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The bridal generation part 1
1. The Final Move of the Holy Spirit:
THE BRIDAL GENERATION
(The Last and Final Generation)
2. PART I.
FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
1. Bridal Identity
- Is the Church automatically the Bride?
Are all the Church the Bride?
- How can Men be the Bride of Christ?
2. The Bride in Genesis
3. The Bride in Revelation
3. Introduction:
As we look at ourselves, so we are.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is
he.”
(Prov. 23:7a)
WHAT IS THE THINKING OF YOUR
HEART CONCERNING YOUR BEING A
CHRISTIAN?
WHAT ARE YOU IN YOUR OWN
UNDERSTANDING?
4. There are many answers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
I am a sinner saved by grace
I am elect, I am chosen
I am a child of God
I am a co-heir with Christ
I am a servant of God
I am a soldier (warrior) of God
I am an intercessor
I am a royal priest, etc. etc. etc.
5. BUT HAVE YOU THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS?
I am the BRIDE of Christ!
I am the FIANCEE of Jesus!
I am the GIRLFRIEND OF THE
CROWNED PRINCE OF HEAVEN!
I will soon be MARRIED to Christ!
What does this all mean? What are its
practical implications? Is this matter even
important?
6. THE MATTER IS OF TERRIBLE
IMPORTANCE:
The BRIDAL CALL is the LAST AND
FINAL CALL TO, AND OF, ALL
CHRISTIANS:
Rev. 22:17 “And the SPIRIT and the
BRIDE say, COME! And let him that is
thirsty come!...”
It is NOT the Spirit and the church, or the
Spirit and the son/daughter, or
servant, or soldier. It is the Spirit and
the BRIDE!
7. WHAT IS AT STAKE? What are the
things that are put in
issue, threatened or endangered if we
do not understand and imbibe the
final call, the BRIDAL CALL?
SO MANY:
1. The issue of the rapture and the
tribulation period (the timing for
us, whether we shall go through the
tribulation period)
(PLEASE KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT
THIS, regardless of all the previous
teachings you have received or heard.)
8. 2. The issue of our INTERCESSION (how
effective, how acceptable)
3. The MANNER of our WARFARE
4. The MANNER of our SERVICE
5. The crucial, central issue of our INTIMACY
with God
6. The QUALITY OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE!
7. Issues of PROTECTION and BLESSING
8. The issue of our ABILITY TO HEAR THE
VOICE OF GOD.
These and many other issues are “placed on
the table” as we determine whether we are
the BRIDE OF CHRIST or not!
9. SOME PRELIMINARY
CLARIFICATIONS
FIRST:
Is it not AUTOMATIC THAT THE CHURCH IS
THE BRIDE OF CHIRST, or that ALL
CHRISTIANS are the Bride of Christ?
NO SIR, NO MA’AM!!!
This is one of the most dangerous and
damaging assumptions that has ever
entered the Christian mindset this day and
age.
This is CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE for the
LUKEWARM and UNINSPIRED brand of
Christian life that we see a lot of today.
10. NOT ALL CHURCH IS
BRIDE!
1. “I promised you to one husband, to Christ,
so that I might present you as a pure virgin
to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was
deceived by the serpent's cunning, your
minds may somehow be led astray from
your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
“(2 Cor. 11:2-3)
2. Some virgins are wise and some are foolish.
The foolish ones were left behind when the
Bridegroom came. (Matthew 25:1-13) (THE
WORD “VIRGIN” IS SYNOMOUS TO BRIDE
OR BETHROTHED, “ENGAGED”, OR
FIANCEE.)
3. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses
11. There are at least TEN BASIC
QUALITIES OF THE BRIDE as
described in the Bible:
1. The bride will be presented as
a pure virgin to him (2 Cor. 11:2).
2. The bride will be known for
her righteousness, or righteous
acts (Rev. 19:5-8).
v. 5 “And a voice came out of the
throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye
his servants, and ye that fear
him, both small and great.
