FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES

Link of article or video : http://www.firstloveministry.com/Earls/intro.htm

Hello all!

I discovered the prophecies of this man, J. Leland Earls, just a few days ago. I most certainly believe that the Lord led me to this man as I am coming to the same conclusions and seeing the same unfolding of end time events, as he did. I am certainly not a modern day prophet, but having access to someone who is, has blessed me richly, and has enabled me to put words to what the Lord is showing me, by presenting the studies and prophecies of this most learned and devout man of God.

The study I presented recently entitled THE THREE COMINGS OF JESUS was written by this man. I am going to be presenting more of his writings and prophecies, especially about Biblical end time Scriptures and events about to transpire in the near future. Therefore, I think it is appropriate to reveal a bit about this man, his background, and his character. The website, based on his writings and prophecies, is called First Love Ministries and is headed by a man named Chris Anderson.

First of all, in this post, is an introduction to Leland Earls and his prophetic writings authored by Chris Anderson. Following that is a letter written by Leland Earls himself. This should give the reader a good look at who this man is, and whether or not his writings are valid and should be acknowledged respectfully. As I post more of his writings individually, I will also include them on this thread, as to preserve an easy access to his collection on end time subjects. I would be very interested in hearing what others think about this man and his prophecies, so please comment if you would like to do so. Thanks!

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An Introduction to the Prophetic Writings
Of J. Leland Earls

By Chris Anderson

May, 2009

It gives me great pleasure to provide a fresh outlet for the major prophetic teachings of J. Leland Earls. Brother Earls served the body of Christ as a Latter Rain/Charismatic Era prophet in the Northwest US from the 1960s until his "graduation" to paradise about 1991. In that period, the Lord graced him with stunning prophetic vision that weds unparalleled perception of final world events with equally penetrating insight into the Lord's hidden process of salvation culminating in our glorification. I have known no prophet before or since to approach his level of sound end time revelational teaching.

I first encountered brother Earls' writing in Dec. 1982 quite "by accident" after a time of earnest seeking about the end times. I had come to total disgust over the sensationalized books and movies on Bible prophecy based in human interpretations of modern events--while watching believers swept up in end time fever "bomb out" on the core issues of soul salvation mattering most to the Father.
I was so tired of the hype that I turned down an invite to teach on the Book of Daniel at my local assembly at that time. I said to myself I'd "never teach again" on the end times until the Lord gave me a credible basis of present revelation for understanding and applying them to the issues of the inner man. The Lord answered that prayer through Leland's writing.

In a nutshell, Leland's prophecies scripturally "close the gap" between our grasp of present era sanctification and our ultimate glorification. He prophesies on the phases of the Lord's return, the connections between sanctification and glorification, what is required of believers to move into translation (did I say "required?"), the stages of the translation and classes of glorification, and how to prepare for all this ahead of what is coming! He also majors on the reconstruction of the body of Christ and the re-establishment of divine order necessary to the fulfillment of the end times. These prophecies and prophetic teachings are solidly based in blended exposition of the kingdom parables, the apostolic writings and Old Testament prophetic shadows.

At the heart of Earl's work is his exposition of the harvest typology, consummating in the "manifestation of the sons of God." Now that phrase immediately sends up "red flags" to anyone previously exposed to aberrations of this concept by foolish "revelationists" who came out of the Latter Rain movement. Leland did not arise from that movement but came from a sound teaching background.

I promise you--you will not find here any of the vain hyper-teachings that dogged the Latter Rain movement ("we are little gods...we ARE manifested...WE are the physical body of Jesus...WE are the Living Word so don't need the Bible...all mankind and Satan will be redeemed out of the lake of fire," etc, etc.). What you will find is practical prophetic instruction on how the Lord will bring His people through to physical immortality in context of the crucible of the end times--much as you already have read in my teachings.

A few points are in order.

First, brother Leland wrote during the height of the Cold War. Much of his perspective was shaped by the immediacy of the Soviet-American conflict of that era. The present lull in that conflict (1990’s-2000) does not negate his view. From Leland's perspective, the fall of the Iron Curtain would be interpreted as nothing more than the "deadly wounding of the beast's head" yet to be "healed." We can be certain that the Russian "bear" will eventually rise again to confront the West--already confirmed by other prophetic ministries and even now appearing again in current events. (Note the recent [Oct. 2007] challenge by Russian bombers again into British airspace.)

