The Bride of Christ in the Last Days - Part One

The Bride of Christ in the Last Days

By Nathan Warner

Introduction

Our lives are defined by the relational question, “What are you to me and what am I to you?”. All our lives we are determining who we are to the people around us and what are they to us. What are the privileges and responsibilities and expectations of each relationship we have?

For example, we behave very differently to our fathers than we do to the barista at a coffee shop, we relate to our aunts differently than to the IRS agent we call for information on the nasty bill we got in the mail. Each relationship we have is defined by different expectations and operating conditions. You wouldn’t share deeply personal things about yourself with an acquaintance you only write Christmas cards to once a year – that would be embarrassing to you and awkward for them.

When we’re young and learning about love for the first time, we are consumed with assessing our relationships with the people around us of the opposite sex. Many of us obsessed something like this: “Am I an acquaintance to him/her, does he/she think of me as a friend? What kind of friend? Am I his/her best friend? Is there room for more, perhaps a romantic relationship?”

And yet, for the chaste, 99% of our friendships with the opposite sex remain on some spectrum of friendship, but only one blossoms into a real love that changes our lives.

The point of this is that by our very nature we are relational beings and God has made us this way. Who we are to those around us and who they are to us consumes much of our being. And this is the subject of the Bible as relates to God and you. God uses relational language to convey His Gospel to us. This sets the context for the ultimate question of Scripture: “Who is God to me, and what am I to Him?”. All Scripture is about this question, and each person that has come into the world finds one of two answers in Scripture.

The lawless person finds God is their judge and they are a sinner under His judgement for unrepentant sin, and they must seek reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved from the judgment for their sins.

A reconciled person, in contrast, finds the answer to the question is that they are justified before God through faith in Jesus Christ. They have passed from certain death and judgment to eternal life and reconciliation. They find that God the Father is their adoptive Father, and they are His adopted son. And God the Son is their betrothed husband, and they are His betrothed bride, the Church.

Each person that has come into the world leaves it as a lawless enemy of God or a reconciled member of His family.

In describing those members of His family, God uses “sonship” and “marriage” to convey the nature of the relationship to the Father and to the Son, respectively.

The primary focus of this study is marriage.

The New Testament is full of allusions to marriage as context for what Jesus was sent to accomplish by His Father and what the future held for His Bride, the Church.

Before we dive into this topic, we must first step back and address how we approach Scripture.

How Do We Learn from the Bible?

The Bible is a very complex book at times, so how do we go about learning from it?

Well, there are literally hundreds of ways people in the Protestant movements have attempted this. Now, I’m protestant, and I believe that Protestants have developed the best methods for discerning God’s true character as He has revealed it in Scripture. Because Protestants believe Scripture is the only approved revelation of God and it is sufficient for salvation and living our lives, they have applied a scientific rigor to understanding the meaning and purpose of every accent and punctuation mark.

And yet, there are very large disagreements and divisions between different groups of Protestants. The Presbyterians have come up with a very different picture of how God relates to mankind than the Baptists, for example. Why is this? How can two people who approach the Bible as closed revelation come away with such radically different views about the same text?

Because words have many meanings and even the best scholars in the language can sometimes clash over what meaning a particular word carries in a sentence. And even if all agree as to the meaning of the words that make up a phrase or paragraph, the meaning of expressions themselves require interpretation to understand if what is being said is humorous, symbolic, literal, etc. And so, Believers have crowded into disparate groups of like-minded people through the open inquiry of the Translation and Interpretation of God’s Word.

The source of the division is the interpretive foundation upon which we seek to align the Scriptures to our thinking and harmonize them from start to finish. And literally thousands of thinkers, scholars, and bible teachers have taken on this task, which is called “Systematic Theology” – just a fancy way of saying a cohesive explanation of every passage in the Bible with a cohesive message that seeks to harmonize it from beginning to end. Every Bible commentary is a Systematic Theology, which uses as its foundation a cultural, philosophical, theological filter, or lens to interpret the Scriptures.

Responsible Systematic Theologies generated by Believers are useful to us all, for it is edifying to learn what another Believer learned from their study and meditation in God’s Word (applying knowledge and expertise to their rigorous translation and interpretation). I say it is useful so long as we do not declare one Systematic Theology to be the Truth, and all others false, for no one person of group of people has the corner on the Truth of God’s entire Word. Some are closer than others, of course. But Paul warns us that focusing on gaining the definitive knowledge on God is a foolhardy occupation:

“Knowledge makes one conceited, but love edifies people. 2 If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:1-3).

“Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33)

Paul tells the church at Ephesus that he desires they “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18).

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

We’ll explore this more, ahead.

Okay, so we cannot know everything about God in this life, and we need to approach God’s Word with the humility Paul teaches above and understand the importance of love in the process. Namely, it is better to love God and be known by Him than to focus on knowledge to the detriment of that love (and love for one another), and not be known by Him. That is not to say that we should not seek knowledge, because Paul addresses that as well:

“And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10).

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-11).

The point is priority.

So, again, Systematic Theology is very good and helpful to the Body of Christ and indispensable, but it is error to declare one systematic theology to be the truth – the only way to correctly understand God’s Word and know Him, because all systematic theology approaches the text with preconceived notions and must make assumptions for it to exist at all.

Systematic Theology is useful to us in our pursuit of Godly knowledge, if we are aware of the assumptions and pre-conceived notions of those who write them.

Some examples of preconceived notions and assumptions shaping theology and our understanding of “Who God is to us and what we are to Him” are as follows:

Thomas Aquinas used Aristotelian philosophy as his foundation to interpret the Scriptures, the “early church fathers” used Greek mythology as context to understand Genesis, Augustine used his Roman and Greek cultural background to guide his understanding of the text, the Celtic church used their mythology and culture to interpret the Bible, and 20th century charismatics use American culture, democracy, and free-market capitalism as context to interpret the Bible. We won’t get into the specifics of how exactly this changed their understanding here, but we’ll come back to it in a later text.

The problem with each and every one of these examples is that reading your culture, philosophy, or thinking into the Bible is always going to lead you astray, because it is the traditions of man and not the context of God. One of the most dangerous things a Bible teacher can do is apply their cultural norms and their own “opinion space” into the Bible and read out of the text things that were never there. And then from here, is to declare this interpretation is the Word of God. This approach to God’s Word has caused centuries of suffering in the Church.

Paul is our example, here, for he made a point of differentiating what was clear in the text and his own “opinions”:

“Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think, then, that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is” (1 Corinthians 7:25).

Unfortunately, so much denomination church doctrine is derived from people making their culture or their opinions the very foundation upon which to understand the Word of God.

Rather than picking and choosing Scripture to suit how we think the foundation should be to understand the meaning behind a passage of Scripture, we should be asking the question, “Did God provide context in His Word as the foundation to understand the meaning behind a text?” The answer many times is, “Yes”. It often is staring us in the face.

For example, God gives us the context of adoption, sonship, betrothal, and ambassadorship (for starters) as the foundation to help us understand His meaning behind the text and build up our understanding of His Word upon it. This is how He intended to harmonize His Word, by providing the “key” in His Word, itself, to be that harmonizing context and foundation for understanding the question, “Who is God to us and what are we to Him?” The Bride of Christ in Scripture gives us amazing insight into the meaning and interconnectedness of God’s Word from a relational perspective, which is as God intended it to be understood. Hence, why He put it in there to explain what He meant.

Now we can answer that question better with the context God gives us in His Word: We are adopted children of our Heavenly Father, we are the betrothed bride of Christ, and we are ambassadors for Christ while we are in the world – for starters. These are more than teaching aids, illustrations, metaphors, or allegory. Scripture presents them as context for reality.

