AIDS TO THE PERFECTION OF THE BRIDE

            enumerated with brief discussion

 Mysteries of
  the Gospel:

                             by Steve Gagnon

 

            Some of the mysteries are shown forth in parables, symbolism and metaphors. Others are more directly referred to and require an understanding of spiritual things revealed only to the primary initiate (born-again) Christian. Mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is like… fall primarily under categories as mysteries veiled by parables so only the pure of heart and true disciple can discover their hidden meaning. The symbolic ones require knowledge of God’s revealed Word and the interpretive powers of the Holy Ghost. Others need only be received by faith and understood by believing that they are not natural things of man, but truths never before revealed to the heart of man until the Advent of Jesus Christ. Only two of the mysteries of the Gospel have the word ‘great’ associated with them and therefore ought to take on higher significance. The GREAT mystery is: Christ and His Church, revealed as husband and wife, which was given to the faithful believers at Ephesus as noted in Ephesians chapter 5, and is the primary article on this page. The second mystery with the word great attached is the mystery of godliness which Paul framed out to Timothy in six component parts, which is fully discussed in an article in the section on Perfection, subsection: The Divine Nature. The other mysteries are a sidebar on this page with brief explanations to whet the appetite of those intrigued by the notion that the mysteries are important to anyone interested in the journey to Brideship.    


       In the New Testament there are many mysteries for the Christian to discover. They are there for every saint to help build their faith and make them wise according to Godly wisdom. Every disciple of Jesus ought to find them in the Word and investigate them. The advantage for a saint’s walk will be in gaining Godly wisdom that will help to guide them on their way past pitfalls that often become a snare to a higher faith. A snare will trap one in ignorance, limiting the faith God would like to build in each maturing believer. Through some of these mysteries one can understand and believe in the calling of the Bride of Christ. Christ holds out to his church great wisdom through these mysteries and each believer is freely given them if they ask and seek. Understanding the mysteries God points out in the New Testament will strengthen our relationship with the Trinity as we become more familiar with the mind and heart of God.
        The mysteries are first stated in the teachings of Jesus Himself. The mysteries were ‘hidden from the foundation of the world’ and finally revealed at the First Coming of Christ. Jesus taught in parables so that those of pure hearts who hungered for deeper understanding could learn about the riches of the Gospel and so that those of dubious faith would not understand.  The reason why he taught in parables and symbolic meaning was to exclude the unrepentant heart from the knowledge and understanding of sacred things. The mysteries are sacred. They are the true ‘sacraments’ of the Church and should be seen and received as such. As the apostle Paul clearly stated the case for true reverence of the sacred, it is not touch not, handle not, taste not, the sacraments are not a date on a calendar, a wafer, the cup, the marriage ring or the baptismal fount or a repetitive prayer. Christ handled the mysteries as a high priest; we ought to handle sacred things, with reverence and discretion according to the will of the Father. He distributed the sacred mysteries with devote reverence worthy of truly sacred things. He said that heaven and earth shall pass away, but His word shall last forever. What could be more sacred than His Word?  He, therefore, with reverence for the Truth and the mysteries of the Gospel, imparted them carefully and did not cast them as pearls before swine, but moved by wisdom, wanted to keep them from men of the wrong selfish spirit who could not help but ultimately use them for ill purposes. This, therefore is the reason why Jesus taught in parables.

 “And [Jesus] said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” AND “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Mk 4:11-12; Matt 13:34-35
        Further on in the New Testament we find the apostle Paul mentions mysteries many times and tells about the importance of their careful stewardship. In the book of Revelation there are mysteries that Jesus himself speaks of and some that are shown to John, which are expounded upon by angels. The following report, compiled by Steve Gagnon,  cites the mysteries of Christ in the order in which they appear in scripture.

 

u Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and of God

Jesus taught in parables to his disciples and after one such teaching “…the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Mat.13:10-11) So it is shown to us in the Gospels that Jesus taught almost exclusively in parables, each one revealing some aspect of God’s kingdom. The following 12 scriptures are parables which Jesus specified were teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. Each mystery is presented so we might know, understand and gain wisdom about the realities of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bride will inherit all things with Christ and here within the mysteries lie the treasures of Godly wisdom to enhance the beauty of Christ’s caring Bride who wants to know everything she can about her husband’s kingdom.

Mat.13:(3-9)(18-23) Parable of Sower of the Seeds.

