HERE COMES THE BRIDE

One of the most thrilling concepts of the Christian walk is "looking for that Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" of Titus 2:13. Indeed as Believers, we know with CERTAINTY that Yeshua WILL come for His bride, so where does the word HOPE enter in; why not ASSURANCE? Since MANY verses in God's Word points to the rescue of the Bride of Christ from the wrath to come in the Tribulation, let's look at the entire scope of the picture to get a fix on the word HOPE as used in this passage. Just who is the Bride in Preference to the entire body of Christ's Believers?

Let's take a look at a Jewish betrothal and wedding. These customs should be of interest to us as Believers. When a young man would spot the woman he wanted to marry, he would prepare a contract of marriage which would state the terms for both he and the bride. It would include the price he would willingly pay for the privilege of marrying her. The bride would then decide if she wanted to abide by the contract and marry this young man. He would offer her a cup of wine, and if she chose to drink it, she would be agreeing to betrothal to the man, and all of the commitment  that went with it in accordance with the contract. Partaking of the cup settled the matter once and for all. She could not change her mind now. She was betrothed, and the contract was legally binding. She was considered to be his WIFE now. Betrothal was actually considered to be the first phase of the marriage itself, and a decree of divorce was required in order to sever the ”Commitment. Such a decree must be issued by the "husband". The "wife" could not initiate it. The "wife" must patiently wait as the "husband" went to prepare a place for her. He would redecorate a room in his father's house or build a separate building on his property as a bridal chamber for his wife, (soon to be bride). The process would take about two years, but he could not make the decision regarding its completion. The bridegroom's father had to approve of it, and thereby release him to go bring his wife (to become bride) home. The wife was not given much advanced notice of exactly when to expect him. All Jewish "brides to be" were stolen away by the one who would be their bridegroom, often at night, as those around her slept. While she awaited his return, she was not to appear in public without her "veil", as it was a symbol of her betrothal to her bridegroom. It represented that she was not available to be joined to another but was yielded and separated unto her awaited one. She was said to be "consecrated", "set apart", or "bought with a price", and was to spend her time preparing for the return of her awaited one. She was to keep her oil lamp lighted and ready, being sure she always had adequate oil for what could be a long trip upon his return. All bridegrooms allowed the bride just a tiny bit of notice so (all other preparations having been made) she could properly adorn herself upon short notice. Someone in the wedding party would shout, and when she heard the shout, she knew he would be at her window quickly. She would only have time to check her appearance and grab her oil lamp before the abduction occurred. The rejoicing in the streets would awaken the people who slept, and they would realize that the bride had been stolen away.

When they reached the father's house the bridegroom and his bride would be left alone for a period of seven days, the length of this phase of the wedding, during which time the marriage was consummated. At the end of the week there would be an elaborate reception for the newlyweds, which would include a tremendous feast. They would then leave the father's home for another home prepared by the groom.

In relating this pattern to our lives, we will dissect it one piece at a time. First we see that as our Bridegroom, Yeshua made up the terms of the marriage contract with Believers, and He was willing to pay a high price indeed. The New Testament (Covenant) is our marriage contract. It is filled with the terms of his expectations for us. As Believers, we are to accept the terms of this contract, and be willing to abide by them. As we drink the cup he offers us in communion, we remember the blood he shed to fulfill his portion of this covenant. The drinking of this cup by the Believer seals our agreement to His terms, and officially makes us His wife. We cannot initiate a divorce from Him, only He can sever the marriage. In the Book of Hosea, we see that Hosea is a type of Christ, and that the House of Ephraim is a type of "church". We see through Hosea that Yeshua does divorce the apostate portion of the Believing wife in the end days "church" as they embrace the things of the world. But we see too that He eventually restores all Believers to Himself. He takes no other in marriage so that He can receive his errant wife back as His own. The "church" and the House of Jacob will soon be united as one completed wife to Christ, after the eyes of the Jewish elect have been supernaturally opened again by God (Romans 11:25). We don't have to be Jews by heredity. Gentile Believers are to become Jews by IDENTITY. Just as the sojourner who identified with the Ways of the Jews were taken into the fold, ALL Believers are to be grafted into the Olive Tree of the Hebrew elect per Romans 11:13-24. Because the Hebrew people were the FIRST elect, we must be grafted into their fold and become a part of the wife through identity with them! Any other understanding would be one of polygamy in the eyes of God. If we cannot be counted as sons of Abraham, then we are not sons of God, as Galatians 3:7 tells us that "they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham", and Galatians 3:29 says:

As Believers whose eyes are open, we are to wait patiently while the Bridegroom (Yeshya) is away preparing a place for us. He is making a bridal chamber for his Bride at His Father's House. The two years we see here would (per numerous other Biblical references which relate a year to a thousand years) represent about two thousand years. It has been about exactly that two thousand years since He left us to prepare it, but the final determination of the completion and readiness for the Bride will be by the Father (Matthew 24:36).