12. 6 And I heard a voice 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.
7 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.
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.”
13. Qualities of the Bride…
3. The bridal church will be (Eph. 5:2527):
a. Holy.
b. Cleansed and washed by
the word of God.
c. A radiant church.
d. Without stain or wrinkle.
(QUESTION: who makes her these?
Christ or she herself?
Salvation is a gift, but we are also called
14. Qualities of the Bride
(continued):
e. Without blemish.
f. Blameless.
4. The bride of Christ will have the measure
of the stature of the (Eph. 4:13, KJV)
fullness of Christ
5. The bride will come from a portion of the
body of Christ, rather than being the entire
body (Gen. 2:22 by application).
6. The bride will have a sincere and
pure devotion to Christ(2 Cor. 11:3).
(PASSION)
15. Qualities of the Bride
(continued):
7. The bride will be watchful and
prayerful (Luke 21:36).
8. The bride will have been pressing for
perfection (2 Cor. 13:9,11).
9. The anointing, the baptism with the Holy
Spirit, will be abundantly operating in the
lives of those who qualify for the bride of
Christ (Matt. 25:3-4).
10. The bride will live in a state of readiness,
eagerness, to meet the bridegroom (Matt.
25:10; Luke 12:35; Rev. 19:7).
THERE ARE MORE!, BUT THESE ARE THE
16. THE POINT IS:
You are the same person, but you have a
different MINDSET, APPEARANCE,
BEHAVIOUR, ACTION, PRIORITY,
FOCUS, if you move from just being
woman or girlfriend to now about-to bemarried fiancée or bride.
There is a TRANSFORMATION, A
CHANGE, A RADIANCE AND A
GLORY FOUND IN THE BRIDE not
found in the “ordinary” woman.
21. They are and the same
person, but…
The endtimes call for the WEDDING of
the Lamb and His Bride, and He is not
picking up the unprepared, unattired, unadorned fiancée.
He is picking up the READY BRIDE.
EVEN US, the wedding will NOT
PROCEED if our girlfriend is not
ready!
The BRIDE has to be PREPARED!
22. NOW I WILL SHOW YOU A
PICTURE IN THE NEXT
SLIDE…speaks to us in pictures.
God often
Please reflect upon this picture for a few
moments when you see it.
It is a sad, a very sad picture, of a very
pitiful bride.
IS IT A PICTURE OF THE CHURCH OF
CHRIST TODAY?
IS IT A PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE AS A
BRIDE OF CHRIST?
Please quietly reflect on this next picture
for a few minutes:
23. IS THIS US? Bound? Soiled? Ashamed
to meet the Groom if He were to come
today?
24. THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO
“Husbands, love your wives
WITH US:
even as Christ loved the
church, and gave himself up
for us,
That he might sanctify
and cleanse us with the
washing of water
through, the word;
That he might present us
to himself a GLORIOUS
CHURCH (BRIDE), not
having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such
thing,
But that we should be
holy and blameless.”
27. Second clarificatory issue:
CAN MEN (“MACHO”!) IMBIBE
THE “BRIDAL” SPIRIT?
1. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor
free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28 NIV).
2. “God created man in His own image, in the
image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.” (Gen 1:27 NIV).
Eve was an external manifestation of the
feminine part in Adam. So whether we are
male or female we are the external
manifestation of God’s image and are able to
seek a relationship with God as Eve did with
Adam and vice versa.
28. AN INTERESTING FACT:
In Hebrew, God’s name (YHW) is the combination
of the letters Yud and Hay.
The name for Adam is Eish, which is spelled using
the Hebrew letters Aleph-Yud-Shin.
Eve’s name is Elisha, spelled in Hebrew AlephShin-Hay.
The Yud in Adam’s name is the male
characteristics of God, not found in Eve’s name
and the Hay in Eve’s name is the female
characteristics of God not found in Adam’s name.