Mat.13:(24-30)(36-43) Tares Among the Wheat

Mat.13:31-32 Parable of a Grain of Mustard Seed

Mat.13:33 The Hidden Leaven

Mat.13:44 Parable of Treasure Hid in a Field

Mat.13:45-46 Parable of The Pearl of Great Price

Mat.13:47-50 Parable of a Net Cast into the Sea

Mat.18:23-35 Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Mat.20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Mat.22:2-14 Parable of the Wedding Feast

Mat.25:1-13 Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Mat.25:14 Parable of the Five Talents

 

vMystery of Jews Blinded by God Romans 11:25

            “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Seven times in the New Testament is there a plea that we would not be ignorant of certain knowledge the Spirit would like to furnish to the saint. On this occasion in Romans we are shown a mystery that God wishes all Christians to understand and not be ignorant. The fact that the Jews are not cast off by God but rather have been made blind (for a season) for our sake has been grossly ignored by Christians who think they are wise, but are not. Men and Christians sadly, have been more wise in the own conceits and  highminded rather than attentive to God’s voice and have done terrible atrocities against the apple of God’s eye through their support and encouragement of wrong teaching and their obstinant ignorance of this mystery of faith. Read Romans 10:18 through 11:36 and learn a mystery that has been shown to those who want to know the truth about God’s people and “…Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Rom.11:20-21 Christ’s Bride will be made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A day is coming when the blindness of the Jews will be lifted and many will be received into the arms of Jesus and will be given a place in the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. We know there will be no imperfect separation within the Bride but rather a perfectly completed blended and unified body, a commonwealth of Jew and Gentile, as evident in these words: “And [The Bride] had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel…And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Rev. 21:12,14

 

wMystery of the Gospel of Salvation Rom.16:25-27

            “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

            Here is the mention of a mystery, kept secret since the world began, but now has been made known according to God’s command which was first revealed by the preaching of the Christ. For his own good pleasure God has had a plan to bring to himself mortal men who have been perfected through Christ in holiness and all purity, now able to abide with Him for all eternity. When God and Jesus created man Satan knew God’s good intentions for mankind and has been hell-bent in his efforts to try and prevent this Godly relationship from ever happening to any soul. The mystery of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ has been unknown even to Satan. Satan had no idea of how God would defeat him when He prophesied in the Garden of Eden, of the seed of the woman crushing the serpents head. Even though the scriptures have been filled with prophecies, the Way of this mystery would be kept from being fully revealed according to God’s will in his perfect timing. This mystery, now fully revealed, is the birthplace of the Church and Bride; for every saint is brought into the presence of God’s Kingdom through the obedience of faith and belief of this mystery; that Jesus Christ is the Way. This mystery of spiritual salvation and eternal life is shown in the parable type teaching that Jesus gave to the religious leader, Nicodemus, who came to Him stealthily and mysteriously by night and Jesus told Him that he must be born-again. Every person is born of water but you must be born of the spirit if you will see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was befuddled at the declaration of this mystery, until He seemed to come to an understanding of it upon Christ’s death and resurrection. It often takes that sort of dramatic experience that leads to revelation and understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. 1Cor.2:7-9, Eph.3:1-11, Eph.6:19, Col.1:26, Col.4:3

  

xStewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor.4:1-2

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Peter exhorts “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1Peter 4:10 We are told here that it is by the abundance of undeserving favor from God that he has given gifts to us.  Receiving the understanding of his mysteries can be looked at in this fashion. As good stewards we are expected to minister what we have received to one another. The Church should not be in competition with one another but rather should be in agreement with Christ who is working to present to himself a glorious church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; holy and without blemish. This picture of the Bride of Christ should cause us to want to offer in many ways the understanding of mysteries and all gifts we have received to our brothers and sisters for the sake of Christ building his Bride church. Of course, for the sake of doing this work in love, it is necessary that everything be distributed according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” 1 Cor.13:2 It is in the spirit of God’s love and for the purposes of truly loving one another that we should be found good stewards of the mysteries.

In Luke 12:42-43 Jesus said “…Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” So as “stewards of the mysteries of God” we ought to embrace, as a duty to our Lord, being faithful and wise, loving and generous, the dispensing of knowledge and understanding of these mysteries within the Church. Always faithful, because God wants us to invest the gifts he has given to us and be ever wise, seeking discernment by the Spirit that we invest in hearts that are true, wanting to understand God’s word. We must be good stewards of sacred things and dispense them with reverence and care.


yMystery of Tongues 1 Cor. 14:2

              “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”

Here is mention of a mystery that within the Church is commonly called speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is taught by scriptures as being evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6) Paul has instructed in his writings that, unless God gives interpretation, when one speaks in tongues he is speaking things unknown; they remain a mystery to us. Many in the Church today have had some sort of experience with witnessing tongues and much of it has been in the form of abuse and disorderly; because of this a part of the Church has labeled tongues as evil and from Satan. This is not new. In the infancy of the Church Paul had to go to great lengths to teach the Corinthians about the proper use of this gift. The Bride, who like the five wise virgins has her lamp trimmed and filled with oil, has properly received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and exercises the appropriate use and purpose of tongues in connection to prayer and prophesying.

 

|The Mystery of the Rapture 1 Cor. 15:49-58

“... know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” This is  not merely about the resurrection of the dead, but it is a mystery that some who are actually alive shall also be made immortal. But it is for every man to die once, the mystery is that can and will reckon those who have died to self in this life as having died and therefore eligible to be ‘raptured’ alive. This a mystery indeed. But it is declared that we must labor to enter His rest; we must labor to die to self and if we do our labor shall not be in vain. Dying to self is a mysterious process and wins us the reward of the mystery of the rapture. In the “twinkling of an eye” we shall cast off this corruptable flesh and put on incorruptible, which is a new spiritual body. Death shall no longer possess any sting; it will have been swallowed up in the victory of Jesus Christ for those who have followed hard after him. A day is coming when this mortal being will become immortal. That day will soon come for the Bride at the time of the Rapture. This is a mystery about the Rapture that the world does not believe and the Church has greatly misunderstood through much presumption. To those who aspire to be a part of Christ’s’ Bride however, it is a mystery to be wisely understood and hoped for, a mystery that the Bride has set the eyes of her heart upon as she waits for the sudden appearance of her Bridegroom.

            “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

 

 

{The Mystery of God’s Will Eph. 1:8-10

“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” The mystery of God’s will is that whatever He decides or wants because of His own purposes is to be accepted as perfect, no matter what we may think or what we may regard. Those who have been brought into the sheepfold of Jesus through faith in Him alone as the straight and narrow gate, will be found by God to be in Christ according to the way He has ordained it. Beyond this initial embrace of our savior, if you who have heard the call by the Spirit to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and you aspire to have the same faith as the Philadelphia church spoken of in the book of Revelation, then you are likely to among those who God has willed to be part of the call to Brideship in Jesus Christ. The Bible says many are called but few are chosen, this holds especially true to the ones who are of the Bride, for it is said of them on the day that they return to earth with Christ’s army that these are they who are called, chosen and faithful. This gathering together in one, all things that are in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth is going to be a wonderful event; how much more wondrous will it be for those who are chosen as Jesus’ Bride and her bridal party?

 

| The mystery of Christ Eph. 3:3-12

The mysteries must be learned and absorbed by revelation, none more than the mystery of Christ. The mysteries come only to those who seek them by the teaching of God which is the true meaning of revelation. “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” God once spoke to man by the fathers and the prophets but now He has spoken to us by His dear Son. We are introduced to the teaching of the mystery of Christ here in Ephesians: “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel… Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

The purpose of God designed in the Christ was to make us fellowheirs and of the same body and to have fellowship in the mystery of this ultimate purpose brought about by the Christ. The mystery of Christ also includes and begins with the understanding of who and what the Christ really is. Christ is Savior. Christ must be man. Jesus called Himself the Son of Man because only a man could save mankind, be the pardon for their sin. The word Christ both implies and demands a Man. The mystery of Christ is that He be Man the Redeemer of Man. Man should not be alone. Even Redeemer Man must have a spouse or be relegated to eternal loneliness. Thus he must have fellowheirs, we must be one in the same body with Christ. We need to see the mystery of the Son of Man, the Christ, that we may see what is the fellowship of this mystery of the Christ.

