?"The Last Bride"
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Revelation 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
What follows this verse is a description of the New Jerusalem in all it's radiant splendor, coming down out of the heavens. Staggering visions of enormous gates made of singular pearls, and foundation stones of precious and semi-precious stones that are hundreds of miles in dimension, and streets paved with gold so pure that it is clear as glass. This is the new home for the bride of Jesus Christ?-- the church. Those of us who name the name of Jesus and are His disciples, or bond-servants, will live with Him in this place that He has spent a very long time preparing for us.
In the time of Christ, it would be typical for a young man to spend a period of time building an addition on to his father's home to prepare for His bride. Then, at any time, he could call his groomsmen and call for his bride, who had a obligation to be ready. This is replete with similarities for the church.
Revelation 7:9,10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and all peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white linen robes, with palm branches in their hands; and they cried out with a loud voice saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
The church standing before Jesus, finally face to face, we are permitted to express our adoration and our thanks. They day of our redemption is completed, and we have entered our home. Who of us is not, at times, homesick? This world and the plans that spin before our eyes, and the thoughts and intents of men who do not know Jesus and think they are wise enough, powerful enough, or whatever to tell everyone to walk and talk and eat and blink as they do, or be left out of the game. So sad to know that when the music stops, the chair they think is rightfully theirs, will be taken from them by One they cannot argue against. And we will walk past them into glory, with nothing to brag of in ourselves, but supported and defended by Jesus Christ and His love, grace and mercy. Be encouraged my friends. I cheated and read the end?¡ Jesus shares the mightiest victory of all time and eternity with us, His bride.
Revelation 7:13,14 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these dressed in white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Jesus warned us that in this world, we would have tribulation. He quickly encourages us not to worry, because He has overcome the world. All the schemes of the world and its leadership, spun in Hell by the enemy and his angels to thwart the end they knew could not be finally withheld, are for naught and are finally unraveling. My robes are tattered and torn and stained with my best efforts. All our righteousness are like filthy rags, literally menstrual cloths, making us unclean and unholy. By sinking my robes in Jesus' blood, they are replaced with pure thoughts and actions. Jesus shares His righteousness with me, so that I can be made holy and acceptable through no effort of my own.
?Lord Jesus,?I stand in awe that You in your holiness, see me as a member of Your bride, becoming completely prepared and adorned for You. It is so hard to see me as You see me. But, thank You for Your provision toward the end, and never giving up on me. You have promised to complete the work You have begun in me. I look forward to the day when I will be as You already see me and the day we will all be at home with You. Amen
