Monday, December 22, 2003 (57)
THERE IS NO BRIDE LIKE THIS ONE. The Bride of Christ is that majestically clothed woman of Revelation twelve. The leading women in the Bible, the outstanding mothers in Israel, are all in some measure or another types of this woman who is to be the Bride of Christ. Yet, none of them measure up to the extremely high status and position which this woman will occupy. The woman of Revelation twelve is not, nor could she be Mary the mother of Jesus. The book of Revelation was not written as a book of history but definitely is a prophecy. The manchild is not Christ. Take a good hard, prayerful look at her. She is glorious. She is gorgeous. She is wondrously and marvelously arrayed. No woman has ever been dressed in this manner. She is most unique. One of a kind.
SHE IS CLOTHED WITH THE SUN. All the splendor and brilliant light of the sun is found to be her garment. While we do not anticipate that the sun will descend from the heavens and wrap itself around her. The Lord who is light will fill her and embrace her with the glory of His own being and nature. He who is light. 1 Jn. 1:5 Will fill her and clothe her with the light and presence of Himself. Inwardly and outwardly. The dwelling place of the Lord now is a place of unapproachable light. The natural man could not stand in the brilliant light, known as the Lord. He is the light of the world. All light emanates from Him. Without Him there is no light. He is surrounded by light. There is no darkness in Him. 1 Tim. 6:16 When we walk in His light we have sweet communion and fellowship with Him. The light is pleasant. It brings great joy. 1 Jn. 1:7
A WORLD OF FIRE, OUR SUN. Is it strange that the woman be clothed with clothing of fire? Fire should not be a strange commodity to the people of the Lord. The Lord has declared Himself to be a consuming fire. We should anticipate that this is exactly what He is. A God of fire. Nebuchadnezer had them heat the furnace seven times hotter for the three Hebrew young men. Dan. 3:19 But because of the fourth man, the greater fire, the fire of the Lord was a shield and protection to them. Not even the smell of fire was on them. Dan. 3:24-25 John said, that Jesus had come, bringing a baptism of fire for His church. Luke 3:16 There is nothing more wonderful, more enjoyable, more satisfying than the fire of the Holy Ghost. Who will dwell in the presence of such a God. Who can stand the fire of His presence? Isa. 33:14-15 The righteous, the upright they will dwell eternally with the God of fire. The fire of the Lord is not distressful to the redeemed. To the unsaved it is judgment, to the saved, great joy. Before the throne of the Lord is that great sea of glass and fire. We often stress the glass and overlook the fact that it is mingled with the very fire of the Lord Himself. Rev. 15:2 The feet of the Lord Jesus are as pillars of fire. Rev. 10:1 and His eyes blaze with the fire of the Lord. Rev. 19:12 Heaven will be a place of wondrous, comforting, enjoyable fire of the Lord.