Therefore, whether male or female we can have
a relationship with Christ in the sense of
intimacy, because we are all one in Christ. The
“one in Christ” or “heis” is neuter, without regard
29. Examples of MEN in the Bible as
“Bride” or having qualities of the
Bride:
Paul said: “Do you not know that he who unites
himself with a prostitute is one with her in
body? For it is said, ˜The two will become one
flesh. But he who unites himself with the
Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Cor 6:1617 NIV). (THE “MARITAL” PARADIGM IS
SUGGESTED HERE: “unites”, “one with”.)
1. Out of all the servants of God, David is the one
of whom it was said, “I have found David the
son of Jesse, a man after My heart” (Acts
13:22 NASB). It was not a woman after
God’s heart, it was a man.
30. Examples of “Bridal” men in the
Bible:
David always wanted to “gaze at the beauty of the
Lord, and inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4)
“As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul
longeth after thee.” (Psalm 42:1)
2. John the Beloved, who leaned on Jesus’ breast
(John 21:20) described himself as one Jesus loved
(Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).
Note: this closeness to the heart of Jesus (a bridal
quality) enabled John to know who is the betrayer
(Luke 13:21-28)
Being male is not an issue. All it takes is a heart
devoted to know and love Him Song of Songs 6:3 I
am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine…”
31. Men who clearly understood
Jesus as Groom…
3. John the Baptist
"You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the
Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride
belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who
attends the bridegroom waits and listens for
him, and is full of joy when he hears the
bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and is now
complete. He [Jesus] must become greater; I
must become less." (John 3:28-30)
4. Paul
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I
promised you to one husband, to Christ, so
that I might present you as a pure virgin to
him.” (2 Cor. 11:2)
32. THE BRIDAL PARADIGM IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT:
1.
Started all the way in
CREATION
God created man in His image and likeness.
(Gen. 1:26)
Man is the “image and glory of God” (I Cor.
11:7a), while “woman is the glory of man” (I
Cor. 11:7b). (NOTE: WOMAN IS NOT THE
IMAGE OF MAN, SHE IS STILL THE
IMAGE OF GOD, but she is the GLORY of
man.)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ONE TO BE THE
GLORY OF ANOTHER?
33. “GLORY”
Hebrew: (Young’s Analytical Dictionary
Concordance of the Holy Bible)
1. Addereth – ADORNMENT
2. Hod – BEAUTY, MAJESTY
3. Yeqar –
PRECIOUSNESS, RARITY, SPECIAL
4. Kabod – WEIGHT, AUTHORITY
(“ichabod” – means the glory has
departed)
5. Tsebi – BEAUTY, DESIRE
34. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
MEANT FOR THE BRIDE…
“Husbands love your wives as Christ
LOVED the church, and gave himself up
for her… that he might her to himself
as a GLORIOUS CHURCH, without
spot, stain or wrinkle…” (Eph. 5:25-27)
Jesus wants His beloved glorious!
Therefore, when the Bible says “man is
the image and glory of God” (I Cor.
11:7a), while “woman is the glory of man”
(I Cor. 11:7b), it MEANS:
35. God wants to give man:
1. Addereth – ADORNMENT
2. Hod – BEAUTY, MAJESTY
3. Yeqar – PRECIOUSNESS, RARITY,
SPECIAL
4. Kabod – WEIGHT, AUTHORITY
(note: “ichabod” – means the glory has
departed)
5. Tsebi – BEAUTY, DESIRE (desirability)
6. Kleos - CELEBRITY
THIS IS THE GLORIOUS BRIDE! THIS IS
THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF MAN FOR GOD
AT THE GARDEN OF EDEN! GLORY! This is
because God designed for man and woman
36. Look at the “bridal” principles in
creation (Genesis 1):
In the beginning God has already prepared
a place for His Bride (Garden of Eden); 5
days of prior creation before man was
created on the 6th day;
2. In the Garden God walked and talked with
man (intimacy) (Gen. 6:8) “Enoch walked
with God…” (early case of pre-trib rapture)
3. God created only one man in the beginning
(God desires one-on-one relationship and
intimacy)
4. God saw the need for man to have a bride
of his own (Gen. 2:18 – It is not good for
man to be alone…)
1.
