Jesus and the Tabernacle

It all started with my decision to learn everything I could about Jesus. The motivating force was a genuine desire to develop a more intimate relationship with Him. I wanted to know everything that I could know so that I could better understand who He is, so that I could model my life after His in every way possible. 

My search to know Jesus started with an examination of the bible. I read the bible and then prayed and meditated about what I read. I did this for an hour a day for more than ten years. During that time I read the bible cover to cover twice. I also read the new testament more than five times, and individual the books that really talked to me, even more. Through this practice God gave me insight into so many things about the spiritual realm and Jesus. My heart yearned for the truth and God revealed the truth to me.  

However, after I was about half way through this ten-year exercise I encountered a mystery. There were two statements that Jesus made that I was puzzled over. The first statements is:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

This statement was an attempt to communicate to His disciples who He was and what His attributes were. While there were some clues in the passage to reveal what Jesus meant, I felt that the answers were vague. The way to where exactly? The truth about what? What life was He talking about? These are generalities and wanted to drill down and know the details. I wanted to know more as this verse certainly hinted that there was more to learn about Jesus.

In second scripture that wanted to drill down on was as follows:

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

The Transfigured Jesus With Moses

Again, I wanted to drill down to find more details about Jesus. The problem was that I could not recall reading any comments about Jesus in the books of Moses. So, thinking that I missed them somehow, I decided to read the five books of the bible that are attributed to Moses again. This time however I would examine every line with the sole purpose of identifying the prophetic things that Moses wrote about Jesus. incredibly, reading these books provided no additional insight.  I knew that this could not be but was not quite sure how I could have missed something as large as this.

After praying about this for quite some time the truth finally came to me. Jesus was the fulfilment of the Tabernacle of Moses and the laws concerning the royal priesthood of Aaron. Now it all made sense! The Tabernacle was the way through which God would dwell with His people here on earth. It was God’s covenant promise to the people of Israel, who in turn promised to obey the Ten Comandments. So when Jesus stated that everything that was written about Him in the books of Moses must be fulfilled, he was claiming to be the fulfilment of the Tabernacle, the place where God would dwell with His people on earth. He was proclaiming the dawning of a new covenant, one that was a far superior to the old covenant in every way.

With this new revelation I started to put all of the pieces information together. I then remembered that a deacon from our church once told us that the names of the Tabernacle doors were; the Way, the Truth and the Life. I wondered why I had not made that connection before. Once again, Jesus was proclaiming to be the fulfillment of the Tabernacle when He stated that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So these two statements were tied together in this way.

This discovery was the start of a wonderful journey as I set my sights on Jesus and the Tabernacle, and what I learned was monumental. For example, I learned that the attributes and functions of each and every artifact in the Tabernacle was fulfilled in the life of Jesus. This fact is supported by the words Jesus spoke about Himself and the actions that Jesus demonstrated.  More importantly, these words and actions were reinforced by the miracles that directly supported what Jesus did and said.  The conclusion to all of this is that Jesus is the promised one of God and He is the Christ because He is the perfect fulfilment of the Tabernacle. He fulfills the prophesy of the Tabernacle in that He supplants each and every object inside the Tabernacle. This proof is very complex and lengthy indeed, and so we will put it off to another time. What we will focus on in this document is the second discovery attributed to all this research and prayer.  Something that I have never heard discussed in any Christian church that I ever attended.

This discovery is that there are three levels of relationship that man may have with God, and these levels of relationship will determine how effective your individual ministry will be on earth as well as your final resting place in heaven. Paul once spoke about the third heaven and in doing so revealed that he had achieved the closest of all possible relationships with God. There is much to say about all of this and so I am going to put all of this proof untill the next time.

God bless,

PREMONITION OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

PREMONITION OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

In my previous posting (Possess-the-Vision) I communicated that I was going to present the spiritual experiences of my life that led to the creation of the Possess the Vision Mission Statement (PTV Mission-Statement.)

The experience I am about to communicate to you took place while I was in grade school. It will prove to be quite unbelievable to most people, and to be perfectly honest, would have been disregarded by me as well if it were not for all of the other unexplained spiritual experiences of my life. It is the story of a warning that comes from God in the form of a dream and then is followed up by an intervention from God.

My mom and dad would take us to visit my aunt’s family from time to time. We looked forward to these trips because we got to play with cousins our age.

Their house was about an hour’s drive across town and we were driving home late one night after one of our visits. I was tired and was trying to get some sleep in the back seat of our car. I had my head propped up against the interior wall on the driver’s side when I started to doze off. Then suddenly, I quickly awoke with a start sensing that another car was about to crash into us at the precise point where my head was resting.

