NOTE: "Let us be glad and rejoice,
and give honour to him: for the marriage of
the lamb is come, and his wife hath MADE
HERSELF READY." (Rev. 19:7). Christ
is going to return for a PREPARED people who
have made themselves READY. This requires
much more than just professing to be a
Christian, or even knowing that one is
saved. This booklet will help you to
understand just what the Lord requires of
those who aspire to be CALLED into His very
presence to share His intimate fellowship
and glory in His own Kingdom realm. "They
that were READY went in with him (Christ,
the Bridegroom) to the marriage: and the
door was SHUT" (Mt. 25:10). If you wish to
understand the questions of BRIDESHIP,
SONSHIP, etc., then read carefully the
contents of this booklet. Do not read
casually or hurriedly, but slowly,
carefully and prayerfully, and ALONG WITH
YOUR BIBLE, looking up the scripture
references as you read.
INTRODUCTION
All signs indicate that the time is
drawing near for the sounding forth of the
greatest CRY since Jesus uttered the
triumphant words from the cross, "It is
finished" (John 19:30). I refer to Matt.
25:6, where we read: "And at midnight there
was a CRY made. Behold the bridegroom
cometh; go [ ] out to meet him." This
CRY will likely be made by the two witnesses
when they suddenly appear in Jerusalem to
proclaim the imminent return of the Lord.
However, there is also a sense in which this
CRY is going forth NOW, through messengers
whom the Lord has chosen.
It is significant to note that the
scriptures show Christ returning to this
earth first as a BRIDEGROOM. (Later,
as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords”--Rev.
19:16). It should be rather obvious that a
Bridegroom would come for His Bride, who
goes into the marriage with Him (Matt.
25:10). Some teach that there is to be a
"Bridegroom company" who, along with Christ,
is to "marry" the "Bride company."
I personally fail to find any
scriptural backing for such a teaching. However,
I certainly won't argue with those who
differ, and I refuse to make such
differences a hindrance to unity and
fellowship in Christ. All the scriptures
which mention the Bridegroom seem to reserve
this unique and exalted position to Christ
alone. [Ed
note: evidence for the “Bridegroom
company” concept is likely drawn from Isa.
62:5, “so shall your sons wed
you.” But in cosmic context, this does not
speak to a “Bridegroom company,” but of
the final uniting of the historically
outcast sons of the prophets and true
apostles to the rest of the body of
Christ.] But how great is the
privilege which waits those "overcoming"
sons and daughters of God who shall
make up the Bride company; and even now all
creation waits in anticipation of the day of
their UNVEILing (or manifestation—Rom.
8:19).
Notice that Rebekah (a type of the
Bride of Christ) was veiled until
she was taken by Isaac into his mother's
tent, but after she became his wife she
became unveiled (Gen. 24:65-67). So shall
the day of the Bride's unveiling come after
she has donned her "wedding garments"
(glorified bodies like unto Christ's
glorious body—Phil. 3:21), and has been
received by her Bridegroom in celestial joy;
for she will have a ministry to perform on
earth during the time of great tribulation
which is coming.
Notice Rev. 12:12-17 where Satan is
pictured as sending out a "flood" of
vilification and persecution against the
"woman" (church), but "the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed up the flood." The
"earth" here indicates the appearance
(or manifestation) of the saints of the
Bride Company in their glorified earth
bodies (flesh and bone—see Luke
24:39), to open their mouths and
speak words of help and deliverance that
will nullify the fear-instilling propaganda,
threats and persecution being "poured out"
on Christians in that day.
They will be able to appear to
individual saints or to groups gathered
together just as Jesus appeared to the
disciples who had shut themselves in with
the doors barred "for fear of the Jews "
(see John 20:19,26). Jesus dispelled their
fears and gave them new hope and courage.
Most Christians of the
fundamentalist churches believe that all
those who are born again will be in the so
called "rapture" when Christ comes for His
church.
Scarcely a worse delusion could be
entertained. Christ's Kingdom is to be a ruling
kingdom (Rev. 5:10, 20:6).
Even in the kingdoms (or nations)
of men, think of the chaos that would result
if immature, unproven babes and children
were put in positions of responsibility to
run the "affairs of state." Horrors!
