Ps. 45=Song of Solomon= Marriage supper of the Lamb = Christ (Bridegroom) + the church (His Bride)

He has come to get married (vv. 8–9)

"All Thy garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made Thee glad. Kings' daughters are among Thy noble ladies; At Thy right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir."

The relationship between God and Israel is constantly represented in the Old Testament under the emblem of a marriage relationship. In the New Testament the church is compared to the queen. She is the bride of Christ. Every true believer in Jesus Christ down through the ages is His bride. He counts this universal, invisible Body as His spouse. The spiritual communion between Christ and His church are compared to a marriage relationship.

He has come for His bride. Ephesians 5:25 reminds us "Christ loved His church and gave His life for her" so He might present to Himself a glorious church, a beautiful bride, without spot and without blemish. He has clothed us in His righteousness. Since we are heirs and coheirs with Him all that belongs to Him belongs to us. "We are made partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).

He has prepared a place for His Bride (verse 8b). "Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made Thee glad." Jesus tells us in John 14:2–3 that He has gone to prepare a very special place for us. When the time in God's sovereign grace is right He will return for us.

What a powerful message the Psalmist wants to teach his people. Your King is beautiful, and He comes with blessings for His bride. Moreover, he has words for the

THE BRIDE OF THE KING (45:10-15)

The king is lord over His Bride (vv. 10-11).

To be an excellent bride of this King she must take to heart some wisdom of the palmist.

Verse 10 admonishes her to forget her own father's house, and her own people. "Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear; Forget your people and your father's house." There must be entire surrender of herself to Christ. "Count all things loss for the excellencies of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord." Forsake all to follow Him. Forget worldly associations and attachments.

In verse 11 she must be in subordination to her husband. She must be absorbed in the presence of a purer affection. "Then the King will desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him." He becomes the master of our hearts. Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments." I think it is sad but true that many times He is no longer King of our hearts. Christianity in our day has become shallow because He is not Lord and Master of our lives. When you desire His beauty you worship Him! You crown Him Lord of your life. Moreover, He will respond in the wonder of His love. "We love Him because He first loved us." That love just keeps on growing.

She must be in complete union and in complete dependence upon her husband.

The splendor of the Bride (v. 13).

"The King's daughter is all glorious within; Her clothing is interwoven with gold."

The Bride of Christ is dressed in white robes of His righteousness. She is spotless now. We stand before Him in fine linen clothes, clean and white. They are embroidered with Christlike graces. Our self–righteous rags are stripped away and the best robe of heaven is placed on us. Ephesians 5:26, 27 reads, "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 5:26-27). 

The bride is clothed with adoption, justification, sanctification, righteousness, etc. The clothing is bought without money and without cost. How can that be? The King provides it!

The marriage ceremony is described (vv. 14-15).

The queen must have been someone radiant in beauty.

"She will be led to the King in embroidered work; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to Thee. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; They will enter into the King's palace."

It reminds us of another wedding that will take place when the King comes for His bride. Are you ready for the marriage of the Lamb? Revelation 19:7-9 describes that wedding. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." And 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. And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

Remember the parable of the Ten Virgins. "They that were ready went in with Him unto the marriage, and the door was shut." Which side of the door are you on? Are you ready for His coming in glory? He came in grace to save at His first coming. He returns in glory to judge at His Second Coming.

Today if you will believe on Jesus Christ as your personal Savior He will give you a place in His kingdom. Romans 10:9-13 says. "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for 'WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'"

The whole church will be together at the King's Second Coming (1 Thess. 4:13-18). What a day of rejoicing that will be. There will be

THE BENEDICTION OF THE KING (45:16-17)

"In place of your fathers will be your sons; You shall make them princes in all the earth. I will cause Thy name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the peoples will give Thee thanks forever and ever."

The regal glory of the house of David has reached its climax in Jesus Christ. The Messiah, the Anointed of God, has come in all His beauty.  Revelation 5:10-14 declares the worship He is receiving right now and will through all eternity.

