The Spirit and the Bride Say, Come.: Revelation 22:17

By Susan Gutknecht

Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

What is the end of the age? What is the wedding supper? Are you prepared? Like us, the apostles asked those very questions. In the Bible, the wedding supper refers to what will happen at the end of the age.

Jesus answered by telling the apostles the parable of the ten virgins, a reference to those on earth who know about the end of days. He advised the apostles that only half of those who know the end is coming will be prepared; only half of those who know about the end of days will have enough oil to keep their lamps burning through the long night of waiting. The other half will be at the market looking for oil and will miss the coming of Jesus.

That would mean half of the people who know that Jesus is coming back are not prepared for his return.

We need to gather oil for our lamps throughout our lives through prayer, through reading the Bible. The Holy Spirit was sent to prepare us for the wedding supper.

Does God still perform miracles or speak to His people?

At the age of four, I clearly heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say to me, You can have joy in your life if you walk with me. This is a personal testimony of how the Lord heals the ones He loves, walks with us, and surrounds us with His peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490865874

Susan Gutknecht

The author lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children. Diagnosed of Multiple Sclerosis on her Wedding Anniversary drew her closer to the Lord.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 Susan Gutknecht.

Book illustrations by Cora Gutknecht and Stephanie Gutknecht

Front cover illustration by Carol Golembiewski

Poetry by Susan Gutknecht

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-6588-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6589-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6587-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900369

WestBow Press rev. date: 3/2/2015

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Jesus is coming for His bride. Are you ready?

Poem: The bride and the Holy Spirit say, come

Chapter 2: Who is the foolish virgin and why don’t they have oil?

Poem: God the Father questions the foolish virgin

Chapter 3: Worldly influence

Poem: We are in the world but not of the world

Chapter 4: Idolatry—clinging to one’s sinful nature

Poem: What becomes of the idolatrous nation?

Chapter 5: The gates of hell will not prevail!

Poem: Make love your daily choice.

Chapter 6: Crushed and then released by repentance

Poem: Crushed by Sin, but released by grace

Chapter 7: The wedding clothes

Poem: The wedding clothes

Chapter 8: Provisions

Poem: Provisions of God are strong and mighty

Chapter 9: God’s refinement

Poem: God rebuilds the country heart by heart

Chapter 10: The bride of Christ and the mother of Christ

Poem: The bride of Christ and the mother of Christ

Chapter 11: Israel is proof God’s word is true

Poem: Look to Israel for the proof that God’s word is true!

Chapter 12: Have compassion and snatch from the flames

Poem: Broken potsherds

Chapter 13: A relationship must have an exchange of communication

Poem: The language of love exchanged

Chapter 14: The bride price is paid in full

Poem: The bride price is paid in full

Chapter 15: Draw close to God and God will draw close to you

Poem: Draw close to God and God will draw close to you

Chapter 16: Preparations for the Wedding

Poem: The bride has made herself ready

Appendix

Endnotes

Bibliography

The Spirit and the bride say Come is dedicated to:

The Trinity of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is their love that made this book possible and without their love, there would be no reason to write.

Thank you to all my prayer partners at 26th and Kilburn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Without your encouragement and prayers, this book would never have taken shape. All of you are always in my heart, and the time we spent in the prayer closet will forever enrich my spirit and mind. I thank God for each and every one of you.

This book is also dedicated to my husband, Steven, and my children Stephanie, Adam, and Cora, and my beloved step-daughter, Lisa Segura. Since I’m a verbal processor, they have had to hear, and hear, and hear this book before it became published. Thank you for your support—you are my life and I love you so very much.

Preface

T his book has been written to glorify God. It has come from meditations and prayers, and from searching the meaning of Scripture with the aid of the Holy Spirit. This is a product of pure love and devotion shared through the Spirit of God and the author. He has revealed so many awe-inspiring moments through this process of how God’s devotion washes over us and changes us from within.

God makes it clear in the Holy Bible the path to Him is narrow and the path to destruction broad and wide. He sent prophets, preachers, apostles, His only begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit to teach us how to get to know Him. He has stretched out His hand throughout time, to reach all those who would believe in Him through the Messiah.

In Matthew 24, Jesus warned his followers not to be deceived. Many will come in the power of His name and claim to be Christ. There will be many who will be led astray by these false Christs at the end of the age. He advised there would be wars and rumor of wars. Jesus instructs His followers to not be alarmed; these things need to take place. There would be famines and earthquakes in various places and nation will rise against nation. These are just the birth pangs, according to Jesus. Then those who believe in Jesus will be persecuted and handed over for tribulation and persecution. Watching the news, it is easy to see that everything in Matthew 24 is regularly in the news. While talking to His disciples, Jesus said after all these signs come to pass,

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:9-14).

