THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

“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.” (Revelation 19:7). 

“And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” (Matthew 22:1-3).

Scripture has much to say about the Bride of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb.  It also gives us a clear indication of just who this Bride is, and what qualifies her for this highly favored calling. 

The king in the parable quoted above is God almighty, and His Son, the groom, is the Lord Jesus Christ.  The wedding guests are those who are called to be heirs of salvation - the Church.  The bride is not mentioned directly in this parable, but her presence is assumed because it is a wedding feast.  She is separate from the guests, and takes center stage, along with the Groom Himself.  She is described in many places throughout scripture.  The Bride is not a single individual, but a collective body of believers who have made themselves ready spiritually, as opposed to those who have done nothing to purify themselves for Christ, the Bridegroom.  Jesus refers to this latter group as those who were bidden to the wedding, but “would not come.”  Every believer in Christ has the potential to be the Bride of Christ, but there is a purification process that is life-long which each one must go through, and many are unwilling to endure.  Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14).  This refers as much to the Bride class as it does to individual salvation.  The Apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).  This should be the goal of every believer.  It is God’s intention to transform us into the image of His Son, but we must be willing participants in this work.  God does not change anyone against their will!

Scripture describes the Bride in many ways.  She is “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Revelation 19:8).  It is she who scripture describes as being “all glorious within,” (Psalms 45:13) revealing the beauty of her character, as opposed to being merely beautiful to look at outwardly.  The Lord refers to her in The Song of Solomon as “all fair,” “undefiled,” and having “no spot.”  He calls her His sister, and spouse.  Also, in chapter 6, verses 8 and 9 of that same book we are told, “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.  My dove, My undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her.  The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.”     

That this bride will hold a prominent position in the Kingdom of Heaven is evident.  After all, she is the queen, the King's wife.  In such a position, she will have power with the King, and will rule and reign with Him (See 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10).  Jesus said, “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.” (Revelations 3:21).  Many believe that every Christian will receive the same reward in heaven.  They will all rule with Christ regardless of what they have done with God’s great gift of grace in this life.  This could not be further from the truth and is a dangerous error.  Paul said, “We then...beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1).  Many of God’s promises are restricted to “…him that overcometh.”  The Parable of the Talents also indicates that there will be varying rewards given in heaven according to our faithfulness in using what God has so freely given us (ruler over ten cities, ruler over five cities, or cast into outer darkness).  Paul gives us a sobering warning in 1 Corinthians saying, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-15).  Even the Apostle himself described his walk as ever reaching for a higher place in God: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14).

Consider the following verses:

·         “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12). 

·         “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” (1 Corinthians 3:8). 

·         “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27). 

·         “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1). 

Down through history, God has sent prophets and holy men to invite those who were bidden to the wedding of His Son.  Many more refused this honor than accepted it, and chose, instead, paths of dishonor.  The Jews repeatedly rejected God’s invitation, and accounted themselves unworthy of eternal life.  Only a remnant believed and found grace.  Many who have called themselves Christians have likewise refused to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.  Like the man that Jesus spoke of who began to construct a tower but would not commit the resources necessary to finish it, so are those who accept God’s call, but will not deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow the Lord.  Jesus said of such a one, “He cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27-30, 33).  For this reason, God has sent His messengers into the highways and the byways to call strangers to the marriage “both bad and good,” Jews and Gentiles, because those who were first called had chosen their own interests above the call to come.  The word says, “...they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.” (Matthew 22:5).  Man has many distractions which take his eyes off of the One Who is calling him and died for him.  The Gospel is a Pearl of Great Price, but too many treat it as if it were cheap costume jewelry.  

The Lord understands that we can’t qualify for such a high calling based on our own merits.  Therefore, He cleanses us with His own blood (a powerful cleansing agent), and adorns us with “wedding garments” of His own righteousness like clean white robes (See Matthew 22:8-14).  Charles Spurgeon wrote, “It [was] the custom in the East for a king to provide robes for his guests; therefore this wedding garment was a sign of grace, freely given and received.”  We cannot count ourselves worthy to attend the Wedding of the Lamb based on our own works; it must be by grace through faith!  The Lord takes from us our filthy garments of sin and selfishness, and replaces them with His own purity.  Oh, the fathomless love of God toward those who treasure His gift of grace!

One of the richest stories in the Old Testament is the story of Esther, wife of Ahasuerus the ruler of Persia.  It reveals many of the elements of end time events relating to the Bride of Christ, the Great Whore, the work of the Holy Spirit on behalf of God’s elect, and Satan’s war on the saints and his final defeat.  In this story we see types and shadows of all the main players who will take center stage in the events that will unfold at the end of this age.  King Ahasuerus is a type of Jesus Christ, the King of kings.  Vashti, his first queen, represents the Great Whore of St. John’s Revelation.  Esther is a type of the Bride of Christ, and Mordecai, her cousin, the Holy Spirit.  Haman is representative of the devil.  As you read the story with this understanding, it is breathtaking how relevant it becomes to this Church age that we are living in.

In the first chapter of Esther, we read of Queen Vashti who refused to respond to King Ahasuerus’ bidding to come and join him at his banquet so that he could show her off.  She was ultimately cast out of her favored position.  She was very beautiful outwardly; but inwardly she was self-willed, stubborn, and disobedient.  Though she was queen, her husband was still her sovereign lord and was to be obeyed.  Anything less was rebellion and reflected on the king’s ability to rule.  Such rebellion could incite defiance from other ladies within the kingdom.  The king’s advisors suggested that the queen had not only transgressed against him, but also against all of the princes and people throughout the kingdom.  That rebellious example was seen by all the other wives within the realm.  Their council was that Vashti be removed altogether, and not be allowed to appear before the king ever again.  Her position as queen was to be given to “…another that is better than she.” (Esther 1:10-19).  

As we mentioned, Vashti is a type and shadow of the Great Whore of Revelation chapters seventeen and eighteen.  The picture that we are given in those chapters is of a woman who, like Vashti, was once favored by the King, but then became rebellious, backslidden, apostate, and unfaithful.  She was ultimately rejected by Him. 

This woman possesses an outward beauty that draws many men to her.  It is written that she “sitteth on many waters,” meaning many people.  “The waters…where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15).  Therefore, her influence is universal, and her reach is great.  She wields great power and control over whole nations, and people of different tongues and cultures.

The Great Whore will hide behind the trappings of religion and promote herself as godly in character, but she has had a love affair with the world – that is, the world system - for many centuries.  She strayed from the precepts of truth and embraced idols and doctrines of devils instead.  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4). 

We can easily track her descent into heresy with a simple review of church history.  Consider how, in a few short centuries, the Church went from being persecuted and martyred for her piety and faith to orchestrating inquisitions that persecuted and martyred those believers who would not bow the knee or confess them as the only true church and her potentates as the voice of God on earth!  She is described as drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and she is “full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.”  She rides upon the Beast, the Antichrist, who will make war against the saints of God in the last days.  She proved to be self-willed because she, like Vashti, would not submit herself to her Lord and King. 

For this reason, God is searching for one who is better than her to take her place.  No matter how fair a face we may exhibit to the world, or how religious we appear to men, it is still our obedience to our Savior and King that commends us to God.  God is not looking for the called and chosen only - but the called, chosen, and faithful.  “He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14).  Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day for carefully looking righteous on the outside while being full of filth on the inside.  He said they were like whitened sepulchers that appeared beautiful on the exterior, but inside were full of dead bones. 

There is a lot that I could say about this woman who John describes as the Great Whore, but I will save that for another message and another day.  Suffice it to say that there is in the world today a system that has grown up having a form of godliness, but which denies the very power of God.  She is the antithesis of the True Church and yet poses as the queen of heaven.  The spirit of the antichrist is already manifest in her assemblies, and she has worshipped at the altar of wealth and power.  God will reject her, and He will eventually bring her to judgment for her unfaithfulness.  The Great Whore is the devil’s counterfeit of the Bride of Christ, the true Church of Jesus Christ.  She disguises herself in a cloak of religion and uses the name of the Lord to try to legitimize her works, but it is the prince of the power of darkness who is pulling the strings behind the scenes.  Jesus warned of this when He said, “Many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5).

