When God Chooses a Bride by Billy Cole
Revelation 19:7-9 (NASB)
7 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.” 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. 9 Then 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.”
The first point I want to make is that this book is written to Christians. Secondly, the scripture says the bride has made herself ready. This would imply that she could not make herself ready. Some will, some won't. The bride is also clothed in bright and clean garments. This means she lived a life of holiness on the earth, and did righteous deeds. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Meaning that some Christians will not be invited to the marriage supper. Only those who make themselves ready will be invited.
A Bride Without Spot or Wrinkle
2 Peter 3:12-14 (NASB)
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! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
Peter warns that we should be diligent to be found spotless and blameless. This implies that we could be found with spots and with blame.
Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Paul is saying in this scripture that God's perfect will is to cleanse the church so she doesn't have any spots or wrinkles. However the scripture does use the word "might." Meaning the Lord might sanctify and cleanse her and He might not. He might present to Himself a glorious church without spot and wrinkle. He might not. The Greek word for "blemish" means: without blame and without fault or spot. Peter states above that we should be diligent not to be found with spots and blame, because it's possible we could be. If we are found with spots and blame we will not be apart of the bride. Jesus' bride will not have spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We have the potential to become the bride, but we have not attained to the bride as of yet.
The Wedding Feast
Let us remember to follow Jesus' instructions when we make it to the wedding by the grace of God.
Luke 14:7-11 KJV)
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Lamb's Wife
(Revelation 21:9-10 KJV)
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,
At the end of this age Jesus Christ will return to the earth. At this point the Heavenly Jerusalem will come down out of Heaven. This is the city of God that Abraham sought after. A city must have both structures and people to be a city. If a city has no houses or buildings then it is not a city. If a city has no people then it is not a city. This city is called the Lamb's wife. She is the bride.
Revelation 19:7-9 (NASB)
7 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.” 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. 9 Then 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.”
The first point I want to make is that this book is written to Christians. Secondly, the scripture says the bride has made herself ready. This would imply that she could not make herself ready. Some will, some won’t. The bride is also clothed in bright and clean garments. This means she lived a life of holiness on the earth, and did righteous deeds. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Meaning that some Christians will not be invited to the marriage supper. Only those who make themselves ready will be invited.
A Bride Without Spot or Wrinkle
2 Peter 3:12-14 (NASB)
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! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
Peter warns that we should be diligent to be found spotless and blameless. This implies that we could be found with spots and with blame.
Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Paul is saying in this scripture that God’s perfect will is to cleanse the church so she doesn’t have any spots or wrinkles. However the scripture does use the word “might.” Meaning the Lord might sanctify and cleanse her and He might not. He might present to Himself a glorious church without spot and wrinkle. He might not. The Greek word for “blemish” means: without blame and without fault or spot. Peter states above that we should be diligent not to be found with spots and blame, because it’s possible we could be. If we are found with spots and blame we will not be apart of the bride. Jesus’ bride will not have spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We have the potential to become the bride, but we have not attained to the bride as of yet.
The Wedding Feast
Let us remember to follow Jesus’ instructions when we make it to the wedding by the grace of God.
Luke 14:7-11 KJV)
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Lamb’s Wife
(Revelation 21:9-10 KJV)
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,
At the end of this age Jesus Christ will return to the earth. At this point the Heavenly Jerusalem will come down out of Heaven. This is the city of God that Abraham sought after. A city must have both structures and people to be a city. If a city has no houses or buildings then it is not a city. If a city has no people then it is not a city. This city is called the Lamb’s wife. She is the bride.
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