2 Corinthians 11_2-3 The bride of the lamb
The Bride of the Lamb
Rev. 19:7-9
Revelation 19:6-9
6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
1. The Proposal to the Bride.
Revelation 22:17 (NIV)
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
I like it when a guy makes one of those bold public marriage proposals. In the middle of a restaurant with everyone watching, or on Oprah with the nation tuned in.
How about the proposal on “Sweet Home Alabama” where a guy rented Tiffany’s to propose?
Well, those proposals are nothing compared to the way Jesus proposed to you and me. It was a public spectacle. He fell on his knees several times on the way to the place where he proposed. He nailed his love for you and me to the cross, signed his intentions with his own blood, spread his arms out wide and said, “I want you for my own. Will you be mine?”
The official proposal reads like this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
You can trust me on this: You will not receive a better offer. The world will try to sell you the idea that something better will come along. That you can reject God’s offer and still get in to heaven your own way. Jesus has already “popped the question.” What is your answer?
2. The preparation of the Bride (Rev. 19:7)
Two garments are worn by the Jewish bride.
1. There was an inner garment called the tunic which speaks of the righteousness of the Savior.
The tunic made of fine linen was provided by the groom. It speaks of Christ’s righteousness imputed to us at salvation.
In the parable of the marriage (Matt. 22:10-13), the king entered and found one who had no wedding garment and he was expelled form the marriage. If you expect to be at the marriage of the Lamb you must have the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ.
2. The outer garment, or toga, represents the acts or deeds of righteousness of the saints. (v 8b)
It speaks of the bride’s works, words, witness, and worship that glorify the Lord.
This garment is clean. (v 8).
This garment is white.
These two garments, the tunic and the toga are worn together. One picturing the righteousness of Christ and the toga picturing the righteousness of the saints. One is the result of the other.
3. The Presentation of the Bride. 2 Cor. 11:2
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (NIV)
2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Here’s a thought that ought to scare some of us to death: Jesus Christ, the Savior of the your eternal soul, the one who suffered and bled and died for you, the one you pledged your life to serve, the Holy Son of the Living God could come for His Bride at any moment and many of us are off living on “Temptation Island.”
You made Jesus the Lord of your life. You said he “was the only one for you.” You said you would serve him forever. That you would have “no other god before him.” And yet, you have been caught on camera with outer lovers.
You have been flirting with lust. Fooling around with compromise. “sleeping with the enemy.” Courting other lovers behind his back.
The wedding date is closer than ever and you are always out “two-timing” Jesus.
You can not dance with the Devil and expect to marry the King.
You can not just put on a white dress like Madonna did and buy yourself a royal wedding with a Holy God when you are living a life of sin.
The only way you and I can stand spotless before the Bridegroom some day is if we have been washed by the sinless blood of the Lamb and dressed in His righteousness. He’s got to cover your “filthy rags” with robes of righteousness.
Some Christians act like their wedding clothes were treated with Scotch Guard. They said they loved Jesus but they keep rolling around in the bed with sin pretending like they are not getting any satins on them.
Jesus is coming for a holy bride. If the wedding were tonight at 7:00pm would you be ready?