Jesus compared the end of the age to the parable of ten virgins waiting for a wedding feast. In Ancient Israel, there was a tradition when a man and woman became engaged there would be a time of preparation for the bride and the groom. The groom would go and build a home for his bride on his father’s property. The bride and her wedding party would prepare for the wedding ceremony; she would get ready to become a wife. Once the home was built according to the father’s satisfaction, the father would tell the son he should go and collect the bride. The groom would usually come late at night to collect his bride and her attendants for the wedding. The wedding party had to be ready, in their wedding clothes, and with lamps and oil for the journey to the wedding feast. They needed oil to keep their lamps burning through the long nights of waiting and for the journey through the darkness to keep their lamps lit because the wedding party came with the bride through the darkness until they reached the place of the wedding feast.

In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus compared the end of the age to a wedding in that those who are waiting for His return need to be prepared for his second coming. Some will be prepared for his coming and some will be left behind because they don’t have a relationship with the Son of the Living God. Jesus the Bridegroom is presented in a format of pure devotion to His bride (the church). The Holy Spirit is discussed throughout this book as He prepares the bride in love so that He can present a pure virgin full of devotion for her Bridegroom. The oil in the lamp is representation of faith and provisions God provides to those who seek Him. I pray that all who read this book will be transformed by the deep love God has for us.

Jesus said He died for the world and He also said you must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. You must seek the Kingdom of God before all else. This is why the book opens with the ten virgin parables. Half of the virgins waiting for the Bridegroom were unprepared for his arrival so they are left behind when they have to go out and seek the provisions for their oil lamps. Meanwhile Jesus comes and the Bridal party is led away to the Wedding Celebration. My dear reader, you picked up this book and scanned this page as a divine appointment. Don’t miss your appointment to get the oil for your lamp.

The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul said He wanted to present a spotless and pure bride to Christ. The bride of Christ is the Church, and each person is a stone that builds the congregation or body. One person at a time needs to be built up and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Cornerstone, the Bedrock of the church, the Bridegroom that is spiritual leader and high priest.

We live in a time when corruption and immoral behavior is widely accepted as the norm. However, the righteous are to shine like a beacon on a hill. How many people who are sitting in our churches, are still being led astray by false doctrine? The Lord says that we are to be watching in every age. So let’s look at our age with a sober eye.

The first part of the book looks at the individual stones in the church, then the book expands into the relationship between the bride and Israel. Finally, it leads a call for us as Christians to go back to worshiping with the pure love of God. The church is planted all over the world. We should pray for the land where we are planted as well as for the church all over the world.

CHAPTER 1

Jesus is coming for His bride. Are you ready?

The bride and the Holy Spirit say, come

The Lost need to be called into the Kingdom.

Hark the Bridegroom is coming, He is coming,

Prepare the way, for the Bridegroom is coming.

He is coming for his bride who has been prepared for Him.

The bride and the Holy Spirit attend the wedding reception.

She is loved and she is His beloved.

He is her friend and her beloved.

He has washed away her sins and clothed her with his own righteousness.

She pants for his love; she longs for her Bridegroom to come.

He has adorned her with a clean gown of purity.

He has given her jewels and adorned her with beauty and His glory.

She is humbled by His pure devotion to her.

She is presented without stain or wrinkle because of His sacrifice.

The Bridegroom comes to take His bride to her wedding.

He has prepared a love feast.

The bride lights her lamp and follows the Bridegroom into the wedding reception.

Oh, Lion of Judah, what will become of the ones left behind?

How fierce is the tongue that is a double-edge sword that can divide mind and spirit.

Oh Lord, teach us how to reach those who are lost before it is too late.

The bride and the Holy Spirit say come.

Turn from your sin and repent,

You’re bound by your own lust and sin.

Repent!

Open your minds and your heart to receive Christ.

Confess with your lips that He is the Lord of Lords,

The King of Kings,

And bow before Him on your knee.

The bride and the Holy Spirit say come.

The Bridegroom is ready to add your name to the guest list.

Call out to Him now.

Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!¹

I t is amazing to think of all the people in the world who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not everyone who hears the gospel becomes a Christian. Some just can’t believe in their hearts that they need a redeemer, because they believe they are a good person. Some people hear the Word of God and get excited but don’t act on it. So they never repent and search out more truth. Whatever was given to them disappears. Then there are those who believe the truth about Jesus and decide that they will get around to getting to know Him later. Their sinful life is calling them. They don’t want to give up the sin they walk in. Even more boggling to the mind is the person who grew up in church and knows all the religious ceremonies and sacraments yet do not have a personal relationship with God. This book addresses us, the church, because when Jesus tells his disciples about the end times, it is apparent that not everyone is prepared to meet their Savior at the end.