Similarly, as one who saw only "in part," Leland's work is virtually silent on the Islamic developments that were to develop after his departure. (To my knowledge, the only major pre-1990 American prophetic teacher to foresee the global Islamic threat was the late James McKeever [Omega Ministries ].

Second, I don't consider Leland infallible or agree with all his teaching. Nor did he consider himself infallible, but was open to mature prophetic scrutiny. If I found a significant weakness in his prophetic views, it was that he tended toward a sense of divine national favoritism (ie , God's favoring of Western nations) while inadequately distinguishing spiritual from national lineages in defining God's people. Superimposed on his occasional application of prophetic types and shadows from Israel to other nations, this scent can leave the misimpression that Brother Earls was a British-Israelist, which he was not and specifically disavowed.

Nevertheless, Brother Earls did not clearly articulate our transnational identity as the Church. However, this is a peripheral weakness and does not undermine the soundness of his core prophetic insights on the harvest of the inner man in the end times.

Similarly, Brother Earls and I differ in our applications of certain theological concepts outside the core of his prophetic instruction. Where such concepts significantly emerge, I editorially note our differences to avoid confusion between his and my teaching in these regards. But again these issues are peripheral to the core of his prophetic teachings as presented here and do not impact their value.

Note that brother Earls' did not copyright his original writings. Nor did he claim any human ownership over them while he was with us, but rather made his truth free for reproduction. In his own words:

"I would like to explain to new readers that I belong to no organization or denomination but am free to minister to the members of the Body of Christ wherever the Lord leads. The truths that God is revealing do not belong to anyone exclusively, nor are they to be used to build up any man, work or organization. This is the hour when the Lord alone is to be exalted and glorified and when the non-sectarian church of the living God is to function as He has purposed. This church is not confined to any particular movement or segment of God's people." (Prologue to The Manifested Sons, Vol. 1, No. 1 -- Feb. 1966)

The writings of Leland Earls are not for everyone. They are only for the spiritually mature and those who aspire to be. They require great thought and meditation. One can study these works for a decade (as I did) and still not absorb the totality of their richness, their depth of thought and their breadth of scope! If you have come to this website with exposure only to what today passes as the "prophetic movement," be prepared to have your mind challenged and changed. Only an earnest student of Christ with a deep spiritual hunger for something more than prophetic "theater" should even attempt to engage these works.

Faithfully,
Chris Anderson
First Love Ministry

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(Here is a letter from Leland Earls, himself. He presented his writings in booklet form, each under different titles for different subject matter. He entitled this letter “Please Read First”, so that anyone reading his materials would understand their origin.)

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“Please Read First”

All or part of the material in this booklet (depending on which "title" you are reading) is written in the form of "prophecy" from the Lord. Lest there be any misunderstanding, I want to make it clear that "prophecy," as one of the "gifts" or manifestations of the Spirit as listed in I Cor. 12:7-11, for the edification of the New Testament Church, does not operate in exactly the same way as the "prophecy" that we read in the Old Testament, when God spoke through certain chosen men called prophets.

Under the law as recorded in what we call the Old Testament, God was formulating His absolute and infallible Word of truth: that which was later gathered together in written form in what we call "Scripture." Such scripture also now includes the words of the greatest prophet of all, the very Son of the Highest, while incarnated in human flesh, Jesus of Nazareth.

Neither can we consider this spiritual "gift" or manifestation of the Spirit given to the church in the same category as the spiritual "revelation" gifts given to especially chosen apostles of the Lord, such as Paul, whereby he declared that "by revelation" certain truths were made known to him (see Gal. 1:12), according, as he declares, by a special "stewardship of God's grace that was entrusted to me" (Ephes. 3:2, Amplified Version).