In our spiritual typology, we note that the prospective Bride (Believer) is not to appear in public without her "veil", as it is a symbol of her betrothal to the Bridegroom. It represents that she is not available to be joined to another (the world), but is yielded and separated unto her awaited one (Christ).

Believing women are told to wear a covering in I Corinthians 11:1-16 as a part of the terms of their contract. I Corinthians 11:1 even addresses it as an ordinance! However, very few Believing women today do so. Though the hair is mentioned as a covering in verse 15, it should be obvious from the surrounding text that this is a TYPE OF covering provided to ALL women (whether or not they are Believers). Even nature gives extra long hair to women to symbolize their need to be covered by an external covering (veil). Verse 15 says also that women's long hair is her GLORY, and the context of this passage is that the GLORY of mankind should be covered for Christ. Modesty is an issue in other parts of the Bible as well. Just as Believers are to dress in a modest manner, so as to keep their bodies private, women Believers are to cover the glory of their hair as well, concealing their glory for only the eyes of the one who created them. It is symbolic of her being "set apart", and a veil for her privacy. Again, we see the parallel of the veil in our wedding ceremonies today. Her glory is only for the Bridegroom, and symbolically her head is covered for Him. The covering worn over a Believing woman's head is a tangible and external symbol of her yieldedness to, and preparation for her awaited Bridegroom.

The constant state of readiness she is to maintain would be to keep herself "consecrated" (Hebrews 10:19-21) and "set apart" (James 1:21), as she is "bought with a price" Corinthians 6:20). Let's look at each of these. In Hebrews 10:19-21 mentioned above, we find:

We see here that the way he has consecrated for his betrothed is "through the veil". Thus, again we see that her consecration itself is merged with the wearing of the veil or covering while she awaits the return of Christ. Whereas the partaking of the "cup" during communion symbolizes her acceptance of the terms of His contract, the wearing of the veil is visible proof of her willingness to live by them. The veil is linked here to the body of Christ. Whereas the cup is his blood, the veil is his body, the two emblems of the communion service. Thus we see that the veil is symbolic of the COVERING by Christ Himself. This "power on her head" per I Corinthians 11:10, is visible to the angels, presumably both holy and fallen ones. The Greek Word for "veil" is "Radiyd", and implies a spreading, as in to overlay, and also conquering. When she honors the Lord by wearing it for the right reasons, she is overspread by Christ, her High Priest, and is more equipped to conquer the seduction of the world around her. In James 1:21, we see our instructions to be set apart from "all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness". Conversely, we are SUPPOSED TO "receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save souls". (Other literature by this ministry will address the difference between the blamelessness of the body, the soul, and the spirit as three separate entities per I Thessalonians 5:23.) I Corinthians 6:19-20 emphasizes:

This speaks boldly to the fact that we are NOT given "carte blanche" to pursue the desires of our own will over the will of God for us. He didn't BUY us at such great cost for us to do so. We are given liberty as Believers only so we can offer ourselves back to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). If we do not do so, we do not live up to the terms of our New Testament covenant with Him, the same covenant we agree to abide by when we partake of His cup!

The betrothed Believer is to spend her time in preparation for her groom's arrival by reading His Word and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer. Ephesians 5:26 speaks of the sanctifying and cleansing of the awaiting Bride "by the washing of water by the word". Thus we see that as we adhere and conform to the image of Christ through the reading and identification with His Word, we are sanctified and cleansed so we will become the righteous Bride He will return for "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing ... holy and without blemish". However, the converse must be considered here, that if we do not conform to His expectations, He will not find us to be "without blemish" when He returns for His Bride. We see that another essential responsibility of the Bride here is to pray. I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to do so without ceasing. Since we cannot |be in prayer every moment of the day, it is obvious here that the intent is for us to develop an everpresent ATTITUDE of prayer and communion with God so we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds per Romans 12:2. Luke 21:36 assures us that watching and praying always (without ceasing in this manner) prepares us to be accounted worthy to escape ALL these things that shall come to pass (be taken in the Rapture when He comes for His Bride so we will not have to endure the Tribulation Period) AND to stand before the Son of Man (appear before Christ without shame at the Bema Judgment Seat).

