Family of God

We do have one correction on the announcements that I made. Next Sabbath, we will not be here. This was one particular Sabbath that we could not get the facilities. So we're going to be at the day's hotel, and that will be at 10.30 in the morning, next Sabbath. So I just want Mr. Hopple to let me know that. And he may have told me that earlier, but I just wanted to make sure we let you know that. So don't come here, because it'll be empty.

All right.

In the area of philosophy, which is the science of reasoning, it seems that no one's school of thought gives a satisfying explanation of the universe, of creation, of why we're here. In fact, they all seem to fall short of presenting a clear cause or a clear source to help us understand the reason for being. You know, science, with all that it does to help us, and it does, it enriches our lives in many respects, but they don't have any help when it comes to explaining why we're here, and what's happening around us, and what the purpose is for life. We've got to go here. We've got to go here to be able to understand, to have the wisdom to make sense of the age-old questions that probably every generation has asked, that has ever lived, is, what is man? Why are we here? What's the purpose for our existence? What's the meaning of life? And as we approach the new year in God's calendar, we're about to begin to rehearse the plan of God, you know, beginning with the Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread, will eventually go through all the same series of seven holy days that God has, that He helps us to know what He is doing and why He's doing it. You know, when God first began to call me, and He began to open up my understanding to certain things, some of the things that we're going to review, some of those things today, some of those things were so extraordinary and so out of the ordinary that it was mind-boggling to me. It's nothing like I had ever heard. And you know, sometimes you can tend after a while maybe to take some of those things for granted, but they're still as extraordinary as they've ever been and as mind-boggling as they've ever been.

My main point today in the message is this, that the main purpose of the universe, the main purpose of creation from all eternity was to start a family. To start the family of God, to create an eternal companion for the Son, the bride, the bride, the lamb's wife. You know, this is really a startling concept to think about, but the main purpose of all the universe, of all creation, is even when it comes to the angelic realm, they were created to create an eternal companion for the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and to start a family and to bring many sons into glory.

Let's turn over to Revelation 3 and verse 21. Revelation 3 and verse 21. We talk about a betrothed bride of Christ and is going to share the throne of Christ with Christ.

Revelation 3 and verse 21. And if that's the case, since a betrothed bride is going to share the throne of the entire universe with her bridegroom, Jesus Christ, well then she has to be trained. She has to be taught. She has to be educated, and she has to be made ready for an incredible royal role that she's going to play. Revelation chapter 3 and verse 21. It says, To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and I sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He that overcomes. Overcomes what? Well, we're going to begin to talk about that as we get into Passover in the Days of Unleavened Bread of how we are able to overcome, that we need God's help to be able to overcome, but also that we have a role to play as well in choices that we make. As we examine ourselves individually, and we see that we've got a few Mars in our character, that there's a few imperfections, that there is some corruption that's there.

He that overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne. We're talking about someone that's going to sit with Christ on the throne of the universe. A joint heir, if you will. A co-air. An heir of God. A joint heir with Jesus Christ. Because the crown is only for those that overcome. And the church, later to become the bride, we have to learn how to overcome. We have to learn how to fight spiritual warfare. It's something that's part of the training. To be able to defeat evil forces. To be able to sit with the bridegroom on his throne after the marriage with the lamb.

But for those who are able to overcome and sit with Jesus Christ, what does that mean?

Well, part of the meaning is that redeemed humanity, redeemed human beings, those who love, imitate, and follow Jesus Christ, have been placed in a totally unique position in the universe's chain of command. Even over angels. Now, that's not to demean the angels or cast a shadow on their radiance or on their glory or on their power. They are, after all, magnificent creatures. It seemed like in scriptures when an angel ever manifested themselves, people were afraid. They sensed that there was something extra special or extra powerful that was there. And they were afraid. Almost without exception. And with an encounter of an angel in scripture, people were afraid. And the first thing the angel would say to them is, don't be afraid. They'd have to calm them down a little bit. So the angelic realm is powerful. And they're supremely, they're spiritually intelligent. And they have a very major purpose with God. They serve Him in incredible ways. In fact, God has chosen to surround His throne with the angelic realm. They have unimaginable power and splendor. And yet, as respected as they are, and as powerful as they are, even the highest ranking angel hovering over God's throne is outranked, if you will, by wonder of wonders, the most insignificant human being that has had the precious blood of Jesus Christ to cover their sins. And they become part of the betrothed bride of Christ and have been born into the kingdom of God. That's a fascinating thing to think about. Let's notice Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 5. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 5, we'll take a look here. Although it may be hard for us to understand why God designed it this way, His plan where man will in a sense be greater than the angels, several scriptures point this out. In fact, Hebrews is a very good book for talking about the destiny of man. And of course, it even talks about a little bit about the destiny of the angels and what they do and how they serve. So let's take a moment to review some of these scriptures. Hebrews chapter 1, and we'll pick it up here in verse number 5. We're going to see here in Hebrews that the angels were never offered sonship. They were never offered sonship. Let's take a look here. It's Hebrews chapter 1 verse 5. For which of the angels did he ever say, you are my son? Today I've begotten you. And again, in a sense, to which of the angels did he ever say, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. Let's turn over to chapter 2 verse 5. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 5. For he has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to the angels. But one testified, and that's referring to David. He's quoting now here from Psalm chapter 8 and verse 5. But one testified in a certain place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and you've set him over the works of your hands.

