The Bride: A study of the bride of Christ
Our Blessed Hope: Lesson 7
At one time during Jesus’ ministry on earth, two of His disciples came to Him asking if they could sit, one on His right hand and the other on His left hand in His kingdom. Jesus’ answer to them was: “Ye know not what ye ask; can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” The first pre-requisite Jesus mentioned to them was the necessity of suffering with Him if they would reign with Him on His throne. However, Jesus continued explaining to the disciples, “But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.” I believe Revelation 3:20-21 reveals for whom it is prepared: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” The “cup” that Jesus drank of was one of intense suffering, and the “baptism” was dying on the cross for us.
Jesus is knocking on the door of all sinners’ hearts, desiring to come into them with the gift of salvation. Then, He is knocking on the door of all believers’ hearts, desiring them to open the door of fellowship with Him. True fellowship with Jesus will cause us to overcome all obstacles the devil puts in our path and to be willing to drink the cup of suffering, even to giving up our lives for His sake. For Jesus said in another place, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The same thought of suffering is given in Romans 8:17. In this reference we see a difference between children of God who are heirs of God, and those who are “joint-heirs” with Christ. “And if children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together.” All believers are heirs of God. Wonderful privilege because of the mighty grace of God! However, those believers who are willing to suffer with Him will become joint-heirs of Christ and will be seated with Him on His throne. They are spoken of in Revelation 19:7-8 as the wife of the Lamb. What an awesome privilege! What a blessed hope! This is the “prize” Paul was pressing toward. He was willing to give up everything that was gain to him and suffer the loss of all things “that I may win Christ.” Romans 8:18 tells us that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” II Timothy 2:12
That is, He will deny us the privilege of reigning with Him. This is why we have the admonition in Revelation 3:11: “Behold I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown.” This was spoken to the Philadelphia church, which is a description of the overcoming believers who will receive the prize of becoming the “wife of the Lamb.” Note a part of the promise to this church is: “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.” Then in Revelation 21:9-10, the bride, the Lamb’s wife is spoken of as “that great city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem.” There will be others in that city, but the wife of the Lamb will have the honor of having the city named after her. Yes, as the wife of the Lamb, she will receive great honor—but the most important, magnificent prize will be to have such close precious fellowship with Christ as her Bridegroom!
Colossians 2:8 warns us: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.” In the last chapter of our Bible, Jesus told us three times that He was coming quickly. His last words to us was “Surely I come quickly.” It is Satan’s business to deceive us into thinking He won’t come in our life-time, then become taken up with the cares of this life and become sleepy, not loving His appearing. This could cause us to be robbed of the crown. Paul said, “….I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:2-3)
What signs are we to look for concerning Jesus soon coming? Matthew 24 gives many signs: deception by ones claiming to be Christ; wars; rumors of wars; famines; diseases; earthquakes; violence; peril; lovers of selves; disobedient to parents; without natural affection; lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Are these things rampant today? Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Then He describes the days of Noah: “….they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
There are many signs all around, letting us know Jesus is coming soon. He has told us we don’t know just when that will be, but we are to watch and be ready. He has not appointed His believers to wrath; therefore, we don’t have to be here when He begins pouring out His wrath upon the earth. If we are ready for His appearing, we will hear that trumpet call and rise up to meet Him in the air. Then we will spend eternity with Him, reigning forever as His wife. This is Our Blessed Hope!
Jesus is knocking on the door of all sinners’ hearts, desiring to come into them with the gift of salvation. Then, He is knocking on the door of all believers’ hearts, desiring them to open the door of fellowship with Him. True fellowship with Jesus will cause us to overcome all obstacles the devil puts in our path and to be willing to drink the cup of suffering, even to giving up our lives for His sake. For Jesus said in another place, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The same thought of suffering is given in Romans 8:17. In this reference we see a difference between children of God who are heirs of God, and those who are “joint-heirs” with Christ. “And if children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together.” All believers are heirs of God. Wonderful privilege because of the mighty grace of God! However, those believers who are willing to suffer with Him will become joint-heirs of Christ and will be seated with Him on His throne. They are spoken of in Revelation 19:7-8 as the wife of the Lamb. What an awesome privilege! What a blessed hope! This is the “prize” Paul was pressing toward. He was willing to give up everything that was gain to him and suffer the loss of all things “that I may win Christ.” Romans 8:18 tells us that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” II Timothy 2:12
That is, He will deny us the privilege of reigning with Him. This is why we have the admonition in Revelation 3:11: “Behold I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown.” This was spoken to the Philadelphia church, which is a description of the overcoming believers who will receive the prize of becoming the “wife of the Lamb.” Note a part of the promise to this church is: “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.” Then in Revelation 21:9-10, the bride, the Lamb’s wife is spoken of as “that great city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem.” There will be others in that city, but the wife of the Lamb will have the honor of having the city named after her. Yes, as the wife of the Lamb, she will receive great honor—but the most important, magnificent prize will be to have such close precious fellowship with Christ as her Bridegroom!
Colossians 2:8 warns us: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.” In the last chapter of our Bible, Jesus told us three times that He was coming quickly. His last words to us was “Surely I come quickly.” It is Satan’s business to deceive us into thinking He won’t come in our life-time, then become taken up with the cares of this life and become sleepy, not loving His appearing. This could cause us to be robbed of the crown. Paul said, “….I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:2-3)
What signs are we to look for concerning Jesus soon coming? Matthew 24 gives many signs: deception by ones claiming to be Christ; wars; rumors of wars; famines; diseases; earthquakes; violence; peril; lovers of selves; disobedient to parents; without natural affection; lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Are these things rampant today? Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Then He describes the days of Noah: “….they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
There are many signs all around, letting us know Jesus is coming soon. He has told us we don’t know just when that will be, but we are to watch and be ready. He has not appointed His believers to wrath; therefore, we don’t have to be here when He begins pouring out His wrath upon the earth. If we are ready for His appearing, we will hear that trumpet call and rise up to meet Him in the air. Then we will spend eternity with Him, reigning forever as His wife. This is Our Blessed Hope!