Motivation for the "Bride" to "Make Herself Ready"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible tells us that the time will come (let's hope soon!) when the Lord's church on earth will make "herself ready" "for the marriage of the Lamb" (see Rev. 19:7, 8). The "marriage" is something that hasn't yet been consummated, after all these 6000 years. The hold-up in the "marriage" taking place is that "His wife" (the church) obviously has NOT yet "made herself ready."

How will "she" do so? Will it be a super-efficient works program, a mighty "revival and reformation" motivated by the most intense spiritual fear ever known--the "seven last plagues" (see Rev. 16)?

No bride ever "makes herself ready" for the marriage if she is afraid of her bridegroom, and moves under coercion from him. In fact, "perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18), and the word used there for "love" includes conjugal love between husband and wife (see Eph. 5:25, Greek, agape). Nothing can motivate a woman to "make herself ready" for a wedding except a heart-response on her part to what she perceives in her fiancée is genuine love.

Any bride in such a wedding is herself a little illustration of the church at last responding to the Lamb of God, her true Lover. Any respect a woman has for a bridegroom because he's wealthy (a good banker), or powerful (a general), or handsome (a movie star), or even good (a prophet), soon withers unless the man makes it abundantly clear to her that he loves her more than he loves any other woman in the world. That's what any woman is like (at least if she's in her right mind).

"The marriage of the Lamb" is based on the same principle. No church will ever "make herself ready" to marry Christ unless she has discovered the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of the love He has for her. And being a "woman" of mature and marriageable age (in spiritual maturity), the church will come to the place where "she" will grow out of the egocentric mind-set that has characterized her supposed devotion to Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 21, 2004.

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The Domino Effect of Spiritual Maturity

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Millions of Christians have read or heard this statement on the timing of the second coming of Christ: "Jesus came on time the first time, and we can be sure He will come on time the second time." Embedded herein implicitly is the Calvinistic idea of pre-determinism. The Father's infinite foreknowledge is thus confused with a supposed iron-clad decision on His part to send Jesus the second time at a fixed point in time, regardless of His people's preparation or lack of it.

In contrast, Scripture says the time of the second coming depends on the spiritual maturity of His corporate "body" on earth--His true church (just before His second coming it is said to "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus," no idle or superficial designation, Rev. 14:12).

There is a kind of domino effect in a development of spiritual maturity:

(1) The "marriage of the Lamb" comes not at some predetermined triggered-mechanism of celestial time, but when "His wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7, 8).

(2) That "when" is a "harvest" of spiritual maturity becoming "ripe" (Rev. 14:15, 16; Mark 4:26-29).

(3) Christ cannot dare come before "the harvest of the earth is ripe," for it would mean His beloved people being destroyed (Heb. 12:29).

(4) This in turn means that "the church of the Laodiceans" must first "repent" of pathetic assumptions of being "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" and receive the true message of righteousness and justification by faith (Rev. 3:17-19).

(5) Such an experience of spiritual maturity in turn depends on "the angel of the church" receiving what "the True Witness" has long been more than willing to bestow, for "the angels" of the seven churches are in each instance their human leadership (Rev. 1:20). Throughout 6000 years of human history, leadership remains crucial, for "the church" seems unable to rise above it.

(6) This development in turn depends on the reception of the final outpouring of "the latter rain" of the Holy Spirit, a gift that Heaven has long been ready to bestow but which "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans" has apparently been unwilling to receive (see Joel 2 and Zech. 10). We cannot blame God for being dilatory!

(7) This spiritual experience in turn is needed before the earth-enlightening message of Revelation 18:1-4 can come. Many assume that because the first coming of Christ was at a pinpoint prophetic date (prophecies of Daniel 8 and 9), so the second will occur at such a predetermined point of time. As "the stars in their appointed courses know no haste and no delay," so the first coming was indeed "on time." But the second coming is different: He will come when His true people really want Him to come. That will require some growing up; a flower girl at the wedding is innocent, but she is not ready to be a bride.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 26, 2000.

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An Overlooked Aspect of the Third Angel's Message

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There's an often-overlooked aspect of the great third angel's message that creates a vacuum in our heart experience. Its absence nurtures lukewarmness--that vague sense of spiritual futility.

What's missing: the third angel's message is a Day of Atonement idea--something new in 6000 years of human history. It's the Good News of justification by faith in the light of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary--glorious truth beyond what our dear brother Martin Luther (in all his godly sincerity) could grasp in his day.

One clear-thinking writer said that as the third angel pronounces his fearful warning in Revelation 14:9-12, he is pointing to the Most Holy Apartment of the heavenly sanctuary: "Here [is where there is] the perseverance of the saints; here are [found] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." They have "followed the Lamb" in His final ministry!

And the Bible supports that profound insight, because the whole of Revelation chapters 12 onwards is built upon the awe-inspiring change in the heavenly administration when the seventh angel blows his trumpet in chapter 11:15: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; ... And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament" (vs. 19)--clearly, the opening of the final phase of Christ's high priestly ministry in the Most Holy Apartment.