Thinking about my feeling for a moment brought me to the conclusion that I was just imagining things and so I ignored the sensation and tried to get back to sleep.

But when I did I found that the experienced just kept happening over and over again and so I told my mother about it. She reaffirmed that I was in fact just imagining things and recommended that I dismiss these thoughts from my mind and try to go back to sleep.

So, I made another attempt to suppress my fear and get some sleep but the fact was that the sensation of an impending crash became very strong again and I could not help but pull my head away from the side of the car. This time the result was different however, as an auto came crashing into our car exactly at the point where my head had been resting just a second before. The accident turned out to be minor, and thankfully no one was hurt.

Still, I had to wonder about what the outcome may have been if I had not pulled my head away at the last second. The jolt of the collision was substantial so who knows what had been avoided. I suppose I could have sustained major injury to my head or neck, or perhaps even worse.

In this case, I heeded the warning and made the right choice. Still, at the time I can remember about wondering about where these warnings were coming from and why.

Just to make things clear, I now know that these were warnings from God who was protecting me from harm. I know that each of us is born with a purpose and that the devil will try to abort that purpose in any one of a multitude of ways. So please pay attention to these messages from God and act on them. Your immortal life may depend on it.

TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH

In my previous posting (Possess-the-Vision) I communicated that I was going to present the spiritual experiences of my life that led to the creation of the Possess the Vision Mission Statement (PTV Mission-Statement.)

My story of my first leap of faith is very unusual and yet it contains a spiritual message foundational to the PTV Mission. Like the prior posting (Dad-Comes-Home,) I recommend looking at this story as a parable, which is a story told in earthly terms but designed to communicate a heavenly message. The message is that we have a heavenly Father in that wants us to step out in our faith for Him. When we do so He will support our initiative and protect us from harm. With that said, here is my story:

One day not long after my father’s arrival home my dad was taking care of me while I ate lunch in my high chair. Having had enough lunch and not liking to sit still for very long I squeezed out of my seat and stood up on the high chair tray. My dad was all the way on the other side of the kitchen when he noticed what I had done. I was very excited about achieving this feat and started jumping up and down on the tray of the chair. My dad’s first reaction was to freeze, not wanting to do anything that might make me fall. While he was looking straight at me I grinned and jumped once more just for fun. He said, “Don’t you dare.” For some reason, I thought it would be great amusement to jump and have my dad catch me as there was no doubt in my mind that he would. So, I jumped from the tray as if it were a game and when I did my dad took several quick steps before diving into a slide on the floor, catching me just in time to keep me from being seriously injured. It would seem that I had a natural trust in my father’s ability from the very beginning.

This story communicates that God wants us to act on the faith that He has given us. He wants us to take action on the desires that He has placed in our heart. Most importantly, He wants us to know that He will be there for us if things don’t always work out as planned. I offer the story about Peter walking on water as support for this message. Here is that story.

Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” Matt 14: (22-33)

Jesus Pulls Peter From the Water

So, the moral of this story is do not doubt. Get out of the boat and do what God has put into your heart. Pay no attention to all the evil winds that will blow around you, but rather have perfect faith in your Father in heaven, knowing full well that even if your faith fails that your loving Father will be there to rescue you.

Do We Have the Love of Jesus in our Heart

Continuing our discussion from our past posting we now address another important point. Based on the scriptures presented in that posting, we suggest that the law of the Jews is replaced by the love in the hearts of the true followers of Jesus. To illustrate the case in point, the law states: “Thou shall not commit adultery,” but Jesus teaches us that it is a matter of the heart:

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Clearly this is a higher standard that simply refraining from the act alone. This higher standard requires a change in heart, something that the law could not provide.

After all, what kind of heart will not resist an evil person but turn the other cheek? What kind of heart will give a thief both the cloak as well as the coat? What kind of heart will give to those who ask and not turn away? What kind of heart gives love their enemies, blesses those that curse them, does good to people that hate them and prays for those who despitefully use and persecute them?

Disciples Carry Jesus Down From The Cross

It takes a perfect heart. What kind of heart does it take to pray to truly seek and worship God rather than pray for our own selfish desires? What kind of heart will fast simply to shed the bonds of the flesh so as to move closer to God? What kind of heart will turn aside the treasures of the earth in favor of the treasures of Heaven? What kind of heart will sell all they have and follow Jesus? Whose heart will trust Him in all things?