The "gift" or manifestation of "prophecy" as explained by Paul in I Cor. 12 & 14, is an operation of the Spirit whereby the Lord may use a vessel in His spiritual Body to speak directly to His people. But Paul makes it clear that what is spoken (and/or written) under such a "prophetic anointing" is to be "judged" (I Cor. 14:29), which means that this "gift," or any of the other "gifts" mentioned in I Cor. 12, which the Holy Spirit might manifest through human vessels for the edification of the Body are not infallible in their operation.

This is because under "grace" (in contrast to "law"), God allows more "latitude" (for learning and growth of the vessels used). He "imparts" by the Holy Spirit, through a ves­sel of His choosing, but he does not "overwhelm" or "take control" of the vessel in such a way that the individual's own faculties of mind, perception, yieldedness, will, and emotions are "blotted out." Thus it is possible that some of the fallibility of the vessel might get mixed in with the manifestation of the gift. Thus, the needs for “judgment” by others mature enough to "discern."

I believe what has been channeled through me by the Lord has stood the test of many years, attested to by thousands who have written and expressed their confirmation, among whom have been a number of mature and known Ministers of the Lord.

You may disagree with some of what is written simply because of what you have been taught in the past. That, however, may not be accurate "judgment," because you may have been wrongly taught. You must determine to read with an "open heart," asking the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, to confirm, what truth, to you is. This will, no doubt, take more than one reading. What I have written is "meat" that must be "chewed on" (prayerful meditation) over a period of time. I have had many who have written and testified that when they first read some of the literature, they simply were not ready, or for some other reason did not "fully grasp" what was written. Yet, at a later time they picked up and read the same material and were absolutely "thrilled" at what the Holy Spirit revealed to them.

So I would encourage you to read more than once, over a period of time, to get the most out of these writings, whatever error, if any, might have "filtered in" because of this vessel's fallibility, I believe to be of minor significance, and would not affect the over-all content of truth given in these writings.

However, you are responsible before God to study and prayerfully meditate, along with the Word of God, that you might fulfill Jesus' admonition in Luke 12:57: "yes, and why even of yourselves do you not judge what is right." (see also Acts 17:11). May HIS abundant grace be with you!

Leland Earls

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Personally, I am one of those that are “thrilled” by his writings, and his prophetic gifts. I am also thrilled that I am ready for “meat” and not just “milk”. Another obvious reason, I like this man and his writings, is because they resonate with what the Lord is showing me, at this time. Yet, there are a few other reasons, such as he used only the Kings James Version of the Bible, and he is humble, and looking only to glorify the Lord, and lastly, he did not copyright his writings, and thus they free to be a blessing to all.

As I will be posting more of his writings, I felt it was important, for those here, to know the source from which they spring.

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

THE MANCHILD COMPANY


FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES

Link of article or video : http://www.firstloveministry.com/Earls/...08manchildcompany.htm

Hello all,

Here is another study and article written by Leland Earls. I feel it is important that we look at and understand who this Manchild Company is, and how it will all fit into what will be happening very shortly on the Lord’s Prophetic Time Clock. I know I am not alone on seeing this about to happen, as many others are coming to similar conclusions in their own ways. As we look for the darkness to descend in major ways, we need to also look at the corresponding Light of Christ that is just about to rise up in major ways!

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THE MANCHILD COMPANY

J. Leland Earls

The Lord is moving by His Spirit to bring about the fulfillment of that which is recorded in His Word. A Manchild shall be born and caught up to the throne of God {Rev. 12:5}. A woman is shown as clothed with the sun and the moon is under her feet, and a crown of stars is on her head. The Lord will bring together into one, a glorious church which shall be clothed with spiritual power, and with all that is of the soul, or self-life, put in subjection under her feet.
She will function in the fullness of His covenant which is shown by the crown of stars on her head. That has its archetype in heaven, even a glorious church. When this church begins to function in the fullness of Divine Power, having been conformed in all things to that Divine way and order set forth in God's Word, then out of the womb of that church will come forth that which is described as "a Manchild." This Manchild represents that mature and perfected group or company which shall come forth to minister in power in these last days.

The man is a type and picture of the spirit which indwells the physical body and the woman is a type and picture of the soul which envelops the spirit and interpenetrates the physical body. As Eve was to be in subjection to Adam, so is the soul which is the seat of desire and emotion to be subject to the indwelling spirit which is begotten of God. As the woman represents the glorious church, so does this portray that state or condition among God's people who have not yet come to maturity.