In past ages, Christ's ministry was preparing people to die. What is He doing now? Preparing a people for translation at His second coming. Life now is serious business; let's cooperate with Him. Let's stop "resisting Him in His office work."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 14, 2001.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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The Last Soul-winning Ministry of All Time

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In his chapter 60, Isaiah is overjoyed to write about the time when the earth will be drenched with a special "light" of "the truth of the gospel." He says to God's people, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (vs. 1). We have usually thought of this as the time when we will have more radio and TV stations, bigger "megaphones" for increased volume, so everybody in the world will at last hear what has been our traditional understanding of the message.

There is an identical "loud voice" in Revelation 14:9 and 18:1-4 that characterizes the last soul-winning ministry of all time. Will it be a greater noise level that will command the world's attention? We have talked, and prayed, and sung about it for generations. Have we assumed it will be a glorious and triumphant success for the church, to validate all our past labors? Millions who have gone to "sleep in Jesus" have dreamed of living in those awe-inspiring days when the earth will be "lighted."

But wait a moment: The Bible is not talking about an increased noise level, but of increased "light." It's to be a clearer grasp of what Paul repeatedly calls "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5,14). Jesus said "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Greater light in understanding the gospel of righteousness by faith brings that freedom.

But if someone feels "rich and increased with goods" in his understanding of the message, it could mean he has no "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (see Matt. 5:6). Emotionalism can easily be mistaken for truth. The "glory" spoken of in Isaiah 60:2 and Revelation 18:1-4 will be a clearer grasp of justification by faith. We don't want to be blinded to the light when the Lord sends it as the Jews were blinded to their Messiah when He came. You can "follow" Jesus only if you "take up [your] cross daily" to be "crucified with Him" (Luke 9:23, Gal. 2:20).

Living is serious business now. Be serious in coming to the Lord.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 19, 2004.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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The "Lamb's Wife"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If "the marriage of the Lamb" has been delayed because "His wife has [not] made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7), what can we do about it? If "the Lamb's wife" is the New Jerusalem, the Holy City in heaven [21:9, 10ff.], how can we make it "ready"? It's beyond us; forget it, go back to sleep.

When the angel told John, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife," he gave him a panoramic view of the city. It had "a great and high wall with twelve gates, ... twelve foundations, ... the city was pure gold, ... the twelve gates were twelve pearls, … the street of the city was pure gold" (21:9-21). Even for angel architects and heavenly construction workers, "making" such a "city" "ready" could be a big job. Paving Main Street with gold, for example, must take time. Is that what has delayed the coming of Christ? If so, go back to sleep.

The "city" is real, very real; and its material construction was probably completed long, long ago. But what is the real "city"? Why is it called the "NEW Jerusalem"? The "Jerusalem" that crucified Jesus was the old one. When He addressed the old "city," sobbing like His heart would break, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! ... Your house is left to you desolate" (Matt. 23:37, 38), was He speaking to the cobblestones in the pavement, the timber in the gates, or was He addressing the people, inhabitants of the city?

The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are described in Revelation 14:1-5 as "the ones who follow [not rebel against] the Lamb wherever He goes. ... They are without fault before the throne of God." These same "ones" have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (7:14). This is character-cleansing--accomplished by grace through the faith of Jesus.

When He died on His cross and cried out, "It is finished!" Satan was forever defeated, the great controversy won. But after 2000 years Jesus must also say that His seventh of the seven churches is "THE one" of all history that doesn't know it is "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (3:17). Yes, she has something to do to "make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb." We must wake up.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 29, 2004.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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Those 144,000

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

They keep popping up--those 144,000 (Rev. 7, 14)! People are intrigued by them! Several questioners have asked, "Are they special besides the vast number of earth's last generation who will be ready when Jesus returns? Are they an elite group? Maybe teachers or guides to the "common people" who will also be "translated"?

We dare not add to what the Bible says. We must take a lowly position in trying to explain who these people are. The Holy Spirit does not stoop to satisfy mere curiosity. But we must think about the character of this special group. Why? It might be possible that the Holy Spirit is right now saying to you, "Come" and be one of those 144,000 (see Rev. 22:17, and ponder what it means).

If so, would it be appropriate for us to answer Him, "No, thanks; I want to go to heaven but I don't want to be in a special group that requires such devotion and self-sacrifice"? Can we refuse ANY invitation the Holy Spirit may bring to us and still be ready when Jesus returns?

Or, in different words, does the Holy Spirit offer us our choice of first- or second-class tickets? If so, then some dear people would choose second class. They would say, "I don't want to experience the GREAT devotion of those who 'follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth,' who stand before the throne of God 'without fault' (14:4, 5). That's too high a standard; I don't want a great 'mansion' in heaven like the apostle Paul will have--a shack in the Holy City is all I want if I can just squeeze inside the pearly gate" (this idea is the source of widespread "lukewarmness").

