Who is the Bride of Christ?
A GLORIFIED BRIDE
When Jesus returns at His second coming, He will return for a glorious church. In Ephesians 5:26-27 it is written:- "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church ..."
One characteristic of the Bride of Christ is she will be a Bride of glory. In Revelation 21:9-11 it is written:- "... Come, hither, I will show you the bride, the lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God ..."
In one application, the Bible is the story of the glory. There is a pattern repeated in the Bible many times. God desires to dwell with His people. When God dwells with His people, His glory is manifested among His people and upon His people. However, because of man's sin in the presence of the glory of God, the glory of God departs from among and upon His people. In spite of this, because of the mercy and love of God, whenever God's people repent and serve HIM with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, God's glory returns among and upon His people.Because of God's desire to dwell with man and His glory to be among and upon His people, God has promised that in the fullness of time, He will completely redeem man. When this redemption is fully complete, God will create a new heaven and a new earth and God will dwell forever in the presence of His redeemed people. When this happens, the glory of God will be forever among God's people and upon God's people. In Revelation 21:1-3, 9-11, 22-23 it is written:- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were put away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God ... 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 here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal ... And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
Let us outline this Biblical truth that the Bible is the story of the glory of God. Let us understand that God desires for His glory to dwell among His people and upon His people. By doing so, we can understand that Jesus will return at His second coming for a glorious Bride.- When Adam was made in the image of God in the Garden of Eden, He was crowned with the glory of God (Psalm 8:5-6). The glory of God is the manifested presence of God.
- When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, the glory of God departed from Adam and Adam hid himself from the presence of God (Genesis 3:8).
- Because God desired a special people in the earth who would have the glory of God upon them, God called Abraham and made a covenant with him.
- The covenant that God made with Abraham was passed to Isaac and then to Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. The nation of Israel inherited the covenant that God made with Abraham at Mount Sinai. (Genesis 17:19, 21, 26:15, 28:1-4, 10-15, Exodus 19:1-3).
- God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt because of the covenant that He made with Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14, Exodus 2:23-25).
- At Mount Sinai, God married the nation of Israel by betrothing Himself to them (Jeremiah 2:1-3).
- After God betrothed himself to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9). The glory of God appeared in the tabernacle and was among and upon God's people (Exodus 25:8-9, 40:33-38, Leviticus 9:23).
- During this time of Moses and Joshua, the glory of God was among and upon the children of Israel (Ezekiel 16:1-14).
- Just as the glory of God appeared in the Tabernacle, David desired to build a tabernacle so that God could dwell with His people and His glory could be manifested among and upon them (I Chronicles 28).
- Because David was a man of war, He was not allowed to build the Temple. Instead, God chose Solomon. After Solomon completed building the Temple, the glory of God filled the Temple (I Kings 6:1, 7:51, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, 7:1-3).
- However, because of sin, the glory of God departed from the Temple and the nation of Israel went into captivity (Jeremiah 2:1-13,19-20, 31-32, 25:12, 2 Kings 25:1, 8-9).
- Ezra and Nehemiah return from the Babylonian captivity with a desire to rebuild the Temple of God. God commanded this Temple to be built so that His glory would be manifested among and upon His people (Haggai 1:1-8).
- However, the glory of God departed from the second Temple due to the sins of the people. When Jesus dwelt on the earth, He was the glory of God and the Temple of God manifested in the flesh (John 1:14, 2:19-21).
- When Jesus returns at His second coming, the third Temple will be rebuilt and the Bride of Christ will rule and reign with Jesus on the earth for 1,000 years from the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 6:11-13, Revelation 5:10, 20:6, Isaiah 2:2-3).
- During this time, the glory of God will fill the third Temple (Ezekiel 40:1-4, 41:1; 43:1-5, 44:4).
- When the 1,000-year Messianic Age is over, the Bride of Christ will be with the Messiah forever in the New Jerusalem. At this time, God will dwell with His people and the glory of God will be dwelling among and upon God's people. The new Jerusalem will be lit by the glory of God. (Revelation 21:1-3, 9-10, 22-23).
When Adam was made in the image of God in the Garden of Eden, he was crowned with the glory of God. In Psalm 8:4-5 it is written:- "What is man that you are mindful of him? And the son of man that you visit him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels and have crowned him with glory and honor."
Man was made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27 it is written:- "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them."
