The Spirit and the Bride
Im going to start with a short synopsis of the type and shadow found in the archives of Biblical history that shows a picture of who the Bride of Christ is and some ways to not only recognize the timing of this level of attainment but how to become able to become a Holy Vessel of Honor. that the Bride represents.
In the Genesis story and Galations 4:22-31, we read of two different women that bore sons to Abraham (the father of our faith). This situation came about as Abram and Sarai tried to make something happen that God alone was in charge of. God had promised to make him the father of many nations but they had grown well past the age of bearing children. His first child, named Ishmael, was born according to the flesh through Hagar a household servant/slave and later he was cast out into the wilderness along with his mother. The other, Isaac, was born as the fulfillment of the promise of YHWH. This miraculous birth could only be accomplished by the power of God through faith in His spoken Word. The promise given Abraham was impossible to accomplish in his own flesh because he was over 100 years old and Sarah was well past her time to reproduce. These two siblings have warred against each other for all the centuries since their birth. We are told and experience the truth that the flesh war against the spirit continually.
Romans chapter 4 shares how Abraham had to believe, no matter what he saw or felt, to receive the promise. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all...20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform 22 and therefore it was accounted unto him as righteousness. Be aware that the children of the slave woman (flesh)will persecute the true, spiritual heirs of the promised Kingdom. We will be tested in this way to see if we trust our Father's Word in the trials of our faith through impossible situations. Isaiah 11 shares that mature ones do not consider their circumstances or what they observe.
We read in the gospel of John about the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Yahweh. The Word of promise (represented as seed) was spoken to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord. She conceived in her womb as the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. To cause a shadow means that there was great light which explains why “the darkness did not apprehend/comprehend it”. This Word became flesh and “tabernacled among us” because a faithful one trusted and received the truth spoken to her. The revealed Word must be birthed in us, too.
In understanding the symbolism of the Bride of Christ there is a difference between this term and Sons not only in gender but because there is a distinction in many scriptures of the type of manifestation and timing of each. The Sons come first in my understanding. These are the Overcomers or Elect Remnant who obtain the glory covering of the incorruptible state showing the mature spiritual stature. The adoption of Sons denotes the redemption of our bodies.
The Bride is the next step of the soul being totally sanctified without spot or wrinkle. I believe the Bride represents the resurrection and New Jerusalem. A couple of references are found in Revelation speaking of the Holy City where the Father dwells in Holiness. She has perpared herself through putting on the robe of righteousness. We are already made righteous when we receive our regeneration/salvation but there is a symbolism of becoming clothed completely in the Lord's glory. I am not sure about everything here but trying to put things together to show the different levels of attainment.
Scriptures in Genesis seem to confirm this because Eve was called the “help mate” which is the way our soul operates in conjunction with our spirit man. The “woman” gets information from the outside realm of the senses and learns to submit herself to her husband; the Spirit of Wisdom which abides on the inside. Adam and Eve forfeited this higher attainment because they sinned, falling short of God’s glory. They were cast out of the Paradise of God (third heaven) because the wages of sin is death.
Those who become the Bride of Christ must be perfected in holiness to receive the reward of eternal life in Yahweh’s presence and partake of the Tree of Life. Those who overcome will be granted many promises but perhaps the next level pertains to those who actually obtain them. This remnant who walk in the Spirit will “ overcome” in all things even receiving renewed youth. They have been transformed by the living Word and made fit to enter into the Kingdom of God while alive. The purified ones are to be washed with the water of the Word. This is a different inheritance than those who go through death and are raised up from the grave at the last Trumpet.
At this point I see the return of Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom of God as the first part of the restored habitation of glory. The division is clear in 1st Corinthians 15: 51-58. Those who obtain the incorruptible body will be able to receive the next as confirmed in passages at the end of Revelation. The multitude goes through each stage after the remnant obtains to that level. At the end of the Millennium period Satan and his angels are released for a short time. After trying to deceive the world again, bringing about another great war, they are cast into the lake of fire. Then the Great White Throne Judgment is seen as the Books of Life are opened.
Later we’ll experience New Jerusalem appearing at the time of the new heaven and earth; (if we take these events chronologically). The Holy City comes down bringing the greater manifestation of the Father’s abiding presence. This is the ultimate level of perfection and purity of the eighth day where the Feast of Tabernacles is manifested fully in experience; in the holy habitation of Almighty God. One main reason that I feel there is a difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the New Jerusalem being established in the earth is that they relate to these distinct differences between the glorified and resurrected bodies.