At the core of these relational realities in the New Testament is “sonship” and “marriage”, both of which are constantly referred to in the Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation itself. These two beautiful realties harmonize together exceedingly well, as we will see and provide us context to answer the question: “Who is God to us, and what are we to Him?”.

The focus of this paper will be the Bride of Christ.

CHAPTER 1

Overview of the Jewish Marriage Custom

Before the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, all that was culturally necessary for marriage was for a man and a woman to make an agreement and have sexual relations. After the giving of the Torah, marriage became a beautiful and very complex two-part process with rich symbolism. This unique marriage ceremony lasted until the 12th century AD. After the 12th century, Jewish marriage customs were simplified and the two-part marriage was combined into one because the full marriage ceremony was costly and the medieval times were unstable and hazardous for Jews who were scattered among the nations without a homeland, so it was stripped of its beautiful complexity.

If we are interested in knowing what Jesus and His disciples were referring to when they referenced marriage, we will want to focus on the two-process ceremony that existed between the giving of the Torah and the 12th Century. This is the practice during Jesus’ ministry.

The 12th century Jewish historian Maimonides recorded the details of this ceremony, which corresponds to many New Testament allusions. According to Maimonides, the Jewish marriage ceremony consists of two stages.

Part one is the Betrothal Ceremony (Kiddushin in Hebrew, lit. “Sanctification”). This is a “Ceremony of Sanctification” that happens in a day or over a few days. This sanctifying ceremony initiated the Kiddushin period, literally a “Period of Sanctification”. This Period of Sanctification often lasted a year or over, but could be less.

So, there are two “Sanctifications” in the first part of the Jewish marriage ceremony – the first is an initiatory sanctification (as an act that makes you sanctified, or “set apart”, an act of betrothal), and the second is a sanctification that occurs over a long stretch of time (process of sanctification during the betrothal period, when the bride set her affairs in order and prepared herself for her future life with her husband when he came back for her).

Part two is the Nuptials (Nissan in Hebrew, lit. “elevation”), occurring at the end of the Betrothal Period (Period of Sanctification) when the bridegroom comes for his bride and takes her to the Marriage Feast. Let’s look at the marriage ceremony in more detail from the beginning.

In New Testament times, this marriage process began when a man sought a bride. If the man was not yet of age, his father might seek an arranged betrothal for his son with another father who had a daughter. There were many cases of betrothals conducted by the respective fathers of a boy and girl when they were not yet of age.

But in the case of a man who was of age, he would go to his father and tell him when he found a woman he wanted to marry. The man’s father would go to the father of the woman and negotiate to pay the required bride price (purchase price) for the bride to her father.

This “payment” changed her status and set her free from her responsibility to her family, so she could be married. After this is agreed to, the man and the woman enter into the betrothal agreement that signifies the start of the betrothal period (Kiddushin, which means “period of sanctification”).

Now, an important ting has happened. Under the law, before witnesses and before God, the man and the woman are united in spirit and made one soul. They are now husband and wife under the law. However, even though they are husband and wife and are one spirit, they cannot yet be one in body, nor live together or consummate their marriage for they are going to be separated from each other for about a year or so after the completion of this Betrothal ceremony.

At this point, the bridegroom and the bride would perform “Mikveh” – a ritual immersion in water, symbolizing their cleansing of themselves for each other, sanctifying themselves for their future union in body, just as they have been united in spirit. After this, the bridegroom must leave his bride, but before he does so, he gives his wife a bridal gift or pledge of his love and devotion to her, which will be a reminder to her of him while he is away.

Called Ketubah, this was a “first-installment” of money or a ring of great value given to the bride. It served a practical purpose as a deterrent for the bridegroom to divorce or leave his wife during the time he was away, because the Ketubah stayed with her. This would serve to remind her how much he valued her with the promise of more to come.

The bridegroom would leave his bride for at least a year during the betrothal period to prepare a home for them to start their life together. Neither the bridegroom nor the bride knew how long this would take. Even though the bridegroom was working on preparing their dwelling, which was most often an addition to his father’s house, it wasn’t up to him to decide when the house was finished. His father would determine when the dwelling for the new couple was ready and the feast was prepared. Only when it met his satisfaction and all was prepared, he would release his son to leave and meet up with the wedding party on the way to get his bride and bring her to her new home in her adoptive father-in-law’s house.

Meanwhile, while her husband was away working on their home during the betrothal period, the bride begins preparing to be a wife. She would put aside the things that she was doing and learn the things she would need to know as a wife. Another huge task for her to complete while waiting for her husband’s return, was the preparation of her wedding garment. She needed to be focused and eager as she had to be ready at all times to leave immediately when her husband would appear (he could show up at any moment without warning). She was to be watchful for her bridegroom’s appearing.

When he came for her, he would not come to her father’s house, but would wait nearby while the wedding procession would go before him and announce his arrival with a loud shout or trumpet blast to alert the bride that he had come for her and she needed to come out from her father’s house to meet him.

The bride would put on her wedding garment, completely veil herself, come out of her father’s house, and meet her bridegroom where he was waiting for her nearby. Then with her husband, he would take her away with the wedding procession to his father’s home, where they would enter their closed chambers for a 7-day honeymoon together. Inside these chambers, the bride would remove her veil for the first time.

At the end of the honeymoon, the bride and groom would come out of the chamber, and the wedding guests would see the bride unveiled and glorious with her husband for the first time. At this point, the wedding feast would commence with all the guests to celebrate the union of the husband and wife.

SECTION 2: THE HEAVENLY MARRIAGE CEREMONY

Chapter 2

The Lost Child

Before we became the Church, we were lost children: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we see this again: “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24). In context, this parable is not addressing a believer who falls away from God (as some Bible teachers maintain), but lost sinners, as is clear from the context of Luke 15.

Not only were we lost, but we were in bondage to the elemental things of the world:

“So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world” (Galatians 4:3).

“However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods” (Galatians 4:8).

Through our rebellion and sin, we were enslaved to our false “father” satan and demonic agencies through our rebellion and fall in Eden, which brought us under sin and death.

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ 33 They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, “You will become free”?’ 34 Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin’” (John 8:31-34).

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).

It makes sense then why Jesus says, “And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9), because for the Church, in being joined to the Son of God, she is also being adopted into the household of God as the Father’s child, so the Bride is no longer to obey the ways of the devil in which she was raised while she was lost. She has left her former “family” entirely behind and now completely belongs to her new family.

Chapter 3

The Bride Price

God in His love and mercy sent His Son to pay the price for the Church’s freedom, so that we would become the Bride of Christ. This is why when the Church eagerly looks for the Rapture, we are “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:13-14).

The price God paid for the Church was the highest price that could be paid – Jesus’ very life. Paul explained this to the Elders of the Church: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). John confirmed this when he saw a vision in Heaven where, “they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation’” (Revelation 14:3). Therefore, we are told, “you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20) during your time waiting for Christ’s return – the Church’s betrothal period – our period of sanctification.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will do away with both of them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, ‘The two shall become one flesh.’ 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:9-17).

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:18-23).

Chapter 4

The Betrothal Ceremony

In Hebrew, the Betrothal ceremony is called “Kiddushin”, which literally means “sanctification.” We should note that “sanctification” means “to be set apart” for something. In a betrothal, the man and woman were setting themselves apart for one another, “cleansing” themselves from all other desires, purposes, plans, and interests. They would then remain faithful to one another throughout the Betrothal (sanctification) period before they would be married. The Church is betrothed to Christ as Paul described, “for I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

Just as sanctification was symbolically initiated in the Jewish marriage ceremony through the “Mikveh” (a ceremonial immersion in water, symbolizing the initiation of sanctification – cleansing the body to be set apart for one another), Jesus was baptized for us, symbolically setting Himself apart for His Church:

“But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?’ 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, ‘Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him. 16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, 17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:14-17).