"'And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.' And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.' And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped."

The Apostle Paul resounded with eternal praise to the Son of God when he wrote Philippians 2:9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Psalm 72:17-19 breaks forth with same in the same manner. "May his name endure forever; May his name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen" (Psalm 72:17-19).

Come worship the King of all glory. Have you bowed your knees before Him and confessed Him as your Lord and Savior? "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

Title:  Psalm 45:1-17 Worship the King in all His Beauty

Other congregations meet in churches, synagogues, mosques, cathedrals, and temples where organized religion stresses the achievements of humans working their way to God. This is the church of good works, self-righteousness and “I do it my way”. This is the following of rules; the joining of church and the hoping the good out weighs the bad in the balance of religions. This is the religion of many ways to God and many gods to seek. This is man’s making their god in their own image.

Jesus came to seek and save His Bride. He gave Himself to purchase her from sin and damnation. Jesus ever lives as a Great high Priest to purify and cleanse His Bride from all defilement. The True Bride of Jesus is a pure and chaste virgin, washed in the blood of the lamb, sealed by the Holy Spirit awaiting the day of marriage to Jesus.

Satan’s Bride

Satan also has a bride. We meet her in Revelation 17. She is a drunken, licentious harlot. She is the full-grown woman of the Tower of Babel. She is the Queen of Heaven of the Old Testament. She is the Mystery Religion in the cults of the near and far East. She is the one world church of the WCC and NCC of America. She is also the embodiment of a false Christianity, led by a false Christ and embodied in the image of the very mother of Jesus. That is why John was so shocked. No other beast in 16 chapters of death, demonism and destruction shocked him until he saw this false harlot bride given the deceptive name of Mary in religions today. Nothing is more Satanic and dangerous today in the entire World as the ecumenical (one united) church movement. God hates religious deception.

The 17th chapter of Revelation describes the Doom of the Babylonian System. This system is seen as a harlotrous woman. She seems to be a symbol of Satan’s world religion. This chapter records the demise of the counterfeit church Satan founded at Eden and has worked on ceaselessly ever since. The Beast (Satan’s incarnation as a false Jesus) finally destroys the apostate church (Rome merged with all world religions) and sets up unhindered Satanic worship (via the beast and false prophets work). His ultimate goals in the World today are to forge global unity politically, religiously and financially.

So in Revelation 17 we discover the true bride of Jesus. God’s Word is here unmasking the apostasy of false religions and revealing that the true Bride is made up of God’s own saints as 17: 14 describes them, they are “called, chosen and faithful”.

Outline of Revelation 17

The 17th chapter of Revelation can be divided into three sections. Each has a key verse that summarizes the central idea.

1. SATAN’S PLAN EXPOSED v.1-6
2. SATAN’S PLAN EXPLAINED v. 7-15
3. SATANS PLAN EXTINGUISHED v. 16-18

Number One: Satan’s Plan Exposed

There is a very significant contrast [1] between the two women of Revelation. God’s saints are seen in Revelation 12 and Satan’s church in 17. First we need to look at: SATAN’S PLAN EXPOSED in verses 1-6.

God’s Plan vs. Satan’s Plan

Satan’s plan is always counterfeiting God’s way

God’s way				Satan’s way
Narrow Way				Broad Way
Exclusive				Inclusive
True Church				False Church
True Bride				False Bride
Exclusive				Ecumenical
One Way				Many Ways
Heavenly Destination				Earthly Destination
Jerusalem				Babylon
City Of Peace				City Of Confusion
Spiritual.				Fleshly
Internal.				External
Creation				Evolution
Love				Hate
Life				Murder
Self-denial				Self-Gratification
Monotheism				Polytheism
Heaven Rules				Astrological
	Spiritual Worship				Idolatrous
	Divine				Humanistic
	Contentment				Covetousness
	Faith				Intellectualism
	Spirit				Religious Rituals
	Cross of Shame				Crown of pride
	Pure Bride				Wicked Harlot

 

1. Satan is orchestrating a Worldwide Political Unity [ seven heads equal totality of rule] Revelation 13:8,16,17 “all’
2. Worldwide Financial/Business Unity  Revelation 13:17
3. Worldwide Religious Unity[2] as the Beast is worshipped Revelation 13:8,11-12; 14:9; 16:2. The Beast is beloved Revelation 13:3. The Beast is honored Revelation 13:8. The Beast is confidently followed Revelation 13:4.

