If you recognize and have realized you are too, the bride of Christ, then it is imperative to prepare oneself for His call.
The bride of Christ must always be ready; in and out of season. I pray for all who read this myself as well, to go onto perfection and maturity in Christ Jesus our LORD and Saviour
Revelation 19:8
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
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Esther 2:12
Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
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Revelation 19:7 The wedding of the Lambhas come, and His bridehas made herself ready.
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1 Samuel 10:1, 6 Then Samuel took a flask of oiland poured it on Saul’s head.... (6) The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power. - •
1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.
- • The Son of God had walked on earth for 30 years without performing any miracles. Then, after His anointing by the Holy Spirit, He began doing miracles (John 2:11), healings, exorcisms, and more.
- • The end-time Bride-Church, like the early Church, urgently needs the mighty baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Here are 4 ways to be ready for the wedding feast:
- Say “yes” to the proposal.
There’s only one requirement to becoming someone’s bride – saying “yes” to the proposal. Have you said “yes” to Jesus? Will you be His bride? As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. All we have to do is say “yes.”
Keep in mind, wearing a white dress and fixing your hair does not make you a bride. Saying “yes” to your groom is what makes you a bride. Many of us try to doll ourselves up to look like a bride with good deeds and accomplishments. But showing up to a wedding with a wedding dress on doesn’t make you the bride.You must have a relationship with the groom.
- Allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into a worthy bride.
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
How glorious it will be when we are presented to King Jesus as a pure and spotless bride! Not even a wrinkle in our gown! No imperfections of any kind!
This is what happens when we are born again. The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out.It’s this transformation that allows us to be worthy of marriage to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Put on the dress.
Every woman knows that the proposal is just the beginning.Being a bride and preparing for the wedding are two completely different things! We become a bride when we say “yes,” but no bride shows up on her wedding day wearing rags. We put on the dress, and we doll ourselves up.
As the bride of Christ, we need to prepare ourselves and be ready for the wedding feast. Revelation 19:7-8 tells us that the bride is given “the finest of pure white linen to wear.” And this linen represents “the good deeds of God’s holy people.”
If our fine linens are good deeds, then it is through holy, obedient lives that we prepare ourselves for our groom.
I should make one thing clear: We don’t earn the status of “bride” by doing good deeds. Putting on the dress is something we do inresponse to the proposal… it’s not how we become a bride. There are no hoops to jump through. There are no rituals. Becoming the bride of Christ simply means we’ve said “yes” to Jesus.
Our good deeds, our obedience, our pure lives are simply ways that we prepare for eternity with our groom. We strive to be holy as He is holy. And we do it all for Him – our groom.
- Spend time with the groom.
It seems silly to point this out, but most of us want to marry someone we’ve actually spent time with! The more time with spend with Jesus before meeting Him face to face, the more rewarding it will be when we finally do.
As the bride of Christ, we'll one day be with Him; and because of the cross, we'll be a worthy bride.1. Purity: The first and most important pillar in the true church is purity. This is not a hollow pillar of a merely external purity. No. It is solid through and through. It is purity of the heart, and it grows from the seed of the fear of God deep within the heart. It is not by clever brains but by pure hearts that the true church of Christ is built. We cannot build the church if we don't have spiritual revelation on God and His ways - and only the pure in heart will be allowed to see God in their hearts (Matthew 5:8).
2. Peaceableness: Righteousness and peace always go together. They are twins. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace (Romans 14:17). True wisdom is never argumentative or quarrelsome. It does not strive. It maintains harmonious relationships with everyone, as far as possible. It is impossible to quarrel with a man who is filled with Divine wisdom, for such a man is a peaceable man. He may be firm and he may be hated by compromisers. But he is always peaceable. Jesus told His disciples that when they travel to preach the gospel, they should stay only in the house of "men of peace" (Luke 10:5-7). We must be men of peace, if we are to build God's house.