Though the woman is shown to have the moon under her feet (the moon being also a symbol of the soul), she is still reflecting from that spiritual power in which she is clothed, the soulish or moon state of imperfection and immaturity. Glorious, yes, but not fully perfected. Thus we have the double witness of her still somewhat soulish condition by the fact that the moon of the soul is still in the picture, and by the fact that she is represented as a woman, which is also a type of the soul.

You can now understand why that which comes forth from the woman is pictured as a man-child. It shows that the group or company who comes forth has come into that minimum of perfection or fullness which the Lord requires. And as the man is a type of the indwelling spirit which is to rule the house or home of the physical body, so does the man-child represent that maturity and fullness which is necessary to come forth in power in that ministry ordained for these last days. We also read that the man-child is caught up to the throne of God (Rev. 12:5). A throne is symbolic of power and authority. Those in the Manchild Company will be vested with power to do a mighty work for the Lord in these last days.

Now I will show you a mystery not readily seen by those who would understand God's purposes for this company. The Manchild company, being the firstborn of that which will come forth in power, is to be divided even as the "firstfruits" are divided into the sheaf which is cut and taken out of the harvest field, and the firstfruits which are left in the earth to act as a ferment of truth and righteousness until the work of the harvest time is complete.

The Manchild shall be caught up to power and authority in two distinct companies. First, there will be those of the Firstfruits who will be translated and caught up into the heavenlies to receive a commission to function in power in the realms beyond the veil. These shall be the 144,000 of Revelation 14:1. They will no longer be functioning in physical bodies, but in glorified bodies, and they will minister during the Tribulation from the vantage of the heavenly realm, Mount Zion, which is a type of the heavenly and true spiritual Kingdom of Christ.

They will be working with that other portion of the Manchild which is left on earth and which will be caught up to a position of power and authority and commissioned to do a work on the earth while yet in their physical bodies. This is the second fulfillment of the manchild being caught up to the throne of God. For both groups it is a catching up, but one to the heavenly and the other to the earthly authority and power.

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Note from Patti: I would like to direct your attention to a radio show on Tribulation Now that John the Baptist did a few weeks ago about the Two Witnesses and the 144,000. Near the very end of his show, he reveals what the Lord has been showing him about this matter. He sees that the “rapture” would include a division between those who go to heaven and those who decide to stay on earth and evangelize. I think this is very interesting in light of what Leland Earls is stating here.
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This is portrayed in the Scripture by the manchild being caught up to the throne of God. Then, the dragon makes war with the remnant or remainder of the seed or offspring of the woman (Rev. 12:17). This remnant is that portion of the manchild company which is left on the earth to go forth in power in the last days, and they will be helped by the other portion or group which has been caught up to the heavenlies. Those in the heavenlies will have the power to appear and to speak to those who are yet on the earth. And they will be able to give them that protection and guidance which they will need in that day.

This is portrayed by the fact that a double portion was given to the firstborn (Deut. 21:17). The Lord will also have a double portion company in these last days. This double portion is symbolized by the heavenly and the earthly. One portion of the firstborn manchild will be in the heavenlies operating in power in that realm, and the other portion of the manchild will operate in the earthly realm in that ministry which will be committed to them.


MORE ON THE MANCHILD

(Prophecy from the Lord to Leland Earls)
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"Shall I not divide, says the Lord? Shall I not divide and conquer? Shall I not take that which I have prepared and deploy it to my advantage, that I might defeat the enemy and gain a great victory in this day? Shall I not use my forces in a way that will bring the enemy into subjection and destroy his works? And what are his works, says the Lord? Are they not death and destruction, sorrow and confusion, even the workings of chaos in the earth?”

“And shall I not begin to destroy his works by overcoming the primary effect of sin, even death? For in the clutches of death has he held his victims since the beginning of sin. And none has overcome save that one who rose victoriously, even the Lord of Glory. And shall I not now put into operation that which I have purposed? What is it says the Lord? Is it not even this that the manchild which I am preparing in the bosom of the woman shall come forth to victorious life and no longer be subject to death?”