Hearts can only be changed by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit

This infilling comes only when we seek to move closer to God, to change our lives and to become more like Jesus. The Holly Spirit comes only to those who seek Him. It is our choice to do so and our actions and commitment reaffirm this desire. God will not come to us uninvited.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

So seek Him with all of you mind, body and spirit.  And pray!

The Power of Prayer

The Meaning of Life is Manifest in our Choices

The meaning of life has been touted as one of our great mysteries of our time. There are most likely millions or perhaps even billions of people who are in the dark about the true meaning and purpose of our lives.

The body of Christ - On Earth as it is Heaven

I am also quite sure that devil’s lies and deception are at the heart of this lack of knowledge. My posting today is to communicate to everyone that I can that the meaning of life is clearly communicated in the Bible. The bottom line here is that the meaning of our life is manifest in the life choices we make. These choices will be decisive in our ultimate destination in heaven or hell. Our decisions will reflect a choice between God and the devil. If our decision is to choose God then we will live forever with God in paradise. Otherwise, we will die forever in torture, pain, and agony in the Pit of Fire and Brimstone under the domination of the devil.

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness by the Devil

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10 – 15)

All of this should bring us to a reflection of the types of decisions we have been making on a daily basis. Are they choices for good or for evil? Will we choose to save lives or to kill115? Are we choosing to help those in need or focus on our own pleasures? Are we choosing God or the devil? The choices we make in life are what this life is all about!

If we love God then we choose to do the good things that he places in our hearts. If we do not love God and ignore His desires of us, then we reject the love of God and forfeit all of the good things that come His favor. If we reject God then by default we choose evil and evil will seep into our thoughts and deeds. This is the way it worked in the Garden and to a large extent it works the same way even today.

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The Loss of Eden

As we presented in our prior posting, Christian love requires freedom of choice. This has been demonstrated over time as God’s love has from the very beginning offered man choices, even when they resulted in a loss of the relationship with God, as was demonstrated in the Garden of Eden. Without choice there can not be love and therefore, preventing another from leaving a relationship is slavery, which is the opposite of love. All of this information has to give us much to contemplate in our own relationships.

God loved the angels as well and as a result they have the same freedom of choice as we do. In fact, this freedom was exercised by Lucifer and his angels who chose to leave God because they wanted to be equal to Him.

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. (Isaiah14:12-15)

It was by this freedom of choice that the fallen angels came in the form of the serpent to deceive man into a relationship of evil with him.

Adam and Eve in the Garden

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:11 – 14)

As a result man lost his dominion over the Garden as well as the earth. Man and his wife were cast out of the Garden by God.

Therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23 – 24)

The devil being the victor took dominion and ensured that there were lots of evil choices to prevent man from reestablish a relationship with God. In essence he kept man enslaved to his bondage.

So this is how man fell from the grace of God. The road back to the Garden has been a long and tenuous journey for man. Initially, man had no knowledge of evil and as a result did whatever pleased him. God’s first attempt to reestablish a relationship (covenant) with man initiated the rules of behavior that man would have to follow to regain a relationship with God. This came in the form of the Ten Commandments as well as the laws associated with the Tabernacle and the priesthood.

Moses and the Ten Comandments

But as it turned out, man could not refrain from doing evil and as a result lost the opportunity to live in covenant with God. As it turned out, man could often follow the letter of the law but missed the intent of the law that required his heart to change and for love to flow out of his life. It was for this purpose that God send His Son Jesus to the earth. To communicate the truth that comes form the heart of God and to defeat the evil bondage of the devil, such that men once again choose to seek God and enter into a covenant relationship with Him, such that one day he could walk again in the Garden of Eden with God.

How Jesus accomplished this will be the subject of our next posting.

Why Jesus Came

Jesus came to earth to save us from eternal separation from God.

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:32 – 41 )

He achieved this by sacrificing His life as an atonement for our sins.

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:29 – 32)

Jesus came to tell us the truth about the kingdom of heaven and the love of the Father.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

He came to demonstrate the Father’s love for all of us by healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and preaching the gospel of the truth.

Jesus while healing a young man, who is Demon-possessed, with no hearing

Jesus came to introduce us to His Holy Spirit and if we follow the leading of His spirit we will then be empowered to do the things that He did on this earth. In following the lead of His spirit we will find that God directs us to seek the perfection that is demonstrated in the words and actions of His Son.