3. Consideration: The Bride of Christ is always fair to others, gentle, patient, forbearing and courteous. She is never harsh or rough but always considerate of the feelings of others. When the church is supported by this pillar, it becomes easy to bear with one another - even if some are slow of understanding or crude in their manners. The problem, we begin to realise, is not the crudeness of our brother or sister, but the impatience that dwells within us. And so we fight the right enemy - our Self-life - and not our brothers and sisters.
4. Willingness to Yield: One who cannot receive admonishment and exhortation, or who feels that he has gone beyond that stage, is truly foolish, even if he is an elder or an older man (Ecclesiastes 4:13). In India especially, many people have the heathen idea that "older people are wiser". This may be true in earthly matters but certainly not in spiritual matters. Jesus did not choose any of the older people in the synagogues to be his apostles. he chose young men. Older people in the church often find it difficult to receive exhortation from a younger brother who may be the elder in the church and also far more godly. But that is because of their pride. Those who are willing to receive correction become wise (Proverbs 13:10). And so where the brothers and sisters in a church are eager to receive exhortation and correction, a truly glorious church will be built. The wise man loves those who exhort him faithfully and will eagerly seek out their company. 'Submit to one another' (Ephesians 5:21) are the words written on this pillar.
5. Fullness of Mercy and its Good Fruits: The Bride of Christ is full of mercy - not just occasionally merciful. She has no problem forgiving anyone, freely and cheerfully from the heart. She does not judge or condemn others, but rather exercises compassion towards them like her Bridegroom. This mercy is not just a mental attitude but finds expression in good fruits that are brought forth in her actions. She does good in all the ways she can to all the people she can at all the times she can.
6. Steadfastness: A brother who has Divine wisdom will be free from all crookedness. He will be wholehearted and straightforward, with a single eye, free from doubts and hesitation. He will not be double-minded, but strong in faith in God, and he won't be looking at his own weaknesses, but at the promises of God. Such a brother knows that victory over all conscious sin is possible here and now. He is a dependable person - who can be trusted at all times to keep his word. He is steadfast and unmovable. You cannot make him bend his convictions or to compromise in any matter. He is straight and upright as a rod.
7. Freedom from Hypocrisy: The Bride has more spiritual content inwardly than others can see in her externally. Her hidden life is better than the opinion that others have of her external life. This is the exact opposite of the 'spiritual adulteress' or the 'Harlot,' whose so-called spirituality is only meant for receiving the honour of men. What she has is actually 'religiosity' and not true spirituality. The bride watches her inner thoughts, motives and attitudes far more than her external words and actions. She longs for God's approval over her inner life and cares nothing at all for man's approval of her external life. By this test, each of us can know whether we are part of the Bride or of the Harlot.
The Bride of Christ has the seed of wisdom implanted in her heart and so she will have these seven characteristics growing in her year by year. Although she is still far from perfect, she is pressing on and growing towards perfection.
Who Prepares the Bride?
First, let us see who does the preparing. As we saw in our study of Esther, all the things necessary for Esther’s preparation were given to her — but it was Esther herself who did the preparing. Let’s look at how Esther’s preparation is a pattern for us today.
Notice the following passages:
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness <1345> of saints. (Revelation 19:8)
In the above passages, in verse 7, we see the Betrothed Wife — the Bride — has made herself ready. Notice that it was the Wife who made the preparation. We also see in context, that the Lamb speaks of our Bridegroom-Messiah, and His (Betrothed) Wife speaks of the company of those Believers who choose to make themselves ready.
In verse 8, we see her ‘array’ (her clothing and covering) was granted, or given to her, by the Holy Spirit. We also see that this clothing is of linen, which we are told speaks of the righteousness <1345> [“righteous deeds; actions”] of the set-apart Believers.