Now, in the original Psalm chapter 8 verse 5, when it says angels, that's the Hebrew word, a-lo-ing. You have set him a little bit lower than a-lo-ing. In fact, some translations of the scripture translate it that way. The American Standard Version translates Psalm chapter 8 verse 5 as you have made him a little lower than God. A little bit lower than God. And so we begin to see that man has a special place. Verse number 10. For it was fitting for him, for whom all things, and by whom are all things, into bringing many sons to glory. So now all of a sudden we're seeing that you and I are children of God. We are sons. Sonship has been offered to us. He does refer to us as his children. In fact, he's bringing many sons from one place to another. He's bringing them from flesh and blood to glory. That's the process of what God is doing. And to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. The captain of the salvation, the bridegroom, was actually made perfect through some of the things that he went through, some of the sufferings he went through. Verse 11. For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. You know, Jesus Christ talked to his disciples back in John about this oneness. Just before his crucifixion, he talked about oneness. That Father, they might be in us and we might be in them. That we might be one. This oneness that God is trying to communicate to us, trying to wrap our minds around it. What is it that he's trying to help us to understand? But those who are, it says, both he who sanctifies, verse 11, and those who are being sanctified are all of one. For which reason? He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call you and I, brothers and sisters. Sonship, he's a son of God, and we are sons and daughters of God. This apparently was never offered to the angelic realm. Verse 14, inasmuch then as the children, so we're talking about God's children here, the sonship, inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, angels never took partook of flesh and blood. But God's children did, at partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the saints. He was flesh and blood too, the son of man and the son of God. That through death, which Passover commemorates annually, his death, he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil. John 17, verse 21. We've already read about, He who sanctifies those who are being sanctified are all of one. The one that's sanctifying, which is Jesus Christ, and those who are being sanctified, you and I, are all of one. This oneness that he keeps coming back to, he also addresses in John 17, verse 21. Let's notice what Jesus Christ says here. He never said this of the angelic realm, but he does say it to the children of God. John 17, and we'll pick it up here in verse number 20. John 17, verse 20. Jesus is near the end of his physical life before the crucifixion. He says, I don't pray for these alone. He's praying for his disciples, but he's saying there's others as well. I don't pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as we are one. And I in them, and you in me, and that they may be made perfect in one. Somehow, whatever God is designing, he's talking about a oneness here that doesn't seem to be offered to the angelic realm, but it's offered to you and to me. This family, there's this oneness that he's talking about, that we are made perfect in one. Let's look at another scripture, Romans chapter 8, in verse 16.

We do not see in the scriptures where it was ever offered to an angel to be an heir of God, or a joint heir of Christ. Romans chapter 8, in verse number 16. It says, the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. God calls the spade what it is. He says, you and I are, if we've got His Spirit, we are His children. And notice, and if children, then heirs.

Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. You know, joint heirs with Christ, to sit on the throne with Him, as a co-ruler and a co-heir is what is offered to the children of God, to this bride that we're talking about.

Furthermore, we'll also see in the Scriptures, in Ephesians 5, verse 23, we'll also see in Scripture that the angels are never referred to as the body of Christ. For you know, Christ is the head of the body, He's the head of the church.

And that there's a oneness that's talked about there. One body, where He's the head. We don't see that offered to the angels, but we do see it offered to the children of God. Ephesians 5, we'll pick it up here in verse 23.

And you may recognize this chapter where it's talking about what we often quote many scriptures in the wedding ceremony, between a husband and wife. But we're going to find out that there's a little bit deeper meaning there, because near the end of the chapter, He says, you know, I'm not really talking about a husband and wife. I'm talking about Christ and the church. And it's a marriage situation. But let's pick it up here in Ephesians 5, verse 23.

He says, for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church.

And He is the Savior of the body. Dropping down to verse 25, He says, husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and He gave Himself for her. We have a bridegroom that loves His future bride. And He paid a heavy price. He paid a large price for His bride. He gave Himself for her, verse 26, that He might sanctify and cleanse her. So we know the one that's doing the sanctification is Jesus Christ. He that is sanctifying and those that are being sanctified, which is you and I, meaning we're being set apart for a good purpose, a holy purpose, are all of one. The Father, in other words, there's this oneness here. Verse 27, 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. She should be holy, as He is holy and without blemish.

