[Note: All verses unless otherwise specified are from NKJV]
Suggested Read:
Revealed: “Christ’s Upcoming and Eternal Marriage To His People [Radio/Written] (1 of 5)
But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain — perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
ALL FLESH is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial [relating or belonging to heaven] bodies and terrestrial [earthly] bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The [earthly] body is sown in corruption, [because of Christ] it is raised in incorruption. IT IS SOWN IN DISHONOR, IT IS RAISED IN GLORY [with Christ]. It is sown in weakness, [because of Christ] it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a Spiritual Body. There is a natural [earthly] body, and there is a Spiritual [heavenly] Body [also see 1 Cor 6:17; 1 Cor 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:14-18; Ephesians 4:1-6).
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living [human] being.” The last Adam [Jesus Christ] became a life-giving Spirit.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image [likeness, resemblance] of the heavenly Man.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will 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 has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
(1Corinthians 15:35-54)
Remember what Jesus said to us in Chapter 1? On April 27, 2016, Christ said, “You are eating My flesh and drinking My blood [Communion/Eucharist], and I will do the same for you. I will cover you with the newness of Christ, My own resurrected flesh and blood. I will swallow death for you. Indeed, I already have, Amen Amen and again Amen (see 2 Tim 1:10; 1 Cor 15:24-26; Heb 2:14-15).”
Its Time To Get Excited!
When I had completed the study associated with Chapter 1 of this Revelation, I knew that this study was associated with Christ’s Wife, His One eternal Church and Congregation; the Holy Spirit began to show me this connection, but not clearly at first. I did not yet understand how or why. I prayed for God’s wisdom and knowledge concerning this for a long time: perhaps as long as a year.
One morning when I was in prayer about something other than this, I heard the Holy Spirit clearly say, “ONE FLESH.” The Holy Spirit confirmed this many times, and I almost immediately understood that God will CAUSE us to change from “ALL FLESH” to “ONE FLESH” as we are joined to Christ in marriage; it is through Christ’s “ONE FLESH” that all sin and “death are [eternally] swallowed up.”
God then instructed me to look at all of the “ONE FLESH” verses in the Bible. In all cases, “ONE FLESH” refers to “marriage.”
(Genesis 2:24)
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become ONE FLESH.
And again, Ephesians 5:22-32,
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband [Christ] is head of the wife [church], as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the [His one] body. Therefore, just as THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT TO CHRIST [the Head over His Body and Church], so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER [His Wife and Church], that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church [Wife], not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For NO ONE EVER HATED HIS OWN FLESH, BUT NOURISHES AND CHERISHES IT, JUST AS THE LORD DOES THE CHURCH [His Body and His Wife]. For WE ARE [all] MEMBERS OF HIS [ONE] BODY, OF HIS FLESH AND OF HIS BONES. “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL leave his father and mother and BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY, BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND [His] CHURCH [Wife].
(Mark 10:5-9)
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he [God our Father] wrote you this precept [allowing divorce]. But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, and the TWO SHALL BECOME ‘ONE FLESH’; so then THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO, BUT ONE FLESH. Therefore what GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, let not man separate” (also see Matt 19:4-6)
(1 Corinthians 6:15-20)
DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODIES ARE MEMBERS OF CHRIST [Christ’s One Body, over which He is the Head]? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is ONE BODY WITH HER? For “THE TWO,” He says, “SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But HE WHO IS JOINED TO THE LORD IS [NOW] ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM [through His Holy Spirit]. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, BUT HE [or she] WHO COMMITS SEXUAL IMMORALITY SINS AGAINST HIS [or HER] OWN BODY. Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD [our Father], and YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN [but literally one with Christ]? For you were bought at a price [Christ’s life; Christ’s blood]; THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S [our Father’s].
(A) GOD HAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO MAKE HIS PEOPLE HIS WIFE
I had heard years ago, and no longer remember by what means I heard this, that Israel had been married to God our Father when He spoke, and then wrote His Law to all of Israel at Mt. Sinai (see Exod 19:11 thru 20:22; Deut 5:2-4; Deut 5:22). Because I was not sure of where I had heard this, nor could I find proof of this in the Bible, I contacted “Jews For Jesus.”
