The Invitation/ Perfected/ Made Rapture-Ready

Some Do’s & Dont’s For The Bride

Matt. 24, Mk. 13, Lk. 21 September 1, 1999

“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.
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.
And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Rev 19:7-9

Well now, one might ask: Who is this “Bride of Christ?” How can I be a part of “that number”? The requirements are scattered throughout the entire Word of God. Unfortunately, the concept of the Bride of Christ is thrown about with varying degrees of regularity but very little is ever actually taught or encouraged among the churches or within professing Christianity today. The Bride of Christ and all conditions of Brideship are among the mysteries of the gospel which Jesus preached and taught to His initiates (those truly born-again) during His First Coming. These mysteries of the faith were expounded upon in subsequent writings and letters of the New Testament. The actualization of these mysteries will be realized in full, at and beyond His Second Coming. Their manifestation on an earthly plane will take place during what is commonly called the Millennium. As explained in the article: The Mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, these mysteries are not optional truths for the enjoyment of the believer which one can take or leave on their own whim. They cannot be subservient to casual curiosity to the lame soul or be placed in the box of ‘things to get to’ at the discretion of the lackluster believer who spends all his time and energy at the expense of zeal for the gospel. The mysteries are sacred and should be received and handled with reverence and care all the days of the life of a born-again believer. The mystery of the Bride and her journey to wholesome brideship is prime. The mystery of the Bride, as with all mysteries of the Gospel, has ‘imposed rites of truth’ which are obligatory truths to be ingested into the faith and the stilts upon which our walk of faith is elevated in the soul. Alas, the fact is, few make any mention of these things at all and could not care less about such things that do not pertain to their carnal lazy spiritual lives and their ‘what’s in it for me’ theology of personal prosperity. These matters of spiritual mystery require, even demand, a desire for true holiness and righteousness and this sort of stuff is a very unpopular subject with anyone who is inclined to believe that Christ died for them on the cross solely so they could get all manner of blessings in this temporary life. There are many counterfeits, but true holiness is avoided like the plague, for it means dying to self and finding out what God wants instead. It means being tutored by the Holy Ghost and becoming a true ‘son of God’ by walking in the Spirit. But let us go on unto this perfection…

In this place of our website we shall dare to list the Scriptures that help identify those who are inhabiting and living the mystery of the “Bride of Christ”. They may be identified in part as “called out ones”, for we are commanded to “come out from among them, be separate and touch not the unclean thing” 2 Cor 6:17. I will also cite some of the characteristics that make up the chosen, or members of that special bridal party. We will set the stage for this segment by reviewing the questions most on the minds of Jesus’ closest circle of friends.

In Matthew 24:3-5 we find this account: “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?”. Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ: and shall deceive many.” Another account of the same happening is in Mark 13:5 and 6 where Jesus is recorded as having said the same exact words as those quoted from Matt 24:5. And in Luke 21:8 we also find; “…For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” This urging by Jesus certainly gives a strong indication of the present nearness of that time Jesus’ friends wanted to know about. The mail, airwaves, movie theaters, televisions, concert halls, parks and meeting places of cults, whisper secrets of messianic pretenders. Rumors fly of false Christs or saviours who seduce the masses, as well as those who say they are Christ’s head spokesman in His absence. May the reader be warned!

The following is a small sampling of the “false messiahs” in our own times. “The Children of God” cult sprung up in the 60’s and 70’s boasting David “Moses” Berg as the great prophet for the “last days”. Susan Atkins, a Charles Manson disciple spending life in prison for her part in the 1969 murders of a group of Hollywood celebrities, in her book, Child of Satan, Child of God, confessed this of him, “I felt I had met the world’s savior.” Still fresh in all of our minds is David Koresh and the Waco tragedy. He convinced his believers that he was the “messiah”. The Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church is another version of a “false messiah”. He has testified publicly, although he doesn’t call himself the Messiah, that his followers believe in him. “I have the possibility of becoming the real ‘Messiah, he said. We only scratched the surface of all the false prophets, teachers and messiahs that are loose in the world today. No wonder Jesus placed them at the head of his list. The list only grows: Vissarion, Quiboloy, Miranda, Applewhite and others claim to be Christ in the flesh or some other messiah like figure.

As in Noah’s time people were warned for 120 years through his preaching, we have been warned through God’s Word, the Bible. One thing which is certain to keep us from being a part of the “bride of Christ” is anything to do with idolatry. In John’s first epistle he concludes with this: “And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” 1 Jn 5:20-21 See our page on False Messiahs in our time.