37. 5. He created the woman FROM THE
SIDE of the man while the man slept.
PARALLEL TO CHRIST:
a. the Church (Bride) was taken from the
side of Christ when they pierced him at
the cross (this was a bloody process)
b. Christ was “asleep” (dead) (in his
death the Church – the Bride, was born)
c. Eve was only from the side of
Adam, not from his whole body (the
Bride is only from the side of the Body of
Christ, not from the whole “body”, the
Church)
38. 2. The
Abraham, Isaac, Eliezer, and
Rebekah typology
(Please follow in your Bible in GENESIS 24)
Abraham – represents God the Father
Isaac – represents Jesus
Eliezer – the faithful assistant, represents the
Holy Spirit
Rebekah – represents the church, the Bride
1. Abraham (God) looks for a wife for Isaac
(Jesus)
2. He sends Eliezer (the Holy Spirit) to look for
a bride for his son (v. 3)
3. The wife must be from their own family or
39. 4. Abraham (God) sends the Eliezer (the
Holy Spirit loaded) with gifts and
presents (v. 10)
5. The test of the potential bride is
SERVICE (“if she offers me a drink and
the camels too”) v. 14
(Note: after we were saved, our very first
identification of ourselves is that we are
servants of God; we “serve” the Lord)
6. The sign of the bride-to-be is that she is
QUICK to respond and to serve (v.
18, “quickly”)
7. Another sign is her EAGERNESS to
serve (“quickly emptied”, “ran back”….)
v. 20
8. Another sign is she wants to
40. 9. She was sensitive and caring (“we
have plenty…of room for you to
spend the night” NIV) SHE GAVE AND
OFFERED MUCH ROOM TO THE
HOLY SPIRIT (Eliezer) v. 25
10. She is MARKED with ornaments
(ring in her nose and bracelets on her
arms) v. 47c (the BRIDE is MARKED)
11. She was given MORE GIFTS
(gold, silver, jewelry, costly clothing) v.
53
12. Her brethren were also blessed v.
53b (note: this is very Filipino; bless
the family)
41. 13. She wanted to meet the Groom (Isaac)
RIGHT AWAY (was longing to see him) v. 5657 (her family wanted her to stay ten more
days but Rebekah said no, I will go now)
14. She will possess the gates of her enemies
(v. 60) – “The gates of hell will not prevail
against it (the church)” Matt. 16:18
15. She was willing to be fully led by Eliezer
(the Holy Spirit) v. 61 (“Eliezer took
Rebekah”)
16. She met Isaac “in the evening” (v. 6364), that is, “at the end of the age” (“night is
coming when no man shall work”; “midnight”)
17. He brought her to the bridal chamber “and
she became his wife and he loved her” v. 67
42. NOW WE TURN TO THE
BRIDAL PERSPECTIVE of
JESUS HIMSELF:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jesus was the first to introduce the
bridal paradigm to the Church. Jesus
referred to Himself as a Bridegroom
(Mt. 9:15);
He compared the kingdom to His
Father arranging a marriage for Him
(Mt. 22:2);
He described Christian life and ministry
as preparing for and meeting Him as a
Bridegroom (Mt. 25:1);
He will return in answer to the prayers
of His Church crying out in her bridal
43. Continued:
5. Jesus began His public ministry at a wedding
(Jn. 2:1-12),
6. He ended it declaring that the kingdom of God
was like a wedding (Mt. 22:1-14).
7. Jesus began His ministry to the apostles by
revealing Himself as the Bridegroom God (Mt.
9:15)
8. Jesus’ ministry was first introduced by John the
Baptist, whom Jesus said was the greatest of all
the prophets, functioning as a friend of the
Bridegroom (Jn. 3:29);
9. The Bible ends with the Apostle John
revealing the Bride (Rev. 19-22).