Number Two: Satan’s Plan Explained (v. 7-15)

Remember that the 17th chapter of Revelation describes the Doom of the Babylonian System. This system is seen as a harlotrous woman. She seems to be a symbol of Satan’s world religion. This chapter records the demise of the counterfeit church Satan founded at Eden and has worked on ceaselessly ever since. The Beast (Satan’s incarnation as a false Jesus) finally destroys the apostate church (Rome merged with all world religions) and sets up unhindered Satanic worship (via the beast and false prophets work). His ultimate goals in the world today are to forge global unity politically, religiously and financially.

Who is the Woman On the Beast?

There are 14 identifying[3] marks[4] of the Harlot Bride of Satan –

1. The woman is a harlot (v. 1a) A prostitute or harlot is a woman who has promised but not kept her promise. It is a woman without faithfulness in spiritual worship. She is ‘the great whore … with whom the kings of the Earth have committed fornication…'(v.2). This is spiritual fornication. The only city that qualifies – conspicuously- is the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church. The ecumenical movement: in 1986, Pope John Paul II gathered in Assisi, Italy, the leaders of the World’s major religions to pray for peace: snake worshippers, fire worshippers, spiritists, animists, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and North American Indian witch doctors. All to the ‘same god.”
2. THE HARLOT IS a woman (v. 1b) The figure is a Woman. The central figure of Roman Catholicism is a woman: a sinless, perpetually virgin, all-powerful woman whom Rome invented and worships.
3. THE HARLOT IS wearing “Purple, Scarlet…”  (v. 4a) She is clothed with ‘purple and scarlet’ another identifier pointing to Rome whose external precious treasures of spiritual trappings making her beautiful.
4. THE HARLOT IS wealthy beyond calculation (17:4b). There is no church, no city, which is a spiritual entity, no religious institution past or present, which even comes close to possessing the incalculable wealth of the Roman Catholic Church.
5. THE HARLOT IS wicked in spiritual adultery (17:4c). She has a golden cup in her hand. This is the holiest instrument in Roman Catholicism: the golden chalice of the Eucharist. No doctrine in the World is more damnable than the Doctrine of Transubstantiation (re-crucifying Jesus at every mass in every church around the world every day!). This “Gold Cup” is a picture of a false and vile counterfeit of true communion with God. The golden chalice is filled with the ‘filthiness of her abominations.’ The Biblical view of the sacrifice of the Mass, the very heart of Roman Catholicism, and a denial of the completed work of the cross.
6. THE HARLOT IS A CITY that is the center of a mystery (v. 5a) There is something deeper here than mere religious technique. Only the church of Rome is built upon that spiritual fountain of false teaching going back to Nimrod in the Old Testament … On her forehead is her name: Mystery, Babylon. Babylon is a code word for Rome. [Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism; Sibylline Oracles(5, 159f.); Apocalypse of Baruch(ii,l); Esdras (3:1)]. Also, Eusebius Pamphilius, in 303, notes Peter using Babylon as a code name for Rome (I Pet 5:13). The identifying name, ‘Mystery.” The very heart of Roman Catholicism: the mystery of the Eucharist; etc. Custodianship of mysteries which permit trading ‘in the souls of men”(Rev 18:3), such as Mass cards and indulgences, et al. Rome has its spiritual foundations in Babylon from its occultic origins, the Tower of Babel, and the attempt to reach Heaven by steps of its own making. The Council of Trent, as re-proposed by Vatican II decreed: ‘If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation … and that without them … men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification … let him be anathema.’
7. THE HARLOT IS A CITY that is “Mother…”  (v. 5b) this city’s system gives birth to much religious error and further False Systems. The Woman is the ‘Mother of Harlots.’ Both spiritual and literal harlots spawned by the millions.
8. THE HARLOT IS A CITY that is Intolerant Of The Truth . (v. 6) The Woman is ‘drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus’. No institution on earth has more aggressively and consistently slaughtered those who adhered to the Gospel of Christ. In the inquisition alone more were horribly murdered than by Hitler and Stalin combined!
9. THE HARLOT IS A CITY that sits on seven hills (v.9). Rome called the Eternal City has always been known as the city on Seven Hills (the Palatine, Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Quirinal and Viminal Hills).
10. THE HARLOT IS A CITY that rules over the kings of the earth  (v. 15).  Note she is first seated on the beast, which means for a time she directs the beast. This global political influence  “sits on waters…” stands for all peoples, has been often wielded by Rome in European and now world history.
11. The harlot is a system which will be destroyed by the beast (v. 17) This will be when World religions are all united the beast (as we saw in Revelation 13) will change all religions into the worship of the Beast, the antichrist!
12. THE HARLOT IS A CITY (v. 18). “Great City” is Rome. No other city in the World that is existing today has a three thousand year history of continuous inhabitation, and once ruled the World, and once headed a world-wide empire than has never been destroyed. Only Rome.