The parable of the ten virgins was a lesson that the Holy Spirit had me focus on for weeks. It became the focus of my prayer life and my meditations for a long time. The message in this parable is that half of the people who know that Jesus is coming are not prepared for his return and will be left behind when the church is raptured. Jesus makes it clear to those who study His parables that while there are some people who belong to religion, they do not belong to God. They may carry a religious air about them; however, they are simply clanging symbols, making noise in their worship. For instead of worshipping in spirit, they worship only through rote memorization of a religious sequence for the year. Most of the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of Jesus day were very religious. However, many of them no longer were following God, but instead the traditions taught by man. This is very sad because they lost God by following only the traditions of worship instead of truly getting to know the living God.

Jesus tells us that at the end of days there are some who will be taken to heaven and others who will be left behind. Some will come to Jesus at the great throne judgment and say, Didn’t I cast out demons and heal the sick in your name?

Jesus will answer, Depart from me for I never knew you. The truth that one will be taken and one will be left behind at the end of time is stated plainly in Scripture.

The parable of the ten virgins was ever present on my mind. Funny how the Lord works in our lives. While we make plans, He already has plans to prosper us and not harm us. We will start where the birth of this book began, the parable that clung to me until it spilled with meaning unto a page. The parable of the ten virgins:

"At the time the Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The Bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!’

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

‘No,’ they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the Bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came, ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said ‘Open the door for us!’

But He replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."²

Many people refuse to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the redeemer who died and rose again to become the Lamb of God. Many reasons are given and indeed, they are too numerous to list here. We have all heard them, but the saddest one of all is that people don’t believe they are so bad, a fact the Bible puts in perspective in the Psalms. A man believes he is right in his own eyes. Why would he need a Savior? If a person believes he hasn’t done anything that has earned them a place in hell, why would he believe that he is headed there? Why then would he need a Savior? Some don’t want to believe that God would cast them in hell because they don’t believe a man who lived 2000 years ago could be the Savior. There is never a problem with people believing Jesus lived, was a righteous man, or was a great teacher. The stumbling block comes when they have to look at themselves and realize that they indeed need a Savior. For if a person sees in her own eyes that she is righteous in her own right, then what need is there of Jesus’ death and resurrection? This is where the Pharisees and the self-righteous stumble.

Who is this Jesus anyway? Jesus is the person who came to the earth He created, to save the world. Some people believe that it does not seem necessary in today’s environment of political correctness to need saving. However, this is a falsehood. There is a collective of minds in the world today that teach you don’t need a Savior. Some teach that you reach Nirvana on your own merit. While some teach vehemently there is no God and we simply no longer exist after we die. This simply is not the truth. The truth according to the Holy Bible is that when you die your soul lives on in either one of two places. Either you enter into heaven or you enter into hell. There are books written by people who have died and have come back to life testifying of the truth that these places are the same as they are illustrated in the Bible. The description of the places described in the Bible, are exactly as depicted by people who give a firsthand life and death experience. There is a hell and a heaven. Books like 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cicel Murphy; and 23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiesse give eyewitness accounts that these two places exist.

So why is Jesus’ death on the cross important? For what purpose did Jesus descend into hell and was raised from death to life? What importance does it have and why did He ascend to heaven to sit at Father God’s right hand? Simple truth is found in that the wages of sin is death and there is a separation from God when you sin. Someone had to pay that wage. The truth is found on the sacrifices that were decreed and are laid out in the Old Testament. The Jewish priests in the Old Testament had to sacrifice animals for the sin of the congregation and for themselves. The followers of the living God were separated from the Holy of Holies because God cannot be near sin. Because God is holy and righteous, His holiness would burn up sinful man and sinful man would die. But the moment that Jesus died on the cross, sacrificing Himself and gave up the ghost the curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies was torn down the middle. Jesus became the high priest and the door to God the Father, whether people believe it or not. Jesus said that He is the only way to God the Father. The truth does not change because someone might not believe it. Against popular belief: Truth is not subjective. Jesus said that He is the Door—the Truth—the Light. No one comes to the Father without going through Jesus.

It doesn’t really matter what the reason is that someone doesn’t have a relationship with the living God. It is just a matter of time for all of us. We will either die or we will be raptured, which is to meet Jesus in the air. The dead in Christ shall rise, then the living will be caught up in a blink of an eye. The truth remains we will go and meet Jesus, our creator and redeemer. He will either say to you, Well done, good and faithful servant or He will say Depart from me, I never knew you. So let’s go back to the parable of the ten virgins.