And, to be part of His Church, each member of His Body is to be baptized, symbolic of setting our lives apart for Jesus and the new life we have together:

“Paul said, ‘John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4).

Just like in the marriage ceremony, baptism is practiced in the Church, symbolic of our being sanctified and set apart for Jesus, just as He was baptized, symbolically setting Himself apart for us. It can be confusing that Biblical sanctification is described both as a discrete event in the past of a Believer’s life and also as an ongoing, life-long process. This is explained by the marriage ceremony having this discrete moment of Kiddushin in the baptism of husband and wife, but also a period of Kiddushin when they are part for each other waiting to be reunited in the final marriage ceremony. Both the discrete act of Betrothal and the Period of Betrothal are called “Sanctification.”

In the same way, there is the sanctification at the moment of salvation for the Believer and also the process of sanctification by the Spirit that continues throughout our lives here on earth.

Concerning His disciples, Jesus said, “for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19).

Paul encourages the Bride with these words: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

He also commands: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). So, we are also being sanctified by the Word of God and by the Spirit: “you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11b). Now the Bridegroom can say, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). This is the sanctifying word of the Gospel, the vow of holy marriage to all who Believe, for “marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4 KJV).

The betrothal literally means “sanctification” in Hebrew, and this is why Paul uses this term in reference to the Church:

“To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

Okay, so that is the baptism of the Bride and Bridegroom. Now, in the marriage ceremony, comes the time of the drinking of the cup together, which will finally seal their betrothal. From this day until the day a bridegroom comes for his bride to take her away to his father’s house, neither the bride, nor the bridegroom are making merry and celebrating, for they are fully dedicated to the Period of Sanctification of themselves for each other.

And in like manner, Jesus says to His disciples, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). Wine was employed extensively in Biblical festivals and celebrations. It is often symbolized in the Bible with joy and rejoicing (unless used in excess and drunkenness, of course): “There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All joy turns to gloom. The joy of the earth is banished” (Isaiah 24:11). “The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the joyful-hearted sigh” (Isaiah 24:7). “So joy and rejoicing are removed From the fruitful field, and from the land of Moab. And I have eliminated the wine from the wine presses; No one will tread them with shouting, The shouting will not be shouts of joy” (Jeremiah 48:33).

In John chapter 2, we see so much wine was employed at the marriage feast in Cana that they ran out. It was of great concern because this was a time of celebration and wine was part of that ritual of celebration. Here, Jesus performed a miracle of turning Mikvah water set apart in jars for ritual purification into wine to drink (symbolic of His blood in this case, which would enter a person and cleanse them from within). The headwaiter was overjoyed that more wine had been found and that it was better quality than what had come before. In many ways, this marriage feast at Cana begins Jesus ministry, and His own marriage to the Church will end the time of grace and bring His Kingdom on earth.

“He [God] causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of mankind, So that they may produce food from the earth, And wine, which makes a human heart cheerful, So that he makes his face gleam with oil, And food, which sustains a human heart” (Psalm 104:14-16).

This is an allusion to the fact that both bride and bridegroom were not to be partying or celebrating during the time of their separation, nor would any bride or bridegroom do so, for they desperately miss the one they love and long to be with them again. This time of separation is not a time of celebration, but a time of longing and mourning the long wait. It is also a time of focused energy and focused work to sanctify themselves for each other. There is work to be done during the Period of Sanctification! It is not a time to be celebrating and making merry. This is why Jesus promises the Church that He will not drink of wine in celebration until He drinks it new with His Church once she is with Him in His Father’s Kingdom – and just like the marriage feast at Cana, there will be much feasting and celebration then!

At this point, in the Jewish marriage ceremony, the man and woman are made husband and wife to each other under the law. Spiritually, they are instructed that God has made from the two of them, one soul (one spirit), and this is how He sees them now. From this point on, all the laws of marriage apply to them. And the only way out of this relationship is through sexual immorality.

This is why Paul draws the Church’s attention to this fact, using the exact language of the Jewish marriage ceremony: “Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, ‘The two shall become one flesh.’ 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17).

Although the Church and Christ have been made one spirit, they cannot yet be joined into one body. That must wait until the marriage supper, which comes at the end of the long Period of Sanctification as we shall see.

Chapter 5

Bridegroom’s Pledge

After the drinking of the cup together and the declaration of the couple’s union in spirit as husband and wife under the law and before God, now comes the time for the bridegroom to give his bride a pledge before he leaves her and returns to his father’s house to prepare a place for them. Called Ketubah, this pledge was something of great value that represented his ability to provide for her and something he would return for, because he was entrusting to her this value, now that she was joined to him in spirit and was now his body, belonging to him (although unconsummated), and he was her body, belonging to her. It served a practical purpose as a deterrent to the husband to abandon or leave his betrothed wife as he leaves her to go to his father’s house.

Commonly, this pledge was a “first-installment” of money or a very valuable ring, which would serve to remind the bride daily of her husband’s valuing of her and that he would not abandon her – thus a “pledge” of his return for her. It would serve as a reminder to her of him while he was away from her (more one this later).

Just as in the human picture when a bridegroom would give his bride a pledge to be a comfort and reminder of his love for her while he was away preparing a place for them, so “He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment [or “pledge”] of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

We see here that in Christ returning to His Father, the Spirit is sent us is a pledge to us that we will be redeemed in the future as God’s own possession.

Jesus says to His Bride:

“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:5-7).

The sending of the pledge to the Bride was dependent on the Bridegroom leaving her for the Period of Sanctification. If he didn’t leave, the pledge could not be sent. Therefore, it was to the Bride’s advantage that he left, for it meant the Betrothal was proceeding towards the wedding day and nothing could stop it now.

“These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe” (John 14:25-29).

Just as a Bridegroom’s pledge to his bride was the “first installment” of her inheritance in him, so the Spirit is to the Church a taste of the things to come in Christ. And just as a bride views the pledge her husband has given her as a reminder that he will come back to claim her as his spirit and his body, so we see here concerning Jesus and the Church.

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body….For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:6-10; 17-18).

We also see that the Spirit is a pledge of our inheritance in Christ. That inheritance is the Church’s share through her union to Christ in His glory and His inheritance as her own inheritance.

“The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’” (Revelation 2:26-29).

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24). The reward of the inheritance is ahead of the Church – we will receive it in the future and it is from the Lord that it will come, for it is in uniting to the Lord, that the Church shares in His inheritance of all things. For He will rule as King over all the earth, and His Bride will rule with Him.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). Here, again, we see the reference to our inheritance, for the Church is the adopted child of her Husband’s Father and He gives her an inheritance and that inheritance is Christ. And that is everything to the Church.

We also see here an important point that the Bride’s salvation from her circumstances of waiting for her Husband is now only perceived by her faith. She trusts Jesus will come back for her, though she does not see Him. She trusts in His pledge, which encourages and comforts her that He will return to claim her and take her away, but her actual salvation from her circumstances is still in the future and she longs for it! And that longing of faith in the promises of her Husband sanctifies and purifies her and protects her by the power of God.

Note that Peter says, this salvation is to be revealed in the last time. These “last days” are at the end of the Period of Sanctification for the Church, which is the end of the “church age” as it is often called, when Christ returns for His Church and she is bodily restored to His side (in changed or resurrected bodies) to never be parted from Him again in spirit and in body.

And just as the pledge would bring to the bride’s remembrance all the promises and words that the bridegroom had told her, Jesus told us that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is Christ’s pledge to us that we belong to Him and that He will return for us, for He will not abandon His Spirit, which dwells in us and is united to us.