Let's jump to verse number 30. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

Wow, what's that mean? We are of His body, His flesh, and of His bones. You know there's a parallel situation that happened in the Old Testament that you'll probably recognize or remember when Adam is talking about his wife Eve. I'll just refer to it. You can turn there if you'd like. It's Genesis 2, verse 23. But Adam said this in referring to this woman. He said, this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. He said, this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she came out of man. She came into existence out of man. Came to life. God, of course, did the creating, but she came into existence. And it says very much the same thing here in verse 30 of Ephesians, chapter 5. It says, we are members of His body and of His flesh and of His bones. It's almost the same thing. It's almost said in the same way. Isn't that interesting? Just as Eve came into existence through the first man Adam, that the bride will come into existence through the second Adam, bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh. And it kind of ties in with Jesus Christ, that He has to drink my blood and eat my flesh in order to have life. There's a tie in there, brethren. Let's turn over to 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, and verse number 17. 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, and verse number 17. This coming together as one in order to have life, to be perfected in one, is quite a concept that is talked about over and over throughout Scripture. 1 Corinthians, chapter 6. We'll pick it up here in verse 15. But I'm really going to eventually focus on verse 17, but this all builds up to it here.

1 Corinthians, chapter 6, and verse 15. It says, don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Well, certainly not.

Or don't you know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For the two, he says, shall become one flesh. So he's talking about when Adam and Eve and a husband and wife come together, they come together as one. And there's a oneness there. There's a one flesh. They begin to be almost, they're still think differently. They still have different thoughts and ideas, but they begin to work together as one for the common goal, a common purpose. And those of you that have been married and have that type of relationship, it is a special thing. There's a concept of oneness that God talks about. And Adam and Eve, he said, they come together and they said, they're no longer two, but they become one flesh. But notice verse 17, but he who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. We're not talking about two becoming one flesh. Now we're talking about two becoming one Spirit.

The bridegroom and the bride beginning to become one, one Spirit.

Doesn't say that about the angels. Doesn't say that they'll be making a part of the bride.

This is an awesome, special calling and privilege that God has given, maybe bigger than what we've thought. To think of being at one with Jesus Christ. To rule with Him. To be a co-heir with Him.

How could God raise us any further in the chain of command, but also the chain of responsibility of serving as a parent serves their children? One last scripture on this point regarding that the angels, their destiny and what place that they have in the role they play. Hebrews 1, verse 14.

Hebrews 1, verse 14.

They are incredible creations of God. Powerful ones, powerful servants.

But regarding the angels, this is what it says here in Hebrews 1, verse 14.

Referring to the angels, it says, are not they all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? You know, the word minister means serve. So these are servants of God. They're serving spirits that have been sent forth to help and to serve those that are going to inherit salvation. That's you and I. They are wonderful servants of God sent forth to minister to the future sons and daughters of God. The ones that are going to inherit salvation.

Through a new birth, and Jesus Christ talks about that as being born again, He says in Nicodemus, you know, that which is born of the flesh is spirit, but that which is God's flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. And through a new spirit, a new birth, a redeemed human being can become a true member of the God family, next of kin, in a sense, to God Himself. In other words, redeemed humanity, redeemed human beings, the church, the betrothed bride of Christ, are risen to a height that is impossible for our Father to lift any further. It's a privileged status with responsibilities, though. You know, in spite of her weaknesses, sometimes disappointments, in spite of the church's sometimes failure, shocking failures, and not rising up to the expectations that God has designed for us, He still very much cares for us and loves us. In fact, the church is still really the only force in the world today that has light, and it's shining light in a dark place.

It's the greatest force that's fighting against Satan's total rule in human affairs.

God allows His bride, the betrothed bride, to engage in spiritual warfare. He's already said, you know, all power is given to Me in heaven and earth. He's already qualified to replace Satan, the devil, as ruler, but for now, He allows Satan, the devil, to have a guerrilla warfare.

And so we find ourselves fighting a spiritual warfare. Why? Why does He do that?

Well, He does that for a reason. In order to bring her to the full maturity that she needs, the lessons that she needs to learn, in order to be a co-ruler, in order to be a co-air with the Son, to resist evil, to resist sin, to develop character, to develop the divine nature, you know, to learn the things, to examine herself, to see where she needs to change, in order to be a true servant to others, to develop the divine nature, to learn to love as the bridegroom loves, to learn to develop, to grow, and to make herself ready.

Let's notice Revelation 19, verse 7. Revelation 19, verse 7. 1 It says, Let us be glad and rejoice, and to give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come.

You know, this is something that's been planned for a long time. This is something that's been designed right from the beginning, a marriage of the Lamb, and it's finally come. And notice, in His wife has made herself ready.