The Power of Prayer

Our investigation into Jesus, “the Life, the Truth and the Way” is designed to help us better understand His attributes, so that may seek to instill them into our own lives by the power of His Holy Spirit. It is in such a metamorphous that we find ourselves taking up the cross of Jesus. It is at this point that miracles will come to support the ministry of Jesus. It is here that we will fulfill the prediction or prophesy of Jesus, who said:

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)

And some of the thing that Jesus did are captured in the following passage:

Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Jesus Raises Lazarus From The Grave

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Matthew 11:4-6)

The Tabernacle Is Prophetic Of Jesus

The Tabernacle was built to be the earthly abode of God: the place where God would dwell among His people. The following diagram will enable you to see the organizational structure of the Tabernacle.

The Chanbers of the Tabernacle

In addition, the Following picture also communicates how it may have actually looked.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Tabernacle

Moses built the Tabernacle in strict conformance to the specifications given by God. For example, in the following scripture God gives Moses a detailed list of items that are required to build the Tabernacle:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” (Exodus 25:1-9)

Statements like this one are frequently found in the scriptures written by Moses. Many of these references emphasize building of the Tabernacle precisely to God’s instructions. This fact suggests that the form and content of the Tabernacle is extremely important to God; that perhaps it is designed on a heavenly model, one that will enable Him to dwell among His people. If this is the case, then the Tabernacle must be prophetic of the Christ who would also come to dwell with God’s people. Over the centuries the intention of God to dwell with His people did not change as even today, He continues to strive to restore the relationship man lost with Him at the fall. Therefore, the scriptures that define the specifications, processes and objects found in the Tabernacle reflect the will of God to abide with us, and as a result, must also be applicable to the attributes, words and life of Christ, who was sent to accomplish God’s intention.

The Ascension of Jesus

We are going to look at the Tabernacle scriptures because they are prophetic of Christ. If Jesus is the Christ then the attributes and characteristics of the Tabernacle must be clearly demonstrated in His words and deeds. What we are about to reveal is that there is a precise correlation between the Tabernacle and Jesus. It is for this reason that we will use the scriptural specifications for each component of the Tabernacle to prove that Jesus is the Christ. In the process we will also uncover many hidden attributes of Jesus that will serve to help us better understand His nature.

The Ascension of Jesus

Remembering that Jesus claimed to be “the Way, the Truth and the Life”, we look at the diagram found at (You ARE the Temple of the Holy Spirit) to find that these names (the Way, the Truth and the Life) are used to identify the entryways into the three major compartments of the Tabernacle. The Way leads us into the Courtyard, the Truth leads us into the Holy Place, and the Life leads us into the Most Holy Place. It should also be noted that the Tabernacle is constructed in such a way that these passageways must be entered in order. The Way must be entered prior to entering the Truth, and the Truth must be entered prior to entering the Way. This significance will be discussed latter.

So, what we find here is that the words of Jesus have led us to the Tabernacle. His claim is that He is the passageway into the three compartments of the place that God designed to dwell with His people here on earth. Therefore, our plan is to investigate each of these three chambers in an effort to identify what it is that He is leading us toward. What we will find is that Jesus is drawing us into a closer relationship with God. He is drawing us toward Him by showing us that the Tabernacle because tells us about Him. Jesus knows that in doing this we will grow and strengthen our relationship with Him. What we are about to discover is that the Tabernacle structure will communicate that there are three separate and distinct levels of relationship that we can have with God. In addition, these relationships can only be obtained by passing through the doors of the Tabernacle in the prescribed sequence. In fact, we will develop a progressively deeper relationship with God as we enter each successive chamber to find the gifts that God has waiting for those who seek Him with all their heart.

While all of this is quite mysterious at a high level, we plan to present the details in subsequent postings. For now we will present a high level overview of our journey through the Tabernacle and its correlation with the life of Jesus. With that said let us start with the Tabernacle Courtyard.

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle Courtyard

Our presentation of the Tabernacle Courtyard is found in the following post:

The-Tabernacle-Courtyard-And-Jesus

The Tabernacle Holy Place

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Our presentation of the Tabernacle Holy Place is found in the following post:

The-Tabernacle-Holy-Place-Is-Prophetic-Of-Jesus

The Tabernacle Most Holy Place

The Priest in the Holy of Holies

Our presentation of the Tabernacles Most Holy Place is found in the following post:

The-Tabernacle-Most-Holy-Place-Is-Prophetic-Of-Jesus

All of these links will also lead the reader toward a better understanding of the objects found inside each of the major chambers of the Tabernacle. They will also lead toward a better understanding how each object is prophetic of the coming of Jesus.

