The Bride of Christ

Revelation 19.7 says, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." The church for centuries has looked forward to this event, and likewise so today. But, just how does the Bride prepare herself? This question must be intensely personal, because while we believe the Bride is the corporate Church, it is also made up of individuals that are each accountable to God for their actions. You may agree with my conclusions or have some of your own, but I have tried to think of things that the Lord has made real and important to me. I invite you to submit to me your ideas on this subject as I realize no one person has all wisdom and insight, for God has portioned them out as He wills for the good of all.

One trait that is immediately revealed is that of "righteous acts." It is important not to confuse righteous acts with good works. The difference is that righteous acts are those good deeds that are inspired by God and not our ideas of what is good or moral. We do not always know what is good because we have a limited perspective, like the man Jesus rebuked for calling Him good, saying "there is none good but the Father." It is also clear that true worship is a 'righteous act'. Verse 19.10ff says, "... Worship God! For the 'testimony' of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy." True worship involves a love of prophesy because it testifies about Jesus. Also, true prophesy will always testify about Jesus in some way.

A study of Jesus' letter to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 reveals that deeds are important, God notices them. But other attitudes magnify them or nullify them. The loveless church of Ephesus had many good deeds but they were in danger of losing their lampstand because they left their first love. In I John, John lists love of God and of one another and of the truth as hallmarks of the true Christian. Compromise with the world; love of money, sexual sins, and rampant feminism were attitudes that robbed the churches of their power and rewards.

There is another attitude that stands out to me, that of authority. In Luke 7 is recorded an event in Jesus' ministry concerning a Gentile Centurion who was well favored among the Jews and who loved them. His servant was sick but he asked Jesus to just speak a word because he understood the nature of authority. He knew that because of authority the word of Jesus would be honored whether He was physically there or not. Jesus marveled saying, "I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel." - Luke 7.9 . Jesus showed that the right concept of authority greatly releases our faith. I find that few in the modern church have much concept of authority. If someone doesn't like what the pastor says, they just go to another church. Whether the pastor was placed there by God or not doesn't enter into the choice. In fact, in most churches it is not God who establishes a pastor but the church board - or so they think! If they don't like a particular Scripture, they just marginalize it saying that was just for Biblical days. What they don't realize is, these are Biblical days! Divorce, abortion, women in authority over men, or creation in just 7 days are all set aside for their preferences. They do not understand God's authority in His statement that He watches over all His word to perform it.

Those who will be in the bride of Christ will be obedient and submissive to what God says and not concerned with ideas of political correctness. They will be watchful. I think this means being prayerful and discerning the times they are in. I know this is vitally important because the devil fights so hard to keep me from doing it! And my flesh is a willing ally.