The bride was to keep her oil lamp lighted and ready, being sure she always had adequate oil for what could be a long trip upon her bridegroom's return. In the life of the Believer, this is accomplished through yielding herself to the control of the Holy Spirit in conjunction to the Holy Word of God she reads. By doing so her light to the world glows brightly at all times, and the supply of oil can never run dry. If she keeps these commitments, there will be no temporal divorce from her Bridegroom! If she does not, the temporal divorce could occur as foretold in Hosea, and some would not be able to go (Matthew 25:1-13)!

The Believer's Bridegroom allows the Bride-to-be just a tiny bit of notice so (all other preparations having been made) she can properly adorn herself upon short notice. Someone in the wedding party will shout, and when she hears the shout, she knows He will be at her heavenly window in the air quickly. She will only have time to quickly check her appearance and grab her oil lamp before the abduction occurs. In Matthew 25:6 we see that this cry goes out at midnight. Could this hour be upon us? If you listen closely, you will hear many of his servants crying that the Lord is even at the doors (Matthew 24:32-33). If we are being given our short notice, are you making your last minute adjustments, and checking your appearance through God's vision?

When she is stolen away in the night, the ones left behind will view the Believer's Bridegroom as a "thief in the night" (I Thessalonians 5:2), and should realize that it was indeed her Bridegroom (Yeshua) who has taken her away. Whereas there was rejoicing in the Hebrew streets when the Bridegroom (Yeshua) came, it will cause nothing but havoc, heartache and confusion when He steals away His Bride. The streets here on Earth will be alive, but they will be alive with terror and disbelief after the thief has come and gone.

When they reached the father's house the bridegroom and his bride would be left alone for a period of seven days, the length of this phase of the wedding, during which time the marriage was consummated. At this time that the Bridegroom lifts the veil of her privacy from the head of the Bride, and she will becomes inexplicably and most beautifully united with Him for eternity. While confusion and horror reigns on Earth, the Bride will be with her Beloved at last, enduring some form of marital bliss of a nature we are yet to know. At the end of the week there would be an elaborate reception for the newlyweds, which would include a tremendous feast. Luke 14:16-24 tells us that when the feast has been prepared, He will send his servants out to fill the tables, but His feast will be rejected by many who are invited due to their interest of the things of the world. Even his Believers will have become so absorbed in the worldly lives they lead that they do not have time for Him or for His plan to redeem them from this world before the Tribulation begins. It appears that His feast is prepared, and His servants are trying to fill the tables. Are you too busy to respond to his most urgent invitation? Are you too busy to complete your preparations? When we  reject His invitation, we must remember that His response in verse 24 is clear to this rejection. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."!

They will then leave the father's home for another home prepared by Yeshua. Revelation 19:11-14 tells us about the departure for another home with our Bridegroom. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." The time has come for the Millennial Kingdom to begin!

Some of the most exciting passages of the Bible are found in the Song of Solomon, but also some of the most sobering! This is a prophetic narrative regarding those Believers who love and are anticipating the arrival of their Bridegroom, Ysehua. It is beautiful analogy to the stirrings of the heart for the One of our aspirations, but we come upon some troubling verses in chapter 5 of this text. Verse 6 here says, "I opened to my beloved; BUT MY BELOVED HAD WITHDRAWN HIMSELF, AND WAS GONE: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Now in 1:3, and later in 6:8, the context dictates the definition of the lover of Yeshua as being "virgins". It is necessary to dissect the meaning of this word before we can gather the full thrust of the pain we just found in this 5:6.

Two different Hebrew words are both translated in our English Bibles as "virgins". The first is "almah", and is distinctly different from the second, "bethuwlah". "Almah" is a MAIDEN who is to be veiled, and is in the PROCESS of growing to the maturity of a Bride. THIS is the word we find in use in this portion of the Song of Solomon. "Bethuwlah" is also a maiden who is to be veiled, but she is seen as mature; fitting as Bride, whereby consummation can occur with the Bridegroom. Even common sense tells us that marital consummation would not be appropriate with a maiden who had not reached her maturity.