10. The last call and prayer on earth that Jesus will
answer is the call of the Bride to come (Rev.
22:17,20)
44. WHY IS THIS REVELATION MADE
CLEAR IN THESE LAST DAYS
ONLY?
The generation in which Jesus returns will be the
most sinful and emotionally broken generation in
history (Dan. 8:23; Mt. 24:10-14; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim.
3:1-5). Scripture describes it as having great
anger, fear, cold love (selfishness), lawlessness
(rebellion), betrayal (broken
relationships), hatred, sexual perversion, and occult
bondage.
“In the latter time…when the transgressors have
reached their fullness… “ (Dan. 8:23)
The Holy Spirit’s emphasis of Jesus as a Bridegroom
God has been strategically reserved for the last
generation to empower the Church to overcome
the most lawless, fearful, demonic, and sexually
perverted generation in history.
45. SO IN THESE LAST DAYS, IMBIBING
THE BRIDAL CALLING IS NOT AN
OPTION!
IT IS A MUST!
IT IS DANGEROUS NOT TO HAVE
THE BRIDAL UNCTION IN THESE
LAST DAYS!
Now please open your Bibles to
REVELATIONS 2.
46. THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF
THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS
You will see an amazing revelation here:
What happens to the churches depends
on whether they have the BRIDAL
ANOINTING!
The 7 Churches are THE SEVEN TYPES
OF CHURCHES IN THE LAST DAYS!
They live during the time of the Tribulation
period leading to the Great Tribulation
period! KEEP AN OPEN MIND!
47. 1. The Church in EPHESUS
(Rev. 2:1-7)
Good points:
- works, labor
- patience
- cannot tolerate evil men
- tried false prophets
- persevering (v. 2-3)
BAD POINT: you have “left your first love”
(NOTE: the word “first” is not “first in time”
but FIRST as in MOST IMPORTANT,
PRIMARY, FOUNDATIONAL,
FUNDAMENTAL…)
48. What is the “FIRST LOVE”?
Jesus Himself answers this:
Mat 22:36 - Master, which is the GREAT
COMMANDMENT in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt LOVE THE
LORD thy God with ALL thy HEART, and with
ALL thy SOUL, and with ALL thy MIND.
38 This is the FIRST and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets.”
THIS IS THE FIRST LOVE - BRIDAL TYPE OF
LOVE! ALL CONSUMING! TOTAL! This is what
the Ephesian church left, though they were
faithful and “good”!
49. What was the warning to the
Ephesian Church for leaving its first
love? do the first works (not first in time
“Repent,
but first in importance) or else I WILL
COME QUICKLY AND REMOVE YOUR
LAMPSTAND from its place, unless you
repent.” v. 5
WHERE IS THE LAMPSTAND FOUND?
In the INNER COURT (Holy Place, type
of the Bridal Chamber)
WHAT IS THE PLACE CALLED WHERE
THERE IS NO LAMPSTAND? The
OUTER COURT.
50. What happens to the outer court
in the last days?
Rev 11:1 “And there was given me a
reed like unto a rod: and the angel
stood, saying, Rise, and measure the
temple of God, and the altar, and them
that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without
(outside) the temple (OUTER COURT)
LEAVE OUT, and measure it not; for it is
given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city
shall THEY TREAD UNDER FOOT
FORTY AND TWO MONTHS.”
51. What is 42 months?
42 divided by 12 months is 3 AND HALF
YEARS.
What is 3 and ½ years? The HALF of the
TRIBULATION period. (Daniel 9:25, 27; Rev.
13:5) (“time, times, and half a time” – Jewish
for three and half years)
The second half is the GREAT TRIBULATION
PERIOD.
Jesus was WARNING the Ephesian church that
if it did not repent and return to its “first
love”, “I WILL COME UNTO THEE
QUICKLY”, which suggests the rapture and
the implication that the Ephesian church
might BE LEFT BEHIND and go through the
GREAT TRIBULATION period because it has
52. So what determines the “fate” of
the Ephesian Church, whether it
joins the rapture or go through
the tribulation period, is whether
it has the Bridal qualities or not.