And just as a bridegroom would prepare to leave his bride for the Period of Sanctification – a time often about a year or so, his bride would be sad to see him go, so Jesus tells his disciples: “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:5-7). Indeed, if they understood he was speaking in marriage language (which they could not escape), they would not ask, “Where are you going?”, for they would know that the bridegroom goes away to his father’s house to prepare a place for his bride to join him. See here, too, that if the Betrothal ceremony failed, a bridegroom would not go away and he would not leave a pledge of his return. But it is to the bride’s advantage that the bridegroom leaves, because he leaves his pledge with her that she is his and that he will return for her after he has completed the work for her in his father’s house. Then, he will return for her and take her to be with him, that she will never leave him again, but always be with him. This is exactly what Jesus is saying to them. But like any bride, the disciples do not want to hear that Jesus must leave them.

Note: this departure is not his death, for He was gone only 3 days and then reappears and is on-and-off among them for a time. No, His death is the payment of the Bride Price (above) and His ascension into Heaven from the Mount of Olives in the Book of Acts is the moment of His departure to His Father and the moment that begins the Period of Betrothal (sanctification) – a period of time that would feel one of the longest stretches of time a bride has ever experienced as she longs for her husband’s return for her and the consummation of their marriage.

Jesus tells His disciples, “‘A little while, and you no longer are going to see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.’ 17 So some of His disciples said to one another, ‘What is this that He is telling us, “A little while, and you are not going to see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and, “because I am going to the Father”?’ 18 So they were saying, ‘What is this that He says, “A little while”? We do not know what He is talking about.’ 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to question Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, “A little while, and you are not going to see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me”? 20 Truly, truly I say to you that you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy!’” Jesus is cluing them in the fact He, as their Bridegroom, has to leave them and go to His Father for the Period of Sanctification. This will make them sad and they will mourn while He is away, but the world will rejoice in the departure of the one Who has exposed their sin and chosen a Bride for Himself from among them who will rule with Him over them when He returns.

He tells them that in a little while they will no longer see him, because He has left for His Father. When He says, “and again a little while and you will see Me”, he is likely speaking to the Betrothal tradition that the Bride was to be on the lookout for her husband to return for her at all times, for he could return for her at any moment, should his father give him permission to do so. Thus, for the patient and expectant Bride, her husband was always coming imminently, even though it was “a little while.” On average husbands were given the okay to go and collect their brides after a year’s time.

From the time of a wife’s betrothal to the time of her husband would return for her, a bride is a sort of sojourner in her father’s house and in her community. She will not be settling down there, because her future is in the house of her husband’s father where he lives and where he is preparing a place. She should not think of her father’s house as her home, because it no longer is. She should not establish any relationships there that will bind her to it, because she is leaving it to enter her husband’s father’s home and to be his child adopted through marriage.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:13-21).

During the time of a betrothed woman’s stay in her father’s house, she is to be prepared for action, to leave it at any time. And she is to behave in accordance with her husband’s household and the ways of his father. A betrothed wife is bought with a price (redeemed) and belongs to another now. She is already living for her husband, even though they are apart for a great length of time. She has taken his name as her own and is adopting the ways of his people.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15).

“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’” (Colossians 2:20-21)

“So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?” (Galatians 4:3-10).

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

The Bride is freed from her former life of slavery to those who had enslaved her through the promise of her betrothal to Christ.

Again, she can be thought of as an “ambassador” in her father’s house and to all she knows, for she is representing her husband in her community during her time of sanctification. She can’t help it, if she loves him. A woman in love is going to be representing the man she loves to all she knows. She’s going to be telling everyone about him.

And if her husband is going to be king, she is going to be beseeching everyone she knows to be reconciled to him as his loyal subject, before they find themselves on the wrong side of his rule because they are rebels against him. Jesus explained in a parable that judgement is coming for rebels when He returns after receiving the Kingdom:

“So He said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return….14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom….27 [he said] ‘But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence’” (Luke 19:13-27). This parable is very important to understand in context with the marriage ceremony. The nobleman, here, is Jesus, who is going to leave the world and go back to His Father’s country (Heaven) to receive the Kingdom. A significant amount of time passes in the parable while He is away. This time away dovetails with the betrothal’s Period of Sanctification, when a husband was away preparing a place for his bride at his father’s house. Right before He left His disciples, Jesus explained to them that in going away He was to prepare a place for them in His Father’s House.

So during this time, the Bride seeks all to be reconciled to her Husband, the coming King, before He comes back:

“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Christ’s Bride is already a citizen of her Husband’s house and His kingdom, although she has not seen it yet. This is true, owing to her relationship to Him, for “the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17), sealed for the day of their union and the redemption of her body from her present life in her father’s house when her husband comes to claim what is his by right and take her away with him. Nothing can stop this from happening.

Chapter 6

The Betrothal Period for the Bride

A bride was to prepare herself for her new life with her husband. She was taking his name as her own, the name of his father. Names in the ancient world were very important. They carried the legacy of your people with them, enshrining the reputation and the honor due their position and their “business” on the earth – what the family of that name did on the earth.

As such, a bride would want to know as much about her husband’s family as possible, to help her prepare herself for the immense burden and honor of bearing her husband’s name – bearing his character and the character of his family. Into this, Jesus speaks, for as He prepares to leave his disciples and return to the Father, He tells them: “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:12-15).

The Holy Spirit discloses the truth of God’s Word to the Church, for “the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

“the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

So the Church is not left without help in her duty to conform to the ways of her Husband’s household. She has the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to learn from and conform her life to.

Although the Bride has work she should be doing during her Betrothal Period, her position as wife is not dependent on her works, and she has encouragement in the knowledge of that security, having been chosen by Jesus and betrothed to Him. Recall that in the Jewish betrothal custom, the only way to annul it was if one of them committed adultery during their Period of Sanctification. Now the Church knows she will never have cause to bring an accusation of unfaithfulness to her Lord, and Christ has promised that He will remain faithful, even if we are faithless: “The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13). It seems clear to me in this passage and from the context of other verses that the third if/then statement here is referring to denying the call of salvation, not denying Him once we belong to Him – that is how “denying” Jesus is used elsewhere in Scripture.

The last if/then points to the security of those who belong to Christ. As a father works out the bride price for his son’s bride to “give” his son a wife in the Jewish custom, so Jesus says of this, “and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:38-40).

If the Bride is faithless, Christ remains faithful to her (2 Timothy 2:13). This is true, for from the beginning of the Church to this present day, every member of her body has been unfaithful at times and sinned against her Lord, which is why she is instructed to confess her sins to Jesus, for she not yet perfected by her Lord in body (through the Resurrection).

As the Church, we are faithless to Jesus at times in our thoughts and in our actions as we struggle with sin in our period of sanctification. And in all this, Jesus remains faithful to us and forgives us when we seek Him. Praise be to God, the Father and to the Son!

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:1-6).

In this, John is reminding the Church that she still sins against her Husband Jesus and His Father in the “Church Age” for this is still in the Period of the Bride’s Sanctification. But the point of the Period of Sanctification is for the Bride to get better at this – working through the learned behaviors of her father’s house (the world) and working them out of her through the Spirit’s help (which is her pledge and seal and comforter and helper), reminding her of who she is now – this is not works-based righteousness, because she is not doing this work so she can remain on as His betrothed wife (for her state as His wife is not dependent on her works, but was given as a gift and sealed in His love).

But so that she may please Him on the day of her union to Him, she will conduct herself according to His conduct and according to His Word to her that He gave her while he was with her. She will devote herself to this while He is away for her time of Sanctification, namely “following His Word” refers to what He has told her is acceptable in His Father’s House and what is pleasing to Him, for following Word and commandment proves her commitment and devotion to her husband: “One who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:34b).