When Adam was made in the image of God and was crowned with the glory of God, he had the following characteristics:- Adam had the indwelling presence of God's Spirit.
- The power of God's Spirit was resting upon Adam.
- Adam was clothed with the glory of God.
- Adam was made king over God's creation and was ruling and reigning as a king in the "Kingdom of God."
Adam was given dominion over the earth when he was made in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). When Adam named all the animals, he showed his authority (as a king) over all of God's creation (Genesis 2:19-20). Biblically, there is a spiritual truth that by having a name over an entity, you have authority over that entity. By going to the cross and dying for our sins, Jesus has been given a name above all names (Philippians 2:8-11). For this reason, Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) and Jesus is the King over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9).THE GLORY OF GOD DEPARTED
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden after being tempted by Satan, the glory of God departed from them and Adam hid himself from the presence of God. The glory of God is the manifested presence of God. In Genesis 3:6-8 it is written:- "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened ... And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."
Eve was deceived by Satan when she was tempted but Adam was not. In 1 Timothy 2:13-14 it is written:- "For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
Because of Adam's sin, the crown was removed from Adam's head. Adam lost his position as king over God's creation and Satan became the god of this world. As a result of Adam's sin, the kingdom of God was withdrawn from Adam and Eve and the glory of God departed from them. They no longer had the indwelling presence of God, they no longer had the power of the Holy Spirit resting upon them and they no longer were living in the manifested presence of God. God's glory was Adam and Eve's clothing (protection and covering). Adam and Eve were naked without the presence of the glory of God both physically and spiritually.Because of this event, Satan was cursed by God above all things. God promised Eve that through childbirth, a redeemer would be born who would restore God's fellowship with man. In Genesis 3:15 it is written:- "And I (God) will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
In 1 Timothy 2:14-15 it is written:- "And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing ... ."
Through the redeeming work of the Messiah, God promised to once again have a people in the earth who would have the glory of God among and upon them. When the redemption is fully completed, this special people will be the Bride of Christ.Because God desired a special people in the earth who would have the glory of God upon them, God called Abraham and made a covenant with him. This covenant was physical and it was spiritual. The covenant that God made with Abraham was not only with Abraham but also with the descendants of Abraham. In Genesis 17:7 it is written:- "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee,and to thy seed after thee."
The physical descendants of Abraham are the children of Israel. The spiritual descendants of Abraham are all those who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In Galations 3:16, 29 it is written:- "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ ... And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."
The covenant that God made with Abraham was passed to Isaac and then to Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. The nation of Israel inherited the covenant that God made with Abraham through the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.The covenant that God made with Abraham was first passed to Isaac. In Genesis 17:19 it is written:- "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him."
God reiterated His promise to Isaac in Genesis 26:1-3 as it is written:- "And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the Lord appeared to him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father "
From Abraham, the covenant that God made with him was passed to Isaac and then to Jacob. In Genesis 28:10,13-14 it is written:- "And Jacob went out of Beersheba, and went toward Haran. ... And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you lie, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."
Later, God reiterated His promise to Jacob and changed his name to Israel. In Genesis 35:9-12 it is written:- "And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of your loins. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land."
TO THE CHILDREN OF JACOB
Jacob has twelve sons who become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Genesis 49:1-28, Jacob blesses his twelve sons. In Genesis 49:28 it is written:- "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them."
At Mount Sinai, the covenant that God made with Abraham is extended to the twelve tribes of Jacob, the children of Israel. In Exodus 19:1,3 it is written:- "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day, came they into the wilderness of Sinai ... And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel."
WITH ABRAHAM
God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt because of the covenant that He made with Abraham. In Genesis 15:13-14 it is written:- "And he (God) said unto Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great subtance. "
God called Moses on behalf of the covenant that God made with Abraham. In Exodus 2:23-25 it is written:- "And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. "
Moses delivered the children of Israel from Egypt by the mighty hand of God. After God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and the rulership of Pharaoh, God instructed Moses to take the children of Israel to Mount Sinai. In Exodus 3:1, 11-12 it is written:- "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb ... And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharoah, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with you: and this shall be a token unto you, that I have sent you: When you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain."
In Exodus 19:1-3, Moses brought the house of Jacob, the children of Israel, to Mount Sinai to serve God.ISRAEL AT MOUNT SINAI
At Mount Sinai, God betrothed Himself to the children of Israel and entered into a marriage contract with them. In Jeremiah 2:1-3 it is written:- "Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land, that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend, evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord."