So the preparation of the Bride involves the Bride’s action, as well as the action of the Holy Spirit. Both are necessary. This two-fold process is confirmed in Esther:
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. (Esther 2:9)
Here we see that Hegai, the eunuch, as well as the seven maidens given to her, all picture the Holy Spirit, given to the Bride to provide help, and to provide everything that is needed to the Bride for her purification — her preparation. In Esther 2:9, notice the two-fold process that made up her preparation: (1) “he speedily gave her;” and (2) “with such things as belonged to her.”
The preparation of the Bride of Messiah is a co-operation between the Holy Spirit, and the Bride.
When and Where is the Bride Prepared?
Next we will address the question, “When does this preparation take place — after going in to the presence of the King — or before?” Is the Bride prepared in heaven — or on earth? Again we will look at a few passages in Esther:
Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) Then thus came every maiden unto the king… (Esther 2:12b-13a)
Notice also that Esther’s preparation was over a twelve-month period of time, which was six months of one preparation, and six months of another. And it was all to be done before going into the presence of the King.
Let’s look further. Let’s look at the following Bride preparation passages in Matthew 25:1-13:
Matthew 25:1-13
- Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
- And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
- They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
- But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
- And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
- Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
- And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
- But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
- And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
- Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
- But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
- Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
In the above parable, five Virgins were called wise, and 5 were called foolish. There are two groups — a wise group and a foolish group. What were the two groups based on?
We see in verse 10, “They that were ready” went in with him to the marriage. In verse 11 we see the “Other Virgins” who came afterwards, but they could not enter in.
The first thing we notice is that the five WiseVirgins had wisdom. The five Foolish Virgins, however, lacked Wisdom.
Furthermore, the Ten Virgins were divided into two groups, based on being “Ready.” Those Virgins that had Wisdom had prepared themselves ahead of time, and they were Readyto go in with the Bridegroom, when He arrived.
Those that lacked Wisdom, however, had not prepared themselves. They were not yet Ready.
Notice that the five Wise Virgins were “Ready” before going in with the Bridegroom to the marriage.
Conclusion
We are led to conclude that the reason the Foolish Virgins were not allowed to enter in when the Bridegroom came, is because they were NOT YET READY.
The Foolish Virgins were perhaps unaware that they were not ready. They had been Born-again, but had not personally sought the Bridegroom in the Scriptures, nor had they sought those things of Wisdom necessary for their preparation, that the Bridegroom gives to all liberally, to all who ask Him (James 1:5).
And so the group of Foolish Virgins were divided from the group of Wise Virgins.
This division confirms what we have seen thus far — that being ready, being prepared, is a requirement to be met, in order to be allowed to enter in with the bridegroom — and that this preparation must occur BEFORE the arrival of the Bridegroom.
We may now conclude that the preparation of the Bride is NOT done in heaven, but only on earth, before going in with the Bridegroom.
for the marriage of the Lamb is come,
and his wife hath made herself ready.
(Revelation 19:7)
“Build up” is the Hebrew word salal(H5549). It refers to the practice of making a road higher than the surrounding terrain (TWOT entry 1506). Figuratively, it can also mean “exalt” (BDB definition). Since we’re talking about highways, this makes me think of the “narrow way” which leads to eternal life (Matt. 7:13-14). Perhaps preparing the way for Messiah’s second coming involves building up this way so that other people can more easily see where they should walk.
Eph. 4:13-16—Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we may be no longer little children…but holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Heb. 6:1a—Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us be brought on to maturity.
Col. 1:28—Whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man full-grown in Christ.
John 14:20—In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 15:4a—Abide in Me and I in you.
1 John 4:15—Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.
Rev. 21:3a—And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men.
Rev. 21:22—And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Develop and grow in your spiritual gifts; and remember we are to covet only spiritual gifts especially prophecy because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It is used for edifying and building up others, yourself and renews your mind. Listen to the word every day. Most importantly love and worship the LORD JESUS with your whole being and soul. Trust in Him absolutely. Love your neighbor as yourself.
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