You know, God allowed His bride to be able to experience certain things and challenges and difficulties, because this is what she needed to go through and to have the right heart, even though we're living in a very evil society and an evil culture all of our lives. We've never known anything other than living under the jurisdiction of an evil ruler.

But she learns lessons. She learns lessons by the struggles that she goes through.

She's made herself ready.

Let's look at 1 Peter 1 and verse 12. 1 Peter 1 and verse 12.

You know, it may seem simple that all of the creation, all of the universe, has been put into place to have a family and to create an eternal companion.

A bride for Jesus Christ. That almost seems too simple, doesn't it?

And yet, that's why all of this has been done.

1 Peter 1 and verse 12. And talking about the gospel and talking about the inheritance that's coming, about the children, a family, that the whole world groans because there's about to be a birth. This is what it's all about. This is what it's been from the beginning, is to have a family.

And it says, even the angels desire to look into this. 1 Peter 1, it says, To them it was revealed, not to themselves, but to us, as they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven. These are things which the angels desire to look into. They didn't necessarily have a complete understanding. It's something that is exciting to them. Verse 13.

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind and be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. That's when the marriage begins, is when He returns. The bridegroom returns. And so He says, in verse 14, As obedient children, again, sonship is not offered to everyone. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.

And so the bridegroom is looking for the bride to be holy. To be holy, just as He is. Verse 17.

That's interesting the way He puts that.

Verse 18. Verse 18.

So this has been planned for a long time. You know, Christ paid a very, very heavy price for you and for me, didn't He?

He did, because He wants us to live. In fact, He wants to share life with us.

In fact, there's a firstfruits that He's calling out right now that have a very special opportunity.

It talks about the first resurrection, that blessed and holy is He, that is a part of the first resurrection. It doesn't sound like anyone else ever, ever again is going to be quite as blessed and holy as that is. And the firstfruits have that opportunity to be married to Christ, to be at one Spirit with Him, and to rule, and to have a family, to bring many sons to glory. It's about family. It's about a marriage.

Let's go on. This is 1 John 3 and 2. 1 John 3 and 2.

Talking about the children of God, talking about sonship, and talking about a little bit of our destiny.

1 John 3, and we'll pick it up here in verse 2.

It says, Beloved, now we are the children of God. Right now. It says, we are God's children. We have the sonship now. But it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Now, there's nowhere it says anything about the angels being able to see God the way that He is. That they'll be like Him and shall be like Him.

But it says this about the children of God, those that are His sons and His daughters.

You know, often we look at the world today around us and the struggles that we're going through and the difficulties that we find ourselves in. And we know we have that hope that one day we'll be like Him. But you know, really, God wants us to start that process now when it comes to our character. Notice verse 3. He says, and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. He is pure. But He says to you and I that if we have this hope that we're going to spend some time on ourselves and purifying ourselves. The emphasis is to purify the bride now, not some other time, not in the future, but now. To be prepared, to get ready now.

It seems maybe too simplistic that the ultimate purpose of creation in the universe was God starting a family and preparing an eternal companion for His son Jesus Christ, the bride.

But from the beginning of creation and throughout history, God's been in control of the events.

He's been in control all along the way. Now today, when it comes to history, there are certain experts on human history. They have an idea of what its true meaning is or purpose, but they really don't. Often they'll look at facts, they'll look at the data, the raw data, and they'll come to certain conclusions about who was great, what nation had the biggest powerful military, or had military campaigns and the rise and fall of nations. They can organize and systemize events and have the raw material, but they don't always know the significance of the things that they're observing. Some historians actually admit this, that they don't really understand the purpose of history. One such historian was G. N. Clark, and in giving his inaugural address to Cambridge, this is what he said to the students there, and I quote, there is no secret and there is no plan in history to be discovered.

There's no secret and there's no plan of history to be discovered.

The French novelist André More stated the following, and I quote, the universe is indifferent. Who created it? Why are we here on this puny mud heap spinning in infinite space? I have not the slightest idea and I am quite convinced that no one has.

Wow. Wow. What about some of the ancient Greek thinkers? Some of the ancient Greeks. You know how they thought of history? How they thought of existence that we have? That it was like a circle.

It was just like a circle that went all the way around. Our existence was a mystery that could be not understood like it says things repeating itself over and over and going nowhere.

That's how some of the ancient Greek thinkers think about that. And so, they don't really know.

And God hasn't yet opened their eyes some day that He will. To them, much of our world history is one senseless crisis after another with no purpose, no rhyme, no reason at all.

What about the philosophers? Some of the modern thinkers and philosophers, many of them say that there really is no purpose and no meaning to life. It's meaningless.

