If we did, we would be, “A light to the world – and our light would so shine before men… that they would be glorifying our Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:14-16)  There are reasons that this is not happening.  This booklet describes what remains to be done by those who have been called and have begun to follow through on God’s plan of salvation.

The True Sayings of God

When we read, “These are the true sayings of God,” we are to understand this prophecy of the marriage of the Lamb to be real and factual – not merely allegorical.  It is our purpose to demonstrate the validity and reality of Christ’s words, and to alert the brethren to the critical need to make themselves ready – His wife has made herself ready.  Christ has fulfilled His part, but the question remains – what part of the Church is ready now?  The readiness of the Bride is the very thing we must be most concerned about because our eternal salvation is at stake and depends on it.

What will the Bride of Christ be like?  How can she be spiritually pure?  The Bride will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white – meaning that she will be an innocent, virgin Bride.  Jesus has done His part in washing His Bride to make her righteous.  She will be perfect and spotless – her attributes matching Christ’s own perfection and glory – because He has made her spiritually pure.

“Christ loves the [Bride], and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish.”  (Ephesians 5:25-27)

What an exceedingly beautiful ceremony it will be for the select Bride who looks for Christ’s coming.  “The glorious Bridegroom will come; and [only] those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”  (Matthew 25:10)  The reality of God’s promise will far exceed the most sublime expectation of the Bride.  We do not want to miss out!  Let us make ready, and ensure that we are among those whom Jesus Christ will choose to be His Bride.

Chapter 1: Is the Bride Ready?