“ For even as Jesus came forth from the bosom of the woman Israel, and was eventually caught up to the throne of His God, so shall I bring forth a company of overcomers who shall be caught up to my throne and invested with power to overcome the enemy. And even as Jesus rose to die no more, so shall this manchild company enter into deathless life to begin the destruction of the enemy's works.”

“And now consider further what I would show you about this manchild company. It is even a mystery hid but is now to be revealed. Shall not this manchild be divided into two companies even as Elijah and Elisha were divided? And shall not one company be caught up into the heavenly realm to receive glorified life, and shall not the other company be left behind as was Elisha to enter into deathless life in the physical? For this is a pattern which I have set in my Word, that there shall be a dividing and deploying of my forces, to the end that I may destroy all the workings of the enemy.”
“The first division will be that of the manchild from the woman. This will be a division between those who are in my glorious church but who will remain in mortal flesh, and those who are born out of that church into Immortality. There shall be a further division in that which is born; in that some shall be caught up to the heavenly realm and some shall be left on earth. Some shall be in glorified bodies and some shall be in Immortal physical bodies.”
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Those who are left on earth to function in Immortal physical bodies are referred to in Revelation chapter twelve as the remnant (or remainder) of her seed. (Rev. 12:17). They are the ones who remain after the main body of the manchild is taken. They will be with the woman, or glorious church in the wilderness of tribulation, but they shall be separate in that they will have entered into Immortality in human flesh and will no longer be subject to death. They will be the manifest sons of that day even as Jesus was a manifested son in His day.

And did not the Lord Jesus portray in Himself the pattern for the end-time manifested sons by the two kinds of life which He lived?

First He entered into Immortality in human flesh and wrought mighty signs and wonders, even the power of the one who has received the fullness of the Father. So shall my manifested sons who are still on the earth wield the powers of their God in that day.

Secondly, Jesus entered in­to glorified life after He was raised from the dead. Even so shall those of the manchild company who are taken enter into the powers of the glorified life and minister on the earth during the tribulation as Jesus ministered for 40 days after His resurrection. Thus shall the enemy's grip begin to be broken when my manifested ones enter into the realm where death no longer has dominion over them, whether in the earthly or in the heavenly sphere.

And now consider further the mystery of the woman and the manchild. The woman represents my glorious church which will be functioning in divine power during the time of the tribulation. She will have come into the fullness of spiritual ministry and witness, symbolized by her being clothed with the sun (Rev. 12:1). Also with the moon under her feet she has overcome the soulish realm of human desire and emotion, and as she is crowned with a crown of twelve stars so is she functioning in the fullness of new covenant power and authority. But she is still in the realm of limitation because she has not yet been caught up to the throne and invested with that power which comes only to those who are no longer subject to death.

She has not yet overcome sufficiently to be in the realm of the manifested sons. For the manifested sons or man-child company has overcome to the extent that death has been abolished for them, and whether in the heavenly or earthly they are no longer subject to its powers, neither the limitations of its domain. They are functioning in a realm which is beyond that of ordinary mortals.

##############more prophecy from the Lord################

“Now consider that which I require of you that you may be in my glorious church in this day and that you might be accounted worthy to be among those who will be filled with the fullness of their God in the days of tribulation impending. And I would have you consider further the price that must be paid in total commitment to me, which is the sacrifice necessary for those who would become the manifested sons of that day. For surely the day is coming shortly and only those who have made a total commitment will have a part in the ministry which will bring liberation and salvation to multitudes in the days ahead.”

“So consider, my people, that glory which is waiting those who are willing to pay the price in laying down their lives completely on the altar as a living sacrifice to me. Even so shall they receive a glory which is beyond compare, and a joy in service which few are able to comprehend. For I will have a people who will show forth my glory in these last days, says the Lord.”

“Now consider further the mystery of Elijah and Elisha as a type of the manifested sons. The two are one, yet divided for the fulfillment of my purpose. First there shall be a division of the beginning of the tribulation when the man-child or manifested sons shall be divided into those like Elijah who shall be taken, and those like Elisha who shall be left. And those who are left, like Elisha, shall have a double portion of power, for they will no longer be subject to death.”