When Moses was on Mount Sinai, God revealed His glory to Moses and the children of Israel. In Exodus 24:15-18 it is written:- "And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and get him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights."
After God betrothed Himself to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle. In Exodus 25:8-9 it is written:- "And let them make me a sanctuary: that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it."
The glory of God appeared in the tabernacle and was among and upon God's people. In Exodus 40:33-35 it is written:- "And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. "
During the time of the Tabernacle, all the people were able to see the glory of God. In Leviticus 9:23 it is written:- "And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people."
During the time of Moses and Joshua, the glory of God was among and upon the children of Israel. Through the mighty hand of God, the glory of God was upon His people and was manifested through His people for all the nations of the earth to witness. In Ezekiel 16:8-14 it is written:- "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love: and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered your nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with you, says, the Lord God; and you became mine. Then washed I you with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod thee with badgers skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. You were decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceedingly beautiful, and you did prosper unto a kingdom. And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, says the Lord God."
Just as Adam was crowned with the glory of God and the glory of God departed from Adam because of sin, the glory of God also departed from the children of Israel, the betrothed of God, because of sin. In Ezekiel 16:15-16 it is written:- "But you did trust in your own beauty and played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications on every one that passed by, his it was; And of the garments did take and deck your high places with divers colors, and played the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. "
The glory of God that was among and upon the children of Israel after God redeemed them from Egypt and gave them the tabernacle through Moses departed when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant was taken when the sons of Eli, the priests of the Lord, did not know the Lord and committed sexual sins with many women at the door of the tabernacle. In I Samuel 2:12, 22 at is written:- "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord ... Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Because of sin, the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant. Following the capture of the ark of the covenant, the daughter-in-law of Eli has a child and names the son, Ichabod. In I Samuel 4:21-22 it is written:- "And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel because the ark of God is taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, the glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."
Just as the glory of God appeared in the Tabernacle after it was completed, David desired to build a tabernacle so that God could dwell with His people and His glory could be manifested among and upon them. However, because David was a man of war, he was not allowed to build the Temple. Instead, God chose Solomon. In 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6,11-13 it is written:- "Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood ... And he said to me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father ... Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things. Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord. "
After Solomon completed building the Temple, glory of God filled the Temple. InI Kings 6:1, 7:51, it is written:
- "And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord ... so was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessesl, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord. "
In 2 Chronicles 5:2, 13-14 it is written:- " Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion ... It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord saying, For he is good; and his mercy endures forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God."
SOLOMON'S TEMPLE BECAUSE OF SIN
Because of sin, the glory of God departed from Solomon's Temple and the nation of Israel went into captivity. In Jeremiah 2:4-13, 32 it is written:- "Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, Where is the Lord? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore, I will yet plead with you, says the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water ... Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number."
Because of these things, the Northern Kingdom was taken captive by Assyria (II Kings 17:7-23). The Southern Kingdom was taken captive to Babylon (II Kings 25:1, 8-9).TO REBUILD GOD'S TEMPLE
Ezra and Nehemiah return from the Babylonian captivity with a desire to rebuild the Temple of God. God commanded this Temple to be built so that His glory would be manifested among and upon His people. In Haggai 1:2-8 it is written:- "Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; ye drink, but you are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord."
EXCEEDED SOLOMON'S TEMPLE
The glory of the second Temple exceeded Solomon's Temple. In Haggai 2:6-9 it is written:- "For thus says the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace says the Lord of hosts."
MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH
However, the glory of God departed from the second Temple due to the sins of the people. When Jesus dwelt on the earth, He was the glory of God and the Temple of God manifested in the flesh. In John 1:14, 2:19-21 it is written:- "And the Word was made, flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth ... Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body."
DEPARTED DUE TO SIN
Because of sin and spiritual blindness, the people of God as a CORPORATE people did not receive Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. Therefore, the second Temple of God was destroyed and the glory of God departed from it. In Luke 19:41-44 it is written:- "And when he (Jesus) was come near, he beheld the city (Jerusalem), and wept over it, Saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong unto your peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and your children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation."
THE THIRD TEMPLE
When Jesus returns at His second coming, the third Temple will be rebuilt and the Bride of Christ will rule and reign with Jesus on the earth for 1,000 years from the city of Jerusalem. In Zechariah 6:11-13 it is written:- "Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH (A term for the Messiah) and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."