I was extremely blessed when Rich Robinson, Senior Researcher at “Jews for Jesus”, provided me with the following information via e-mail: “Traditional Judaism does speak of the image of Israel being married to God. For example, Aryeh Kaplan in ‘The Aryeh Kaplan Readers’ writes that “when the Jewish people accepted the Torah, they in a sense became married to God.” (p. 108). Rabbi Ari Kahn at www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/95721929.html writes that “the entire congregation is holy – and married to God.” In an article called “Why Do We Sing the Song of Songs on Passover?” Benjamin Edidin Scolnic writes that “Israel, in its covenant with God made on Mt. Sinai, was “married” to God. God, as the husband, was explicitly jealous of any infidelity on the part of His wife [people]. Religious fidelity is described in the terms of marital fidelity.”
Rich Robinson continued, “So yes, traditional Judaism uses that image of the relationship between the nation of Israel and God — not literally of course, but as a metaphor. Most Jews today are not traditional and so in general, Jewish people don’t consider themselves as a nation married to God… But among traditional Jews, the marriage metaphor is understood to depict the relationship of Israel to God that began at Mt. Sinai.” (Visit www.jewsforjesus.org)
I want to personally thank Rich Robinson at “Jews For Jesus” for this information, and his continual work in behalf of all of God’s Children.
(Isaiah 62:4-5)
You [Israel and Jerusalem; all Christians] shall no longer be termed Forsaken (also see Matt 27:46; Heb 13:5-6), nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called (*)Hephzibah [my delight is in her], and your land (**)Beulah [married] for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
(*) “Hephzibah”: “MY DELIGHT (IS) IN HER … Strong’s Concordance # 2657”
(**) “Beulah”: “to be master; hence…TO MARRY: KJV – have dominion (over), BE HUSBAND, marry (-ried, wife); Strong’s Concordance # 1166”
(Hosea 2:14-16)
‘Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel], will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. And it shall be, in that day,” Says the LORD, “That YOU WILL CALL ME ‘MY HUSBAND,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master,’
(Isaiah 54:5)
For YOUR MAKER IS YOUR HUSBAND, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God [Christ’s Father; our Father] of the whole earth.
(2 Corinthians 11:2)
For I [Paul] am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to ONE HUSBAND [Christ], that I [Paul] may present you as a CHASTE VIRGIN to Christ.
(Revelation 21:2-11)
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem [as opposed to old physical Jerusalem], COMING OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, PREPARED AS A BRIDE FOR HER HUSBAND. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death [death has been swallowed up], nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new…”
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “COME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S [Christ’s] WIFE.” And HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy [new heavenly] Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
(Revelation 19:6-8)
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB [Christ; Resurrected Christ] HAS COME, and HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
(B) WE MUST BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN ORDER TO BE MARRIED TO CHRIST
THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE
The marriage ceremony will be given by, and celebrated with God our Father in His Spiritual heavenly Holy of Holies as He speaks over, and within us. It was, and is critical that we have the ability to enter our Father’s presence because, as God said, He will perform, seal, and confirm this covenant of marriage with His people at that time; and He will do this as He sits on His throne within His Holy of Holies. Obviously, our salvation and marriage are as important to our Father as it is to each individual saved through Christ’s selfless act.
Originally, God instructed Moses to install a thick veil as a barrier between Himself (God), and ALL FLESH: men, women, and children. The veil served as a physical wall of division within the Hebrews Tabernacle and Temple; and as an example of the division that laid/lays over all hearts both physically and spiritually prior to our confession that Jesus Christ is our Savior (see scriptures below).