The Ephesian Church is a TYPE of the
end-time church which is
DOCTRINALLY SOUND, MORALLY
UPRIGHT, FAITHFUL, BUT HAS NO
INTIMACY WITH GOD, having “left its
first love”!
53. 2. The second type of church is
the Church of SMYRNA: (Rev.
2:10)
Good points:
-
-
Tribulating
in poverty but rich
Blasphemed by the Jews (“which are
of the synagogue of Satan” – suggests
a time when the temple is already
rebuilt…)
Bad point: NONE
54. Exhortation given:
-
“Fear not what you will suffer” (v. 10)
You will be imprisoned
“you will have TRIBULATION TEN DAYS”
Remain Faithful!
IMPT. NOTE: After the FEAST OF TRUMPETS is
the FEAST OF ATONEMENT .
IN BETWEEN them is what Jews call the “TEN
DAYS OF AWE”
Feast of Trumpets is the “last two minutes”, the
warning call before the second coming.
“Day of Atonement” is the Day of “AT ONE
MOMENT” (the RAPTURE).
IN BETWEEN THEM is a time of greatly increased
birth pains (“ten days of awe”). WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?
55. It means that:
The Church of Smyrna is a type of the END-TIME
CHURCH that is called to PERSECUTION
(imprisonment), possibly even martyrdom.
There is nothing wrong with this church, in fact, IT
IS A BRIDAL CHURCH, BUT IT IS CALLED TO
PERSECUTION/IMPRISONMENT.
NOT ALL END-TIME CHURCH IS CALLED TO
MARTYRDOM. (NOTE: Rev. 2:10, “The Devil
shall cast SOME of you into prison…)
But there is a remnant, a portion, of the end-time
church that is going to be ready to lay down its
life for the Groom. (Rev. 12:11 “And they
overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the
Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they
loved not their lives unto death.”
56. 3. Third type of church in the last
days: the church in PERGAMOS
(Rev. 2:12)
Good points:
- They lived in a place “where Satan has
his throne” (Jerusalem in the 1st half of
the tribulation period?)
- Not denied the faith, even when there
was persecution (v. 13)
Bad points:
- It was ANTI-ISRAEL !(v. 14)
57. Rev. 2:14 (KJV)
“But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of
Balaam, who taught Balac to CAST A
STUMBLINGBLOCK BEFORE THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication.”
- The Pergamos church is the only church in
Revelations that has an ANTI-ISRAEL
SPIRIT
- This was accompanied by a tolerant spirit for
pagan practices (allowing food sacrificed to
idols)
- And sexual liberalism
58. Numbers 22:ff
1 And
2
3
4
5
6
the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the
plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to
the Amorites.
And Moab (BALAK) was sore afraid of the people,
because they were many: and Moab was distressed
because of the children of Israel.
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this
company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox
licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of
Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of
Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the
children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is
a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face
of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for
they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail,
that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of
the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed,
and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
59. Church in Pergamos…
It also practiced the sin of the
Nicolaitans (v. 15)
NICOLAITANS:
- “bought” church office
- Practiced idolatry and immorality
WARNING:
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will fight against them with
the SWORD OF MY MOUTH. “ (Rev.
2:16)
-
60. Where in Revelations is found that a
sword is coming out of the mouth of
Jesus?
REV. 19
11And 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.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many
crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he
himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his
name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon
white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, that
with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them
with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name
written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
61. OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, that with it he should
smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he
treadeth the winepress of the FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF
ALMIGHTY GOD. Rev. 19:16
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
That the Pergamom Church,
- which is anti-Israel
- Morally liberal
- Highly “political”
- Tolerant of pagan practices
IS GOING THROUGH THE GREAT
TRIBULATION PERIOD! Because
Revelations 19 speaks of the end of the
Great Tribulation Period.