This is shown by the fact that Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah and crossed over Jordan on dry ground. As the Jordan River, which means 'descender,' is a type of death, so the crossing of Jordan on dry ground is a type of the entering into deathless life or Immortality. Even so shall the Elisha group wield the powers of Immortality as did Jesus when He was on the earth. And as Elijah was taken out and caught up, so shall a part of the manchild company be caught up into the heavenlies to wield the powers of the glorified life during the time of great tribulation on the earth. And as Elijah was divided asunder from Elisha by a chariot of fire, so does this picture the fiery tribulation which shall be encompassing the inhabitants of the earth at that time.

“But as Elisha saw Elijah go in the whirlwind, so shall the whirlwind of my judgment be upon those who seek to destroy or harm the Elisha group who have been left behind to enter into the powers of the Immortal Life. And as Elisha did many more works than Elijah, so does this picture the mighty work which shall be done by the manifested sons on the earth during the tribulation days. As Elijah was seen by Elisha as he went, so does this show that those who are taken and who enter into the glorified life, will minister and be seen from time to time by those who are left on the earth. Even so shall my plan be fulfilled and my bodies of overcomers go forth to overcome all the works of the enemy in that day.”

“I would also have you understand that as there was a division at the beginning of the tribulation, so shall there be a division at the close of the tribulation. For the Elijah-Elisha drama has a double fulfillment. Thus at the close of the tribulation of great host will have been prepared to be taken into the heavenlies. For, they shall be translated into the heavenlies, in that day when I come to gather my saints to myself. But there will be others who are not ready to be taken. Even so shall they be left behind in that day to enter into Immor­tality in human flesh. And having entered into Immortality they shall continue to live in physical bodies throughout the entire millennium. At the close of the millennium they too shall be taken into the heavenly realms.”

“So, do you not see, my people, how I must divide. For by division will I conquer, by separating that which is ready for one realm, from that which is ready for another realm. And by deployment of my forces in whatever place and realm that I choose, I am able to overcome the works of the enemy and confound the imaginations of the proud, says the Lord."

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Wow! I believe this man had and intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord. What a blessing his prophecies have been to me as I am being to see what the Lord had been showing him. I hope you all are blessed also, and are beginning to understand what is about to take place in this regard. All those waiting for “rapture” will see this take place, this sending and sealing of the Manchild. As such, it unites us in our views of this, and that is a beautiful thing. No longer do we need to be as divided in our understanding of this, and we can respect what the Lord is showing each one as to their part in this Awesome Plan of Our Glorious Lord and Savior!!


JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME

FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES

Link of article or video : http://www.firstloveministry.com/Earls/booklets/vsa/vsa01.htm

Hello all,

In this article we will explore the difference between the Bride and the Guests, and the Wise and Foolish Virgins, and what that difference is, and how it is portrayed in the Scriptures. I have added some of the Bible verses, which are referred to, to help clarify parts of this article, and make it a bit easier to follow. Enjoy!

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THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME

By Leland Earls

The Scriptural Differences between the Bride Rapture and the Later Marriage Supper Rapture

Zep 1:7
“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.”

Notice the reference to the presence of the Lord and the sacrifice which he has prepared, to which He has "bid" His guests. Check the marginal reading for the word "bid," and you will find that the original Hebrew word means to be "sanctified" or "prepared". It can also be translated to be "set apart." Now there is a two-fold setting apart; for there is a two-fold sacrifice or feast that is being prepared: the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9), and the supper of the great God (Rev. 19:17).

Rev 19:9
“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Rev 19:17
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”

The one is to be the result of his grace extended, and the other the result of His wrath poured out.

The one is for the redeemed and glorified, and the other is for the refuse of the earth. One is to prepare for the inauguration of a righteous rule and government on the earth; the other is to sweep away man's refuge of lies. The guests for each are now being set apart.

Turn now to Rev. 22:17 and read this invitation. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Notice that it is the Spirit AND the bride issuing the invitation to come. Now compare this with Rev. 19:9 where we read: "Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." WHO does the calling? Is a bride called or invited to her own wedding? Ridiculous! She does the inviting; and this is what Rev. 22:17 says.

