"Though we travel the world overto find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us
or find it not."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Necessity of Beauty
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
~ Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)
The Bible's last book—"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"—is exhaustively studied concerning end times and Christ's second coming. But what might the book reveal about the Person of Jesus as He prepares to receive not only a throne but also His bride, the church?
Ancient Israelite custom was for the bridegroom to prepare the couple's home and wedding, while the bride gave full attention to preparing herself as would please her husband. Among the betrothal gifts he gave her were garments, perhaps as an indication of his preferences.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church 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 ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)
This journey through Revelation will look specifically at Jesus, the garments of righteousness He gives His bride, and how he defines His bride's beauty. We'll look again at the necessity of beauty, not for the world's sake, but in anticipation of pleasing our Beloved Bridegroom.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are King of kings, Lord of lords, and most especially our Beloved Bridegroom. Please give Your Holy Spirit as our divine Valet, to open our eyes to what most pleases You, that we might make ready for Your coming.
FOLLOW-UP NOTE: An invitation for response from the male perspective is included in Wendy's comment below.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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I love how you define the Holy Spirit as the divine valet! I pray with you that the Holy Spirit will strengthen us through God's word and spiritual blessing so that we may understand all he wishes to reveal to us.
ReplyDeleteI love envisioning being received as a bride. Here's a question...b/c I can easily put myself in someone else's shoes...I wonder what it is like for men to think about this.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I want to know His wishes, I want to please Him in everyway. That is the very least I can do. I love Him so very much.
ReplyDeleteT ~ This is exactly how I think of the Holy Spirit, whether He presents the garments of a bride or the clothing of a warrior. (Ephesians 6:13-18)
ReplyDeleteWendy ~ I've added a follow-up note to the body of the post inviting men to view your comment.
Denise ~ ... to please Him in every way. Sometimes people do this with the motive to gain approval from God. Your heart filled with love and gratitude is the far better way.
Anne, I like the fresh perspective you're providing for the book of Revelations. As you stated most of the time when I hear messages from this book it's in regards to the end times.
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic series of study this is going to be! i could never understand this particulr book so i'm hoping He opens my eyes and gives me understanding. i don't mind the fact of the church being called "the bride." not in the least because like you, i'm only a part of it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this series, Anne! God bless.
ReplyDeleteWanda ~ Only by the Lord's enabling can I attempt this. I pray that my heart will be tender to His Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteBud ~ I belive that the Lord gave us a glimpse of end times so we'd be ready for Him; that only when we see the urgency of the hour will the bride let go of petty differences and finally unite in heart and purpose.
Gwen ~ Can I confess that I'm a little scared to attempt this? But He's tugging at my heart ...
From my male perspective, though I can't picture being a bride to a bridegroom, I can visualize and understand being like a little brother to a Hero, and how I will feel when I kneel before Him and touch the hands that were scarred to save me.
ReplyDeleteAll my life I have read and been told about what He did long ago and far away, like a soldier who was off to war while I grew up.
The reality before me, the reunion, will surely overwhelm me.
Clifford ~ I'm really glad you commented. I agree that whether we're man or woman, the experience of being united to Christ as the entire church will be wonderfully overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteFOR ALL READERS, male perspectives of the church as Christ's bride are among the comments on the post "Husband."