If man would not do such a foolish
thing, what makes anyone think that God
would? Even Jesus' parables of the "talents"
and "pounds" show that those to be received
into His heavenly kingdom are to be given
posts of rulership: "Well done, good and
faithful servant: you have been
faithful over a few things, I will make you
ruler over many things"
(Matt, 25:21). . . "Well, [
] good servant: because you
have been faithful in a very little,
have [ ] authority over ten cities"
(Luke 19:17). The majority of Christians in
the world are yet babes and children,
spiritual progress and growth considered.
Many have begun to enter into the
"adolescent" stage, which is good and
needful, but this is a "problem time" in
spiritual growth, even as it is in the
natural. The chief difficulty seems to be
spiritual pride (see I Cor. 8:1-2), which
can manifest in many ways.
It is beyond the scope of this
short introduction to elaborate, but we can
see a type of spiritual pride and
consequences in the story of Noah after the
flood. Noah planted a vineyard (a type of
the Kingdom); but when he drank the fruits
thereof, it went to his head,
exposing his nakedness and gendering a curse
to some (see Gen. 9:20-25). How often is
this true when Christians begin to grow and
partake of the greater fruits and blessings
of the Kingdom. They get "heady" on the
"wine", and havoc is often the result. And
how hard it is to teach and correct those
who are exhilarated in the "fling" of
adolescent pride. But thank God there are
Christians who have begun to enter into a
measure of maturity: who are becoming
"pillars" in the temple (church) of God
through overcoming (Rev. 3:12). Only such
"overcomers" are to sit with Christ on His
throne and be given power over the nations
(Rev. 2:26-27, 3:21, 12:5).
Those who are to rule and reign
with Christ are to be kings and priests
(Rev. 5:10), and joint-heirs with Christ
(Rom. 8:17). In the Old Testament times,
kings and priests had to be anointed for
their offices with the holy anointing oil
which was poured upon their heads
to sanctify (separate) them to the
Lord (Ex. 29:7; Lev. 8:12; I Sam. 10:1;
16:13). This is a type of the Holy
Spirit baptism which is pictured in the book
of Acts as being "poured out upon", "coming
on" or "falling on" those who
received (Acts 1:8, 2:17-18, 8:15-17,
10:44-45, 11:15, 19:6). See also Psalm 133.
The Lord made it clear however in the Old
Testament types, that He requires a proving
(through testing) resulting in obedience and
faithfulness (I Sam. 2:27-35, 13:13-14,
15:22-23, Acts 13:21-22), or those
"anointed" could "lose out" on their high
calling. In Rev. 17:13, those who are with
"the Lamb" are the "called, and chosen, and
faithful". This is why Peter says we must
"give diligence to make our calling and
election sure" (II Pet. 1:10). Salvation is
a free gift (Rom. 6:23), which is
different than the prize of the high
calling of God (Phil. 3:14); and for that
"prize" one must "run" (see I Cor. 9:24-27,
Heb. 12:1), in order to be successfully
"crowned." We are called " to
His kingdom and glory (I Thess. 2:12), and
"to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ (II Thess. 2:14), that we might
have our bodies changed into the likeness
of "his glorious body," for it will be through
such glorified saints ruling
with Christ that He will be able “to subdue
all things to himself" (Phil.
3:21). "Many are called, but few are chosen"
(Matt 22:14). Truly it is a "high," "holy"
and "heavenly" calling (see Phil. 3:14, II
Tim. 1:9, Heb. 3:1), to be in Christ's
ruling Body and Kingdom.
Also, in Bible times, a son became
a "joint heir" in the inheritance of his
father only after he had been tutored,
disciplined, and grown to sufficient
maturity to be formally "placed as a son."
This "placing as a son" is the correct
translation of the Greek word huiothesia
which appears in Ephes. 1:5, Rom. 8:15,23
& Gal. 4:5, and is misleadingly
translated, "adoption," in the King James
version; for it has nothing to do with
adoption as we use that term. It has to do
with those who are already "born again"
children in the family of God, but who reach
that place of "overcoming" and spiritual
maturity where they are ready for "placing
as sons" as joint heirs with Christ. Paul
says that we are "waiting for the
adoption, [that is to say], the redemption
of our body.'' (Rom. 8:23). Thus "full
sonship" will come only when our bodies are
glorified and made like to Christ's
glorious body (Phil. 3:21). We will be joint
heirs with Christ, IF so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be glorified together
(Rom. 8:17). . . IF we suffer (for His sake)
we shall also reign with him" (II
Tim. 2:12). At the present time we have "the
Spirit of adoption (within), whereby
we cry Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6).
