The Cross and Bride Hood

THE CROSS AND BRIDE HOOD, OR THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY AND A GUEST INVITATION

Matt.16: 24  " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. "

 "Take up his cross, and follow me" If-- Christ wants only volunteers. It depends on our free will. "Man" is not in the (Gr.), it says "if any"-- if anyone will--if any wishes to, desires, loves to.

 Will come, the Greek is in the continuous action, an active verb form-- actively deciding--
not dragged along against your will, but desires or loves to." Me " the stress is upon Christ, not the church.

 "Let him deny himself"--let him renounce himself unto death. Remember, Peter renounced Christ, not himself. Renounce or deny is in the middle voice in the (Gr.)-- for self-interest. Renounce yourself in favor of Christ. It's in your best interest to deny yourself and follow Christ.

 Follow me = discipleship, active continuous, (Gr.) " following me "-- be continually following me. Following me means more than just claiming to be following Jesus-- you need to be continually denying yourself in favor of Christ.

 We all have a cross assign to us, Gal.6: 1-6... v.2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and fulfil the law of Christ" v.5 " For every man shall bear his own burden. "

 Verse 2 Burden = baros, Gr. = depress, weigh down, it's used in 2 Cor.1: 8 " We were pressed out of measure " and 5:4 " do groan, being burden " It obviously refers to being pressed down by a crushing weight. The adjective " barus " is translation " heavy,"  " weighty, " and " grievous. "

 Verse 5  Burden = phortion, Gr. = bear, carry, = something carried.

 When any Christian has an extra heavy, crushing burden--such as unexpected illness, sudden death of a love one, loss of home etc.  Other Christians should help to lift the pressing burden, lest it crushes him to the ground, but we are to shoulder our own responsibilities and not push off on others. We are (v.5) to carry our own burden or load! "For each one should carry his own load" (N.I.V.)

 Each one should deny himself and carry his own load!  Titus 2:12 " teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

 The cross is faithful bearing of pain for Christ, not just suffering.

 Matt.16: 25  " For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. "

 Lose-- (Gr.) apollumi = to destroy, to kill, for Christ's sake. For Christ's sake shall find it-- a total giving up of self.

 Philippians 3:7-14, commitment first (v.8) to give up all second (vs.9,10)-- he already
knew Christ. This is a deeper life of knowing Him. A power Paul wanted to experience in His life, and the fellowship of his sufferings and to DIE. Deeper knowledge of Christ through sufferings. You can really know someone if you suffer with them. You can become one with that person as you suffer with them and go through the same pain they've gone through.

 Philippians 2:6-10, Christ died on the cross. You must go down first--you must conform to his death TO GAIN CHRIST. Not by works only, but by following our example, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:21.

 Philippians 3:11 " If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead or dead ones. " "If" this is not a for sure thing, but something to attain. A goal! A goal of what? Perfection v.12-- in the (Gr.) perfection means complete. It does not mean that we will be perfect, but complete, finished-- reaching our prescribed goal, purpose. Becoming an adult, full-grown, of full age as opposed to little children (Matt. 5:48; Eph. 4:13). 2 Tim. 4:7, Paul said he had finished his course-- he was complete in the sense that he finished purpose he on earth that God desired for him. John 17:4, Christ said the same thing-- he had finished the work that the Farther had given him to complete.

 Philippians 3:13 " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. "

 This is man's part. God will do the rest. We've got to release ourselves from our past and go on with God, forgetting those things which are behind.

 Philippians 3:14 " I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. "

 Pressing towards the mark. Press in (Gr.) = To really press as a runner neck to neck at the end.

 Galatians 5:5 " For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by FAITH. "
It can only be accomplished through the Spirit of God, by faith. Zechariah 4:6 " Not by might, nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. "

 James 1:2-4 Perfect, lacking nothing. Trials of life to perfect us.1 Peter 2:2 To all Christians.
2 Peter 1:5-8 Be diligent to add these things, or we will be barren and unfruitful.
2 Peter 3:18 Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. Mark 12:30,31.

 Phil 3:10,11 Most Christians will not choose the cross--What will it cost them? They won't be Christ's disciples! Will they be saved? Yes--even though they will be babies; they are in the family of God.

 What are they losing? The spiritual walk with Christ and resurrection power--the maturity and unity of the Spirit, even if possible their soul.

