Many pastors inform their congregations that they are the bride of Christ when, in truth, they should be warning their congregations that many of them may well bear a greater resemblance to a spiritual bride of Frankenstein! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him (the Lord God omnipotent), for the marriage of the Lamb is come, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY” (See Revelation 19:7).
Notice that the bride has made herself ready to be married to the Lamb. And, folks, this goes far, far beyond one’s just believing Jesus died so they could be pardoned of all their sins. There is a passage of scripture in the 5th chapter of Ephesians that helps us understand just how those who comprise the bride of Christ have made themselves ready to be married to the Lord at the time of His return – not at the moment they die. Here is that passage:
“Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it (and He did not plead with the Father to remove that “cup” from Him) that He might SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT with the washing of water by the word (or, “the washing of the water of the word”) that He might present it unto Himself a glorious church, not having spot (of sin), or wrinkle (of doctrinal error), or any such thing, BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH (each member having the character of a Zacharias or Elisabeth, parents of John the Baptist)” (See Ephesians 5:25-27 with Luke 1:5-6). Those thinking themselves to be in the bride of Christ need to fit the description given in the two passages I have just mentioned. If they don’t see themselves therein, they need to realize they aren’t going to be in the bride of Christ. They may well be heirs of eternal life, but they will not comprise the bride of Christ. I speak to you the word of the Lord and you can take it or leave it.
But Paul goes on in that 5th chapter of Ephesians to say something even more astounding: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY, BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH” (Ephesians 5:31-32).
Through Paul, the Lord speaks again on this matter: “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, (it’s penalty – the death penalty having been paid for you by the Lord) that you should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, THAT WE SHOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD” (Romans 7:4). The “fruit” that is brought forth in a marriage ARE CHILDREN! Those who comprise the bride of Christ and are then married to Christ will bring forth fruit unto God by their concerted efforts resulting in the producing of millions, even billions, of offspring. THAT is when God is going to set His hand to save the world. READ AND BELIEVE THE PROPHETS. Don’t buy hook, line and sinker the watered down error filled doctrines and teachings of men and women who don’t know the truth.
Our Lord speaks again through Paul: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). This is HOW the bride makes herself ready to be married to her Lord! This is the doctrine pastors need to preach to their congregations. They need to preach the undiluted pure Word of God to their congregations. Many are going to see an angry Lord when they appear before Him in judgment. I feel sorry for them as they are in for the surprise of a lifetime.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley