Page 19 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

We have looked at the three ways Paul states that the betrothed Bride of Christ (the church) can have
her mind corrupted from “whole-hearted and pure devotion to Christ.” She can be deceived by satanic
preaching of “another Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel.” The parable of the Sower reveals a
fourth area of potential deception:

“…THE CARES AND ANXIETIES OF THE WORLD AND DISTRACTIONS OF THE AGE, AND THE PLEASURE
AND DELIGHT AND FALSE GLAMOUR AND DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE CRAVING AND
PASSIONATE DESIRE FOR OTHER THINGS CREEP IN AND CHOKE AND SUFFOCATE THE WORD,
AND IT BECOMES FRUITLESS.” Mark 4:19 Amplified Bible

Worldly deception can be just as deadly as spiritual deception. In fact, when Jesus told the parable of the
Marriage Supper, it was such worldly deception that sidetracked those that God had invited to the
marriage of His Son:

“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A CERTAIN KING WHO ARRANGED A MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON AND
SENT OUT HIS SERVANTS TO CALL THOSE WHO WERE INVITED TO THE WEDDING; AND THEY WERE NOT
WILLING TO COME…THEY MADE LIGHT OF IT AND WENT THEIR OWN WAYS, ONE TO HIS OWN FARM,

ANOTHER TO HIS BUSINESS…MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN” Matt. 22:1-14 excerpts

The sister parable found in Luke gives us even more specific reasons why those who were invited chose
not to come:

“BUT THEY ALL WITH ONE ACCORD BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES. THE FIRST SAID TO HIM,’I HAVE BOUGHT
A PIECE OF GROUND, AND I MUST GO AND SEE IT. I ASK YOU TO HAVE ME EXCUSED.’ AND ANOTHER
SAID, ‘I HAVE BOUGHT FIVE YOKE OF OXEN, AND I AM GOING TO TEST THEM. I ASK YOU TO HAVE ME
EXCUSED.’ STILL ANOTHER SAID, ‘I HAVE MARRIED A WIFE, AND THEREFORE I CANNOT COME…’ “
Luke 14:18-20

Perhaps it would help to vividly see the time line of events that pertain to the Bride of Christ:

“FOR I AM JEALOUS FOR YOU WITH GODLY JEALOUSY. FOR I HAVE BETROTHED YOU TO ONE
HUSBAND, THAT I MAY PRESENT YOU AS A CHASTE VIRGIN TO CHRIST.BUT I FEAR, LEST SOMEHOW,

AS THE SERPENT DECEIVED EVE BY HIS CRAFTINESS, SO YOUR MINDS MAY BE CORRUPTED
FROM THE SIMPLICITY (PURITY) THAT IS IN CHRIST. FOR IF HE WHO COMES PREACHES ANOTHER JESUS
WHOM WE HAVE NOT PREACHED, OR IF YOU RECEIVE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT WHICH YOU HAVE NOT

RECEIVED, OR A DIFFERENT GOSPEL WHICH YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED,
(I FEAR) YOU MAY WELL PUT UP WITH IT.” 2 Cor. 11: 1-4

“…A CERTAIN KING “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN “…THE MARRIAGE OF THE
ARRANGED A SHALL BE LIKENED TO LAMB HAS COME,
TEN VIRGINS WHO…
MARRIAGE FOR HIS AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE
SON….THEY WERE WENT OUT TO MEET THE HERSELF READY. AND TO HER
NOT WILLING TO BRIDEGROOM…
COME…THEY MADE IT WAS GRANTED TO BE
LIGHT OF IT AND FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE, ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN,
AND FIVE WERE FOOLISH… CLEAN AND BRIGHT, FOR THE
WENT THEIR THE BRIDEGROOM CAME, FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS
WAYS… AND THOSE THAT WERE READY
ACTS OF THE SAINTS…
MANY ARE CALLED, WENT IN WITH HIM BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE
BUT FEW TO THE WEDDING;
AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE
ARE CHOSEN… SUPPER OF THE LAMB!”
Matt. 22:1,14 Matt. 25:10 Rev. 19:7-9

“…CHRIST 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…

THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY,
BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING

CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.”
Eph. 5:25-32 excerpts

I am going to recommend the book on the next page as a detailed plan for being found among the wise
and chaste virgins that Jesus, the Bridegroom, will rapture off the face of the earth in the near future.