This "firstfruits of the Spirit" is the
"seal" and "down payment" of our
inheritance, "until the redemption of
the purchased possession" (Ephes. 1:13-14,
II Cor. 1:21-22, Rom. 8:23).
All truly born again children of
God are predestined to the
"adoption" or "placing as sons": to be
conformed to the image of Jesus Christ
(Ephes. 1:5, Rom. 8:29). But not all will be
ready at the same TIME. Let me give an
illustration. Suppose a very rich man with
vast business enterprises had a large family
of children. These could vary in age from
babes to teenagers. We will say that it is
the father's purpose for all of his sons and
daughters to be adequately cared for,
disciplined, schooled and prepared for the
day that they were sufficiently grown in
maturity, understanding and responsibility
to be given a share in the family
inheritance and "placed" as mature sons and
daughters in positions or "posts" of
executive oversight in the family
businesses. Obviously not all the children
would be ready to be co-heirs in the
family inheritance at the same time. Not
only would the difference in their ages
preclude that, but no doubt some would be
much more diligent than others, wanting to
please their father and prove that they were
trustworthy, responsible, faithful, etc.
Others, on the other hand, might be so
selfish, careless, and foolish as to
"fritter away" their opportunities. Thus
they would require more time for the
father to prove them, before they
could share in the family inheritance and be
"placed" in positions of responsibility.
In light of the foregoing
Illustration, it may be easier for the
reader to understand the reason why those to
be received by Christ when He comes must be
made READY (Matt. 24:44, 25:10, Rev. 19:7).
And also Jesus' warning about those who will
be rejected as being unqualified for the
heavenIy kingdom (Mt. 7:21-23, 22:11-14,
25-.10-12, Lk. 12:45-47). Notice how Paul's
words of admonition in Ephes. 5:14-18,
parallel the parable of the wise and foolish
virgins in Mt. 25:1-12. "Wherefore he says,
awake you who sleep (the
virgins were sleeping), and arise from the
dead (spiritual deadness), and Christ shall
give you light (oil for the virgin's
lamps). See that you walk
circumspectly (accurately, carefully), not
as fools (as the foolish virgins), but as
wise (as the wise virgins), redeeming the
time (making the best use of it), because
the days are evil (the pitfalls and
temptations are many). Wherefore be [
] not unwise, but understanding
what the will of the Lord is (see Mt. 7:21).
And be not drunk with wine (the "wine" of
Babylon—Rev. 17:2), wherein is excess, but
be filled with the Spirit (the extra
oil of the wise virgins). TIME is of the
essence. It is Christ's purpose to "bring
many sons to glory" (Heb. 2:10), "that he
might be the firstborn among many brethren"
(Rom. 8:29). And because of this, those who
are not ready when the Lord comes for His
Bride at the beginning of the tribulation,
will have sufficient time (if they are
diligent) during the tribulation period to
"prove themselves" that the Lord might
"know" them, and be received into His
kingdom glory at the close of the
tribulation.
In Gal. 4:7, Paul says that we are
sons of God and thus heirs through Christ.
But in 4:1-2, he points out that an heir,
though potentially "lord of all "must await
the "time appointed of the father" for his
"adoption" or "placing as a son" in his full
inheritance. So again we see it is a matter
of TIME. This was true dispensationally, for
those under the law were kept "in bondage"
or limitation to the elemental or
rudimentary precepts of childhood, and under
enforced servitude as a
servant or slave (4:1,3). This was because
the law was weak through the flesh (Rom.
8:3), and had no power to bring to
perfection (or maturity). "For the law
made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did" (Heb.
7:19,11; 9:9; 10:1). But what was true
dispensationally, is also true of each of us
as individuals. Although we have been
"redeemed" from the limitations and
weaknesses of the law (Gal. 4:5), each of us
begins our Christian experience as a "babe
In Christ" (I Pet. 2:2), and we must grow up
(Ephes. 4:14-15), if we are to receive the
"adoption" to full sonship. We are
sons, not servants (under the compulsory
servitude of the law), but because we have
been "bought with a price and belong to
Christ (I Cor. 6:19-20, 7:22-23), we voluntarily
submit to Him as His servants or
love-slaves, that we might be "tutored" and
"disciplined" by Him through the Spirit.
Read Ex. 21:1-6, Deut. 15:12-17 for a type
of this. Although freed by our Master, we
say, "I love my master, I will not go out
free," and we have our "ears bored through
with an awl" (that we might hear His voice)
and serve Him forever! See Rev. 22:3
& 21:7. SONS, yes; but also SERVANTS!