Therefore by the time the invitation of Rev. 19:9 is fully issued, the bride will have been united with her Lord in the heavenlies in order that the Spirit and the bride may say come. Now when does this take place?

It has already been shown in a number of prophecies and writings through this ministry that the 144,000 firstfruits are to be united with the Lord with glorified bodies at the beginning of the tribulation as the seventh trumpet begins to sound (Rev. 10:7).

This is because they have been prepared, ahead of time, and is first (firstfruits) to enter into the glories of the heavenly realm. This is in harmony with Rev. 19:7: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife has made herself ready.” There is a difference between the marriage and the marriage supper.

The supper is for the guests who are invited after the bride has been joined with her husband, although this feast is also a part of the marriage festivities. Now since the bride will have made herself ready first, she is to be joined to her husband at the beginning of the tribulation as the seventh trumpet sounds its initial blast. Then she will be able to help prepare those who are to be the guests at the marriage supper which takes place when the great hosts of saints are taken at the close of the tribulation.

This she will be able to do because each of the 144,000 firstfruits Bride Company will have the power to appear to the saints on the earth during the time of tribulation. These spirit-fortified saints will then be issuing the call to many during the tribulation to "take of the water of life freely."

Therefore it is during the 3-1/2 years of tribulation that the Bride is busily engaged in issuing the invitation to "come," for she desires that her marriage supper be a bounteous occasion with many guests in attendance.

Since the Bride is made ready first, symbolized by her being the firstfruits to the Lamb (Rev. 14:4), she is also pictured in Revelation, Chapter 12, as being "born" out of the earthly church organism first, and being "caught up" to the throne (Rev. 12:1--2, 5). The "woman clothed with the sun" of Rev. 12:1-2 is not a picture of the heavenly bride of Christ, but a picture of the present church organism on earth travailing to bring forth mature sons.

The first of these mature sons to be glorified and "caught- up" will be that “body” or company which is to make up the heavenly bride of our Lord. The fact that the "woman" brings forth a "manchild" portrays the truth that those who are brought forth and caught up to the throne of God have come into that spiritual maturity of which the "manchild" is a type. What? Do you think that the very choicest of roles in the heavenly realm, that of the Lord's own "Bride" is to be made up of any but matured sons?

These matured sons (including both males and females) who make up the Bride Company shall watch over and prepare those on earth during the tribulation that are going to be received into the heavenlies and make up that vast host who are the guests at the marriage supper.

This is in harmony with Psalm 45 where we have a picture of the King, and then the Queen "in gold (spiritual preparedness) of Ophir" (45:9), for she is "all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold." (45:13).

Psa 45:9
“Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.”

Psa 45:14
“She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.”

Psa 45:15
“With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.”

Now notice others besides the queen in Verse 14: "She (the queen) shall be brought to the King in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought to you." Since they follow her, it would indicate that they arrive later. They are the "foolish virgins" of Matt. 25:1-12, who are left behind when the wise virgins (Bride) are taken at the midnight hour. But the picture in Psalm 45 shows that they shall also be brought to the King, although later: "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace" (45:15). The palace is the inner realm of heaven where the marriage festivities will take place.

But some may remark: "Doesn't it say in Matt. 25:10 that the door was shut to the foolish virgins?" True, they are barred from being taken with the wise virgins when they go in to the marriage, but when that great event occurs, there will yet be time for the foolish virgins to prove themselves that the Lord may know them (see Matt. 25:12 and compare with Deut. 8:2 for this use of the word "know").

Now turn to Luke 11:5-10. We read a parable that Jesus told, about a "friend" who seeks bread at midnight, but receives the answer from his would-be benefactor, "Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee." (11:7). this is a parallel to the parable of the virgins in Matt. 25. The door was shut, and the children (the wise virgins) were on the inside ("with me in bed"). The "friend" or "foolish virgin" was on the outside knocking even as in Matt. 25:11.

Now, notice Luke 11:8-9: "I say to you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. And I say to you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."