Question: are there really first- and second-class tickets to heaven? Can you say "No!" to the Bridegroom-Lover and still be a "guest at the wedding"?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 26, 2002.
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The Blessings of Family Prayer

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In the beginning, the Lord God made man and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Gen. 2:7), but His work of creation was incomplete. "The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet" (vs. 18). So He made "a woman, and brought her unto the man" (vs. 22). Thus the basis of human happiness was formed--the family.

Even after sin entered, in God's character of divine love He "put enmity between [Satan] and the woman" into us fallen humans (3:15), so that unless we ourselves perversely "put asunder" our own marriage bond, our natural desire is to "cleave" to the one whom "the Lord God ... brought unto" us--our spouse. That natural "enmity" against the "serpent" was placed within us humans by the Holy Spirit. Thank God! It will preserve the family intact--unless we choose to worship "the serpent." God forbid that we should! God says He "hates divorce" (Mal. 2:16, NKJV). That's because he hates pain, bitterness, and alienation. He loves to see people happy.

In a modern hectic world of alluring temptations, is it possible that we supplement our personal communication with God (private prayer) with family prayer? Sorry, but some "Christian" families don't know what that is! There is a text in Jeremiah that recognizes the entity of "family prayer" (see 10:25). It's a negative thought because God regrets the absence of our family prayer; but the positive thought is there by implication--if He notices when we don't have "family prayer" together, He most surely notices when we do! And He grants sublime blessings to the "families" who kneel together in humble, honest, contrite, even tearful (sometimes) prayer before His throne. If you have neglected it, pray together a prayer of repentance; you'll get through.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 25, 2005.

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One Thing Jesus Did NOT Say

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Jesus said many things but there is one thing He did NOT say: "Whoso watcheth videos or movies, let him understand." What He DID say was, "Whoso readeth [Daniel] let him understand" (Matt. 24:15). Over and over He urged people to "read" the Bible which the Holy Spirit has inspired: "Have ye not read ... ?" "Have ye never read ... ?" "Did ye never read in the scriptures ... ?" etc., etc. (Matt. 12:3, 5; 19:4; 21:16, 42; 22:31).

When He was invited to preach on Sabbath, He turned to Isaiah and read to the people.

A special "blessing" (happiness, life-giving joy) is for anyone who "readeth" the inspired words (Rev. 1:3). But a great proportion of those who claim to "love Jesus" don't love His word; they look on the Bible as boring. It has to be acted out as theater; then they think they can grasp it.

But the problem is that inevitably "theater" distorts and misrepresents the message God wants us to "understand." With the best of the actors' intentions to "play" Jesus, they produce fiction. We may think the drama helps us to visualize the original story, but it's always confusing in some way. And in this time of world history, confusion is the last thing any child of God wants. In fact, we are expressly called to "come out of her [Babylon, confusion], My people, that [we] be not partakers of her sins, and that [we] receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:3, 4).

God particularly, expressly, calls us to "read." The reason is that the Holy Spirit speaks in the word, which is the Bible; "I will make known My words unto you," He says (Prov. 1:23).

Yes, the promise is real: He will flash on to your mind the true re-creation of the original message or story God put into the text. You don't need some man to "play" Jesus for you in a video or movie (he will in every case distort and "confuse" the representation, because no man on earth is qualified to stand in for Jesus in a movie).

"Read" the word! Stay close to it, exercise your mind on it, bring it into focus, study; deny self. Let the Holy Spirit discipline you. Your salvation may depend on it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 1, 2004.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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Why Study Amos?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever read the entire Book of Amos all the way through?  In many ways, it's a sad book to read, but one that we must read if we are to understand what's happening in our world today.

In Peterson's "The Message" version of the Major and Minor Prophets, he correctly renders the reality of ancient Baal and idol worship as the worship of sex. It was gross paganism imported into the sacred culture of Israel, God's true people on earth. It became so pervasive that eventually the nation was swallowed up by pagan nations and ceased even to exist. Not even one of the many Israelite kings (of the Northern Kingdom) was right with God. The inspired record says over and over that each "led Israel into sin."

So why study Amos? Because (a) the love of God inspired him to leave his home in the Southern Kingdom and go up to Israel as a missionary to try to turn them back to the worship of the true God (but only a few of the people responded to his earnest appeals to repent). (b) The story of ancient Israel is uncannily similar to the professed religious culture in which we all live today. As you read Amos, you get the eerie feeling that he is God's messenger for our time.

Why, oh why, were God's true people, so unloving, so worldly, so apostate in the days of Amos? Why did they so often slide down into the alluring sexual immorality of the pagans? Through Amos God told Israel how in love He had afflicted them over and over, yet they "did not come back to Me." His discipline was virtually useless (4:8-11).

This painfully sad history was the direct fruitage of the Old Covenant pattern of thinking about God. It all began at Mt Sinai when the people themselves rejected God's New Covenant and embraced the "bondage" of the Old Covenant (Ex. 19:4-8; Gal. 4:24). Isn't it time that we learned the lesson?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 9, 2001.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.