The origin of paganism in Romanism.

Overview of World History

So how did Rome inherit this wickedness? Hold on to your seats, here is an overview of world history in 3 minutes:

Pagan Origin: It is shocking for Roman Catholics to learn that the proposal of the Lord’s Supper as a sacrifice was first made by a Benedictine monk, Radbertus, in the ninth century and was the subject of many fierce verbal battles by the bishops until Pope Innocent III declared it an official Roman doctrine in 1215 AD.  The very principles found in the bloodless sacrifice of the Mass as it is in the Church of Rome today can be traced.

“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” ~ Isaiah 54:5

Did you notice that he said your maker is your husband? And did you notice he said that he is also the God of the whole earth. Everyone is invited to this faithful relationship with God. But most do not respond, and too many who claim to respond, are not being faithful.

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” ~ Jeremiah 3:14-15

So again in Jeremiah he declares that I am faithful. But you are not. And I’m still calling out to you to return to me. And I will establish you in faithfulness through a true pastor! Notice that when he says “I will take you one of the city and two of a family”, that he is talking about a remnant. The harsh reality is, that not many return, once they backslide.

So we need pastors that are a reflection of true faithfulness with God! And then individuals need to find who those true pastors are, who will feed them with true knowledge and understanding. A true pastor, who is after God’s own heart, not their own.

John the Baptist was a true preacher who was after God’s heart, not his own. And he also described Jesus as the bridegroom.

“Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” ~ John 3:28-29

And Jesus also described himself as the bridegroom. The husband of his church.

“Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” ~ Matthew 9:14-15

This call to this special spiritual marriage relationship, is so important to Jesus Christ, that he warned us very seriously in a parable about not missing it. Because if we missed it, we would be left out. And so pay close attention to the reason why we could be left out!

“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.” ~ Matthew 25:1-4

The lamps represent the salvation of each virgin. Because as true Christians we are supposed to be the light of the world: by the light of our love for Jesus Christ shining through us. But this light cannot continue to burn brightly, unless it is being refilled regularly with the burning love oil of the Holy Spirit within it. It is a sacrificial love we are talking about. And that is why Jesus said, in order to follow him, we must take up our cross daily.

“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.” ~ Matthew 25:1-13

You cannot obtain this sacrificial love of the Holy Spirit within your vessel, through relying on another preacher or teacher. Their burning love can never be substituted for the love that you need. You yourself must seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, to have this love kept burning within your own soul.

“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.” ~ Matthew 25:10-13

It is important that we respond to the call of the Lord, when he calls. The door of opportunity is not guaranteed to be kept open. And this is why the scripture in another place teaches us: “if today you hear his voice, harden not your heart.”

