A grave deception lies dormant like a sleeping sickness
in the theology of the church . . .
an error with eternal consequences and
unutterable loss.

The error is this: that all believers, all born again Christians
will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Christ's own words refute this.
The Bride of Christ must meet specific requirements.
His parables make such clear illustration of this,
it is a marvel there can
be such a serious mistaking of His teaching.

Such fallacy can only be attributed to the lazy heart of the Adamic race,
that always presumes a free and easy way to great reward,
and the Terrible Enemy of the Bride who seeks to
humiliate the Bridegroom-Son
by blindness to His Worth
and ignorance of His Plan.

Salvation is ever free. A gift. Unmerited and unearned
by any effort or will. There is no work to be born again, only that
of the work of Christ . . . but the Bride, that is another matter.

To be His Bride is a reward not a gift,
a position earned by purity and surrender -
by great cost and earnest pursuit.

In the types and shadows of the Bride, and every parable
that refers to it, the condition, the prerequisite is presented.

To join His Glorious Bride calls for a deep and unending preparation,
She must be "without spot or wrinkle."

May we see this and take up the great challenge to be one of the
Bride who has made herself ready.

Copyright © 2001 Martha Kilpatrick