This is a Great Mystery

Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

I love a good mystery! Don't you? Secrets tend to work in two ways for me. One is I don't like being on the outside of them. You know, like when you hear the whispers around you, but nobody is sharing it with you. The other is when I stumble upon one; it makes me really want to know the answer. So much so that I will ponder it and disassemble it a thousand times in my mind until something like a splinter breaks off, and I can then begin to formulate an answer. Then it builds, and behold! A bonafide visual!

Well, that just happened here! I hear everyone discussing us being a bride, as in the Bride of Christ. And over the last twenty-six years, it has caused my mind to stutter-step when I hear it said. I love symbolism, significantly when it clarifies a more profound expression of the literal writing. An enormous amount of revelation was imparted from two thousand three to two thousand five, and it began an incubation period in my life. It began to make unlearning a thing. Contradictions then took the frustration to a whole new level. Submission to the unknown makes you feel it! 

It turns out that when you begin to discuss it, you can watch people's heads start leaning to the side like the RCA dogs watching TV. From here, hold on because we will be dealing with the unknown. It all begins back "in the beginning..." sounds familiar, huh? Well, take a look at this!

Proverbs 8:22-25

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,

before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth;

when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled,

before the hills was I brought forth:

The whole chapter talks about Wisdom! She! She was brought forth! A picture was beginning to emerge—a seed. Yes, a seed will bring forth a tree! You're right, a seedling, if you want to be technical. The "brought forth" became the splinter for the unravelling. We have to dive into the creation to glean the answer.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

A signpost! Hmm!

Genesis 2:21

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

She was brought forth from man! Like Father, like Son. Except the Son didn't do it unto himself as his Father did. Now, imagine in all your reading, have you ever read about Jesus bringing forth his bride? Or was his bride being taken out of him yet? Let's keep the science rolling here. You have his Father bringing forth his female part. Then you have his brother having his female part taken out of him, so where is, or should I say, who is to be taken out of Jesus? It has yet to be specified. Let's go back to the original text, where it can be clarified.

Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Oh, look, it's a great mystery! BOOM! We have to examine the context to grasp the splinter. 

Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his Father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Apostle Paul is pointing to something greater than a bride. And what would that be? I want you to catch the subtlety of divinity. Christ is the head of the church. AND HE IS the SAVIOR of the BODY! Have you ever read where you bring your body into subjection?

1 Corinthians 9:27a

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:

Let's see, that would put the church into subjection to Christ. His body! He loves His Body and gave all of Himself as an example for it. Then he washes it with water (symbol of the Truth of the Word), sanctifying and cleansing it.

Ephesians 5:27 

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

He's all about His Love for His Own Body and the Care which He takes to Present Himself to His Father!

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

We can only get to the presentation to the Father once we reach maturity in His Body! That's the mystery! Then and only then will the bride (The New Jerusalem) be brought forth. And the Son will marry her. Another witness establishes this! Read this whole chapter and hear for yourselves.

Isaiah 62

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace,

and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness,

and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness,

and all kings thy glory:

and thou shalt be called by a new name,

which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD,

and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken;

neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:

but thou shalt be called Hephzibah,

and thy land Beulah:

for the LORD delighteth in thee,

and thy land shall be married.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin,

so shall thy sons marry thee:

and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride,

so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,

which shall never hold their peace day nor night:

ye that make mention of the LORD,

keep not silence,

And give him no rest,

till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength,

Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies;

and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD;

and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people;

cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones;

lift up a standard for the people.

Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world,

Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his work before him.

And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD:

and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Can you hear it? I hope so. WE are the Body of Jesus on the earth. He's telling us to LOVE every cell in HIS BODY the way HE DID!!! Then we can begin to work on being Him in the world. Active in his LOVE! And LET FORGIVENESS RULE (His Blood Cries Out)!