After Vashti was put away, the councilors of King Ahasuerus suggested that young ladies from every province in the empire be gathered together at the king’s palace at Shushan and placed under the supervision of Hege, the king’s chamberlain, to go through a period of purification (Esther 2:1-4).  The king would then select one of them to be his bride and queen.  The qualifications for the young ladies were simply that they be fair, young, and virgins.  The most important factor that would determine the selection of a new queen, however, was that she please the king!

It is essential for believers to learn to please God!  Faith is the one key element that we must have if we are to please Him.  Scripture tells us that without it “…it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).  It is important that we have an inner beauty of character and are virgins in the sense that we have not been defiled by the doctrines of men and by the lusts of the flesh.  Our beauty and our purity is just a by-product of our relationship with Christ Jesus.  Once we receive Him, and learn to walk in Him by faith, the Lord will purge us from all past defilements.  This is part of our purification process.  We are cleansed from our past sins, and we are given power through Christ to overcome the temptations of the flesh as we follow Him.

Esther is said to have “neither father nor mother,” for they both had died when she was younger.  Mordecai, her older cousin, took her in and raised her as his own daughter.   Mordecai is a type of the Holy Spirit.  In the story we find him never too far from Esther, and always there to council, guide, and comfort her through the difficult decisions of her life.  Mordecai was always there for Esther just as the Holy Spirit is always there for us, comforting, teaching, and guiding us through this life.  “And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.” (Esther 2:11).  What tender care God has for His children as well!  He is always there for us, and He is never far off!

Esther accomplished twelve months of purification before she was allowed to appear before the king.  If the virgins were not purified, then they could not appear before the king to be considered for his bride.  We must also go through a purification process.  “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He [Christ] is pure.” (1 John 3:2, 3).  This purification that we go through as we walk with the Lord is a process.  His Spirit trains us, chastens us, and comforts us in the things of God as He fashions us into the image of our Savior.  “Whom shall He [God] teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:9, 10).  This process takes time – so be patient!  God knows what He is about.

In the end, King Asasuerus loved Esther above all of the other fair, young maidens.  He chose her to be his queen.  To celebrate, the king threw a great feast and released everyone in all the provinces from working during the feast, and he also gave many gifts.  Even though Esther was now queen over the Medes and the Persians, she did not forget her roots, or become proud and independent.  Scripture says, “Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.” (Esther 2:20).  No matter how God may bless us or our ministry, we must remain humble, giving glory to God for any success in life, and always remain obedient to the Holy Spirit’s direction.   

The story of Esther does not end here, but goes on to tell of Haman who sought to destroy all of the Jewish people out of the kingdom.  God wonderfully delivers the Jews because of Esther’s intercession and Mordecai’s guidance. Haman is, himself, brought to judgment.  There is much that can be said of this portion of the story.  It reveals Satan’s hatred for the people of God, and the effort that he will put forth in the last days to destroy them.  God will, however, bring destruction upon Satan and deliver His people through the intercession of the Bride.  Yes, the Bride will have a great work to accomplish in the end times.  No wonder she must be holy and pure before the Lord in order to be worthy of such a ministry.  It is noteworthy that in order to deliver her people, Esther had to place her own life in jeopardy.  As Paul reminds us, “...we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11).  The small sacrifices we make for Christ’s sake make it possible for others to see Jesus’ life in us.

Those whom Christ chooses as His Bride will not be aware of their selection beforehand.  It is the Lord Who chooses us; it is not we who choose Him.  We will likely never know until, and if, it happens. Instead, like the Apostle Paul, we will never feel that we have attained, or apprehended that high calling.  We will simply keep reaching for the mark, striving to become more like Jesus, and seeking to please and honor Him with our lives and our example.  Paul said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14).  Those who are invited to the Marriage of the Lamb will be considered blessed indeed.  “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9).  Therefore, as wise virgins, we need to always be ready for the Lord’s call and have our lamps trimmed and full of oil.

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are His judgments: for He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand...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.  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." (Revelation 19:1, 2, 6-9).

 “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.  For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2).