A Study on Revelation Chapter 14: Part 1 - The Bride of Christ
Revelation chapter 14 begins by describing the bride of Christ as follows.
These 144,000 souls are the bride of Christ who were Raptured at Christ’s return and they follow him wherever he goes. The number 144,000 does not literally represent 144,000 people, just as the 10 virgins in the parable of the ten virgins do not literally represent only 10 people. The number 144,000, which 12 x 12, or 12 squared, times 10 x 10 x 10, or 10 cubed, is a parabolic representation of a divinely balanced and complete unit who, in this case, will also possess divine governmental authority. They are the Firstfruits of the harvest of Christians that Christ is going to save and grant eternal life.
Many Bible teachers mistakenly teach that all Christians will become the bride of Christ, but that is not what the Bible teaches. First of all, the bride of Christ is only composed of the souls Raptured in the Firstfruits harvest, which is only a fraction of the main harvest of souls that Christ is going to save (my study on the Firstfruits harvest has also been published to this blog spot.)
In John 3:29, Jesus talks about the “bride of the bridegroom”, and the “friend of the bridegroom.”
John 3:29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which is standing and hearing him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: thus my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Both the bride of the bridegroom, (the bridegroom representing Christ), and the friend of the bridegroom are true believing Christians, however there is a difference. If all the saved Christians of the world are going to become the bride of Christ, then you would need to come up with a logical explanation as to the identity of the friend of the bridegroom. The Bible proves that when Christ returns, he will first Rapture only his bride, which will be all those who have maintained a true and intimate relationship with him. The bride will also include all Elect babies and children because they never lost their first love with Christ and the Father. This "first love" relationship is mentioned in Rev chapter 2.
Rev 2:2-5 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick from its place; unless you repent.
The friend of the bridegroom represents all those who had either a weak or non-existent relationship with Christ. A weak relationship with Christ is described in Revelation chapter 3 as those Christ will "spew out of his mouth".
Rev 3:14-18 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wish that you were cold or hot; but because you are lukewarm, and are neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness is not revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
These lukewarm Christians have been blessed with material abundance and are enjoying all the comforts of life. Because they have become enamored with their lifestyles, they feel they have need of nothing. This mindset, however, creates a trap for them because it stifles any inclination to enhance their personal relationship with Christ. When Christ returns to remove his bride, he will vomit these Christians out of his mouth, as they will prove to appear wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked before him.
Rev 14:1-5 gives us clues as to what sets the bride apart from the friend of the bridegroom.
Clue #1 Raptured saints will have the Father's name written in their foreheads. They belong to God the Father, who has given them to the Son [John 17:5].
Clue #2 Raptured saints are singing a new song before the throne that no man could learn but the
bride of Christ who was redeemed from the earth.
Clue #3 Raptured saints are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. They are virgins because their faith in Christ is pure. All satanic lies and doctrines have been replaced in their hearts by the living truth of the gospel of Christ and the kingdom of heaven.
Clue #4 Raptured saints are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They are one with the Father and the Son; their thoughts, likes, dislikes, motives, and goals are one with the Son, and they are complete in him.
Clue #5 Raptured saints were redeemed from among men, being the Firstfruits unto God and to the
Lamb.
Clue #6 In the mouth of Raptured saints is found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. They never willingly try to deceive others into following any other gospel, but the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
By antithetically looking at these 6 statements in order to describe the friend of the bridegroom, the statements would translate as follows.
Antithetical statement #1
The Father's name was not written on their foreheads on the day of the Rapture.
Antithetical statement #2
Tribulation saints were not redeemed from the Earth at the time of the Rapture, and therefore are not seen singing a new song before the throne of God.
Antithetical statement #3
Tribulation saints were not virgins because they had defiled themselves with women (women representing false gospels or doctrines).
Antithetical statement #4
Tribulation saints were not following the Lamb wherever he went at the time of the Rapture.
Antithetical statement #5
Ttribulation saints were not redeemed from among men at the time of the Rapture because they were not Firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Antithetical statement #6
Guile, or deceit, was found in the mouths of the tribulation saints at the time of the Rapture (because they were following false doctrines), and therefore they stand flawed before the throne of God on the day that Christ returns.
As you read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, you will see why many Christians will be excluded as members of the bride of Christ. Those left behind, however, will comprise the main harvest of Christians that Christ is going to save during the great tribulation period. Zechariah 13:8 teaches that two thirds of mankind will be cut off; this means that if Christ saves one third of the world's population, it equals to more than 2 billion souls.
Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
God will also use the bride to help propagate the gospel of Salvation and thus aiding Christ to save the main harvest of souls left on the Earth.
Isaiah 60:1-5 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
I will end Part 1 here and continue with Part 2.