Here we have the assurance that during the tribulation (after the midnight hour) those who remain may receive that which they need in order to eventually have the door opened to them. The "friend" asked for three loaves (11:5) and is finally assured of as many loaves as he needs (11:8), presumably, since he asked for three loaves, he would get what he asked for. These three loaves correspond to the "asking", "seeking", and "knocking"; and it is not until the third loaf (the knocking) that the assurance is given that the door will be opened.

The three loaves correspond to the 30, 60, and 100 fold groups of Christians. (Mark 4:20). It is only the third loaf, 100 fold, who will "knock" and have the door opened to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb in the "palace" of heaven.

Only the 100 fold, full grain in the ear (Mark 4:28). Christian, will have the wedding garment necessary for the wedding supper. Notice Jesus' parable recorded in Matt. 22:1-14, where a certain "friend" is symbolically expelled from the guests assembled for the wedding feast because he did not have on the specified wedding garment (22:12-13). Such will be the fate of many who are content to secure less than the three loaves necessary for entrance into the heavenly feast.

The "garment" is the same as that which is indicated in Rev. 19:9; it is the "fine linen" of righteousness. Think not that the imputed righteousness of Christ is sufficient. This only introduces one into the 30 fold estate. The righteousness of Christ must also be imparted within (the 60 fold), and then fully integrated into the fabric of the soul, being "woven" by the working of the Word and the Spirit, until a beautiful garment (character) is the result. This is possible only through the Spirit-sanctified estate of the 100 fold, who have the extra oil in their vessels.

A further indication that those who are left when the first-fruits Bride is taken will have the opportunity to be made ready is found in Luke 12:35-36. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And you yourselves like to men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.”

Since the wise virgins (Bride company) go in to the marriage when the Bridegroom comes at the midnight hour (Matt. 25:10), the ones mentioned in Luke 12:36 are those left behind (foolish virgins) who must wait for their Lord to return from the wedding. But when does He return, and what is the meaning of the statement: "that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately?" (Luke 12:36).

We have already seen the foolish virgins knocking and being refused admittance to the marriage (Matt. 25:10-12), but we have also seen these same ones represented by the "friend" in Luke 11:5-9 knocking after the children (wise virgins) are on the inside, and receiving three loaves (entering the 100 fold estate through the Holy Spirit baptism); so we know that though the foolish virgins were left behind, they did go and "buy oil" (the Holy Spirit) for their lamps and their vessels (Matt. 25:9). But what then? Read Luke 12:35-36 again. "Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning." This would indicate that oil had been secured. Then the instruction is to wait (in expectancy) for the Lord to return from the wedding.

Here is a mystery that needs to be unveiled. Shortly after the Bride Company has been received of the Lord and joined in nuptial joy with Him in the heavenly realms, both the Lord Himself and the glorified saints will begin to appear to those left behind. The pattern for this was set by Jesus after he was raised from the dead. He first ascended to the Father and then returned, appearing to the disciples and be­ing seen of them for a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3).

Even so will it be in the end time. After the firstfruits Bride is translated (corresponding in the pattern to the resurrection of Christ), they shall ascend to meet the Lord in the upper stratosphere; then within a few days, they shall return from the wedding to fulfill their duties throughout the tribulation period.

Now we can understand Luke 12:36. Those left behind are to wait for the appearance of the Lord and the glorified saints, who will be able to materialize their bodies and visit those left. Such visitations will be the fulfillment of the Lord (or members of His Bride) coming and "knocking" (Luke 12:36), and the expectancy of the waiting ones is to be such that they will "open to him immediately" (Luke 12:36), Such visitations will also be a fulfillment of Rev. 3:20, where Jesus is pictured as "knocking" during the closing years of the Laodicean era.

Thus throughout the entire period of the tribulation, the Lord and the glorified members of His Bride will continue to appear to those who are waiting, expecting and "opening the door." In the scriptures, forty is the number of testing. Even so, Jesus' appearance to the disciples for 40 days following His resurrection sets the pattern for the end-time appearance of Jesus and the Bridal Company of 144,000 glorified saints during the testing period of the entire tribulation.

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This certainly clarifies and unites many of the concepts given in the Scriptures concerning whom the Bride is and also identifies the guests at the Wedding Supper. How exciting that all this is about to be fulfilled!!

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERTHING!!

Patti C.