When the bride/church loses her burning love for her husband, and the purpose for which her husband died. Then she will begin to live for herself, and not her husband. And all kinds of evil things then will begin to enter into that which calls itself the church.

And this is especially what the book of Revelation warns us against. It calls this self-loving church: Babylon. So Revelation chapter 18 shows spiritual Babylon being destroyed. And once her influence has been destroyed in the minds of the people, the Revelation messages declares against her:

“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” ~ Revelation 18:23-24

A church that has self-love, where the leadership and the people are living for themselves; that church will begin to persecute and find fault with true Christians. When the church’s heart is not on fire for Christ, they will become jealous of the true bride of Christ, and start to persecute her. The apostle Paul very carefully warned us of this deception.

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:2-4

Notice how this corruption can sneak in. Very similar to the way it happened to Eve in the garden. Satan deceived her to desire after knowledge of a different type. To desire experience in something which God had forbidden.

Now this new marriage to Christ, is one through the burning love of the Holy Spirit in the heart. One that obeys from the love that’s in the heart, rather than by the outside rules and laws that demand obedience.

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” ~ Romans 7:4-6

When our love for the Lord is no longer just outward rules and fearing the expectations other people: then our relationship will be based on something else. On true sacrificial love! And it is a relationship that you can only understand by exercising yourself in that same sacrificial love. And then you will be able to truly comprehend this spiritual marriage between Christ and the church. And this spiritual marriage will truly honor Christ as the head of the church, instead of some man-made governance and control.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” ~ Ephesians 5:22-25

Notice that the responsibility for love in the relationship, does not all fall on the wife. But it actually also has a lot to do with the sacrificial love of the husband. Just as Jesus demonstrated true sacrificial love towards all of us. And he also taught us many things while showing us that love, so that he might present to himself a pure church.

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” ~ Ephesians 5:26-27

When we as the church have truly prepared our hearts in sacrificial love, then there is a powerful witness of Almighty God amongst us! Because only God is on the throne of our hearts. And this is what the Revelation message is trying to help us to comprehend, and receive. So after the false relationship of spiritual Babylon’s hypocrisy has been removed, then we see that the true church has prepared herself: for the marriage feast!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” ~ Revelation 19:6-9

This bride of Christ, is the same one that Jesus Christ brought down from heaven to us. He did this when he first appeared on the earth to bring us the gospel. That is why when Jesus began his ministry on Earth he said: “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The kingdom of heaven is not an earthly church organization. It is the purpose that God speaks, and then that is carried out through those who are devoted to him. Therefore in the Book of Revelation, the final vision of that book is the bride, the church. The church is shown as coming down from heaven to Earth, through Jesus Christ.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” ~ Revelation 21:2

Note that in the next scripture, it makes it very clear that it takes a ministry with a strong judgment message against hypocrisy, to be able to show the true bride. And that is why it shows that it takes an angel/preacher messenger, who has already poured out the judgment vial message against hypocrisy, to be able to reveal the true church.

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” ~ Revelation 21:9-10

This bride from heaven, could not be spiritually seen, until the fake bride of hypocrisy, called Babylon, was removed. Upon her removal from the minds of people, then people can see the true church. And then they can respond to the call from the church, to be saved!

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” ~ Revelation 22:16-17

n Revelation 21:9, one of the angels said to John, “Come! I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

In Ephesians 5:25 Paul wrote: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself or it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Here Paul accentuates the beauty of the relationship between Christ and His church by comparing it to the traditional Jewish marital background. By looking at Jewish marriage we can see many things about this special relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.

1. JEWISH CUSTOM

A. In that culture, being espoused was much stronger than being engaged. It was actually being married. This is why Joseph the stepfather of Jesus entertained thoughts about divorcing Mary. He was thinking of dissolving the bond that had been sealed.