Jesus also admonishes us on several occasions of the dangers of having any fellowship with false religion or idolatry. Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 warns;

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Not only are we warned by Paul as he wrote to the Corinthians, but also in Revelation 18:3-5, where we see the exposure and fall of Babylon the great;

“For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues.
For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

Become detached from the World Jesus warns us on several occasions to make certain we are ready for the Bridegroom at His coming, when the trumpet sounds. It is up to us to find out what the requirements for brideship are and then make certain we are prepared, just as a bride must make herself ready through preparation. The advice of Jesus on this subject is, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt 24:44. In Luke 21:34-36 He instructs in this way;

Do See that you are ready; Watch and Pray

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Jesus also tells us how He will come when the time arrives for Him to snatch up His bride and carry her away to the wedding. He let us know that He will come suddenly when He does come. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev 3:11 In I Thessalonians 5:2 Paul reminds us; “…For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” Although He expects us to be ready, Jesus did warn us that; “…no man knoweth the day nor the hour, only the Father!”, when He, Jesus, will be given the signal from His Father to catch His bride away. We are told that not even the angels of heaven know when this day will be, so how could we? But we can know by the signs that the time is drawing near.

In chapters 24 of Matthew and 17 of Luke, Jesus cautions us concerning the last days, He likens those days unto the days of Noah. In Luke 17:29-30 He also warns us of Lot and Sodom’s destruction in comparison with the days just before His return. He says; “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” We are admonished not to be attached to anything if we happen to be living at that time when the Son of man is revealed and catches His bride away. “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.” Luke 17:31

In the very next verse we find a very subtle but very important requirement for this event. It is our Lord’s way of telling us we must be detached from the world and the things of this world. He simply says, “Remember Lot’s wife.” She looked back toward that evil city of Sodom and it brought her destruction. Her outcome fit her heart. She worshiped the world and preferred it to God. Her act of looking back was idolatry! What she practiced she became – a statue (a pillar of salt) like unto a graven image, the epitome of idolatry. Remember, just before reminding us of Lot’s wife, Jesus plainly tells us don’t be attached to anything. When the time comes, we must not go down, go back, or look back, only look up and go upward to meet our redemption in the air!!! We must press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ.

Just in case someone might not want to believe that some believers will be taken and others left behind at the time of this thrilling event, the Rapture, Jesus gave us this teaching in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 to emphasize the reality of this important truth. Our Lord and Saviour made sure there was no misunderstanding on this matter by spelling it out succinctly: “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Luke 17:34-35 “Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Luke 17:36 “Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Matt 24:40-41 In the Luke 17:33 account, sandwiched in between “remember Lot’s wife” and the truth about one being taken and one being left, we find this; “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” If we are willing to give up our lives and our own wills and give them over to Him, to die to ourselves and put our lives in His hands, our lives shall be saved. Not only saved but saved from the horrors that are to come upon the world. This is a clear reference to the “catching up” of the bride. Those who have been willing to do it God’s way and lay down their lives to him, are caught up; the others are left behind.

When Jesus is revealed in the clouds, if you are like Lot’s wife and are too attached to this world, if there are idols in your life, i.e. homes, clothes, jobs, religion, wife, husband, friends, cars, fun, or even children, others will be taken and you will be left behind, wherever you are – in bed, at work or any other place you might be.

Jesus says to his favorite Church, Philadelphia – “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

SOME DO’S & DON’TS OF THE RAPTURE

Do Put on Righteousness and be Arrayed in Fine Linen.

Only those who have put on righteousness shall be part of the firstfruits resurrection as disclosed in Revelation 14. They will be the select group of believers who actually attained to the mark of the prize of the ‘high’ calling of God in Christ Jesus’, as described in 1 Corinthians 9:24 & Philippians 3:14. The Bride is the one depicted wearing fine linen in Rev. 19:8. Those raptured are those select brides of Christ. The multitudes of others will be resurrected at points afterwards, during and after the Tribulation, If one wants to avoid the Tribulation one will do what is righteous by giving their life to Christ and dying to self according to the wisdom of revealed Scripture.

Don’t Touch the Unclean Thing

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
And what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 14-18

Don’t Fall for False Christ’s

Those aspiring to be Raptured will not walk in both worlds or be content to walk lamely by dabbling knowingly in unrighteous behaviors. If these are occurring, knowingly or not, the doer shall have no part in the Rapture.

Do Come Out and be Separate

We must be come out and separated from the world and all that opposes God and His righteousness. Do the right thing and not what the world is saying is our right and option. To walk solely with Christ means to be isolated not only from the world and Satan’s minions, but our own ‘flesh’. The flesh being our carnal propensity to do our own will rather than the will of God. Come away from all three opponents of God and be separated.