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary teaches the following with regards to the Temple Veil: “A curtain in the tabernacle or Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies [or Most Holy Place; the inner part or Holy of Holies within the Tent of Meeting]. Only the high priest could go behind the veil [into God’s presence], and this occurred only one day each year – on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:2). But when Jesus died on the cross, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matt 27:51), showing that Jesus [upon His resurrection] had opened A NEW AND LIVING WAY into the PRESENCE OF GOD [His/our Father] through His death [and resurrection] (Heb 6:19; 9:3).” (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)]
(Luke 23:44-46)
Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My SPIRIT.'” Having said this, He breathed His last.” (also see Mark 15:38-39; Matt. 27:50-51)
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech — unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But THEIR MINDS WERE BLINDED (see 1 Cor 2:13-16). For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, BECAUSE THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY IN CHRIST. But even to this day, when Moses (Old Test) is read, a VEIL LIES ON THEIR HEART. NEVERTHELESS WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY. Now THE LORD IS [Holy] SPIRIT; and WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY. But we all, WITH UNVEILED FACE, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE [nature, character] FROM GLORY TO GLORY, JUST AS BY THE [Holy] SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
(Hebrews 9:11-15)
But CHRIST CAME AS HIGH PRIEST [over us, His priests] of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect [heavenly] tabernacle [Christ] NOT MADE WITH HANDS, that is, NOT OF THIS CREATION. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place [presence of our Father] once for ALL [FLESH, people], having obtained eternal (*a)redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, (*b)SANCTIFIES FOR THE PURIFYING OF THE FLESH, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST [SANCTIFY and PURIFY OUR FLESH], WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL [Holy] SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD [our Father], cleanse your conscience (also see Rom. 8:1-17) from dead works to SERVE the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the (*a)redemption [Salvation and deliverance thru Christ’s sacrifice] of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
(*a) “redemption”: “Deliverance by payment of a price [Christ and His blood]. In the New Testament, redemption refers to salvation from sin, death, and the wrath of God by Christ’s sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the word redemption refers to redemption [deliverance by a payment] by a KINSMAN…”
(*b) “sanctifies”: “The process of God’s grace [God’s Divine influence upon your heart, and its reflection in your life; including gratitude [praise and thanks] (Strong’s Concordance #5485)] by which the believer is separated from sin and becomes dedicated to God’s righteousness. Accomplished by the Word of God (John 17:7) and the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:3-4), sanctification results in holiness, or PURIFICATION FROM THE GUILT AND POWER OF SIN.
Sanctification, AS SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD and SETTING APART FOR GOD’S SERVICE, is a concept found throughout the Bible…”
[(*a, *b above) were copied from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary]
(C) CHRIST BECAME OUR HIGH PRIEST
The Day of Atonement is/was a day in which all within Israel were to afflict their souls. By definition, a priest is one who intercedes between God and man in behalf of mankind. The Hebrew High Priest entered into the presence of God Almighty only on the Day of Atonement once a year as an intercessor for all of Israel. If he, or his sacrifices were not accepted by God he would die due to the sin.
Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, is the intercessor for all mankind [ALL FLESH] on all days and nights; and God our Father accepted, and continues to accept Him as both His/our eternal High Priest and God’s perfect sacrificial lamb. Jesus entered the Holy of Holies as both God’s Lamb and God’s High Priest.
(Hebrews 8:1-6)
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PRIEST [Christ], who is SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF MAJESTY IN THE HEAVENS, A MINISTER OF THE SANCTUARY AND OF THE [ONE] TRUE TABERNACLE [SPIRITUAL CHURCH; CONGREGATION] which the LORD ERECTED, and NOT MAN.
(Hebrews 2:17-18)
“Therefore, in all things HE [Christ] HAD TO BE MADE LIKE HIS BROTHERS [us], THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation [a sin offering, atonement; atoning sacrifice] for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, HE IS ABLE TO AID THOSE WHO ARE TEMPTED.”
(Hebrews 9:24)
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one [in heaven], but into heaven itself, NOW TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US…
(Hebrews 10:19-22)
Therefore, brethren, HAVING BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST [Holy of Holies] BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE (*c)CONSECRATED FOR US, THROUGH THE VEIL, THAT IS, HIS [ONE] FLESH…
(*c) “Consecrated”:
Dictionary.com: “TO MAKE OR DECLARE SACRED; SET APART OR DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF A DIETY; to make something an object of honor… Hallow; to devote or dedicate to some purpose; to admit or ordain to a sacred office; to change (bread and wine) into Eucharist [Communion].
ISBE: “TO MAKE OR DECLARE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING SACRED. According to ISBE “consecrated” in the New Testament has been translated in Various Bibles: “TO MAKE PERFECT (Revised Version [British and American]) “Perfected; and specifically in Heb 10 “TO MAKE NEW…” “dedicated.”