B. After the angel assured Joseph of Mary’s fidelity, he advised him in the following words.

“Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20)

Noticed that she is referred to as his wife because they were already married. But a waiting period was required before the bride and groom actually started living together. It was during that time that Mary became pregnant.

C. After the espousal, the bridegroom would often depart to prepare a house where he and his bride would call their home. This could take quite a bit of time to accomplish. The bride therefore, was to have the patience to wait for her beloved, and the loyalty to refuse any temptation to be with another man. She lived for the return of her husband and was always in a state of eagerness to hear the charming voice of the bridegroom.

D. Often times after two people are married adultery takes place. This is unfaithfulness to the marriage vows to keep oneself for the other. It is also possible for the bride of Christ to be guilty of spiritual adultery. It so happens that this was beginning to take place in the church at Ephesus. The angel of the church at Ephesus was told, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from what you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2:4)

HOW IS YOUR LOVE CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH?

Have you let it slip to the extent you are an unfaithful bride?

E. Once the house was finished, it was customary for the father of the groom to examine it; and if it met his approval, he would say, “Go and get your bride.”

The festivity that followed was not the marriage, since this had occurred previously. It was the marriage feast or supper. This is what the five foolish virgins missed in Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins.

F. Before the death of Christ, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29. He did this emphasizing the fact that he was not the Christ. John explained that he was merely a friend of the bridegroom and that his joy was fulfilled in introducing the presenting Jesus, the true bridegroom.

G. As the groom would depart after the bride to prepare a place for them to live so Christ has returned to heaven to prepare a place for His bride the church. Jesus said, “And 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 14:3)

It is this momentous occasion we patiently wait as Christ’s bride.

H. No other event holds more meaning to us or produces as much eager anticipation as the return of Christ from heaven. As we wit for Jesus we must be characterized by loyalty and fidelity to Christ and His teaching. Remember that Christ wants to present his bride to himself as “a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and with out blemish”

2. CHRIST LOVES HIS BRIDE

A. This is such a simple statement to make. Yet, how profound it is. Paul said that husbands are to love their wives. In like manner Christ loves his bride the church. However, His love greater than any love we have ever experienced here on earth.

B. To love is to do what is best for the other person. Christ was the personification of this kind of love in that he did what was best for us but which brought him great sorrow, pain and agony. He died on the cross for our sins. Paul said to the elders of the church Ephesus, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)

C. The love that Christ had for his bride is so profound that we cannot fathom the depth of His love. Surely anything that was loved so profoundly must have been of utmost importance. How can men say the church is not important? How disappointing it must be to Him when we do not put the kingdom first. He put us first.

DO WE PUT HIM FIRST?

D. Christ’s love for the church causes Him to protect His bride. Every bride looks to her husband for security and protection for she is the weaker vessel. Not weaker in mind or spirit but physically. Peter instructed husbands to “dwell with them with Understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel.”

E. As we walk in the light of God’s word we are assured “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

This is a continual process. His blood keeps on cleansing us of our sin as we walk in the light. Paul says, “He is the Saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23)

F. 1 John 3:9 “Whoever has been born of God does not practice sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

As long as we retain the word (the seed) in us we cannot harmed by Satan.

3. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF HIS BRIDE

A. In Ephesians 5:22-24 “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

B. Here the whole question of authority is answered. There is no doubt as to who is the head. This is true in marriage and just as true in Christ’s church. In Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

To do something in the name of is to do something by the authority of.

C. A wife has no problem submitting herself to her husband because she knows he loves her and would do nothing to harm her. She willingly submits for there is no danger. So it is with the bride of Christ. We willingly submit to Christ. There is no problem for His commands are “not grievous.”

CONCLUSION

The great idea behind the church as the bride of Christ has to be the great and profound love that Christ has for us. With this knowledge of his profound love how could we ever forsake Him? How could we ever do anything but love Him?

John says, “We love him because he first loved us.”

The bride seeks to please the bridegroom. Any moment now, the announcement may come from heaven “the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him!”

May our expectation of His return produce within us purity, steadfastness and joy.