62. Where is the “Bridal” issue here?
The BRIDAL QUALITIES that
Pergamos does not have:
1. It does not love what the Groom
loves (God loves Israel so much!!)
2. Pergamos was spiritually unfaithful (it
okayed eating food sacrificed to
idols)
3. It was sexually liberal
SO BECAUSE PERGAMOS WAS NOT
A “BRIDAL CHURCH”, it will go
through the Great Tribulation period!
63. 4. The Church in THYATIRA
(Rev. 2:18)
Good points:
- Works
- Love (charity) – implies much resources
- Service
- Faith (faith for works, such as big
projects)
- Patience
BAD POINT:
-allowed Jezebel “who calls herself a
prophetess” to seduce my servants and
to eat food sacrificed to idols
64. WHO WAS JEZEBEL?
Wife of Ahab the King (I King 16:31) –
Jezebel is a politically powerful woman
2. She had the prophets of the Lord killed
(I Kings 18:4, 13) SHE WAS ANTIPROPHETS
3. OPPOSED ELIJAH (I Kings 19:1-2) –
The Jezebel spirit in the last days
opposes the last days’ prophetic moves
of the Holy Spirit (remember in the last
days the Lord will send the spirit of
Elijah, Mal. 4:4-5, Matt. 17:9-13)
4. Killed by Jehu (2 Kings 9:30-37)
1.
65. The Thyatira Church is
warned:
“Repent!!” (Rev. 3: 21)
But because she did not “I will cast her
into a SICKBED, and those who commit
adultery with her INTO GREAT
TRIBULATION, unless they repent!” v.
23
I will KILL HER CHILDREN WITH
DEATH, AND ALL THE CHURCHES
SHALL KNOW I AM HE WHO
SEARCHES AND HEARTS. “
v. 23a
NOTE: THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS A
MEANS OF EXPOSING THE
CONDITION OF THE CHURCH!
66. So Thyatira is
the end-time church anti-prophetic
church (although it has big projects -faith, lots of funds -- charity).
It will go through the GREAT
TRIBULATION PERIOD!
BUT THERE IS A PORTION OF THE
THYATIRA CHURCH THAT IS
BRIDAL!!
Look at verse 24:
67. Rev. 2:24
“Now I say TO THE REST in Thyatira, to you
who do not hold to her teaching and have not
learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets):
I WILL NOT IMPOSE ANY OTHER BURDEN
ON YOU, ONLY HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU
HAVE UNTIL I COME…
I WILL GIVE YOU AUTHORITY OVER THE
NATIONS (with Jesus) (THIS IS THE
MILLENIAL KINGDOM) v. 26 and 27
SO you see here, the Church is not the Bride
always! SOME WILL GO THROUGH the
Great TRIBULATION, others will not.
68. 5. The Church in SARDIS
(Rev. 3)
Good point: NONE!
Bad Point: “I know your deeds, you have a
reputation of being alive, but you are
DEAD!!”
(The Sardis church is the DEAD CHURCH!)
Admonition:
- Be watchful (v. 2)
- “strengthen that which remains (they are
about to die)”
- Hold fast to what you have (they are about to
be lost)
- REPENT!!! (v. 3)
69. WARNING to Sardis:
“Remember what you have received and
heard; obey it, and repent. BUT IF YOU
DO NOT WAKE UP, I will come like a
thief, (KJV: “I WILL COME UPON YOU
like a thief) and you will not know what
time.” (Rev. 3:3)
“I WILL COME UPON YOU”… not to you,
but UPON you!
This suggests JUDGMENT. The Sardis
Church is NOT A BRIDAL CHURCH
because no bridal church is dead.
70. But there is a Bride in the dead
Sardis Church:
“ (Yet) Thou hast a few names even in
Sardis which have not defiled their
garments; and they shall walk with
me in white: for they are worthy. “
(Rev. 3:4)
Later (in part II) we will learn about
Bridal qualities (one of which they
love to WALK WITH THE GROOM…)
And then there is a very thought
provoking line that follows, in v. 5:
71. Rev. 3:5
“He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment; and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of
life, but I will confess his name before
my Father, and before his angels. “
DOES GOD BLOT OUT NAMES FROM
THE BOOK OF LIFE???
