Page 58 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

59

In Matthew 22 Jesus opened a parable with the statement “…A CERTAIN KING ARRANGED A
MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON” (vs.2). He closes the parable with the statement “MANY ARE CALLED,
BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN” (vs.14). Inbetween He states that many were “NOT WILLING TO
COME…THEY MADE LIGHT OF IT…THEY WENT THEIR OWN WAYS…TO THEIR FARMS AND
BUSINESSES” (vs.3-5).

The whole Body of Christ is betrothed to become His Bride. However, parables like the above and the
one below foretell us that not all will end up as the Bride. I do not believe that the problem for God’s
people is one of attainability, but rather it is a lack of availability. Satan seeks to corrupt the espoused
Bride through perverted doctrines as Paul prophesied, but also by means of his subtle substitutes such
as are listed in the parable of the Sower (see Mark 4, Luke 8, Mat.13).

Here is how Jesus predicted the status of
His espoused Bride at the coming
of The Bridegroom:

"THEN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SHALL
BE LIKENED TO TEN VIRGINS WHO TOOK
THEIR LAMPS AND WENT OUT TO MEET
THE BRIDEGROOM. NOW FIVE OF THEM

WERE WISE, AND FIVE WERE FOOLISH.
THOSE WHO WERE FOOLISH TOOK THEIR
LAMPS AND TOOK NO OIL WITH THEM,
BUT THE WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS

WITH THEIR LAMPS. BUT WHILE THE
BRIDEGROOM WAS DELAYED, THEY ALL

SLUMBERED AND SLEPT.
"AND AT MIDNIGHT A CRY WAS HEARD: 'BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING; GO OUT TO MEET

HIM!' THEN ALL THOSE VIRGINS AROSE AND TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS. AND THE FOOLISH SAID TO
THE WISE, 'GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL, FOR OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT.' BUT THE WISE

ANSWERED, SAYING, 'NO, LEST THERE SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR US AND YOU; BUT GO RATHER
TO THOSE WHO SELL, AND BUY FOR YOURSELVES.' AND WHILE THEY WENT TO BUY, THE

BRIDEGROOM CAME, AND THOSE WHO WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE WEDDING; AND
THE DOOR WAS SHUT. AFTERWARD THE OTHER VIRGINS CAME ALSO, SAYING, 'LORD, LORD, OPEN

TO US!' BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, 'ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.'
WATCH THEREFORE,

FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR IN WHICH THE SON OF MAN IS COMING. ‘ ”
Matt. 25:1-13

In closing, let me suggest you consider an in-depth teaching I
did many years ago on the subject of the Bride of Christ.
This book was first published in 1986. It was my first and is
still the largest book that the Lord has inspired me to write.
It is still among my favorites. After many years of being out
of print, I have decided to reprint it in its original format
rather than allowing it to no longer be in circulation. Sadly, I
must say, the true message of the Bride of Christ remains a
“great mystery” to most of God’s people today (Eph. 5:32).
With the erroneous “I got it all when I got saved” theology
that permeates most of Christianity, the need to pursue after
Paul’s “goal and prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-15) has been theologically rendered null
and void. The result is that the Body of Christ has no vision
for obtaining the Bride of Christ. It is considered a done-deal
via the new birth!

$10.95 ea.