The virgins lamenting in 5:6 are "almah"; mature enough to yearn for their Bridegroom, but not mature enough to be His Bride. It seems to relate to the Matthew 25:1-13 passage, where five virgins were ready and taken home with the Bridegroom, and five were not ready, and were left behind. It should be noted in this passage of Matthew that all ten of these virgins heard the midnight cry (they were not asleep at the time of the call as many Believers will be). These were alert and somewhat prepared virgins, but their vessels (bodies) did not contain sufficient amount of the proper oil for the trip. (Maybe they had even received counterfeit oil, which being the wrong consistency had evaporated, and were surprised to see that their vessels were not sufficiently filled after all!) God's oil is of the enduring quality of wisdom and temperance. Indeed temporance may be the most pronounced trait of and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Enormous amounts of counterfeit oil of "experiential, i.e. unenduring consistency" has been presented within the very "church" (House of Ephraim) and the "sacrifices" of those who partake of the counterfeit shall be abominable to God. It shall be as a "bread of mourners", and all who eat of it shall "be polluted", "for their bread for their SOUL shall not come into the house of the Lord" per Hosea 9:4! It is earmarked with an experiential form of worship. Could the failure of the "church" today to teach the proper use of the "veil" (the covering of Christ which enables us to conquer) be at least partially responsible for the entrance of such rampant deceit in the body of Christ? The intent here is not to say that all who wear the "veil" today will be ready, as even "Almah" were to wear it. HOWEVER, wearing it for the RIGHT REASONS must certainly be a step in the right direction! Note in Matthew 25:10 it states that "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."! Strangely enough, "radiyd" (the Hebrew word for veil) indicates an otherwise unexplainable concept of "spending". We are to BUY (purchase His oil at our own expense), and this concept is encompassed in the very idea of the use of the veil!

Back in the text of Song of Solomon, we might proceed now to 5:7. It is unclear if this is sequential, or a reflection as to why this "almah" was left behind. I suspect it may be the later, and we are being made privy here to waht had already occurred.

This is a most interesting portion of text! The Hebrew for watchmen indicates those that are to provide a hedge about one, guard her, protect her; the KEEPER OF THE FLOCK (i.e. the shepherd of the sheep or pastor of the church). This passage indicates that it was the very ones who were to protect her that were responsible for her being left behind!!! (Nobody says here that the abuse of these maidens is INTENTIONAL, just that IT HAPPENS!) The "church" today does some wonderful things, but they error deeply in some of their teachings and in their "protection of the flock" and preparation for her readiness for the coming of Christ! They "found" her (i.e. brought her TO Christ), but the verse continues to accuse such leaders of the "church" of smoting her (Hebrew here indicates at casting her forth, punishing her, strickening her, and even slaying her). Could it even be that the term slaying" is not coincidental to that which is occurring within much of the church today when many virgins (Believers) are being "slain in the spirit"? At the very least, she could be "slain" as in beheaded as a result of being left behind, and she is "cast away" when the door is closed per Matthew 25:10. Blame is clearly placed upon the leaders of the "church" who have failed to protect and prepare her. They will have to answer for it one day very soon. The term "wounded" here also carries the connotation of being split. She is split away from the portion of the virgins who are "ready" when Yeshua returns for His Bride.

Verse 5:8 continues by saying "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love. Verse 6 indicates that she called him, but he gave no answer. Now she has to instruct the daughters of Jerusalem (the Jewish elect) that if they "find" her "beloved" (receive Yeshua as their Messiah whereby they can commune with Him as she had been able to do) to TELL HIM that she is "sick of love". This is absolutely heart wrenching! She is sick with love for her Lord, and not only can she NOT BE WITH HIM, she can't even COMMUNE WITH HIM AS SHE HAD IN THE PAST. He is otherwise occupied now (in his heavenly marriage to the "bethuwlah" who were ready when He came, and He cannot answer her now!)

What a sobering thought. She will ultimately be reunited with Yeshua, but the interim period is agony. Not only does she face the Tribulation Period, but she does so without being able to converse with the love of her life.

Oh how beautiful is the Biblical analogy of the Bride and her Bridegroom, if one is INDEED found TO BE the BRIDE ("bethuwlah")! One can be "WIFE" to Christ as "almah" and still suffer the anguish of being left behind when he comes for his "BRIDE" ("bethuwlah"). As we have seen, the difference is maturity. The heaviest part of maturity (being full of age in God's eyes) is the ability to "discern both good and evil" per Hebrews 5:14. We must be able to keep ourselves withdrawn from deceit, the most crucial warning of Yeshua about the end days in Matthew 24:4. Maybe being willing to wear the veil would be a place to start!?!

May God bless you as you consider the magnanimous implications of this message!