Remember this was spoken to the
DEAD CHURCH (Sardis).
ARE WE DEAD?
72. 6. The Church in
PHILADELPHIA (Rev. 3:7-13)
7 “And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write; These things saith he that
is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of
David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth;
and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it:
for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name. “
Good points:
- Faithful though has little strength
- Kept God’s Word
73. THE BRIDE
KNOWS
THE WORD
The Sword of
the
Spirit, which is
the Word of
God praying
on all
occasions
with all kinds
of prayers and
requests…
EPH. 6:18
74. The Philadelphia Church…
HAS NOT DENIED HIS NAME v. 8
(implies that they insist on the true
Christ in the midst of impostors and
pretenders)
“Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie;
behold, I will make them to come and
worship before thy feet, and to know
that I have loved thee.” v. 9
-
75. The Philadelphia Church
IS A VERY CLEAR BRIDAL CHURCH! The
Groom wants the world to know that this
Church is LOVED!!!
- Has not denied the Groom’s name
- “kept the Word” (faithful)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE
SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN WILL WORSHIP
AT THEIR FEET? (v. 9)
It means that the power and authority of this
Bridal Church is such that even Satanists will
surrender to them and worship God at the
feet of this Bridal Church.
76. WHAT IS THE “REWARD” OF
THIS CHURCH?
REV. 3: 10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE
HOUR OF TEMPTATION, which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth. (Philadelphia will not go through the Great
Tribulation period!!)
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the
temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I
WILL WRITE UPON HIM THE NAME OF MY
GOD, AND THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY
GOD, WHICH IS NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh
down out of heaven from my God: and I will write
upon him my new name. “
77. WHAT IS THIS “NEW
JERSUALEM,” THIS NEW
CITY? “And I saw a new heaven and a new
Rev. 21:1
earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as A BRIDE adorned for her
husband.
9 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.
10 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,
78. 7. The Church in LAODICEA
Good points: NONE!
Bad points:
- Neither hot nor cold, lukewarm
- Says she is rich and does not need
anything
- Does not realize that she is
naked, wretched, poor and blind
THE EXHORTATION:
79. The Lord says to her:
v. 16 I will spew you out of my mouth…
v. 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
WHAT IS GOLD REFINED BY FIRE?
THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET
JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) ALL
80. DOES THIS
SUGGEST, THEREFORE THAT
THE LAODICEAN CHURCH
WILL GO THROUGH THE
TRIBULATION PERIOD?
Yes, it seems very clear that this is the
gold “refined by fire”.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE LORD
DOES NOT LOVE THE LAODICEAN
CHURCH?
v. 19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.”
81. WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN
AND SHOW?
That ONLY THE BRIDAL CHURCH has
special protection in the endtimes.
- She keeps her first love
- She has not lost her lampstand (she is
an inner court church)
- She has not denied her Groom’s Name
- She has kept the word
- She is pure
- SHE HAS BRIDAL INTIMACY with the
Lord!
82. Where is the bridal intimacy of
the Philaldelphia Church?
Rev. 3:7
“Behold I have set before you an OPEN
DOOR, where no man can shut.”
THE OPEN DOOR suggests the opening of the
bridal chamber, a call to intimacy, no man
shut it because it is the Groom Himself that is
opening it.
It means ACCESS TO THE THRONE
ROOM, TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES, TO THE
SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH.
It means worship, intercession, intimacy with
God!
IT MEANS A CALL FOR THE WEDDING
FEAST, THE END OF THIS AGE!
84. Today, let us not
forget that while
we are saved,
and servants,
soldiers,
sons and
daughters,
we are MOST
OF ALL
SPOUSE, the
Bride of
Christ, THE
ENGAGED
FIANCEE OF
THE
CROWNED
PRINCE of
Heaven!