The Unification of the Bride

Now let’s take another look at a scripture (that we introduced previously in: Preparing-the-Bride-of-Christ-for-Jesus) that foresees the coming of the bride and the bridegroom:

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned 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, 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.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:2-5)

This scripture tells us that the Tabernacle of God will be with men when the above scripture is fulfilled. Since we have identified Jesus as the living Tabernacle that came to earth (in the post: The-Tabernacle-is-Prophetic-of-Jesus), then the above scripture is referring to Jesus. This means that Jesus and the bride are together on earth and more importantly, that the bride is prepared for marriage.

The rest of the scripture communicates how the bride will be loved by Jesus. He will live with her and take care of her every need. He will take away all her sorrows and will make all things new, including her body, so that she can have life everlasting in Him.

Jesus is the husband who will provide and care for His bride. Each of us individually can be members of the body of the bride who is now preparing for the wedding feast. To do so we must be united as one in the spiritual body of the Bride and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  It should be exactly as Jesus prayed in the following scripture:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

Jesus in Prayer Geting Direction from the Father

This prayer of Jesus reveals His desire to be one with us (the bride) and the Father. His prayer will be consummated in His marriage to His bride.

Therefore, as we wait for the return of Jesus in glory we are to be busy perfecting the bride by continuing the work that He left us to do. By way of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit the bride becomes like Jesus as her heart is conformed to His heart. As the bride speaks the word of God to others the body is matured as more followers are incorporated into the body. As the bride takes charge in the spiritual world the entire body is strengthened as the strongholds of the devil are broken. As the sick are healed and the spiritually bound are set free through the prayer of the bride the body becomes ready for ministry. As the forces of darkness are defeated more souls will turn to the true light of God.

As we finish this posting the Bridegroom remains seated at the right hand of the Father, patiently waiting for His bride to prepare the way of His return. This preparation can only be achieved when His bride has finished the work that He Himself started over 2000 years ago.

Preparing the Bride of Christ for Jesus

We introduced the Bride of Christ in a previous post (The-Bride-of-Christ-Revealed) and now attempt to expand on this subject a bit. Our understanding of the bride is critical because Jesus is coming back for His bride and therefore, we should do all that we can to prepare for this event. To this end an understanding who the bride is and knowledge of how to prepare for the second coming of Jesus is of primary importance to those of us who are truly seeking Jesus.

The New Jerusalem - The Bride of Christ

We as Christians must all seek to be a part of the bride of Christ. Doing so means that we all become a part of something much bigger that ourselves. We become a part of the collective body of all the saints who followed and worshiped Jesus. By becoming a part of this body we become eligible to also become one in marriage to Jesus and to live forever in His care. This is the ultimate goal of regaining the garden and dwelling there with God in the cool of the day.

But are we ready? Are we even members of the bride? If so, are we ready for the marriage feast? Has the pathway for our Lords return been made straight? Is the bride of whom we are a member matured and ready for this most scared union with God?

On an individual basis we must examine our lives to determine if we have done the things that Jesus did when He walked the earth? Did we say the things that He did? Have we emulated His life in everything that we do? Have we achieved the individual purity and holiness required to being a part of the bride?

In doing these things the body of Christ (which is the bride in waiting) grows and matures. Jesus has sent us to prepare a way for His return. He has put us in charge of His ministry and He wants us to finish the work that He started. It is in the completion of this work that the bride is matured. Only when the bride has sufficiently matured will the bridegroom come for His bride.

Now let’s take a look at a scripture that foresees the coming of the bride and the bridegroom:

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned 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, 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.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:2-5)

The New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ in this passage. Firstly, she is adorned as a bride and is seen coming down from heaven. She therefore is the body of all the saints of Jesus. As Jerusalem is a city comprised of many people, so the New Jerusalem (the bride) is comprised of God’s saints.

The scripture above also communicates that the Bride is adorned for her husband and therefore she has prepared herself for the wedding feast. On an individual basis this adornment is initiated as we are cleansed in the Blood of our Lamb Jesus on the cross (Jesus-is-the-Way).  It is completed by the washing in the water of His word (Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver), which matures us as we seek to become like our Lord (Becoming-like-Jesus-the-Way). Finally, our adornment comes by being victorious in the spiritual warfare of Jesus (Jesus-is-the-Golden-Altar-of-Incense). In achieving this we enter a closer relationship with God where as we are empowered to know our mission and pathway, as we develop a familial relationship with the Father and as we bring down the evil strongholds of the devil with our prayers (The-Victory-of-Jesus-Empowers-Us). Once we have entered into this relationship of empowerment we can stand before the Lord adorned with the good works done in the name of Jesus His Son. It is at this time that we become ready to move on to the next level of relationship with God, a relationship of covenant (Jesus-is-the-Ark-of-the-New-Covenant). It is in the covenant relationship that the bride and the bridegroom can become one.