The Church (the called-out ones) is also affectionately called the Bride of Christ. It is this Bride that He has always loved, and it is for Her He gave Himself. (Eph 5:25; Gal 1:4, 2:20; 1 Tim 2:6; Tit 2:14). He shed His precious blood as the price to ransom and own her as His. He has been preparing His Bride to make her fit for His Father’s house by nourishing her and cherishing her (Eph 5:29), giving her gifts (for growth, health, clothing and adornment towards perfection – Eph 4:11, 12), protecting her, consoling her, encouraging her, sanctifying and cleansing her “with the washing of water by the word, 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”. – Eph 5:26. But, many false ministers and robbers creep in unawares (Jude 1:4) to defile this virgin with their demonic doctrines and enticing words that produce spots and blemishes in the Bride. The Lord is cleansing His Bride of these and even the wrinkles – dead works and traditions of men that mar her beauty – with His word. This chaste Virgin will be snatched up to heaven from the hostile environment She is in, at His coming, to be presented for the “wedding” which will be the culmination of the “betrothal” that happened on earth – 1 Cor 11:2. She will subsequently descend from there as the Lamb’s wife to the new earth where she will live with Her beloved for ever, beyond Time.

Every husband must love his wife, nourish and cherish her as does Christ His Church. Every wife must submit (in love, of course, though not explicitly mentioned in the context) to her husband as does Christ expect His Church (else, He would not have recorded this in the scripture). Unselfish love is the binding force between the husband and wife which persuades each one to give the other everything (100%) of oneself continually (first love, always) –withholding nothing at all. The selfless Christ demonstrated His side of this no-tags-attached love; the heavenly Bridegroom gave His Bride His life, His flesh and blood, His righteousness, His wisdom, His holiness, His inheritance, His sonship, His Spirit, His name, His peace, His grace, His gifts, His strength, His power, His authority, His abode, His throne, His glory et al. It is only fitting that His Bride give Him, her Beloved, all of herself – not just 10% of her income, withholding the 90% and all else and herself to herself. Self!

While Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors are gifts given to the Church by the Head, Christ, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ – Eph 4:12, very little or no effort is seen in this front. Today’s “ministers” are building their own kingdom (not Christ’s) as can be seen by the amassing of worldly wealth by these people (whose God is their belly). They are only preparing a “harlot” or an “whore” by “adorning” the “believers” with abominable ornaments and shameful attire. They keep feeding her with unhealthy and poisonous fast food – money-minded and self-centred “sermons”, the “prosperity teaching” that breeds covetousness, doctrines of demons that will result in temporal health, wealth and passing pleasures and a sinful lifestyle that will ultimately lead “the entertainer and their fans” to hell. Christ is not coming for such a “flirting bride”, for sure.