REVELATION-Chapter Two (c) Bride of Christ

THE FINAL SEPARATION

Raptures, First Fruit Harvest – Full Harvest & Bride of Christ!

Hi, my name is Tom, and this is TheBibleGuy.com. I am introducing the lost End time Time-Line which was hand drawn over 100 years ago by Ira Surface and rediscovered by me 15 years ago.

Chapter Two will be an interlude in three parts; as we are at the raptures of the Gentiles! This is Chapter Two Part (C) The Bride of Christ

In Chapter One on the outline we highlighted the Gentiles in green on the bottom from left to right and the curving up to the first rapture of the Gentiles in Heaven as “The Bride of Christ”. Next you see an arrow highlighted in red pointing to the Anti-Christ then we pick up the green highlighted Gentile line once again curving upward to Heaven as a second rapture of the Gentiles that were “Left Behind”, this is Mid-Tribulation if you will. (See my book: Hope for those Left Behind)

Again, we could stop here and skip the next Seven Years of Tribulation because those of us that are of  the overcoming body of Jesus (Revelation 2-3) and the Bride of Christ (Revelation 4) or The Last Gentile Brothers; The Martyrs under the alter (Revelation Chapter Seven) have been raptured. We spend the rest of our time at the Wedding Feast above while judgement of Tribulation is taking place on the earth below. 

I will continue the second half of the Timeline in Chapter Three but in this chapter I want you to have a grasp on who you are, and what to expect in the very near future. You just had the basic teaching on the two Gentile raptures where we answered the question: why two raptures.  Mainly because so many will miss the first one, secondly God takes no desire in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). But there is a Bible pattern using God’s calendar which defines “appointed times” with the harvest seasons of Israel; First Fruit Harvest and the Full Harvest.

Today let’s cover the order of the raptures with:

The rapture of the Bride of Christ and the Over comers.

I have put a link in the written teaching that will take you to the full teaching of: The Bride of Christ.

(Link Ira Surface First and Last Chapter 3 Laborers in the Vineyard)

INTRODUCTION

Marriage! Some call me a romantic, an idealist or a dreamer who is out of touch with reality but this March 13^th 2024, I am starting my 24^th year of being crazy in love with my wife Sandy Spencer. With this overwhelming desire to be with her every day just to be in her presence, listen to her voice and enjoy her company, I have been given a partial inside glance of how Jesus views His Bride to be.

BASIC BRIDE OF CHRIST TEACHING

1 – A body called out from a body

“And Adam said, this is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”(Genesis 2:23) Notice that Eve was taken from the body of the first Adam, who said, “She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”  Eve was not the body of Adam.  She was of his bone and of his flesh, but she had a distinct individuality.  She became, distinctly, a separate body.  She was made peculiarly separate, that she might be the bride of Adam.  His body could not be his bride.

In the same way the Bride of Christ as a called-out body is in perfect harmony with God’s way and method of doing things. His method has always been to choose a few from the many called.

• He called out Noah and his family into the ark, because He had found Noah righteous; it was merit that gave Noah his place in the ark.
• He called Abraham out because he possessed the necessary element of faith, and He made him a great nation.
• He called Israel out from all the nations of the earth, because they, as a nation, represented those who believed in the true God.
• He chose out of the first-born of Israel, saying, “They shall be Mine.”  Then He chose the tribe of Levi from among the twelve tribes of Israel, and said that they should be for an offering unto the Lord.  This act of God is peculiarly significant, as is seen in Numbers. 8:13-16.  This shows how God chose a tribe from among the tribes, a special choice from a choice.
• The Bride is a called-out body, from a called-out body.  Jesus said, “Many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16).

That is, many will be in the body of Christ, called out of the world; but the few that will be taken out of the body of Christ in a special manner, are the chosen ones.  This chosen company will be composed of those who are prepared for the rapture.  The Bride will be among those who go up in the rapture.  It is not reasonable to say that all who are converted will be classed in the same rank.  It is clearly set forth that the Bride will be chosen by virtue of the cleanness and sanctity of her whole life and being.

2 – Who is the Bride?

– To repeat myself, there is no formula one can follow to become the Bride, as it is an intimate relationship with Jesus, but perhaps you may have several of the following characteristics. Much has been said about the Bride of Christ.  It is evident that she exists somewhere, and is acting in some capacity.  The place nearest to the Bridegroom is the place which is held by the Bride.  The Bride is composed of the full over comers, who are very close in their fellowship with Christ and with each other.  They are also in very near relationship to the Holy Ghost, who transmits to them the precious things of the Bridegroom.

The world has always listened to the message of love; but to the Bride of Christ that message is peculiarly sweet and precious.  Christ, the Bridegroom, speaks to no other as He speaks to His beloved bride. 

– The Son gave Himself for the called-out body, and from it He will choose His Bride. 