Hebrews 10:19-22 can be read, according to the above definition of “Consecrated” as:
“We are CONSECRATED, THAT IS “made and declared sacred; set apart and dedicated into service of God for a purpose; we are admitted and ordained to a sacred office; we are “hallow” or holy; we are made “PERFECT and MADE NEW THROUGH THE VEIL THAT IS CHRIST’S “ONE FLESH”!
Above, in Hebrews 10: 19-22, we are told that we are to boldly enter the Holy of Holies (and our Father’s presence) by the blood of Jesus, who is NOW our new eternal life: the new and living way. Christ’s newness lives within Christ’s flesh and blood. Christ has (*c)consecrated us through the VEIL in the Temple; the “veil” is CHRIST’S FLESH, His “ONE FLESH.”
The status of God’s people changes from “Bride” to “Wife” as they come through Christ’s consecrated VEIL, His ONE FLESH. Please notice, below, that the definition of “Bride” in the New Testament Greek, describes her as having a “veil” on. Whereas, “Wife” does not mention a “veil” in the definition.
BRIDE: [The BRIDE WEARS A VEIL]
NT:3565 … (TO VEIL AS A BRIDE; … a young married woman (AS VEILED), INCLUDING A BETROTHED GIRL …” KJV – bride, daughter in law.
WIFE: [Please notice that THE VEIL IS REMOVED]
NT:1135 … a woman; SPECIFICALLY A WIFE: KJV – wife, woman.
(copied from Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary…)
(D) WE ARE NOW FREE TO GO THRU THE VEIL INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
As I said, we must be able to enter into the Holy of Holies; we must be able to stand before God our Father in order to be married to His Son within God’s Holy of Holies.
The fact that the Veil between the Holy Place [place of the congregation] and the Holy of Holies, was torn in two pieces as Jesus yielded up His Spirit to His Father gives those saved in Christ many blessings; but one of the most important ones is our ability to now freely enter the Holy of Holies and our Father’s presence.
As members in Christ’s one Body we have all been given access to our Father through the One Spirit of Christ. This is the Spirit that was, and is promised to us by God our Father (see Acts 2: 17-18). This is our Father’s own Holy Spirit, the Spirit who is holy. He is the same Spirit that gave BIRTH to Christ (see Matt 1:18-20).
(Ezekiel 39:29)
“‘And I WILL NOT HIDE MY FACE FROM THEM ANYMORE; because I WILL HAVE POURED OUT MY SPIRIT on the house of Israel [and all within Christ; Acts 2],’ says the Lord GOD.”
(Hebrews 6:19-20)
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence [of God Almighty] BEHIND THE VEIL and the Holy of Holies [most Holy Place; innermost sanctuary], WHERE THE FORERUNNER [Christ, our Savior and Husband to be] HAS ENTERED FOR US [God’s Children, Christ’s Wife and One Spiritual Church], even JESUS, HAVING BECOME OUR HIGH PRIEST FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek.
(E) CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST AND SACRIFICIAL LAMB, HAD TO BE WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH
The Hebrew word translated as “BLEMISH” is defined as: “a defect in the body of a man or an animal. Defects of conduct are also metaphorically called blemishes (Deut. 32:5; Prov. 9:7; Job. 11:15). A blemished priest was unfit to serve in the priesthood (Lev. 21:16–23) and was PRECLUDED FROM APPROACHING THE ALTER TO OFFER THE FIRE-OFFERING. He was permitted to carry out only Temple functions not involving actual service at the altar, SINCE HE WAS NOT STANDING BEFORE THE LORD [our Father]. THE BIBLE FORBADE A PRIEST WHO HAD BEEN BLEMISHED TO APPROACH THE VEIL (Lev. 21:23)… (copied from Jewish Virtual Library”)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0003_0_03084.html)
We are told in Hebrews 9:13-14, below, that Christ, our High Priest and God’s accepted sacrificial lamb, offered Himself “through the eternal [Holy] Spirit” “without spot to God our Father.”
