Every Bride goes through a time of preparation before her wedding ,and if we look at the Scriptures it also speaks of the time of preparation the Bride of Messiah must go through. People and even preachers are using the words “God is preparing the Bride” quite often but again looking at the Scripture this is only partly true.Rev 19: 7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His Bride has MADE HERSELF READY.
If we look at this Scripture we clearly see the Bride has a responsibility to prepare HERSELF. The biblical picture of the Jewish wedding is a beautiful prophetic picture of the relationship between the heavenly Bridegroom and His Bride.
We live in exciting times. Everything is climaxing towards the biggest event in the history of mankind – the coming of the Bridegroom! Never in history has it been more evident that the creation is groaning in anticipation, the prophecies are being fulfilled by the minute and all over the world believers are coming to the realization that time is drawing close...
they are turning to God’s ways,
His Kingdom growing in them as they go through a process of purification and sanctification....
Purification and Sanctification of the Bride.
This process can be divided into two areas. The one is a daily process of making choices, of laying down and of being renewed and the other an age –old ceremony, the mikvah.
And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him PURIFIES
PURIFICATION is the process we have to go through,
to be SANCTIFIED, set apart, dedicated to God.
The process is purification!!!
The goal is sanctification!!!
Purification is the ACT of cleansing or purging something or someone from debasing or contaminating matter.
1. What do we need to be purified of?
Therefore if a man cleanses (purifies) himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
1. The world and its ways.
- Idolatry
Everything in my life that I spend more time, money, attention or devotion on, than what I spend on God IS AN IDOL.
What comes first in my life? My job, my bank assets, my stuff, my way? Or God?
Who is my provider? Yahweh Yireh (God is my Provider) or a Lotto machine?
Therefore, my beloved flee from idolatry
Body piercings - toe rings, belly rings, tattoos, etc - all derived from pagan religions.
Witchcraft - Harry Potter, TV-shows like "The other side", Astrology, Fortune telling, Mediums en spiritists
Home decor trends derived from Pagan religions like Zen, African Witchcraft –items - like masks etc, Eastern cultures which cannot be separated from religion. Egyptian items, depicting their ancient gods. Mythological figures.
Martial arts – sport or fighting techniques that cannot be separated from eastern religions. Before whom do you bow?
Rom 12: 2
And do not be conformed to this world,
But be transformed by the renewing of the mind,
That you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Traditions and feasts that originates from Paganism and brought to us through Roman Catholicism- Christmas, Easter, Infant baptism etc
Religion that keeps you in bondage through twisted scriptures and man-made traditions.
Religion that defies the Word of God.
Religion that doesn’t teach about relationship with The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.
Religion......
Rev 18: 4
Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that you may not participate in her sins
and that you may not receive her plagues.
- My ways and my will.
Is it all about me and myself? – I did it my way!!!!
Matt 6: 33
But seek first His Kingdom – it’s all about Him
And His righteousness – His way of doing things
And all these things shall be added to you.
Have I got my own ideas about serving God? How does that correspond with His desires and His commandments?
**More detailed information in the book Transformation of the Bride**
2. Mikvah - Baptism
Baptism in the Jordan 1 Cor 6: 11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua and by the Spirit of our God.
Col 2: 11, 12
...and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
One particularly special ceremony that the bride has to take part in is her Mikvah-bath. In order to confirm her changed status she undergoes this cleansing ritual after her engagement.
By immersing herself in the water, she sets aside her fathers’ authority and arises out of the water under the authority of her bridegroom.
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me.
Eph 5:25, 26
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, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Secondly, by this mikvah she indicates that she relinquishes her old life as an unbetrothed young girl - and now takes up her new life as a bride.
The priests, before they started their duties also had to go through this ritual cleansing. Jesus had His Baptism (Mikvah) before He started His three years of ministry.
In Israel there are copies of mikvah-baths with two sets of steps (7 steps per set)
The bride enters through one set
of steps and leaves with the other set,
not going back on her old paths.
A Mikvah bath in Israel
This ceremony therefore portraits a change of status.
The mikvah is thus:
- 1. A grave where the old dies (Rom 6: 4)
- 2. A womb where the new person is born. (2 Cor 5: 17)
The significance of this is very important; we should ask God for a deeper revelation of what He does in our lives when we go through this ritual. Traditionally Jews believe that on their wedding day they are two brand new people standing before God. They truly have an understanding of their status being changed through the mikvah.