In like manner, the Church must learn to walk in her life as He walked while He was with her in preparation for when she will be united to Him in the end and walk by His side with Him everywhere. No bride wants to be embarrassed in her behavior in her adoptive father’s house because her behavior is not in harmony with her husband or his father. We can all think of our western culture’s comedies where a woman meets her boyfriend’s parents for the first time and embarrasses herself by saying all the wrong things and behaving in a way that is inappropriate to them in their house.

The Church does not want to be seen walking out-of-sync with her Husband at His side, walking lewdly, bumping into Him, tripping over Him at the Marriage Supper because she did not dedicate herself to His Word and listen to the guidance of His Spirit and practice walking like Him while He was with her – all so she could walk gracefully when she is with Him and bring Him glory before His Father and her adoptive Father.

The Members of the Bride of Christ

This brings us to Paul’s teaching on the members of the Body of Christ. That concept has confused many people over the years, but thankfully, Paul explains in Ephesians that he means the Bride of Christ when he is referring to the Body of Christ:

“Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are parts of His body” (Ephesians 5:22-30).

From the context of Jewish marriage, then, we can better understand his teaching on the members of the Body of Christ from the previous chapter in Ephesians:

“And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

“17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

“25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:11-32).

Just as a husband is the head of the wife, we find that Jesus is the head of His Church. This helps us understand that the text above is speaking to a betrothed bride preparing herself for her husband during her Period of Sanctification. She must let go her former ways of life, which she has sworn to forsake (symbolizing with baptism) in becoming one spirit with her husband and now must focus all her attentions on pleasing him. We find the same topic in 1 Corinthians:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.

“4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

“12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

“14 For the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many parts, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or again, the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

The Church belongs to Christ. Her body is His body, even though they are not yet joined as one body. A betrothed bride is to nourish all the parts of her body for her husband during her time of sanctification to please him on the wedding day.

She should not neglect some parts of her body in her desire to be wholly beautiful to her husband. It seems obvious, but no bride should neglect her legs and feet while focusing on her hands, lest she be too weak to walk beside her husband at the wedding feast. And a bride whose hands weakened because she did not care for them while she was focused on her feet, will not be presented as beautiful to her husband.

A truly devoted woman in love desires her whole self to be at its best for her husband, for he will see it all and know it all once they are made one in body. She can no longer hide from him what she has hidden from others – the proof of neglect or uncleanness. So, a wise bride who cares about her husband’s joy should ensure her entire body has what it needs to function and is beautiful inside and out for the day she is joined to him.

So, the Church also. The Church must show love to all her members during her Period of Sanctification, so they are all beautiful and pure and presentable, and she is in “her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27b) for her Husband when he comes to take her away from her life to the wedding feast.

In application, each one of us (members of the Body of Christ), should desire the function and beauty of all the other parts of the Body. This is why Paul says, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:2-3). Paul personally looked at the churches he ministered to as the betrothed bride of Christ (not simply as a metaphor or illustration), and his desire was that she would keep herself pure, so that she would be presentable to Christ in purity and beauty. But he worried that the church at Corinth was being distracted from her pure devotion and love for Jesus during her Time of Sanctification, while she waited for Him to return, and that this distraction would cause to fade what made her beautiful and pleasing to Christ through sin and impurity.

And nothing is more displeasing to Christ than the effect on the health of the Church when its members fight amongst themselves, disparaging and neglecting the other members they don’t think they need or don’t want, thus crippling, blinding, muting, deafening, and maiming the Church. Jesus wants all the members of His Body to show love to one another, to build up the Body of the Church, so that it is whole and beautiful and pure – in excellent health, lacking nothing, showing care and devotion to each part for the beauty of the whole.

The Bride’s Wedding Garment

Most importantly, the Bride does not want to be found poorly clothed at the Marriage Supper, because she did not apply herself to her one task during her time of Sanctification (making her wedding garment), and for the Church this garment is made from her righteous deeds, “‘Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.’ 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8). If these deeds were scant or of poor quality, then she is embarrassed before her Husband and her adoptive Father and all the guests of Heaven in revealing to the witnesses how little she dedicated herself to Christ while He was away. The New Testament speaks a great deal to the importance of good works that the Church is to be doing. This is not in order to secure her position with Christ – that has already been secured by His redemption of her, but she is to do the good works because of her devotion to Him, just as a bride works on her wedding dress to honor her husband.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10).

“Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8).

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person has deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:1-11).

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom” (James 3:13).

“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 17:19).

“What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works’” (James 2:14-18).

We have some confidence that as “dysfunctional” as the Church’s history has been during this “Church Age”, the Period of Her Sanctification, and as sinful as we have been at times, prophecy declares that the Bride will be prepared for her Husband on this future day, and she is clothed beautifully by her deeds that honored her Husband while He was away:

“‘Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.’ 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8).

This glimpse into the future can be an encouragement to us in our days of labor for our Beloved Christ.

Chapter 7

The Bridegroom Is Away During the Sanctification Period

Just as a bridegroom had to leave his bride and go away to prepare a place for them in his father’s house, so Jesus told us, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Here we have not only the promise that He is preparing a place for us, but that He is returning for us to take us to be with Him when He returns for us. This is surely what is spoken of as the “catching away” of the Church at the end of the age (the end of the Period of the Church’s Sanctification):

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). This again is all marriage language, the details of which we will see later when we look at the bridegroom’s return for his bride, including the voice of the angel and the trumpets that announce the arrival of Christ, just as the bridegroom’s friends announce his approach to the bride’s house and blow trumpets alerting her that her husband is close behind them and almost to her door and that she must make herself ready!

Notice here, also that the Church is to comfort itself with the reminder that Jesus is coming to take us to be where He is and when He comes for us, we will always be with Him from that day forward and never be apart again. There is great comfort here for the Bride, just as it was the comfort of any bride as she longed and waited for that day, trusting that it would indeed happen.

But as a bridegroom did not know when his father would decide things were ready for Him to leave and retrieve his bride, so Jesus told us that the hour of His return was only known by the Father: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36).

Chapter 8

United In Soul, Apart In Body

There is much confusion in western theology due to western marriage practices being used as reference to understand the allusions in the Epistles to Jesus and His wife, the Church.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Supposing this reference to be interpreted through western marriage customs, many theologians and many systematic theologies have been led into error, supposing that Jesus and the Church are married now, and that this marriage was accomplished at Jesus ascension and is a sort of “spiritual union” only. This led many of them to interpret most of the prophecy in Revelation as history, since the marriage supper of the Lamb and His Bride is accomplished at the end of the book, in chapter 21, with Paul (above) establishing that at his time, the Church and Jesus were already married. The fallacy here, as was mentioned already, is using western marriage practices to interpret Jewish marriage symbolism. They ignore that Paul tells the Church at Corinth, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

The Church is currently betrothed to Jesus, and in Jewish custom, a betrothed man and woman are legally married under the law, hence why Paul describes the Church as wife to Christ and Christ as her husband. But just as a betrothed couple could not consummate their marriage physically, but had to be apart from each other for the Period of their Sanctification, so the Church and Jesus are not physically united yet. They are spiritually one spirit, but not made one spirit and body, yet.

And Paul clues us into this truth in his plea for the Church to remain pure in spirit and body for her husband while away from Him in the body: “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Indeed, the Church is spiritually one spirit with Christ, but we are not yet one body with Him – we are not bodily with Him, nor He bodily with us. But we are to keep ourselves chaste and virgins from sin for Him.

It is important to remember that Jesus is not spirit only, but body and Spirit, just as we are body and spirit. Understand that the entire Gospel relies on this fact.

