The Lord’s Bride

In a beautiful vision the disciple John witnessed “the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from Heaven as a Bride adorned for Her Husband.” – Revelation 21:2 

So, let’s look a little deeper into that beautiful vision by taking the apostle Paul’s heartfelt advice to compare “… spiritual things with spiritual.” – 1st Corinthians 2:12-13

And let’s begin by comparing the incomparable Virtues and Qualities of the Lord’s Bride on earth, as they are in Heaven.

It’s easy to acknowledge that a virtuous bride on earth is filled with unselfish affection for her future husband. And as the Lord is Divine Truth Himself, it should also be easy to realize that His Virtuous Bride is filled with Unselfish Affection for the Truth that He brings into our world. Spiritually, when those Unselfish Affections become joined together Divine Truth within our lives, all things Good become possible within our minds, hearts and souls.

“Mercy and Truth have met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other.”

Psalms 85:10

In John’s beautiful vision the Lord’s Bride was “adorned for Her Husband.”  And so please ask yourself, what adorned the Lord’s Bride? Were they not the Principles of Righteousness, reflecting the His Truth about Way to our salvation and deliverance into the Kingdom of Heaven?

 “Truth shall spring out of the earth: and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven.

“Yea, the Lord shall Give that which is Good; and our land shall yield Her increase.

“Righteousness shall go before Him: and shall set us in the Way of His Steps.” 

Psalms 85:11-13

Your Wedding Invitation

We have all been invited to the wedding celebration between the Lord and His Bride within our own lives. That Union is Sacred to the Lord, for it joins us together with Him and with one another, in mind, heart and soul. 

“And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in Righteousness, and in Judgment, and in Loving Kindness, and in Mercies. 

“I will even betroth ye unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt thou shalt know the Lord.”

Hosea 2:19–20

The Guest list

And when the King came into see His guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding Garment. 

“And He said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding Garment? And he was speechless.

“Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” 

Matthew 22:11-14

As the Lord is Forgiveness and Mercy Himself, He never casts anyone “into outer darkness”. Rather that casting into darkness is self-inflicted. It is the result of refusing to prepare our minds and hearts with the honesty, sincerity and humility required to remain in the Light of His Righteousness. The dire consequences of choosing to embrace “thoughts formed from the imaginations of our own hearts” rather than choosing to live our lives in the Way that the Lord has Shown us that we must are described throughout the entire Bible. – Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 9:14, Romans 1:21-22. 

Regardless of any theories or theologies used to cover over, dilute or mix Truth with falsities to justify making alternative choices about why and how we must live our lives, the loss of internal Joy and happiness that will ultimately result is spiritually described by the “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”    

Thinking otherwise is like jumping off the roof of a three-story house and then blaming the Lord for our injuries. 

 And so everywhere the Lord calls upon us to take heed and acknowledge what He has been teaching us since the beginning of time. He does so solely for our Good and for the Good of all around us. 

The Words “For many are called, but few are chosen” describe just how few choose to acknowledge the Truth of that Spiritual understanding.

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

“They say unto them that despise Me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walkest after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

“For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard His Word? Who hath marked His Word, and heard it?”

Jeremiah 23:16-18 

And so why is “the Holy City, the New Jerusalem” described as “coming down from Heaven” as the Lord’s Bride?

As we all know, a physical city on earth is designed to protect and give shelter to individuals, families and communities. A physical city on earth provides safe places to engage with one another, to receive nourishment, to receive education, to work, to raise families, and to find enjoyment. It has pathways that lead to things of our free will choosing. It also has boundaries and laws that govern our conduct. And it has authority to enforce those laws. 

Spiritually, a “city” in the Bible describes doctrine. “The Holy City, the New Jerusalem” describes the Doctrine of Righteousness. That Doctrine contains Foundations that provide for the stability of our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. It provides Provisions for the nourishment of our minds and hearts. It provides Shelters for the protection and safety of our thoughts and affections. It provides places to engage in the Way we treat others. It provides Opportunities to cultivate all aspects of our spiritual understanding about the Way we must live our lives. And it provides places to work upon the internal character of our souls. It also has Laws that Govern our conduct. And it has the Authority to enforce those Laws, for within it, the Lord’s Divine Truth reigns Supreme. It is the Place that the Lord has provided for the propagation of the Goodness of His Love within us, and among us, for endless generations to come.

“For I Give you Good Doctrine, forsake ye not My Law.” 

Proverbs 4:2  

The Doctrine of Righteousness is further described as “the New Jerusalem” because although that Doctrine is ancient and timeless, it had become destroyed, torn down and trampled under the feet of the pride of our own misconceptions. Regardless of the facade of physical buildings and meaningless religious rituals that remained, it had become devoid of the Truth about the Way to our salvation and deliverance into the Kingdom of God. It had once again become a spiritual wilderness of our own making. And so, as Promised, the Lord came into our world once again to restore that Holy Doctrine, for without it, humanity’s ability to receive the Goodness of His Love within their souls would soon have come to an end.

“Jesus answered them, and said, My Doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.”

John 7:16  

The Doctrine of Righteousness is also described as “a City that is Set upon a Hill” because it contains Affections united with Thoughts that are much Higher than our own – Matthew 5:14. 

Can you see it?

“There is a River, the streams whereof shall made glad the City of God, the Holy Place of the Tabernacles of the Most High. 

“God is in the midst of Her; she shall not be moved: God shall help Her, and that Right early.” 

Psalm 46:4-5

“And He that sat upon the Throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto Me, Write: for these Words are True and faithful.”

John 21:5

Women on earth that adorn their minds and hearts with the Principles of Righteousness portray the Beauty of the Lord’s Bride to all around them. Let Church Bells ring with the Beautiful sound of their Unselfish Affections for all to hear. And give Honor and Respect to their Virtues and Qualities for all to see. For without them, mankind constantly loses sight of the most important things of all.

“You are the Light of the world. A City that is set on an Hill cannot be hid.

“Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a Candlestick, and it Giveth Light unto all that are in the House.

“Let your Light so Shine before men, that they may see your Good works, and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16