When Jesus returns, He will rule on the earth for 1,000 years. In Revelation 20:6it is written:- "Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
The Bride of Christ will rule and reign with Jesus during these 1,000 years. In Revelation 5:10 it is written:- "And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
The Bride of Christ will reign with Jesus during the 1,000-year Messianic Age and will teach the Torah from Jerusalem. In Isaiah 2:2-3 it is written:- "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
During the Messianic Age, the glory of God will fill the third Temple. In Ezekiel 43:1-5, 44:4 it is written:- "Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east: And, behold, the power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
The Bride of Christ will rule and reign with Jesus during these 1,000 years. In Revelation 5:10 it is written:- "And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
The Bride of Christ will reign with Jesus during the 1,000-year Messianic Age and will teach the Torah from Jerusalem. In Isaiah 2:2-3 it is written:- "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
During the Messianic Age, the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. In Habakkuk 2:14 it is written:- "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. "
THE GLORY OF GOD
When the 1,000-year Messianic Age is over, the Bride of Christ will be with the Messiah forever in the New Jerusalem. At this time, God will dwell with His people and the glory of God will be dwelling among and upon God's people. The new Jerusalem will be lit by the glory of God. In Revelation 21:1-3, 9-11, 22-23 it is written:- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God ... 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 here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal ... And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
THE TABERNACLE AND TEMPLE OF GOD
Spiritually, those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior are the Tabernacle and the Temple of God. Our bodies are the Temple of God. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20 it is written:- "Know ye not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ... What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's."
The believers in Jesus as Messiah are called the tabernacle of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-3 it is written:- "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked."
BELIEVERS WHO PRACTICE SIN
Just as the glory of God departed from the Tabernacle and the Temple because of sin, God's glory will not be manifested in our lives if we do not purify our lives and our walk with God. In 1 Corinthians 3:17 it is written:- "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
In 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 it is written:- "Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall then take the members of Christ , and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, says he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
COMMANDED TO LIVE HOLY LIVES
The believers in Jesus as Messiah are commanded by God to live holy lives unto Him. In 2 Timothy 2:19-22 it is written:- "Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. "
THE CORPORATE CHURCH
Because the church of Jesus Christ does not make the Kingdom of God the highest priority but rather is entangled in the cares of this present world, the manifested glory of God has departed from the corporate church. Historically, when the nation of Israel suffered from the same condition, their enemies ruled over them and they were in reproach. This is the condition today in the Body of Messiah. The world no longer has any respect or reverence for God or the people of God. Therefore, the cry from the world to the people of God is, "Where is your God?" However, if the people of God repent of their sins and turn to God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, God will take away the reproach of His people and God will pour out His glory upon His church. In Joel 2:12-17 it is written:- "Therefore also now, says the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger, and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil. Who knows if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?"
When God's people cry out to God and repent of their sins, God will pour out His Spirit in a mighty way for all the world to see prior to the second coming of Jesus. In Joel 2:18-19, 28-29 it is written:- "Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen ... And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
THE GLORY OF GOD UPON HIS PEOPLE
When this happens, the outpouring of God's Spirit will be so mighty and so powerful that nations and kings and all the rulers on the earth will see it. During this time, God will take away the reproach of His people and God will manifest His glory among and upon those who are serving Him with a pure heart. In Isaiah 60:1-3 it is written:- "Arise, shine: for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSAMANE
Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsamane that the glory of God would be upon His people. Jesus prayed that His believers would do greater works than He did. InJohn 14:12-13 it is written:- "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever you ask in my name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Jesus prayed that God would pour out His glory upon His believers so that the world would know that God sent Him into the earth. In John 17:20-23 it is written:- "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me."
A GLORIFIED BRIDE
From these passages, we can see that the glory of God will be upon the Bride of Christ whenever it is time for the Bride to be married to Jesus, the Bridegroom. This glory will be seen by all nations during a time of great darkness upon the earth (Isaiah 60:1-3). During this time, God will refine and purify His Bride and Jesus will return for a glorified Bride (Ephesians 5:26-27). Then, God's glorified Bride will be resurrected and receive glorified bodies. The same glory that raised Jesus from the dead will be the same glory by which the Bride of Christ will be resurrected, raptured and glorified (Romans 6:4, 8:11,1 Corinthians 15:35-43).
No comments:
Post a Comment