“All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will do away with both of them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it!” (1 Corinthians 6:12-15)

“He [Jesus] is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:18-24).

Note here that the Body of the Church belongs to the Christ – it is His Body, not our own to do with as we please, for we are living as virgins in the world now for the time of our union with Him.

“Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20).

Again, the Church is the temple for the Holy Spirit. Just as in Jewish betrothal, where the betrothed husband and wife are united in spirit before the God, so the Church is united in spirit with Christ and has His spirit united to her. Truly, the body of the Church belongs to Christ and is His body, just as Christ’s body belongs to the Church and is the Church’s Body. These are marriage terms. Do not therefore commit sin in the body that belongs to the Lord, but glorify your betrothed husband in your body while you are bodily apart from Him.

This was, after all, Joseph’s fear concerning his betrothed wife, Mary, for while they were united in spirit, but apart in body, she became pregnant (by the Holy Spirit, as we know), and not knowing this, he understood that she had not glorified him in her body, but had joined her body (which belonged to him) to someone who it did not belong to and had dishonored him. But when the angel told him the truth of what had happened, he understood that she had not dishonored his body.

Lastly, in verses 19-20, Paul reminds the Church that it was purchased with a price. This alludes back to the Bride Price that a prospective husband had to pay in order to be betrothed to a woman. So, a betrothed woman should remember that her husband purchased her from her father to be his wife and that she belongs to him – not in terms of one-sided ownership, but she belongs to him and he belongs to her.

The Bride Price meant in Jewish custom that women were afforded great value in their families and men were required to part with sizable wealth, according to what they could afford, in order to be able to marry a woman. No man, therefore, went into marriage lightly or for a lark, but considered carefully if he could afford the value a family placed on their daughter and if she was a woman of good character who would bring him glory. This is exactly the same for the Church. For Jesus paid the greatest of all prices for His Church – He gave, not only His living, but His life, which was infinitely more valuable – and He did this FOR her, so that she would inherit all things in Him.

The overall message again and again, is that Paul warns the Church to remain pure in spirit and in body for Christ, so that the Church will be presented to Him as a chaste virgin at the marriage feast of the Lamb:

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

And when He comes back for His Church, we will be changed to have bodies like His glorified body at the time of His return for us. “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).

In Jewish custom, at the marriage supper (feast), the bride would be welcomed into her husband’s family. She takes on her father-in-law’s name, becoming his daughter. In like manner, the Church will be children of God the Father and wife to God the Son! Astounding!

And we will be made like Him, when He comes for us. And just as it is purifying and sanctifying (setting her apart for her husband) for a bride to focus herself in longing to see her husband in his glory coming for her, longing for her change bodily into the fullness of all that it means to be his wife in consummated marriage, so the Church longs for Christ’s appearing and His coming for her, longing to see Him in His glory, and longing for her change to be spiritually and bodily one with Him – and this is purifying, sanctifying to the Church!

Furthermore, the Church knows it is not fully married to Christ now, “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:22-25). Again, when we are married to the Son, we will be adopted not only in spirit to the Heavenly Father, but also in body. Paul is very clear here, that although we are spiritually redeemed in our betrothal to Christ, we long still for the redemption of our bodies. Just like a bride eagerly longs and waits for her husband to come and take her to be one with him in body and soul, so the Church groans in the body of death we still possess at this time. It is obvious we are not united in body to Christ now, for our bodies waste away and decay from corruption and the effects of sin on the world. “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10).

In similar way to Eve being taken out of Adam and made of the same stuff as him, and sharing in his fall, so the Church will be resurrected through Christ’s very body, to be made like Him and share in life eternal. We will be changed.

“For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9).

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:23-24).

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come….So then, as through one offense [of Adam] the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness [through Jesus] the result was justification of life to all mankind. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:14; 18-21).

Our present body cannot be united with Christ, even though our spirits have been cleansed by His blood and we are united as one with Him in spirit.

As Paul explains, “Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).

Here, Paul puts to bed the idea that we are currently ruling in the Kingdom of God while we are on earth now (as many Preterists and postmillennialists believe), because he explains that flesh and blood (our current condition) cannot inherit the Kingdom of God because the sinful flesh of our present bodies cannot be united to Christ yet.

“For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:18-25).

Our life comes from being united to Jesus and we are spiritually alive because we are united as one spirit in Him through His Holy Spirit. However, our bodies are not yet united with Him, and as such, they are not alive like Christ is, but we will be like Him when we are united with Christ in the resurrection (the Bridegroom’s return for His bride to taker her away from her known home to His Father’s home for the Marriage Supper and they will always be together from that day forward).

And then Paul explains in the next breath that we cannot inherit the Kingdom, until our bodies are changed at the Resurrection to be compatible with Jesus’ body. This harmonizes perfectly with the betrothal ceremony as the bride cannot inherit the blessings and promises of her marriage until the Period of Sanctification is over and she makes it to the Marriage Feast at the end of her time. A betrothed wife does not come into the blessings of her husband’s inheritance while she is betrothed and apart from him, and any attempt to do so would be unrighteous. It is the same for the Church, for our inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ is dependent on our full union to Him.

We must be changed to be like Him, and so we shall. And this we eagerly wait for.

This Period of Sanctification for the Bride is difficult, for we rely on faith concerning the pledge we have been given. “For in subjecting all things to him (Jesus, as some interpret here), He (the Father) left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:8b-9). The world goes on as it ever was, until the Father tells the Son to return for His Bride, and so end the Period of Sanctification and begin the Marriage feast and then take up His scepter and rule in body over all the nations.

So, why does Paul say that the Church is the Body of Christ now? Doesn’t that mean that we are united bodily with Him now? As Paul says: “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Corinthians 12:7). This gets us back to what Paul has already explained, namely that a betrothed woman is one spirit with her husband; therefore, her body belongs to her husband and is his body, even though they are apart from each other and not united in consummation yet. The Church is Christ’s body – we belong to Him, and He is our head.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).

Chapter 9

The Bride Watches a Long Time for Her Husband’s Return

Let’s talk a little bit about the “elephant in the room”. Why has the Church been waiting for Jesus’ return for 2,000 years?

It is a valid question. Especially since Scripture can give us the sense of urgency of Christ’s return. In Revelation, alone, Jesus refers to it thus:

Speaking to the Church of Philadelphia, Jesus says: “Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:10-11).

Jesus continues at the end of the book:

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves” (Revelation 22:12).

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

“And he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true’; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place” (Revelation 22:6).

All this can give us a sense that Jesus’ return was expected quickly. And yet it has been 2,000 years? This has led unbelievers to relentlessly mock the Church for its patient devotion to Christ for the last two millennia. Peter warned the Church that this mockery would come, and especially in the last days:

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Think of this in the context of the days we are living in. Has there ever been a time in human history when the world has believed so thoroughly that the return of Christ is a fairytale? Today, the world has washed their hands of Him and the fear of His return. The kings of the earth do not give Jesus a second thought. So, the unbelieving world scorns the Church’s persistence in its belief that Jesus will come back.

But even among Believers, we might wonder. When I was a young Believer, I wondered sometimes whether the Church had understood what Jesus said correctly, since He has tarried for thousands of years. Many of us have had that doubt pass into our mind from time to time. Not a doubt as to the truth of God’s Word, but perhaps we don’t understand what was meant. That has led some to argue that Jesus was speaking to a spiritual return (as in the Holy Spirit), and not a literal return. This teaching has serious flaws, since Scriptures elsewhere teach clearly on the physical return of Jesus.

“For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:5-12).

Firstly, in speaking about how God views time differently than mankind Peter tells us He has not abandoned His promises to us, although it might look that way from a temporal human stand-point. God is patient. What is God’s motivation for His patience? Peter tells us that He does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. This then can help us understand why so much time has elapsed. And we should be grateful we serve such a patient and loving God, who waited until you and I were born to include us in His plan of Salvation. And we should have this patient attitude also for those who are yet born.