And the philosophy of meaningless was made popular by a Frenchman. His name was Jean-Paul Sartre, who taught the following, that each person exists in a watertight container as a detached individual in an aimless universe. Wow! No purpose, no meaning. It's kind of discouraging in a way, isn't it? He said we can't know who we are, or where we came from, or where we're going. And the only thing that matters is the present, which I suppose is how we've got to the point where we've educated enough generations that we have the now generation. All that matters is the here and now.

You know, there's a thought out there or a motto that's on with the dance.

Let joy be unconfined. Or as a song said not that long ago, let's just keep on dancing.

Let's bring out the booze and have a ball. You know, the Apostle Paul wrote about in the first Corinthians, I think it's chapter 15, the resurrection chapter. He talks about if there was no resurrection, if there was no purpose, if there was no hope, well then let's just eat and drink, because tomorrow we die. I think that's in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 32.

So the result of some of the teachings that we have out there in philosophy and among historians and that type of thing, it's resulted in a worldview that has confusion when it comes to the past and no hope when it comes to the future, no purpose. Yet God has revealed His design and His purpose through the Scriptures. He's revealed it to us. You know, a lot of people think when it comes to writers of history, what's the center of history? What is the center of history who's ever the most powerful at the time? That's the center of history. Bigger than life leaders, pharaohs, the pharaohs of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Alexander the Great of Greece. These were all movers and shakers of history. These were the empire builders. They were the center of history, the center of the universe. Well, who really is the center of history and the center of the universe?

Let's turn to John chapter 1 in verse 1. John chapter 1 in verse 1. The center of history isn't its great empires, whether it be Babylon, whether it be Egypt, whether it be Greece, whether it be Rome, whether it be the modern counterparts of the United States or Russia or China or any other nation that wants to take center stage. We've got to go back in time to find the true center of history. We have to travel past all of those different empires and all those different powerful leaders and find our way back to the beginning of time, to the Creator and the Word, who was with God and was God. John chapter 1 verse 1. It says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and He was in the beginning with God, and all things were made through Him. All things were made through the Word. In fact, nothing, there was nothing that was made that was made, unless it was through the Word. So yes, we've got God the Father. We have the Word, the One who became flesh, the One who became Jesus Christ, are at the true center of history when it begins. They created it. They uphold it by the Word of their power, as it talks about in the book of Hebrews. He upholds all things by the Word of His power, Jesus Christ. God the Father has given that to Him. He has the power to begin to create history, to begin to start life.

God's the center of history. And the church, the betrothed bride of Christ is the goal of history, right from the beginning. Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, existed before history itself. As it says, all things were made through Him. Without Him, nothing was made that was made. He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. I'll just refer to that. That's in Hebrews 1 and verse 3.

Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3. He's in control.

In every event, in everything that happens, nations that rise, nations that fall, God is in control. Nothing happens without Him allowing it to happen.

This universe, including this planet, was created for the main purpose to provide a suitable home for the human race, the object of God's affection, and to fashion an eternal companion for Jesus Christ, His Son, a bride, a bride. After man's failure to obey God in the Garden of Eden, our first appearance, God made a promise to redeem Him and us, to buy us back, to bring us back.

God loves His children.

God the Father knew who to choose out among us here. He knew who would have the opportunity to make up part of the bride, to be part of the first resurrection, to be part of the first fruits.

It's an incredible invitation. And God the Father chose the bride.

Jesus Christ says, I don't call anyone, it's the Father that calls.

The Father knew that you and I had the capabilities to be part of the bride of Jesus Christ.

Now, He's called many. Now, fewer chosen, so that's a sobering thing to think about. He knows that we all have the ability to be there, that we all have the ability to purify ourselves as He is pure, and to make ourselves ready with His help, of course, through the power of His Holy Spirit. But we have a part to play as well in that particular part of the story.

God carefully chose a Messiah, His Son, the anointed, to come back and to redeem humanity.

All humanity has an opportunity. Not all will make up the bride of Christ, but all have an opportunity to be part of the family of God. But God carefully chose a Messianic ancestry who would bring in the Messiah. The Messiah came with only one intention, to give birth to the church, to call out ones, the ecclesia, to redeem them.

Brethren, if it's true, if it can be just this simple, that the main purpose of all creation and existence is to create a family and to prepare a bride.

If it's true, then history is simply His story. God's story. History is simply His story.

That He's working all of this together for a very simple and yet powerful reason.

In Matthew chapter 25 and verse 34, we'll see, in a sense, the end from the beginning.

We see what God has in mind. Matthew chapter 25 and verse 34.

The bridegroom has come back, and this is what He's sharing. He says to those, verse 34 of Matthew 25, the king will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.

How long? Well, from the foundation of the world.

It's the end of the age. It's a kingdom that's been prepared, that's been thought of for a long time.

