Finally, it is done! The Bridegroom rejoices, and His patience is rewarded. For the perfection of His Bride is made complete, as Almighty God completes the work that no human effort could achieve. The perfect union made possible by the holy sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and the cleansing and power of the Holy Spirit. And now, the most wonderful bridal procession unfolds, as she who was swept up from earth, now comes adorned for her husband. Having prepared on earth through the sacrificial oils of myrrh, her beauty made complete through the sweet anointing of heaven. All those tears now less than a memory, as former things have passed away, and all things are made new. All things! Jesus Christ, the Beginning and the End, has completed the good work He began.
And this is the mystery of it all, that this Bride are His faithful ones, for this is heaven’s order now, no longer earth’s. Men, women, and children, who endured to the end, walking in the joy of their destiny and His life in them, passing through the valley of the shadow of death, in tears of sorrow, they also ascended the very mountain of God to abide in His heavenly presence while seated on earth. These knew the power of God, and yet humbled by His hand, rejoiced only in the knowledge of Him, Christ the Lord. Now they are made ready, with Christ as their cornerstone, founded on the work of God through the apostles, and with their gates built by the tribes of Israel, these treasures of old and new have been built by God in to a glorious house, a majestic city, the beloved of Christ.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7)
“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. 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 of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:4,5)
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 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.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 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 wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy 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. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelations 21:1-14)
Kingdom Blog 