(Hebrews 9:13-14)
For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the [ALL] FLESH, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH THE ETERNAL [Holy] SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD [His Father], cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:18-21 teaches us the same thing:
(1 Peter 1:18-21)
… you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct RECEIVED BY TRADITION [learned in society or church] from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, AS OF A LAMB [Christ] WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT [without blemish, blame, fault]. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times FOR YOU who through Him believe in God [our Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
(F) CHRIST’S WIFE (YOU) MUST ALSO BE HOLY AND WITHOUT SPOT, WRINKLE, OR BLEMISH
Below, I again remind you of Ephesians 5:25-27. Please notice that even now Christ is separating and washing His Church and One Wife by the water of the Word; she must be, and will be without spot or wrinkle:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church [His Wife] and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and CLEANSE HER WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH [and thus Wife], NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, BUT THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.”
Christ, who has authority over ALL FLESH washes us Himself with His blood and the water of the Word for this reason. We become His glorious church, “not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,” and thus we become “holy and without blemish” BECAUSE Christ gave Himself for us.
In Ephesians 5:25-27 we were taught that Christ’s Wife, Christ’s one Spiritual Church and Congregation, is cleansed by Christ Himself as He sanctifies and cleanses each member within her through the water of the Word. Again, this is done so that Christ might present TO HIMSELF a glorious Church and Wife, without “spot, wrinkle, or blemish.”
(G) WE ARE A HOLY NATION OF PRIESTS AND KINGS
God has created His eternal people, His Wife, without spot or wrinkle. Why then did He feel it was necessary to make us a unified nation of Priests and Kings? Please notice that in Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:9-10, below, God’s priests were, and are consecrated [set apart and dedicated to God’s service] BECAUSE they minister to God our Father in worship and praise: under our High Priest and King, Christ Jesus. In Revelation 5:8-10 we are told that at the time the NEW SONG is sung, God has already made us Priests and Kings so that we will reign on earth with Him.
Our Father said in this 2016 Revelation that He would marry us as He sits on His throne in the Holy of Holies. For this reason, and many others, God has made us His priests and kings under Christ our High Priest and the King of kings; in this way, we too may continually enter the Holy of Holies and minister, that is offer praise and worship to, God our Father along with our Husband and High Priest, Christ.
As you read the scriptures below, notice that God not only promises to make His people a Holy Kingdom of priests and kings, but He also specifies two of the things we must do in order to qualify for these positions: “hear and obey His voice, and keep His Covenant (Christ is this covenant of love).” In Revelation 20:4-6 He also emphasizes that we are not to worship the beast or his image, or receive the mark of the beast.
(Exodus 19:6)
And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and BROUGHT YOU TO MYSELF [into My Presence]. Now therefore, if you will indeed OBEY MY VOICE and KEEP MY COVENANT [today, Christ is our Covenant], then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And YOU SHALL BE TO ME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS AND A HOLY NATION.‘ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
(Revelation 5:8-10)
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb [Christ], each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You [Christ] are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation [to form one nation under God, and Christ], and HAVE MADE [past tense] US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD [Christ’s & our Father], AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH [with Him].”
(1 Peter 2:9-10)
But you are [now] a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, His own special people, so THAT WE MAY PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF HIM who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people [one nation] but are now the people [one nation] of God [our Father], who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
God has ALREADY made us a holy [spiritual] nation and royal priesthood: His own special people so that YOU/WE MAY PROCLAIM PRAISES OF HIM and TO HIM. In other words, God’s Holy Spirit will proclaim praises through your anointed mind, heart, mouth and tongue to God our Father. This is God’s High Praise” and the “sacrifice of our lips” that pleases God Almighty (see Heb 13:15; Ps. 149:6 [NASB]). Again, these praises must be offered from our new Spiritual, born-again mouth, mind, and heart: God’s own one heart and mind within each Believer (see 1 Cor 2:16; Ezek 36:26; Prov 4:23; Luke 17:21).
This one heart is alive within each of us, and all of us who are saved and willing to change into God’s own forgiving, unconditional, non-judgmental nature of love. These are the ordained HIGH PRAISES that are filled with God’s Spiritual power; and because of this, these praises stop God’s and our enemy, satan (see Matt 21:15-16; Ps 8:2).
Praise God! As we are Married to Jesus, we will become ONE FLESH with Him; and we will be CONSECRATED THROUGH CHRIST’S “ONE FLESH” and ONE BODY!