 

 

  Christ and the Church Eph. 5:21-33

            MAIN ARTICLE – THE MYSTERY CALLED ‘GREAT’

 

}Christ in you, the hope of Glory Col. 1:27
        To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is a mystery that can only be understood by pure experience. How can God live in us? This, however, is the real hope of glory. If that which is perfect can live in us and prevail in us, then we may be perfect if we live in His life. this is the essence of the Bride's perfection, that the Bride would be perfectly submitted to her husband. There is no excuse because He loves her perfectly. She can rely on Him totally without reservation. Christ in you means we are told that we are one together with Him. Purely one. This is why Paul can declare that he sees his duty as presenting every man perfect before God: "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. He saw it as His duty to strive in behalf of each one of the sheep in his care to be presented perfect before God, as one with Christ. This ought to be the ultimate aim of every worthy pastor, especially in this last days when the pastor worth his salt will be trying to make each saint rapture ready and perfect in the sight of God as a candidate for the Bride of Christ.

 

~ The Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes. 2:7-8

 It is a mystery that God would allow iniquity (the perversion of the truth that works unto sin) to find its way into the Church. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”  (read 2 Thes. 2:1-12)

 For God’s purposes of fulfilling all prophecy and the trying of men’s hearts within the Church, He has not completely blocked the spirit of antichrist from entering in. A day of judgement is coming when God will separate within the Church the wheat from the chaff. Satan, the father of all lies, and the men who have followed after his subtleties against the anointed Messiah will one day suffer at God’s hands. Satan is always franticly at work trying to take as many of the souls of men with him into the pit that he knows awaits him. Yes, there are men within the Church that will perish. Men, that were deceived by their own unrighteousness because they did not receive the love of the truth, will perish. At the birth of the Church Satan stood by ready to spin iniquitous works at his first opportunity. God has allowed the spirit of antichrist that prevails within the Church and the world to work toward His fulfillment of all things. It is wisdom for us to know that this is so and to not be shaken off balance or thrown off the course of our disciplined walk with Jesus when we encounter this mystery of iniquity at work within the kingdom of heaven. Paul warned the church many times, and history has proven that evil doctrines, false prophecies and many other things antichrist have come forth from the Church. It is for each one of us to walk wisely in this understanding and to stay on the path which the Holy Spirit will lead us along. Even Solomon, the wisest of all men, saw this mystery at work when he wrote of “things which are too wonderful for me” and pointed out “the way of a serpent upon a rock.” This alludes to the wonder of how Satan is allowed by God to tread upon the holy things of Christ. But God who sees all and knows all things will use even Satan to bring about his will. God did not invent or create evil, evil is simply the work of iniquity, the refusal to follow or concede to the Will of God. This is the truth of the mystery of iniquity, the evil that reaches out and touches people through the force of sin. The day is coming when God will put an end to all sin, transgression and iniquity, but this will not come until the end of the Tribulation when Christ comes will a sword in His hand to impose righteousness on the earth. See dialogue on Imposed Righteousness.

 

 11 The Mystery of The Faith 1 Tim. 3:9

This mystery is closely connected with the before mentioned “Mystery of the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ.” Paul wrote to Timothy that those appointed in the Church should be found “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” This “mystery of the faith” is the confident belief in the whole gospel of Jesus Christ. It is belief bolstered by the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. See: Living by Faith & Section on: FAITH TOWARDS GOD True belief in this gospel does not come simply by the will of heart and mind but by the Spirit of God. Believing (Greek word pisteuo; trusting in, adhering to and relying on) the whole gospel is far beyond the capacity of any man to do on his own. This requires the support of faith from God himself. The Word teaches faith is both a gift and a fruit of the Holy Spirit, without faith it is impossible to please God and faith comes to us by hearing and hearing comes by the word of God. All of this requires a deep operation of the Holy Spirit. So, for one to know all about the message of salvation, the mystery of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ and yet not have pisteuo belief supported by God given faith, it will bear no good fruit in the kingdom of heaven. It is both empty and meaningless to God, a vanity of vanities.

Like a trusting wife and one that has thrown aside all of her own selfish desires, the Bride of Christ will turn to Him for her every need. He is the author and finisher of her faith that she will hold in pureness, an unadulterated conscience, one that is not corrupted with the ideas and moral standards set by the teachers of this world but by the loving and righteous voice of her husband, Jesus himself.

 

12 The Mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3:16

Paul writes that this is a great mystery. This mystery is also held without controversy. No debate, no argument or need for discussion is necessary as to whether this mystery is anything else than what follows in this verse. Six elements make this mystery of Godliness whole. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

“God was manifest in the flesh.” God came to men of this world in the same flesh and blood that you and I behold. God became man in the person, Jesus.

“Justified in the Spirit.” Jesus was declared just or in another way, blameless and upright before God the Father, according to the Spirit of God, not by men or any other imperfect standard.

