It’s hard to imagine that the judgment of the great
prostitute would bring such a roar from heaven and earth, as it did. It took
Babylon’s judgment to separate the wheat from the weeds, and after the fires of
judgment burnt the weeds, the glorious harvest of wheat was available.
Salvation is of God, and not of men, nor men’s programs in churches. And all
those who are saved will praise the Lord after the weeds are separated out.
It is not only for the judgment of the great prostitute that men praise God. It is because now the wedding between the Bride and the Lamb will take place. She has made herself ready and wears fine linen; the righteous deeds of the saints. These deeds were possible when true Christians left the harlot and used their talents for God. Just as the unrighteous were symbolized by the woman called Babylon, the Harlot, and the great prostitute, so the righteous are symbolized as the Bride of Christ.
The angel tells John “blessed are those who invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” The significance of these words is found in Jesus’ parable wherein we learn about the king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son (Mt 22:1-14). Though his servants compelled both good and bad to come to the feast, only the good could stay, “for many are invited, but few are chosen.” Those who did not have wedding garments on, the fine linen of the saints, were cast out “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Those who leave their talents in the Harlot’s possession will not have righteous deeds.
We see the groom, riding on a white horse, coming down from heaven. His name is “Faithful and True” and He has justice on His heart. He has many crowns, signifying his many victories. Paul writes that Christ “must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor 15:25-26) Jesus is about His Father’s business, destroying His enemies. Those that follow him from heaven have overcome their enemies, and wear fine linen. They are the Bride of Christ.
We see the Lamb dressed in a robe dipped in blood. Our Lord’s robe was dipped in blood in the vision from Is 63:1-6. The Lord had come to work vengeance and redemption then, but because no one helped or supported Him, His worked was accomplished through wrath. He tells us that He was “appalled that no one gave support.” God does not choose to work alone, and therefore He gave us His Spirit. By the Holy Spirit we participate with Him by the support of our prayers, and we help by speaking His words and doing His righteous works. God’s Holy Spirit within us is forming a people that are compatible with His nature, a Bride that loves the ways of her Lord. This time when God’s Son comes His faithful servants will be by His side.
And His name is the Word of God. Only God’s word is a worthy weapon to wage war with. Those who have the spirit of prophecy hear God’s word and will stand with Jesus, waging war alongside Him. The Bride of Christ will not be a welcoming hand that beckons all into the Church. She will, like Christ, rule with a rod of iron because the Bride is a body of believers who have overcome (Rev 2:26-27). The rod of iron indicates that the rod which measures Mankind is inflexible and will not compromise. The sharp sword in the Lamb’s mouth “divides the soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:12-13).
It is not only for the judgment of the great prostitute that men praise God. It is because now the wedding between the Bride and the Lamb will take place. She has made herself ready and wears fine linen; the righteous deeds of the saints. These deeds were possible when true Christians left the harlot and used their talents for God. Just as the unrighteous were symbolized by the woman called Babylon, the Harlot, and the great prostitute, so the righteous are symbolized as the Bride of Christ.
The angel tells John “blessed are those who invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” The significance of these words is found in Jesus’ parable wherein we learn about the king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son (Mt 22:1-14). Though his servants compelled both good and bad to come to the feast, only the good could stay, “for many are invited, but few are chosen.” Those who did not have wedding garments on, the fine linen of the saints, were cast out “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Those who leave their talents in the Harlot’s possession will not have righteous deeds.
We see the groom, riding on a white horse, coming down from heaven. His name is “Faithful and True” and He has justice on His heart. He has many crowns, signifying his many victories. Paul writes that Christ “must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor 15:25-26) Jesus is about His Father’s business, destroying His enemies. Those that follow him from heaven have overcome their enemies, and wear fine linen. They are the Bride of Christ.
We see the Lamb dressed in a robe dipped in blood. Our Lord’s robe was dipped in blood in the vision from Is 63:1-6. The Lord had come to work vengeance and redemption then, but because no one helped or supported Him, His worked was accomplished through wrath. He tells us that He was “appalled that no one gave support.” God does not choose to work alone, and therefore He gave us His Spirit. By the Holy Spirit we participate with Him by the support of our prayers, and we help by speaking His words and doing His righteous works. God’s Holy Spirit within us is forming a people that are compatible with His nature, a Bride that loves the ways of her Lord. This time when God’s Son comes His faithful servants will be by His side.
And His name is the Word of God. Only God’s word is a worthy weapon to wage war with. Those who have the spirit of prophecy hear God’s word and will stand with Jesus, waging war alongside Him. The Bride of Christ will not be a welcoming hand that beckons all into the Church. She will, like Christ, rule with a rod of iron because the Bride is a body of believers who have overcome (Rev 2:26-27). The rod of iron indicates that the rod which measures Mankind is inflexible and will not compromise. The sharp sword in the Lamb’s mouth “divides the soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:12-13).
No comments:
Post a Comment