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the called-out body, and gave Himself for it; “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

“That He might present it unto Himself a glorious called-out body, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

– The Bride will be only Gentile; remember Israel is already married, and is a wife and not a bride, as is shown by “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: (Jeremiah 3:14, 20)

To catch all of the amazing parallels and symbolism of the Bride of Christ, I recommend purchasing the DVD Before the Wrath.

(Pic of DVD before the Wrath)

3. Friends of the Bridegroom

To the careful student it is plain that the Bride of Christ is not composed of Old Testament saints. In it is recorded that Jesus said; Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. (Matt. 11:11). Yet we find John saying ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. ³⁰ He must increase, but I Must decrease. (John 3:29, 30). Remember Jesus was Jewish speaking to His disciples and about John, the last Old Testament Prophet who was Jewish. The Jews are the friends of the Bridegroom.

• And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:15)
• And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. (Mark 2:19)
• And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? (Luke 5:34)
• He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. (John 3:29)

The Bride of Christ, therefore, was not among the great men of Israel, among whom John was the greatest. It is very precious to know that in that great gathering of the heavenly marriage company there will be such friends as Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, and all those mighty men, who stood so true to God the Father.  It is wonderful to know that the Father has sent the Holy Ghost to bear the words of love from the Son to us, who are Gentiles and so weak and poor in ourselves.  He tells us that the Son loves us in a peculiar sense.

The Son gave Himself for the body, and from it He will choose His Bride. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

4. Details of the Bride

a) – The Bride is a called-out body, from a called-out body.

Jesus said, “Many be called, but few chosen.”  That is, many will be in the saved, called out of the world; but a few, taken out of the body of Christ in a special manner, are the chosen ones.  This chosen company will be composed of those who are prepared for the rapture. 

b) – Bride, Over comers, Tribulation Saints.

You will find this is given on the chart, which shows three orders: the Bride, the Over comers who are not the Bride, and the Tribulation Saints. So we have a people who are called out of the world, who constitute the believing body of Christ; a body called out from those believers, who form the raptured body of over comers; then we still have a chosen body called from among the over comers. These will be the Bride of Christ.

c) – Sanctified: not all  believers will submit to the process of perfecting.

All will not deny themselves, and submit wholly to the Lord; be crucified unto the world, and have the world crucified unto them. “Many are called, but few chosen,” (Matthew 20:16).  Therefore, the Bride will be the few who are chosen out of the body.

 “Sanctified, and cleansed by the word” means that as the word of God operates on us, it reveals our state.  Thus, sanctification and cleansing are a progressive process, so the Bride of Christ is making herself ready. She will be perfected at the resurrection

d) – Patience or Endurance – The Bride never stops, no matter what.

Endurance is one of the requisites John speaks of:  Because you have kept My command to persevere (My word of endurance) I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Revelation 3:10, 11)

e) A Great Love

It is but natural to think that those who will be the Bride of Christ must have a great love for Him-their Bridegroom.  This brings us face to face with a practical fact.  There will be many, at the time of the rapture, who do not love Christ supremely, who nevertheless must be called believers, and members of His body, but we know Jesus expects an unwavering love. A bride who mixes up with other affections and is unfaithful to her lover, will not be worthy of him. She will keep herself ready for His appearing at any moment.

f) Expectancy

This expectancy of Christ’s appearing begets readiness.  Jesus said that one is a faithful and wise servant who does not say in his heart, “My Lord delays His coming.”  We confidently believe that if we are ready to be caught up as the Bride of Christ, we will be ready for anything He has for us.

The Holy Spirit – Develops a militant Bride

This End time Bride must be militant in prayer, and witness; it will be impossible to even stand, let-a-lone be of use in the Kingdom of God in this last hour without DISCERNMENT and POWER of The Holy Spirit!

– “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth  (Acts 8:1)

–  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

–  “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John14:12-18)

Now do you know who The Bride of Christ is?

• Not a fictional person for Jesus, she is a real collective group of people.
• Gentiles not Jews and not composed of Old Testament Saints.
• Born again people in love with Jesus, the Son of our Living God.
• The ones that have submitted to the cleansing & purifying of His Word.
• Not the whole body of Christ but a called-out body, from a called-out body.
• Many are called but she will be chosen from the called by a set of virtues.
• The people that produce the 100 fold in the parable of the Sower and the Seed, not the 60 fold or 30 fold chosen from the same ground or field.
• Prepared for the rapture event that starts the Wedding Feast.
• Will be caught away in the first rapture event.
• The first fruits offering of the barley harvest.
• The ones that say with the Spirit: “Come.” Revelation 22:17.

Next in Chapter 3 we will finish Highlighting the 100 year old Timeline. Remember, while The Earth is preparing for a 7 year Tribulation while Heaven is preparing for a 7 year wedding feast

Please Click for Chapter 3 Finish highlighting the timeline!