A Bride Made Ready: Preparing for the Return of Christ

By Mollie Brown

Many books have been written concerning the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Theologians debate whether His return will occur pre, mid, or post tribulation, but is it as important to discern when He will return as it is to be ready when He does?

New Testament scriptures ascribe Jesus as the Bridegroom and Church age believers as His bride. The bride is eagerly awaiting her Bridegroom to carry her away from this present age of evil, but God’s Word tells us this will not happen until the bride is made ready.

The Bible teaches three characterizations of the true bride of Jesus Christ. The true bride has left the world behind to become a follower of Jesus. The true bride places God first before self and others. The true bride lives a holy life and waits expectantly for her Bridegroom’s return.

Jesus taught perilous times would come, and apostacy (abandonment of faith) would precede His return. It is God’s will that all men come to a saving knowledge of His Son, but scripture tells us this will not happen. Only those who have persevered in faith and look to the completion of their salvation will escape the future events of the great tribulation.

Come, journey with me into ancient history to examine the rituals of ancient Jewish marriage customs and their prophetic meaning to the Lord Jesus and His second coming. God has given us His Word so we not only know who He is, but know who we are.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664257931

Book preview

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CONTENTS

Acknow.ledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 God’s Divine Action

Chapter 2 Signs of the Times

Chapter 3 The Wedding Portrait

SHITRE ERUSIN

Chapter 4 The Marriage Covenant

Chapter 5 Preparation of the Bride and Groom

Chapter 6 The Gift of Salvation

Chapter 7 Praying in the Spirit

Chapter 8 The Gift of Christ

Chapter 9 Gifts of the Spirit

Chapter 10 Making Herself Ready

Chapter 11 The Royal Wardrobe

Chapter 12 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Chapter 13 The Robe of Righteousness

Chapter 14 Clothed in God’s Power

Chapter 15 The Breastplate of Righteousness

Chapter 16 The Belt of Truth

Chapter 17 The Helmet of Salvation

Chapter 18 The Shield of Faith

Chapter 19 The Gospel Shoes

Chapter 20 The Sword of the Spirit

Chapter 21 Clothed in Love

Chapter 22 Clothed in Joy

Chapter 23 Clothed in Patience

Chapter 24 Clothed in Humility

Chapter 25 Clothed in Suffering

Chapter 26 Clothed In Laughter

NISSUIN

Chapter 27 Arise, My Love

Chapter 28 I Am on My Way

Chapter 29 Order in the Court

Chapter 30 The Crown of Righteousness

Chapter 31 The Crown of Life

Chapter 32 The Crown of Glory

Chapter 33 The Crown of Rejoicing

Chapter 34 The Incorruptible Crown

SIMCHA

Chapter 35 The Marriage Banquet

Chapter 36 Here Comes the Judge

Chapter 37 All Rise

Chapter 38 A Whole New World

EPILOGUE

Chapter 39

Parable of the Common Cup

ACKNOW.LEDGMENTS

Bobbi Hyche, this book would not exist had you not encouraged me to write.

Donna Bradshaw, your unconditional love of the best and worst of me has sustained me on the narrow path and the many rabbit trails I have taken. Thank you for proofing my book!

INTRODUCTION

Many books have been written concerning the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Theologians debate whether His return will occur pre, mid, or post tribulation, but is it as important to discern when Jesus will return as it is to be ready when He does? We presently live in the times of the Gentiles that began around 606 BC when Nebuchadnezzar captured Israel, and this period in time will end at the return of Christ (Luke 21:24). When Israel regained Jerusalem on June 7, 1967, the time was set for Christ’s imminent return. Scripture teaches this present age of grace is coming to a close, and the apostle Paul admonishes believers to wake up, take action, and prepare for His return (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Jesus taught perilous times would come, and apostacy (abandonment of faith) would precede His return. Even professing Christians will apostatize from truth (Matthew 24). We see His prophetic Word fulfilled in this present age (2 Peter 2:1–3). Are you discerning of the times? When the Son of Man returns, will you be found holding to faith (Luke 18:8)?

New Testament scriptures ascribe Jesus Christ as the Bridegroom and Church age believers as His bride. The bride is eagerly awaiting her Bridegroom to carry her away from this present age of evil, but God’s Word tells us this will not happen until the bride has made herself ready. The bride is not a religious group who has heard of Jesus. This group has encounters with God but never spiritually encounters Him. It gets caught up in an emotional experience but falls back to its natural condition when trials come along.

When Christ returns, it will not be to bear sin but to fulfill the promise made to His disciples when He ascended to heaven (John 14:2). Only those who have persevered in faith and look to the completion of their salvation will escape the events leading up to the last day (John 6:40). Saving faith is faith in Christ alone.

Most pastors do not teach about this event from the pulpit, but you can learn it for yourself. Come, journey with me into ancient history to examine the rituals of ancient Jewish marriage customs and their prophetic meaning of the Lord Jesus and His bride. His Word is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path. God has given us His Word so we not only know who He is but know who we are.