 What is the eternal lose? Possibly, miss the Rapture. Hence, they do not become the bride and will be tortured in the tribulation--and die anyway--literally! Guest at the wedding--not one with Christ--not reigning as the bride or wife. Probably die in the tribulation or even lose their soul for eternity.

 THE CROSS IS ESSENTIAL TO BRIDE HOOD AND THE RAPTURE.

 Those in legal death only, will be guests at the wedding. They will not have the same intimacy with Christ and will probably end up as guest watching the wedding.

 Revelation 21:2 " And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband--CHRIST. "

 Matt. 22:2-14 " The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. again, he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. but they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. but when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. so those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found both bad and good: and the wedding was FURNISHED WITH GUESTS. ......................... V.14 For many are called, but few are chosen. "

 Every wedding is furnished with guests--so you have the bride and guests. You have a separation of Christians here. Some are only guest at the wedding; these are probably the saints that go through the tribulation. Why? Because they did not take heed to the calling of the cross and bride hood; consequently, they miss the Rapture and have to die in the GREAT TRIBULATION.

Revelation 3:10 (lit.) " Preserved out of " (the) hour of temptation. Why? " Because they kept the word of (Christ's) patience."

 So we see that some are preserved out of the great tribulation. This presupposes that some are not preserved out of the great tribulation; they go through it and have to die or take the mark of the beast. The book of Revelation was written to Christians, not the unbelievers. So this means some go in the Rapture and some do not. Some are the bride and some are the guest. Some are the New Jerusalem, and some only walk in the light of it.

 Matt.25: 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 The 10 virgins-- 5 foolish, 5 wise--These are Spirit filled Christians.

 Oil = the Holy Spirit, lamp = vessels = Christians. V.6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."

 Someone has to make the cry in the last days--the manchild or the bride--They are pretty much interchangeable. The manchild, Rev.12:5;Isa.66:5-11.

 V.8 (Gr.) Lamps are going out--lack of Holy Spirit in their lives. V.13 Not watching, and praying always etc. Luke 21:36; Jude 20.

 They lacked the anointing to move into the bride. This is a separation of the bride and the tribulation saints.

 They are not prepared for the Rapture--not keeping continually filled with the Spirit of God.

 Proverbs 23:23 " Buy the truth, and sell it not " The Spirit of truth, Jn.16: 13.

 Psa.45:13,14 The kings daughter is all glorious with in: her clothing is of wrought gold.
(The bride is clothed with gold = she is covered with the nature of God.)

 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: (a very fine and delicate work that has been done in her by God, Phil 1:6;Heb 2:10;Rev.12:11;Rev.19:7-9). As we die to self, we become like Christ and put on the wedding garment--without spot or wrinkle.

 Gal.3: 27 " For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. "

 Psa.45: 14 " The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. "

 Virgins, they follow her--virgins are to young to be the bride, not mature enough to have that close relationship with Christ. Not able to have intercourse (in a Spiritual sense) with Christ and have offspring (good fruit, new converts etc..) This is why we need to grow up into the fulness of Christ, Eph.4:12-16.

 Notice the virgins follow the bride, because the bride knows Jesus and how to find him.
The virgins are to young and inmature to find Jesus by themselves; they do not know the way or how to contact God as the bride does. So, we see different types of Christians.

 Possibilities 1.) Cryers = manchild, bride = the Raptured saints. 2.) Wise = guest at the wedding. 3.) Foolish = possibly backslide and take the mark of the beast.

 Rev.22:17 " And the Spirit and the bride say, COME. and let him that heareth say, COME. and let him that is athirst COME. and whosoever WILL, let him take THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY. "

 Of course, you can't have a wedding without a bride. So the bride is the one that is getting married and she will have a more intimate position. The guest, of course, are just that--guest!

 Ephesians 5:22-33 v.27 " That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. v.32
" This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

 The bride is without spot or wrinkle etc... She has kept herself from the world system, and has made herself ready by her " righteous acts " (Gr.) Rev.19:7-9.

 Revelation 19: 9 True sayings, (Gr.) "logos" = the word of God--His plan expressed through his saints, Jn.1:1--the plan of God in action!

 2 Cor.3: 2-18 " Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men, etc..."

 We are to become the living word to ALL MEN. The bride of Christ is the plan of God revealed in these last days--living epistles known and read of all men. The manifestation of the sons of God.