The Holy City is total light and purity - holiness unto the Lord God. It is referred to as the New Jerusalem and the Bride of the Lamb. A time of testing or of being made ready are pictures we see of the Bride as well. Putting on the Robe of Righteousness is part of her preparation. I’m still leaning toward the symbolism of the Bride as being the purified soul that births the redeemed/ immortal body. Many references in old scrolls and manuscripts called the soul the woman or a female distinction. The references to wisdom and revelation are also seen in the feminine gender. I feel that the Bride/sanctified soul is perfected through submission to the husband/ Spirit of God in the inner man.
Romans 12:1-2 relates a picture of the mind’s transformation in accomplishing the perfect will of God. She is sanctified wholly, becoming without spot or wrinkle as washed by the water of the Word. The redemption of the body is manifested through obtaining to the resurrection. This is experienced through the glory of the Lord flowing from the inside out. He is not going to zap us with glory when he comes. We must have already obtained this testimony from glory to glory, 1 John 3:2-3). Those who are completed in the full stature of Christ will receive the promise of the immortal/ resurrected body.
The symbolic words used for Eve in Genesis when Adam said “she is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone,” may be an indication of the future type of the Bride. We see these words repeated after the resurrection when Jesus said, “does a spirit have flesh and bone?” This clearly is a different state of attainment than a spirit because of the ability to touch people or eat meals. A spirit does not have physical substance. Jesus earlier spoke to the women at the garden tomb for them to not touch him as he had not yet ascended to the Father. Although Christ had attained to incorruptible stature as seen on the Mount of Transfiguration he needed to gain the next level when he ascended to the Father. He was the perfect sacrifice/atonement as the Lamb of God. He could have become defiled and not able to cleanse the heavenly temple articles as shown in Hebrews chapter 8:15-28 if he had contact with mortal/corruptible men.
Later scripture shows when he appeared to his disciples at the Sea of Galilee, he had his spiritual body because he was fixing them a meal. He spoke of looking forward to the future Marriage Supper of the Lamb as a Kingdom reality. Hopefully I have not confused anyone. Some other chapters go into greater detail on the two different levels of attainment; incorruptible and immortal. If you don’t agree or understand just lay these things aside and continue with the study.
We sometimes forget that we must become as little children to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. We try to figure everything out and lose the essence of the wonderful simplicity of the message, trust and obey. As we prepare our hearts to receive Christ at his coming/ appearing then we shouldn’t worry; for if we do our part God will do his. The problem is that double minded people cannot come into YHWH’s Holy Presence. Repentance and yieldedness brings us to a place of humility and pliability in the Master’s hands. Being made perfect isn’t automatic and it takes great determination and diligence by our yielding to God’s strength and grace, only doing what the Father shows us. There is an innocence that is restored in our hearts when we are purified. We can rest in Him trusting His ability to do what He has promised. He has provided all that we need; we grow in this grace and truth that sets us free. We have peace and joy unspeakable abiding in His presence.
It is expected that we who love and long for his appearing must walk (commune)with God and then we will be translated into the Kingdom bodily without seeing death like Enoch. Our lives must be a living sacrifices (in the temple of our hearts) at the altar; waiting for God to consume it with Holy Fire as we gain His abundant spiritual life.
Another “shadow” and witness from the old testament is seen in the life of Elijah. When Naaman the leper came seeking a cure for his disease (seen symbolically, as the corruption of the flesh) the prophet delegated the answer through his servant. He was told to wash in the Jordan river seven times to be totally cleansed. This is an example of the last cleansing work of the Spirit that will prepare God’s children for the Kingdom; who have washed their robes in the Great Tribulation. The symbolism is distinct if we observe the law for this affliction. To wash seven times ritually was necessary for this healing to be done in it’s entirety. The results were to be observed and proclaimed as done by the priests in the Temple. Jesus told the seven lepers that he healed to do this to be declared free from physical and spiritual defilement.
The prophet Elijah had the proven ability to walk in the Spiritual realm as a fore-runner Son. We read of his exploits where he commanded the rain, multiplied oil and raised the dead. He challenged and defeated all the prophets of Baal in a miraculous way. The Lord’s chariots and angelic hosts appeared as he was translated into heaven. He already walked in the spiritual realm with the anointed mantel, serving the God that did the impossible.
So we have two contrasting examples of humanity one who has overcome and one who is able to be cleansed from the defilement of the flesh through submission to him. We read that the Sons will be able to shelter many others in the storms and afflictions as the saviors on Mount Zion shown in Obadiah 21. They are like a “city of refuge” where a covering is established, corporately. The teachers of righteousness written in the book of Daniel will shine like the firmament and bring many to that glorious place. (Elijah is perhaps the symbolism of Christ and Elisha that of the Body who receives the double portion of greater works).