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CHAPTER 1

GOD’S DIVINE ACTION

When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?

AMOS 3:6

M any Christians believe that because we live under grace, God does not judge as He did in the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah declared, Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord (Isaiah 26:10). He declared God’s broom of destruction will sweep away the wicked (Isaiah 14:23–25). Jeremiah wrote that God’s wrath allows suffering and disaster to teach men. Teach men what? The word teach implies causing them to know. Then they will know that my name is the Lord (Jeremiah 16:21).

Of the many judgments from Genesis to Revelation, five are distinct: judgment of sin at the cross, which justifies believers (2 Corinthians 5:21); judgment of things done while in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10); judgment of the nations during the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21); judgment of the survivors of the great tribulation (Matthew 25:31–46); and judgment of the wicked at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11–15).

God’s judgment of Israel is an example of the consequence of sin (Ezekiel 5). Jerusalem held the favor of God and a privileged position, but she rejected God’s sovereignty and laws by prostituting herself to foreign gods. Therefore, God withdrew His favor and said, I will not look on you with pity or spare you (Ezekiel 5:11). Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defile! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God, cried Zephaniah (Zephaniah 3:1–2). Judah, in her apostate condition, was condemned for her sins. All of her leaders were chastised by God for their corrupt practices. Judah had become a dog-eat-dog world. God warned that He would purge and purify Israel, bringing forth a remnant who would call on the name of the Lord.

It is God’s will that all people come to a saving knowledge of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but scripture reveals this will not happen. Satan has blinded humankind to their Maker, and they are storing up for themselves God’s present wrath and that to come in future judgment (Romans 2:5–6). God’s love is compassionate and patient, but His love does not tolerate sin. His wrath will overtake those who have been disobedient (Colossians 3:6). Only those found faithful to His Son will be rescued from the coming disaster.

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CHAPTER 2

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

MATTHEW 24:21

S ince the beginning of time, God has revealed Himself to the world in many different ways. You only need to open your eyes to see His handiwork (Romans 1:19–20). His Holy Spirit has worked in and rested on those called to further His purpose. Angels are His heavenly messengers, and His Son, Jesus, was and is His physical manifestation. Prophets foretold God’s plan of redemption, and martyrs died in faith of the promise of a new heaven and earth. The same God who inspired these men of faith is unveiling today what then was only seen dimly.

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America became a victim of hate. Through the leadership of Osama bin Ladin, successful attacks were made against the World Trade Center in New York and against the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Though America offers life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it will never be free of evil people who desire to dictate the world according to their ideologies. Such people are under the power of Satan and function in the kingdom of darkness.

America turned to heaven for deliverance. You could not escape seeing God’s name plastered on T-shirts, billboards, cars, and posters. God bless America, Pray to God, and God is watching over our nation were just a few of the messages. America knows the answer to deliverance, but does it know the Deliverer? Does it know Jesus Christ foretold catastrophes like this would happen? He warned His followers to expect wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, and apostasy to precede His return (Matthew 24:3–14). How many of those who posted God’s name as the One to turn to are anxiously awaiting His Son’s return to set up His kingdom?

Jesus said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill (John 6:26). The crowd of people that followed Jesus were more concerned about their temporal needs than their eternal needs. The same crowd exists today. The motivation for seeking God is to have physical longings satisfied, yet rarely is thought given to spiritual needs.

Has America placed itself in a position of losing God’s favor? It is certainly full of its share of evildoers and, like Jerusalem, has rejected God’s sovereignty and laws by embracing gods of other cultures. Convenience and self-pleasure have perverted America. Could diseases, earthquakes, wildfires, and other disasters America increasingly experiences be divine judgment on a nation founded by men and women seeking a fresh encounter with God?

We must be vigilant about our freedom. There will always be ideologists who desire to remove liberty from the people and concentrate power among the few. We see this as never before from politicians who subvert truth with propaganda and lies, the media’s attempt to suppress free speech, and attacks on religious liberty. As a believer, I submit to the laws of earthly governments unless they conflict with the laws of God. As an American, I obey government authority, but those in authority are subject to the US Constitution; I am not bound to laws that contradict the Constitution.

Americans have lived under the Declaration of Independence for more than two hundred years. COVID-19 allegedly was released to test the nation’s compliance to a one-world system that disregards Americans’ unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Regardless of the purpose, it is an indicator for the bride of Christ to make herself ready.

Violence tops the news today. People no longer respect authority and have taken the law into their hands. The lawlessness creating the storm of events the world weathers today is merely a whistling teakettle compared to what will soon take place. Intolerance and hatred are on the rise. Inflation has caused gas and food prices to rise. There is a shortage of food on grocery store shelves.

It would be easy to become disturbed over these catastrophes had Jesus not foretold the signs of the end of this age (Matthew 24). God’s Word tells us how we can live in this present age yet not according to its pattern (Romans 12:2). This world is God’s