 Rom.8:19 " For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. "

 1 Peter 1:5 " Who are kept BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME OR DAYS. "

 Rev.12:5 The manchild that is caught up to God--THE RAPTURE. The logos of God--the plan of God going back to HIM. Toward the God! Rev.12:11 They loved not their lives unto death--the same as Christ did.

 Col.1:26,27 " Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. "

 Song of Solomon 6:9 The DOVE is the only one of her mother--She is the CHOSEN ONE. Mother here could represent the church at large and the dove or bride-- manchild, (all different aspects of the Raptured saints) represent the ones who come out in the last days and make the cry in the wilderness--the bridegroom cometh, as John the Baptist, Isa.40:3;Matt.3:3.

 Song of Solomon 6:8 Shows different relationships to Solomon, who is a type of Christ.

 Song of Solomon 6:13 The shulamite--the bride--being Raptured and the others (saints) left behind, Rev.3:17.

 Song of Solomon 2:12 " The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. "

 Flowers = Beauty of the saints--flowers on the branch (us in Christ) Exo.25:33;Job 14:2. Many flowers coming foreth from the branch. Revival rain brings flowers (many new converts) also, when we are Raptured in the Spirit, God begins to bring forth flowers in our life--Spiritual experiences will bring forth fruit of the Spirit.

 Time of singing = Joy unspeakable! And full of GLORY. Before Jesus comes for His bride, she will be singing and full of joy. Rejoicing time, Joel 2:28 etc.. It's a time of love, it's springtime. (birds--not in the Hebrew)

 Turtledove = the bride--dove. The turtledove is meek in nature, and Christ was the meekest man on earth. We are in Christ and are to be meek and harmless. Turtledove = the bride or shulamite--the same--the cryers etc..

 Voice is heard--Christ is now heard through out the land--the cryers, the manchild, the bride, the shulamite--the turtledove (all the same ). Jesus finally will have a group--a great army--to speak throughout the land. BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH! GET READY AND FILL YOUR LAMPS WITH OIL AND BE CAUGHT UP--RAPTURED!

 Eze.37--The valley of dry bones will come to life and be an exceeding great army. "Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; COME FROM THE FOUR WINDS, O BREATH, AND BREATHE UPON THESE SLAIN, THAT THEY MAY LIVE. "

 Isa.59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and HIS GLORY from the rising of the sun (Christ and his saints ). When the enemy shall come in like a flood, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.

 Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape gives a good smell. ARISE, MY LOVE, MY FAIR ONE, AND COME AWAY (in heavenly places on this earth and then the Rapture).

 Fig tree = Israel--natural and spiritual. Green figs = early growing stage--they have different stages. He is calling ahead of time for us to get ready. They grow all the time in Palestine (all year long)--just like us in Christ. They are without sweetness or blossom (Israel became a nation in 1948, they are still green). Israel will not blossom with sweetness until Christ comes to set up his kingdom. But we are the Spiritual Israel and can blossom as we abide in Christ. Being taken into the Spiritual places with Him.

 Tender grape gives a good smell = new converts--they smell good, but not ready to pick and eat
--mature fellowship with Christ.

 Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away--We are fair, but not the bride yet. We can be though--if we come away with him in heavenly communion.

 Song of Solomon 2:14 " O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. "

 Now she is falling in love with Him and going on to maturity.

 Psa.18:31 Who is our rock save God? Exo.33:22 " And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by. "

 Rock = God, cleft = Christ. Speaks of being Raptured to the rock as we are hid away in Christ--to keep us out of the hour of tribulation--Rev.3:10. Also, Raptured in Spirit--out of the trials of this life.

 Psa.27:5 " For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. "

 Psa.91:1,2 " He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. " (Psa.25:14;Deut.29:29;Exo.33:11,17,18; 1Cor.13:12; Isa.32:1,2)

 1 Jn.3:2 " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when HE SHALL APPEAR. WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM: FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS. V.3 AND EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE IN HIM PURIFIETH HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE IS PURE. "

 Christians that fall in love with Christ will someday be confronted with the challenge: "Will you be wholly mine, be my bride and belong to no other? "

 Revelation 19:7-9 " Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his WIFE hath made herself ready. and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS. and he said unto me, WRITE, BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB......THESE ARE THE TRUE SAYINGS OF GOD. "

 IT'S YOUR CHOSE--THE CROSS AND BRIDE HOOD, OR BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY AND A GUEST INVITATION.


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