“Seen of angels.” All of heaven witnessed this incredible act of God. Jesus said and did everything in the open for all of creation to witness, including all the angels, those in heaven at God’s throne and those fallen with Lucifer too.

“Preached unto the Gentiles.” Not only did Jesus come to fulfill what the Jewish prophets of God had foretold but He also came that all men might be saved, including the pagan and heathen ones called Gentiles. In fact (another mystery) God has blinded the Jews for the sake of the Gentiles that they might inherit with the Jews the promises God has made.

“Believed on in the world.” This is an amazing miracle; that any mortal man in this life and in this un-Godly world would trust in, rely on and adhere to Jesus and his gospel of reconciliation to our Creator.

“Received up into Glory” After Jesus was crucified God raised him from the dead. He was taken up before the eyes of men in his glorified state into Heaven where he is now waiting at his Father’s right hand for the command to come and gather up the first fruits resurrected ones, The Bride. These also will be received up into glory.

All of these works of God through Jesus are the most magnificent show of His own Godliness. Godliness with fact in the flesh with honor. See: Godliness in Section of Divine Nature.

 

 

13 The Mystery of the Seven Stars
     and Seven Candlesticks Rev.1:20
     “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” Jesus himself reveals the mystery here. The mystery of the seven stars that Jesus holds in his right hand reveals there are angels of the seven churches. These angels are assigned by Jesus to stand over and be messengers. They existed two millennia ago and still they stand waiting as watchful guardians to each church. They minister good news and encouragement and firm warnings and harsh rebukes; whatever Jesus tells them.

The mystery of the candlesticks is that they are the seven churches that Jesus still inhabits today. He stands in the midst of these candlesticks with the hope that any who hear his Spirit might overcome. These churches to which he wrote letters can be viewed in three ways. First, actual churches that existed in the days when John wrote down the vision as it was shown to him and the letters were sent to these churches of Asia-Minor. Second, church history reveals a progression in the church that took on these faiths as it grew and developed over the last 2000 years and none of them have disappeared but still remain today. Third, they can each be view at a personal level by all saints to see where each may stand today in their faith and let the admonishing words of Jesus speak to their hearts. Amongst these candlesticks is the place where the Bride of Christ can be found in all her beauty before Jesus. She is one among the churches who is found listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. In contrast to her are churches who have no need of Jesus, who have forgot their first love, who have known the depths of Satan and who eat things sacrificed to idols and commit spiritual fornication.

 

 

* The Mystery of God will be finished Rev. 10:7

“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

When the seventh angel begins to sound, then the mystery of God will be finished. What is the mystery of God that will finish at this time? A look ahead to Revelation 11:15 says “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” From this verse we see that the allowance by God of letting the kingdoms of this world be ruled and reign over by foreign authorities other than his sovereign rule is what will come to an end. That God would allow something like this to go on for so long is a mystery and one of the things that tries the faith and patience of Christ’s Bride. This is all part of God’s providential plan of the ages for saving those who do believe in him and his Son and are willing to follow after him always. It’s a mystery that God would shadow his own glory but it is revealed to the prophet John that after the seventh trumpet sounds the glory of God, Jesus, will shine forth, all judgement will be pronounced; reward given to the prophets and saints, destruction to them which destroy the earth, opening of the Temple of God in Heaven and the revealing of the ark of his testimonies. (Rev. 11:15-19) God, by his own incredible love that is longsuffering and patient, is holding back this wondrous glory of his. His holding back and waiting to let all things prove themselves as righteous and holy or unjust and filthy is mysterious but it testifies to his desire of having with himself those who love him freely.

 

¤  The Mystery of the Woman
     and the Beast that Carries Her

            In Revelation chapter 17 we see the revealing of the mystery of who the Beast and Woman are. “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev. 17:5-7)

        “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (vs. 8-18)

The final mention of mysteries in the bible concern false mysteries which wreak havoc in the Church. God’s consternation and disgust are revealed, their ultimate judgment and dismissal are prophesied. Here are a few notes to help in understanding the revealing of these mysteries. The scripture above shows us that the Beast is a vehicle upon which the Woman/Whore is carried throughout the entire earth. The two use each other to further their agendas and fulfill God’s will. The Beast is shown to personify the antichrist spirit. That he was, is not and yet is alludes to a very long spiritual existence. Satan and his spiritual cohorts have ascended from the very pits of Hell and will certainly return there one day to be imprisoned for all eternity. They have influenced the hearts of evil men in the world for thousands of years and one day soon the spirit of antichrist will be embodied in a the person that will be named The Antichrist. This antichrist spirit has built kingdoms and empires and in the last days the Antichrist person will sit among ten kingdoms of this world. During his short reign the Antichrist, Satan and the False Prophet will use all their power and influence to control men, kingdoms and the Woman as he reaches for his ultimate goal of being worshipped as God himself.