The five wise virgins who went into the wedding banquet represent the bride of Christ. The Bridegroom is Jesus the Son of God. The five left behind are the ones who will be left behind to face the tribulation period or the final week of Daniel. I will not go into the tribulation period in this book, because I am writing in the age of grace. The purpose of this book is to seek the virgins who have a lamp but no oil. What does this mean? The lamp is provided by religion—practices and teachings. The oil is provided by having a personal relationship with God the Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit by reaching out to God by confessing that Jesus is the Lord, prayer, repentance, meditation, and reading the Scriptures.

The parable of the ten virgins was ever present with me for weeks. Since it was obvious that the Lord was trying to teach something with this parable, I asked Him to show me what the lesson in the ten virgin Parable was. So let’s go over what made the five wise virgins wise, and the other five virgins foolish.

A wise virgin loves her neighbor as Jesus said to do. The trouble has always been that nagging question: Who is your neighbor? If we only love those who are loveable then what honor is there in that? None! Even we are not lovable, at times, but when we are not loveable that is when we need love the most. People should know that we are children of God because of our love. If we are unable to love someone, than we are not abiding in Jesus’ love.

My grandmother loved everyone, never said an unkind word about anyone or to anyone that I could recall. One New Year’s resolution was to not say a bad thing about anyone, just like her. My friend Sally and I set up a mite box between us at work that we added to every time we broke our New Year’s resolution. Those mite boxes got very heavy. However, after a while they started getting lighter and lighter. Finally my pattern of speaking bad things about people was broken. The odd thing is that I thought that I didn’t say bad things about people, until I put myself to the test with the resolution and mite box. I had to learn and pray and rely on the Lord to renew me in this goal to love my neighbor. I pray that you will feel a challenge in reading this book to take a sober look at your own behavior and walk with the Lord.

You can put yourself to the test found in 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 John 2:3-6, and 1 John 4.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless of course, you fail the test?

We know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

You can read for yourself the test of the Spirits in 1 John Chapters 4 and 5.

Now that you read the chapters you know it is all about love. This is the challenge: get through the first part of the book that delves into why the foolish virgins don’t have any oil. Look and see if anything convicts you in this book, if it does, stop and repent. Then ask the Lord to drop the scales off your eyes and ears so your faith can be strengthened. If someone comes to mind while reading these chapters, pray for that person in the same manner.

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CHAPTER 2

Who is the foolish virgin and why don’t they have oil?

God the Father questions the foolish virgin

The fool says in his heart that there is no God!

Oh maiden fair and beautiful,

you look so precious in the King’s eyes.

Why have you not heard me calling your name?

Oh don’t you know that the oil that lights your lamp and your soul is in my hand.

Where have you hidden your heart that you think that I can’t see it?

Do you know what the firmament is founded on?

Or what pulls the tides to the shore so that they are fresh every day?

Who do you think you are that you think that your philosophy is more important than my Son, who is the Word of God?

Do you not know that the Creator lives at my right hand?

The one who redeemed the wise virgins,

will come and collect his bride.

He lives, and He is longing for his bride.

The time is almost ready; the place He has prepared for her is set.

Are you ready to be part of the bride, or will you be left standing there when the bride is carried away in the blink of an eye?

One will be working right next to you, and she will be gone.

And the fool will be left behind.

Because she hasn’t searched my Son out.

The beautiful bride has received her garment of praise;

She has received her oil of Joy in the Lord.

Why are you not seeking out the oil from the merchants who sell it?

Yes, your Bridegroom has been a long time in coming,

But He had to wait for me, the Father,

To tell Him that the place for the bride is ready.

When that door is closed and you are sealed out of the wedding feast, what then?

Will you be so foolish to bang on heaven’s gates?

Only to be told, Depart I never knew you.

What are you waiting for, an engraved invitation?

One is written on your heart and its lock is set in My Son’s hand.

My beloved, do not get trapped into the 7 years of tribulation.

Come away with me and enjoy the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Wake up!

Wake up!

The Bridegroom comes.

Get your oil,

Light your lamp and come away with me.

T he lamp is provided by religious traditions and teachings. However, the provision of oil is only given to those who truly trust in the Lord and are born again into God’s Kingdom. Let’s propose that God gives you a lamp to work with here. Since there is the Jewish faith and the Christian faith which both have the Messiah concealed in the Old Testament and Jesus (Yeshua the Messiah) revealed in the New Testament, look in the Scriptures, Romans 1:19-32 and again