It was in the mind of God for a long time. He didn't have to do this. He already had eternal life. Jesus Christ, the Word, already had eternal life, but they wanted to share this way of living, the spiritual life with others. And so, they prepared a kingdom for you and for me.

As the Lord of history, God is controlling the events to bring His bride to maturity, to beauty, to perfection, and finally to the throne beside His Son, as they come together as co-heirs and co-rulers. It's hard to imagine this, but really, when you think about it, we talk about a bride and we're talking about a bridegroom. That love, devotion, and commitment are at the heart of the universe, the heart of creation, the plan from the beginning.

It's a love story. Love, devotion, and commitment are at the heart of the universe. It's the key to existence, the key to being. Even from eternity, God proposed that there be a bride in His Son's future and a companion to sit with Him on His throne. Let's notice the bridegrooms and the Father's love and devotion and commitment to us. I mean, we've already talked about the fact that all of this has been done from the beginning for you and for me. You know, God's devotion, I'll just refer to a couple of Scriptures, John 3, verse 16. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God's devoted. He is completely devoted to you and to me. I'll just refer to Hebrews 13, verse 5, that God and Jesus Christ will never leave us and will never forsake us. They will never, that's their promise, they will never leave and never forsake us. That's the type of bridegroom that Jesus Christ is. He's willing to die. He's willing to pay the price and He will never leave and never forsake. He is totally devoted to His bride. Let's look at 1 John 4, verse 9, though. We'll take a look at that one. 1 John 4, 4, and verse 9.

God's commitment to His love and devotion is spoken of here in 1 John 4, and verse 9.

He says, in this the love of God was made manifest. It means it's made clear. It's obvious. It's made manifest among us that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. That's the only way, is through Jesus Christ. Just like the woman Eve came into life, came into being through the first Adam, is that that's how we'll come into spiritual life, is through the second Adam. Through Jesus Christ.

In this is love. Not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. God started the process. That is true love, to be the first one to reach out. God was the first one to reach out. It says in other places, why we are yet in our sins. Why we were very unlovable. Okay. God saw the value in you. He sees the end from the beginning. He sees the potential.

And He loves His Son. And He's preparing a bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. In this is love. Not that we have loved God, but that He loved us. And He sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

God and Jesus Christ do love us. And now He's saying, okay, bride, you need to have that same kind of love for one another. Jesus Christ is the bridegroom. That's what He's looking for. You know, for those of you that, before you got married and you were looking for a mate, you analyzed very carefully what type of characteristics they had. Would we work together well? Are they a caring person? Are they a loving person? How do they treat children? You know, that's all a very important thing. And it's no different with this courtship, with this betrothal that we find ourselves in, is that Jesus Christ is looking at us in very much the same way.

Very much the same way. God does love us, and He's devoted to us. But it's not a one-way street, because in turn, He expects love from His bride, His betrothed bride, and devotion from His betrothed bride. And I think that's why this Scripture is so important. Mark 12 and verse 30. Mark 12 and verse 30. You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, with all of your strength. This is the first command. Brother, we can turn that around, because we know God loves us, and we know He's devoted to us. We can turn that around. God loves you, with all of His heart, with all of His soul, with all of His mind, and with all of His strength.

He doesn't lie. That's the kind of love that He has, and that's the kind of love that He wants us to have. He's devoted to us, and He wants us to be devoted to Him, and He wants us to be devoted to each other. As we make up the bride. The second commandment is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. You know, you just answered the question in verse 29 was asked. What's the greatest commandment? Or in verse 28, I guess. And He answers that you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart. But He goes on to say the second is like it.

And so, God says the bride, which makes up collectively the church, is to be devoted to each other. They look out after each other. They help each other. They encourage each other. And they're devoted to the bridegroom.

How many of you heard or how many of you did not have an opportunity to hear the message last week that was given by Malcolm Murray? Just a few that really encourage you to listen to that. He talks a lot about the taking of the wine at the Passover service is also a proposal for marriage. That in that culture of that time, that the Father would often work with the Son in picking out a very special person, a very special girl, a very special potential bride for the Son.

And then they would, after they have carefully selected to make sure she came from a very, very good family, there would be a marriage proposal. And then there's a period of betrothal and engagement, I guess, is what you'd call it today. And the way they would do that is that they would have a glass of wine, they'd fill a flask with wine, and he would propose to his future wife and say, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which I offer to you.

It's a blood covenant. You know, a blood covenant. And that in that time, in that culture, they knew what that meant. And so when Jesus Christ then said that to his twelve disciples, they were thinking, this sounds like a marriage proposal. That's exactly what it was. It was a marriage proposal. And that when we take of that wine on Passover, that there's an enhanced understanding. Not only does that wine we need to drink that wine, it does forgive this remission of our sins, it covers our sins.