The Woman, ancient in time, has always been used by the antichrist spirit. Mystery Babylon is written upon her in this vision which points to her connection with the ancient gods, even the first humanism trinity born in Babylon and worshipped as gods, Nimrod, Simiramus and Tammuz. She is the epitome of false religion. She is the height of spiritual adultery and idolatry against God. She is shown as a great city, reigning over the kings of the earth among peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues and her position of sitting upon seven hills connects her to Rome and the religion that is seated there. From Babylon to Rome she has trafficked in the souls of men and made herself drunk on their blood. She is a stark contrast to that holy city we see later in Revelation who is the Bride of Christ.

 

Seek the Spirit to teach you more concerning the delightful mysteries of our faith through prayer and study.

CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

         The following is the mystery of marvel which must be studied and investigated with the focus and determination applied by a master sleuth. It is the mystery of Christ and the church, the mystery of the Lord Almighty and His espoused helpmate and wife – specifically, the Bride. Details about her character and destiny are found scattered throughout the pages of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. Our web-pages in this 'Bride' section shall traverse them so as to identify her with careful consideration, even lending a spiritual eye toward the detail of her life and rare character. Though it comes late in the order of inspired scripture, the place best to begin is with Paul’s teaching on marriage to the believers of the city of Ephesus. Ephesus was that city where the wonder of the world, the temple to Diana, the Roman goddess of women, motherhood and fertility was located. Where better to dispel ignorance about the meaning of marriage and deliver the profound truth about marriage and the real Bride of God?

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the apostle begins a dialogue about husbands and wives and the necessity of love and reciprocal submission in the matrimonial relationship. He speaks of submitting one to another in the fear of God as he gives directives for wives and husbands and how the husband is particularly responsible to love the wife and the woman is obligated to submit to the man. This was news to those who were steeped in the worship of a goddess. And so Paul’s teaching was received primarily in this light, and has continued down two thousand years in this fashion to be learned by the bulk of bible believers. When read superficially, this is marriage counseling 101. He has talked about being wise and staying away from fornication (that one thing Christ has said is a permissible reason to divorce). Avoid also those who commit such sinful acts without regard for God or Man. Then Paul tells directly, in the simplest terms what husbands and wives ought to do in the matrimonial relationship -

 

 Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

 

Simple and clear. Only the worshipper of Diana or Mary, or the modernist or the unbeliever without reverence for God could or can argue with this simple advice, this sound counsel of God. Do the right thing. The advancement of the idea of the full commitment of the man to so love his wife as Christ perfectly loves the church, serves as a hedge against the man abusing his position and lauding it over the ‘weaker vessel’. Both husband and wife are urged, expected, to be wise concerning the dynamics of this spiritual rule for successful marriage. And so, it seems this is the high point made by God in this counsel to the Ephesians.

Then we find out that Paul is talking about a much higher matter, a marriage but one of God and Man, a mystery of Christ and the Church and using the earthly matrimonial relationship to set up His higher point and reveal what is identified as the ‘great’ mystery. Curiously, out of the blue, midway through the dialogue, Paul interjects some specific aims of Christ for His Church and promises that Christ will be the one to fulfill His personal ambitions for the church. He says,  

 

   Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, 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 to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

 

Paul had already declared His mission among the believers of Corinth: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Of course, it is understood, since he was talking to the city of believers of every age and gender, that the chaste virgin was a spiritual allusion, not literal. He considered Himself a match-maker in the traditional Jewish sense. He was urging the Corinthians (as he did with the Ephesians and all other saints he disciple) to become Christ’s fiancée and to purify themselves in that hope that they are Christ’s espoused, someday to be His beautifully adorned Bride and wife.

