Page 82 - The Marriage Covenant

for His Bride. What would a man think of his virgin to whom he has given his pledge, if in
his departure she began acting promiscuously, giving herself to many other lovers,
unwilling to wait for the moment of pleasure when her Bridegroom should appear? Would
not that man be righteously indignant? Would he not give to her a writing of divorce and
declare to her, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” Truly, she will not be known to Him,
nor He to her, for she played the harlot.
Many in the church today are living in an unchaste manner. They say they belong to
Christ. They may even make a spectacle of showing off the evidence of their betrothal by
flashing around the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but their hearts are lusting after many other
things. They love the world and the things in it. Such ones may expect that Christ will sweep
them off their feet and carry them away to heaven, but they are deceived. Their portion will
be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. They will be assigned a portion with the
unbelievers. The door will be shut before them, and they will be unable to enter into the
marriage feast. They will not know the full and glorious union of the Son of God that could
have been their portion.
This spiritual adultery is paralleled in the physical lives of God’s people. The church
today is rife with fornication, with adultery, with divorce and remarriage. Multitudes are
acting out physically the condition of the church spiritually. They are unchaste.
God intended the marriage union to symbolize the union of Christ and His Bride. How
many have turned that symbol of holiness into something unholy?
If you have sinned in this matter, do not hesitate to repent before God. Seek Him with
the deepest fear and humility lest you discover at His appearing that He has not come for
you.
There is a promised holy and glorious union that will be consummated at the next
appearance of Christ. Let the Bride make herself ready. Do not delay, Soon a voice will be
heard from the heavenly realms.

Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of
God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be
His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe
away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any
death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the
first things have passed away.”

A glorious union is set before those who have made themselves ready. John sums up the
matter well:

I John 3:3
And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.