Read also: - Deut 10: 16 - Circumcise then your heart and stiffen your neck no more.
4 Kinds of circumcision:-
Ears - Acts 7: 51, Jer 6: 16,
Lips - Ex 6: 12
Heart - Acts 7: 51, Lev 26: 41, Jer 4: 4, Jer 9: 26, Rom 2: 29
Flesh - Gen 17: 11. This circumcision was done by a sharpened piece of flint (rock). We also need to be circumcised in all above areas by the Rock, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ.
Col 2: 11 - 17. This speaks of dying to flesh.
Bridal garments
Through all times a bride kept herself busy preparing her wedding gown and her trousseau. The Bride of Messiah also has to work on her bridal garments and again there is a physical and a spiritual side to this.....
- Spiritual Clothing
The Bride of Messiah is clothed in the most magnificent, colourful spiritual garments. Your Bridegroom has provided you with this awesome holy attire...
Don’t be caught in a beggar’s cloak.....
Garments of salvation -Speaks of the blood of the Lamb - RED
Isa 61: 10
...He has clothed me with garments of salvation.
Robe of righteousness – Speaks of purity and righteousness - WHITE
Isa 61: 10
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.
Rev 19:8
And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Garment of praise - Speaks of joy, praise and worship – WITH BELLS
Isa 61: 3
... a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
Armour – The High priestly garments as armour of God –
- Ex 28
- Eph 6
**More detailed information in the book The High Priest’s Garments as the armour of God **
Bridal gown - Speaks of royalty and beauty - EMBROIDERED WITH GOLD
Coming before the King - Daughters of Zion
Conference Israel 2007
The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Also read Ezek 16: 6-13
Cloak of humility – The most important garment of all – UNADORNED
1 Pet 5:5
...clothe yourself with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.
-Physical
Revealing clothes - the Bride of Christ covers her/his body; she leads people into the Throne Room NOT the bedroom.
Logo’s, slogans and pictures – does your clothes say you are “Lost!”or a “Bad girl/Boy” or does it speak of victory through Christ, does it portrait the kingdom of darkness through pictures of dragons, evil images etc.
Do you wear clothes with Christian slogans but your bad language and unholy conduct speaks louder?
Prophetic clothing – more and more people are being lead by the Holy Spirit to wear clothing depicting the spiritual garments. This is sometimes portrayed in layer on layer, depicting the high priests garments. It definitely also speaks of modesty!
Veil of Holiness
1 Pet 1: 15, 16
….. but like the Holy One who called you, be HOLY yourselves also in ALL your behaviour; because it is written, “You shall be HOLY, for I am HOLY.” – Lev 11:44
As a sign that she is set apart for her husband, the ancient Jewish bride, after her engagement, never appeared in public without her veil. This veil was a reminder to herself as well as to other suitors that a precious bridal price has been paid for her.
1 Peter 1:18
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible
from your aimless conduct received
but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
The sign of the Bride of Messiah’s veil, the sign that she is set apart, is her holy life. She deliberately chooses not to do the things she used to do in the past. Her lifestyle changes, her reading material is no longer the same, her dress is different, her speech has altered.
1 Cor 7:1
Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The lamp
- Studying and praying the Word in Spirit and Truth
On the windowsill of our Jewish bride’s room, there is an oil lamp constantly burning, which she diligently sees to, every morning and evening – as she does this she is longing to be united with her groom. The groom can arrive at any moment- the burning oil lamp is a sign that she still is waiting for him and so every day she makes very sure that there is enough oil in her lamp.
Matt 25: 1- 13
The parable of the ten bridesmaids who wait for the coming of the Bridegroom.
The maids portray the church, the lamps the Word, and the oil the Holy Spirit.
We need the Holy Ghost to illuminate (give revelation on) the Word for us.
We must also not tire of waiting; we must constantly watch and pray for we
do not know the hour that our Bridegroom will come.
Also study Ps 119
We should study the Word daily; find the instructions that will help us to become a worthy Bride to the Worthy One, Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
Not only is He coming for a Bride that is holy and blameless,
He is coming for a Bride that looks like Him, thinks like Him, talks like Him, acts like Him........
Are you prepared to change to be like Him...
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