Paul explained to Ephesians what being this espoused and chaste virgin entails, more specifically what Christ and The Father have in mind. Christ gave Himself for the Church to set it apart and make it clean. He will do the purifying work and present it to Himself. It is a church from among the churches which He will perfect and make glorious. Take note, it is not the church but a church. The letters to the churches in Revelation, the epistles addressed to separate churches and two thousand years of history tell us that the church is comprised of church –es, plural. The Bride will be a church from among the church- es. Christ will be able to perfect her by using his ministers, such as Paul and by the guidance and gifts of the Holy Spirit and by washing her in the water of the Word. Christ will do her laundry, iron out her wrinkles by washing her in water by the Word. Her garments are clean and white, the linen of righteousness. (The Washed Bride)  It is Christ’s Bride about which Paul is now talking. Christ is her beautician removing all blemishes. He is her high priest to teach her holiness. His shed blood has won her pardon, paid for her forgiveness. She can now stand before God relieved of her sin by grace. The blood gives her authority over spiritual enemies and has ordained her as a royal priest. The Word is what washes her clean, takes out the wrinkles in her garments as they may become wrinkled by daily business and use. He washes her with the Word to clean off the dirt of the world. The water of the Word is the spa that heals her of blemishes and chaffing from the elements of the world. The washing of the Word is the true holy water. When we dunk under it and are bathed in it we are cleaned and holy by its power, even in proportion to our obedience to the Word. Jesus does this work with patience and love so he may present unto himself a glorious and perfected wife because she is the apple of His eye and the love of His life. As the Son of Man, he does not wish to be alone, but wants a wife, and she must be perfect, as only befits the Bride of Christ.

Paul then relates this prophecy of Christ and the Church back to our current temporary living situation. Since ‘marriage’ in its ultimate form is between God and Man and will be perfect, Paul tells us to emulate the real form.

 

   “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

   For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

   For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”

 

In so relating this to earthly matrimony, Paul once again uses it to make a greater point about Christ and His wife. Christ and the church (that is His wife) through submission to His love are destined to be ONE. They are members of His body, His flesh and His bones. No one can do this for anyone else. No coercion can make bride-ship come to pass. They must desire to be with Christ and the two shall become one – this is done all by themselves. Their parents cannot help, no one can do it for them. Christ will do it for them. The prospective Bride must allow Him to work. Paul quotes the Word to make the point:

 

   “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” 2 Cor. 11:2

 

Then, near the end of his dialogue Paul startles us by openly speaking of the mystery of which he had really been talking about all along. It was not so much the matrimonial obligations of husband and wives that he was teaching, but the relationship between Christ and his wife, a church living in this perfect order of love and the espoused wife reciprocating (by submission) that love to Christ. He directly and freely states this is a great mystery, this marriage between Christ and church. The word for church used here, as everywhere in the New Testament is Ekklesia: literally, called out ones. Ekklesia was a gathering in the Greek world that represented a gatherings of import where decisions were made and handed down. It often implied a completion through decisive action. This well represents the church Paul identified as the church of the mystery of Christ and the espoused wife. In this ekklesia (church) of separated ones a matter of the utmost importance was to be brought to perfect completion. The Bride was to be made holy and without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing. She will be completed – perfected and purified. Christ will be married to those truly separated unto Him and who are fully extricated from the world’s grip. It is about Christ’s love for his own Bride and the greater purpose and intent Christ would have for the Church. This great mystery is revealed not just as a benefit that is to be followed after marriage but even more important each believer in the Church ought to behave as the “submitted wife” to Jesus with full understanding of the elevated intent in his heart toward all those He would call into brideship with Himself. He delivers the point to which he has been heading:

 

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

Here in review is what Paul said about Christ and the church:

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, 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 to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

 

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

 

   “[Christ] Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col 1:28

 

As the believer proceeds through this section dedicated to the Bride we hope to present Scriptural evidence of the origin of God’s plan to provide His Son with a Bride and how it evolved in His Word and dealings with His people. It has been devised so that as the Christ, Jesus the Man would not have to be ‘alone’ through eternity; but that he would have a perfect Bride, one without spot or wrinkle, that would be holy and without blemish, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. That through obedient submission she would be faithful, devoted, unquestioningly trusting and forever His loving helpmate. We hope those who have ears to hear and gain faith for it – regardless of the skill of ThePhiladelphiaFaith.org to do this great mystery of all ages the justice it deserves.  

BACK TO BRIDE INTRO

FORWARD TO: BRIDE AS UTOPIA

OVERCOMING AS BRIDE:
IN CHURCH
IN WORLD

ON TO: GOD'S QUEST FOR A PURE AND PERFECT BRIDE

 


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