But also, it's an annual reminder that we have been proposed for marriage. That we've been proposed to, and we are in a betrothed period of time. He went on to talk about, well, you know, for those of you that, you know, when you are in your own engagement period, and you're married now, or you've had your children that are going through an engagement period, or you deserve others that are going through an engagement period, that's a very important period of time.

And that they're very fine-tuned on what is that person doing. Every little thing is important. Are they really devoted to me? You know, or could Jesus Christ say that, well, you know, now that we're engaged, now that we're betrothed, you know, if you want to go out and lie, cheat, and steal, that's okay.

That doesn't make any sense, does it? No, you wouldn't think that, and you and I wouldn't think that either. Or it's okay to go out and have fornication, have sexual relations with somebody else. Or it's all okay to cheat, or it's okay to steal. No! You know, at that time, that's a very important time. This engagement period, when you're in that time frame, you're very enhanced and in tune, acutely aware of what that other person is doing.

You're looking for signs whether or not they're going to be faithful or not. Because you're entering in a solemn covenant that you're going to be true to them and them only for as long as you live. And so, he talked a little bit about that. So, I encourage you to... it's online. I encourage you to listen to that. It will enhance your understanding a lot. I think God has inspired an enhanced understanding that He really wanted us to understand before the Passover this year.

From those that make up the bride, it says they will have made themselves ready. Titus 2, verse 12. Titus 2, verse 12. Let's take a look at something here. Right after the book of Timothy, 2 Timothy. Titus 2, verse 12. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. In other words, beginning to get the sin out, beginning to get the leaven out, if you will. That we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Ah, we get out the sin, but we bring in righteousness.

We remove something and we bring in something else. So, we bring in righteousness, that unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. We live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Right now.

Verse 13. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify Him unto Himself, a peculiar people, a special people. In other words, zealous of good works. Notice the language that's used about the bride of Christ.

His own special people, zealous of good works. You know, one of the reasons why this bridegroom loves this bride so much is because they have the same heart. They're beginning to work towards this oneness in the betrothal period. They have the same heart. They have the same passion. They have the same desire for the same wonderful things. They have a desire to see things improve.

They have a desire to help other people. They desire to serve. As Christ looks at His bride, He says, I love her because of what she wants to be. Oh, wow! She's had her share of challenges, but she's made herself ready. Think about what it says here from verse 12. We are to live soberly. What's that mean? To live soberly. It means to have self-control. It means to be temperate. It means to be disciplined. It means to be restrained. We restrain certain desires, certain lusts, certain appetites that we have when they're not proper. And Christ thinks about that. He thinks about that. He watches us. He knows the setting that we're in.

He knows this isn't easy. He was here, too. He experienced many of the same trials, many of the same temptations that we all do. He knows it is not easy. But he sees his bride and inspires him that she has the same passion, the same heart, the same desires. He says, my bride is different. She's holding out for something better. She lives soberly and righteously. Righteously means doing the right thing, making the right choices, treating others like we should, doing good to others, giving them their due.

Christ can relate to that. Those are some of the things that he did.

And he finds his bride is doing the same thing. He came to earth. He did right. He did good. He tried to help people. And he lost his life for it. He had difficulties and trials and sufferings doing the right thing. He sees his wife doing much the same, living a difficult life, a challenging life sometimes here on this earth, but growing and serving and trying to live life righteously, striving to live righteously, making the right choices. Jesus Christ looks at his bride and says, she's got the heart. She's got a right heart to do good. It says in Titus 2, verse 12, we are to live godly in this present world on Satan's turf right now, and yet to live a godly life right now.

The bride is God's masterpiece of all time. How can we know that's true? How can we know that that's true? You know, how can we really be sure the bride is really the divine focus of the Creator right from the beginning? Well, if we look at biblical prophecy, you know, if a person wants to know the meaning of the story, they can go to the end of the story and they can find out what the conclusion is. And if we look at biblical prophecy, we can look at the book of Revelation, and we can see that history is written in advance. We can see what it says towards the end of the story, at least the end of this part of the story. We can look at the closing pages, and the one thing that emerges. Let's turn over to Revelation, chapter 19, verse 7. The one thing that emerges is a marriage, and a marriage supper, and a rejoicing. The final outcome and the goal of the events from eternity to the finished product of the ages up to this time is a shining and spotless bride, and that there's going to be a marriage, and there's going to be a new family that starts, that begins. Let's take a look here. Revelation, chapter 19, and verse 7. It says, Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. She's dressed in fine, clean linen. You know, somebody told me the other day that, you know, this linen is, there are so many threads per square inch, it's so thick, that really fine linen, that it's hard to soil it. It's hard to soil it. The dirt just doesn't seem to stick to it. It's that tightly interwoven, that fine of a product, fine linen. And it says, She's arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, things that she has done. She's not only known what the truth was, but she acted on the truth. She was a doer. Acts, righteous acts, that means action, doing something. Not just knowing, but doing. Verse 9, and then he said to me, I want you to write something down. Blessed are those who were called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. You know, God doesn't throw the word around blessing very much when it comes to His future family, to His future children, but blessed are those who are called to this marriage. And blessed and holy are those who are part of the first resurrection, as it talks about in Revelation chapter 20. It seems like there's no going to be ever any other greater blessings ever. Oh, there'll be blessings, but none quite like this. So the church, the body of Christ, the bride, and bringing many sons to glory is the key to understanding history, the creation, the purpose for what God is doing. You know, the nations are really only puppets in God's hands. He's in control.