Secondly, Peter calls our attention to the fact that even in God’s natural order there is this punctuated period of bustling activity at the beginning (the 7 days of creation), followed by ages of peaceful work that continued on and on as it ever did, but then, one day, a sudden and quick end came to that “same-old-same-old” stretch of never-ending days, and it came in like manner to the beginning with a punctuated period of bustling activity again (judgement of the Flood). In like manner, the present age goes about its daily tasks and labors with no end in sight, but there is coming a day of bustling activity again in the last days with the judgment of the Christ’s return and the ultimate destruction of this world by fire.

This picture corresponds perfectly to the Jewish marriage ceremony, and it is this relational context God has given us that can resolve the mystery of the 2,000 year long wait for Jesus’ return.

Consider that in the entire Betrothal process from that initial payment of the bride price to the wedding feast at the end, a bride spends 99% of her time waiting for the return of her husband for her.

The Betrothal Ceremony at the beginning was a punctuated flurry of activity, occurring in a short period of time (a matter of days) and then her husband left and he is gone from her for something like 365 days. At the end of this, he returns suddenly, setting off another flurry of activity with the marriage supper and the wedding (over a matter of days). Exactly like Peter’s example.

And while she’s waiting for him, the days go on with no end in sight and very little to forewarn her or anyone else in her community that He is going to return. And during this incredible stretch of time, a bride goes about the day-to-day labor of preparing her wedding garment and devoting herself to her sanctification for her wedding day. All the while, the world around her busies itself with its schemes, plans, and commerce, forgetting that her husband is coming for her. And if they are mean-spirited, they will mock the bride and try to shake her confidence in her husband’s return for her and try to tempt her away from pure devotion to him.

In like manner, the Church experienced a flurry of activity when Jesus came to Earth and betrothed Himself to her. He preached the Gospel, performed miracles, fulfilled reams of prophecy, was crucified, rose from the dead, ministered to His disciples, ascended into heaven, and then sent His pledge of the Spirit to His Bride. From that day, He has not returned upon the Earth, but has remained in Heaven, preparing a place for His Church in His Father’s house. And likewise, His Church has dedicated herself to her wedding garment and her sanctification for union with Him. At the end of this long Period of Sanctification, Jesus will return unexpectedly and suddenly and will kick off a flurry of activity – The resurrection, Rapture, and then the union with His Church, the wedding feast, and then the invasion of Earth. And on earth, total rebellion against God, the revelation of the Man of Lawlessness, and the Great Tribulation with all its calamities and distress. Exactly like what Peter is describing. And all the while, the skeptics and mockers laugh at the Bride for Her devotion to Jesus and try to rob her of her confidence in Christ’s return, while trying to tempt her away from pure devotion to Him through the instant gratifications of the lusts of the flesh.

Also, we can see that it is no surprise the Church’s primary experience through its existence as the Church has been waiting for the return of her Bridegroom.

But 2,000 years? Interestingly, if we make some assumptions and do a very rough calculation and take Jesus’ ministry on earth till His ascension, we divide 30 years/2,000 years of the Church Age and we get that the Church has been waiting for Jesus’ return for 98.5%. If we assume that Jesus’ ministry was the “Betrothal Ceremony” only, then we divide 3 years/2,000 years and get Jesus has been away for 99.8% of the time since He came to earth to woo and redeem Her. Remarkably similar ratios. This is not to set dates or suggest anything other than it should not surprise us at all that 2,000 years have passed – it actually must be this way to be “proper” in the context of the Jewish marriage ceremony. If Jesus had returned 100 years after His ascension, that would have been improper as the Bride would hardly have had time to perfect her wedding garment (the righteous deeds of the Saints), just as a bridegroom returning for his bride the week after he left her would be disastrous.

So, the point and the take-away is that it should not be surprising that Jesus has been away from the Church for 2,000 years for the Church’s Period of Sanctification (Church Age). It is proper and necessary for the fulfillment of all righteousness.

Now, a quick word on Replacement Theology. Premillennialists argue the prophecies to Israel were fulfilled concerning the coming of the Messiah to Israel and His dying and His resurrection, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem 40 years later and the scattering of the Jewish people as homeless exiles among the gentile nations. This then initiated a “pause” to prophecy, since the bulk of Biblical Prophecy concerns Israel, God’s promises to Israel and how He's going to keep those promises.

“For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’ 27 ‘This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:25-27).

This “pause” is this Age of Grace, “Grace Period,” Time of the fullness of the Gentiles, or the Church Age when God is seeking to reconcile the world to Himself through the open invitation for people everywhere to submit to the coming King, Jesus Christ, Whom God the Father has chosen to rule the world for all eternity. Speaking to the Gentiles, Paul says:

“So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

This ministry of reconciliation to the nations – to the whole world – is taking the scene until the last days, because: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

But there is an end coming to this “Grace Period” and at that end, Israel becomes the subject of God’s plan, becoming a nation again, and the prophecies (picked up in John’s Revelation) resume their focus on Israel once the Church is removed from the Earth in the Resurrection and the Rapture. Now is the time for God to complete the promises He gave to the Israelite Patriarchs.

“For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’ 27 ‘This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:25-27).

And in our lifetime, nearly 2,000 years after Israel was destroyed in 70 AD, the Jews returned to their homeland as a nation again in 1948 – the only time this has ever happened in human history. Now, we may be near to the time when the Prophecies concerning Israel are resumed in the Last Days to fulfill all that God has promised and to bring Israel and the Church under King Jesus.

However, there are critics of this view, and some Christian scholars (Historicists and Preterists) take issue with the concept of this idea of a “pause” in prophecy for the “Church age”, believing it to be an arbitrary convention. They believe that the prophecy of Revelation is almost entirely history, having been completed by 70AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. The only prophecy remaining to be fulfilled for them is the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Many of these scholars (but not all) maintain that the Church replaces Israel in the prophecies themselves (the Church was “grafted in” and Israel rejected for their unbelief). Thus, Israel has no part in the prophecies and there is no “pause” to the prophecies because the subject of Israel is actually the meant to be understood as the Church, which continues on.

Furthermore, they believe that the Church and Jesus are already symbolically married and that Jesus married the Church when He formed the Church before He left the Mount of Olives and returned to His Heavenly Father in Heaven.

This is error, due almost entirely to misappropriating western marriage practices into the prophetic Word to try and understand the marriage language in Scripture. As we have seen, Jewish marriage customs present an entirely different picture and perfectly harmonize with Scripture. This is as it was meant to be, for Salvation is of the Jews, and the early Church was entirely Jewish and the teachings of the Church to the Gentiles would have been from a Jewish cultural perspective. As Jesus said:

“You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).

“Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words of God” (Romans 3:1-2).

Therefore, understanding and knowing these things was crucial to understanding the context of the teachings of Scripture and the prophecy that was given by the Apostles.

These scholars argue that God provided much prophecy for Israel leading up to Christ’s arrival, but then futurists and premillennialists maintain that the prophecies of Revelation do not address anything until the final Tribulation begins. So why this 2,000 year pause in prophecy, they wonder? What is that all about?

We saw earlier that this “pause” makes perfect sense when one understands the Jewish marriage tradition, for this “pause” is the Period of Sanctification (the longest pause in the marriage ceremony, when the bride and bridegroom are separated from each other and the bride is preparing her wedding garment). Revelation tells us that at the wedding supper of the Lamb, the Church’s wedding garment is composed of the righteous acts of the Saints:

“‘Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.’ 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8).

As we have seen, in the Betrothal ceremony, a bride was supposed to be making and preparing her wedding garment during her Period of Sanctification when she was separated from her husband and awaiting his return for her. In like manner, as long as the Church is on earth, away from Jesus, she is still perfecting her wedding garment in honor to her husband.

This “pause” then that troubles some scholars corresponds perfectly to what is called the “Church age” – the period of sanctification of the Church for Christ.

And just as in the Betrothal Ceremony when a bridegroom’s returns for his bride sets off a whole flurry of action and events after the long and relatively uneventful Period of Sanctification, so Jesus’ return for the Church will herald a flurry of action with Nissan (the elevation of the husband and wife) before the wedding feast, Tribulation comes on the rebelling Earth, and after the Wedding Feast concludes, Jesus and His Bride leave for Earth to subdue the enemies of God and rule from His kingdom in Jerusalem, as we will see.

The Struggles in Waiting

For the young bride, her sanctification period can be a challenging time while she waits for her bridegroom to return for her. The world hates her on account of Him to Whom she is joined and they hate what she now represents while He is away. Jesus literally tells His Bride this:

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

“I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).

Think of the natural case. When a bridegroom makes his choice of his wife, everyone who was not chosen can feel spurned and they may choose to hate him and the woman he chose. This would especially be true of a king. Think if the story of Cinderella, right? Christ chose His Bride for eternal glory and joy in the Kingdom of God, rejecting all those who continue in rebellion against His Father and if they continue in sin, they will be declared rebels and be judged. They hate Him for exposing their sin and demanding they repent of it. They hate Him for being declared King. They hate Him for being God’s own Son. And they hate Him for choosing from among their midst a Bride who will be united to His glory.

“The one who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25 But this has happened so that the word that is written in their Law will be fulfilled: ‘They hated Me for no reason’” (John 15:23-25).

Against her comes the full weight of their hatred, but she must hold fast to the love of Christ and endure it for His sake:

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10).

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also” (John 15:20).

“Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:32).

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:32-39).

A bride must not allow distractions, temptations, or any mockery or abuse in her father’s house or her hometown to prevent her from her dedication to her husband. In the same way, every generation of the Church must not tire of dedicating herself to her Husband and looking and longing for the return of Jesus Christ. We are so easily distracted, tempted, and abused by the world we were born into. But the Love of our Husband makes us strong to endure it, because He is more than worth it all. And so, we bear His character in our own conduct as we engage with the world:

“Up to this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12 and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are verbally abused, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we reply as friends; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13).

“But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

In all her deeds, the Bride is to emulate Jesus:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36).

Paul encourages the Church to be dedicated to Jesus in her conduct:

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:29-31).

By behaving in a manner that shames the name of her husband, a bride would grieve the pledge her husband left with her to seal their union in spirit. After all, sinning against her husband while he is away grieves the spiritual bond a bride has with her husband. In like manner, sinning against our Bridegroom while we are apart from Him, we dishonor and grieve the pledge of the Holy Spirit that He left with us to seal our union in spirit.

The Church Must Abide in the Word Given to Her and Not Seek Forbidden Knowledge

There can be a real temptation during this time to learn more about Jesus through extra-Biblical revelation. Paul warns us about this.

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:8-12).

It is required that the Church does not know Jesus intimately yet. Every bride must live by faith and rely on what she has been given to know about her husband during the Period of Sanctification, because all the intimate knowledge of him is not permitted until her Period of Sanctification is completed and her husband comes to her to take her away. So, to endure this time apart, she relies on every word that he gave her before he left, the reassurance of the pledge he left her, and her love and devotion for her husband while He is away from her during the period of Kiddushin (Period of a Bride’s Sanctification) in the Jewish marriage tradition.

As was stated already, a betrothed wife cannot know everything about her husband during this time, for it is not yet permitted for him to know her as his wife, nor her to know him. There is so much about each other that they will discover in delight on their wedding day in his father’s house, when they are face to face again and finally allowed to be intimate with each other.

Even though a betrothed husband and wife are joined as one spirit before God and before the law, they cannot consummate their marriage and be one body yet, until this Period of Sanctification is accomplished, and this all perfectly corresponds to what we call the “Church Age” when the Church is apart from her Lord.

In like manner, it is not for the Church to try and know more about Christ than He has given her to know until the time has come for that, then she will fully know Him when they are made one in the Heavenly Father’s house.

There is a real danger that the Bride will be led astray by her desire to “know” Jesus more intimately in ways outside of His Word, but this is improper for her and all these avenues to knowledge beyond His Word are false and deceitful and will lead her astray from pure devotion to Him. The Scriptures warn about this:

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:23-27).

“But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Peter 2:1-3).

“I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Jesus, Peter, and Paul are telling the Bride to focus on what she has been given to know about God’s Son and focus on our love and devotion to Christ to get us through this painfully long time. Think about it, the Betrothal initiation is finished in a couple days, and then the two lovers are separated for a year!

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God” (Romans 8:18-19).

A bride needs hope, because a year is a long time in a person’s life. And a year of being separated from the love of your life who has given himself to you and you are now his wife has to be one of the most painfully long periods of a young woman’s life. And if she is persecuted and harassed by her former acquaintances – mocked by her family, then it drags on and on in suffering it and still her husband hasn’t come for her.

This is exactly how the Church feels today. It can be exhausting waiting and looking and expecting Christ’s arrival and we can long to know Him before the time appointed by the Heavenly Father through “visions”, “dreams”, and false apostles who give us “secret” knowledge about Jesus and visions of heaven and knowledge that is not permitted. Beware of such people!

The Church should not be trying to learn more beyond the Scriptures that have been given to her about the nature of Christ or His Father, for there are many deceivers out there trying to pervert our understanding, in order to pervert our pure devotion to what He has told us about Himself. John addresses the Bride thus:

“As for you, see that what you heard from the beginning remains in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life” (1 John 2:24-25).

The Bride must abide in the Word that He gave her – what she heard from the beginning – not “new” news from visions, “prophets”, and the like that lead her pure and simple devotion astray. For the time when we shall know Him intimately will come, and it will come suddenly.

“now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Just like in the Jewish marriage custom, there is a day that only the bridegroom’s father knows when he will give his son permission to go and get his wife and bring her to the father’s home for the marriage supper and the consummation of their marriage and their new life in the room (or house addition) in his father’s estate that the bridegroom has been busily preparing for their new life together.

In the traditional ceremony, it would be stressed to the bride that she was to watch for her husband’s return for her, for no one knew what day or what hour he would appear, only the bridegroom’s father. A bride therefore was in very real danger of being surprised by the sudden coming of her husband on a day she did not expect. A good and faithful bride was to be ready to go with him at a moment’s notice with her wedding garment prepared for the marriage supper in her new father’s house, so she would not be ashamed before her husband, her father, and all the guests.

In like manner, the day of the coming of the Son of Man for His Bride will happen suddenly and so fast that the Church may not be watching for him and she may not be ready for him to take her to the wedding feast. And her wedding garment, which is the righteous deeds of the saints may not be completed. This is taught over and over in the Gospels and Epistles.

Our old life still acts like it has power over us and it takes advantage of us, but we have been bought from it with a price. Our abusive “father’s house” (the world ruled by satan) no longer has true power over us. We must watch for our Bridegroom’s return for us! “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap” (Luke 21:34). “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8).

All of that being said, Jesus does give His bride some things to watch for:

“Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 But He responded and said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.’ 3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and they will mislead many people. 6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:1-14).

“There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’” (Luke 21:25-28).

Things get worse as history of man’s rebellion approaches the end, not better. Even though Jesus gave us these things to watch for, we are to be watching at all times for His return. The point is, WATCH!

The study continues in part two.