Let's notice Acts 17, verse 26. Acts 17, verse 26.

The nations are utilized by God for His purposes. Acts 17, verse 26. It says, He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. And He has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. He is the one that determines when they're going to rise. He determines when their boundaries are such that they can go and go further. He has the power. He has the ability. He's the Creator. In verse 27, why has He done all this? Why has He created all this?

Why has He created these nations to rise and to fall and to do what they do? Verse 27, here's the reason. So that they should seek the Lord. So that they should seek the Lord in hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. He is not far from you. He's not far from me. He does tell us to seek, though, and to grope for Him. And then we'll find Him.

Verse 28, how important is He to us? Because in Him we live. Without Him we would not live. For in Him we live and we move and we have our being, as even some, if all is talking to some of the Greeks here, even some of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring. We are His sons. We are His daughters. Brethren, creation has no other name. It has no other goal. From the beginning of time, from the dawn of ages, God has designed this whole thing to have a family.

It's as simple as that. And to prepare a few to be the bride of Christ. To be a co-ruler with Jesus Christ. A joint heir. You know, when you're a joint heir, you don't make decisions alone. You don't make decisions alone. You work together in order to make decisions as you rule. It's so simple in some ways. We go back in time, we think about God's design and all this. We go back to Adam and Eve, to the Garden of Eden.

God saw that it was not good for the first Adam to be alone. And so He created a companion for Him. And God saw that it was not good for the Son to be alone. So He's creating, in the process right now, preparing a companion for the second Adam. If the throne of Jesus Christ is a reality, then the bride's throne is not a fantasy. It's a reality just the same. We may not know why it pleases the Father to give His kingdom to...

as He says, He's prepared a kingdom for you. We may not know all the reasons and the ways that He's bringing this about. We may not know why He chooses, Christ chooses, to share His throne with His bride. We may not know why. We only know that He has chosen to do so. And it gives Him pleasure to do so. You know, in light of all this, it's clear that everything that comes before the marriage, supper of the Lamb, is actually rather simple.

It's actually rather basic. And it's an introduction for something to come. Let's notice Isaiah 9 and verse 6. Isaiah 9 and verse 6. It's only an introduction to come. Only afterwards will God's eternal program begin to come to light and begin to make sense. Isaiah 9 and verse 6. Pretty familiar Scripture. We often read this at the Feast of Tabernacles. It's a very encouraging Scripture. Isaiah 9 and verse 6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government is going to be upon his shoulder.

He's going to be a ruler. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. You know, I like to focus on the phrase Everlasting Father. Some people have had a hard time with this particular part. But wait a minute. There is a Father. How can Jesus Christ have a name that's also going to involve Father? There's only one Father, God the Father. Well, God is our Father. Father of us all. But this is one of the names that Jesus Christ is going to have. Among Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, it says Everlasting Father.

Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is going to be a Father.

He, the Lamb, is going to have a wife.

And they're going to have a family.

They're going to have a family.

They're going to rule together, and there's going to be many sons yet to bring to glory.

Jesus Christ is going to be an Everlasting Father.

And I suppose we'll be a parent as well, if we're there.

Verse number 7.

Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice.

How much good can come when you have a government of judgment and justice and fairness and love and concern?

For those that you rule over, for those that you serve.

God's not going to be ready, so to speak, to launch His greatest enterprise of the ages until the bride is on His throne, or sharing the throne with the bridegroom of Jesus Christ. So, let's go back to the verse. Brethren, do we see our calling?

Do we really grasp it? I don't know if I do.

It's profound. It's simple, but it's profound.

The heavenly wedding is going to mark a new beginning in God's eternal plan.

Until then, the universe is still under His control. He is controlling things, nothing rises or falls without His being involved.

God is arranging things, everything for a purpose.

To prepare an eternal companion for Jesus Christ, and to bring many sons into glory.

Brethren, we're the patrol bride now to Jesus Christ.

Let's use the time that we have left as we begin the Passover in the Days of Unleavened Bread in God's plan, the seven holy days. Let's really be thinking about that, preparing ourselves, really doing so, examining ourselves, seeing the flaws that still remain, and working on them, preparing ourselves to be ready for a coming marriage.