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Go To Meeting
Steve Durham—November 12, 2016
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[Transcript begins at 1:50]
I get to do a wedding soon, and these are a central part of God's plan and theme. I was going through the Bible and trying to brush up on some stuff, and with that in mind I saw all this plethora of illusions and words that had to do with marriage, the bride and how much is actually in the Bible about marriage.
I thought it would be timely to do that and also present a sermon on the Bride of Christ. I want to do it in a different way today. First of all, what happens in the world today. Man has tried to make God in his own image. What man has done is make marriage and weddings in his own image, and he's done a poor job of it.
What we have today is man re-defining what marriage is. You have the nuclear marriage, nuclear couples, multiple things that are called marriage. So, it's pretty poor. Man has watered it down and what we have is:
- Common law marriage—two people living together and they might decide to get married and they might not.
- Traditional marriage—a no fault marriage; that's very loose, as well.
- Covenant marriage—there are only three states that do that—Arkansas, Arizona and Louisiana.
But even that is a very poor representation of what God intended for marriage to be for us and in His plan for mankind, the rest of the world
Marriage has kind of been lost, and Christ talks a lot about that. Understanding what Christ is saying and our part as the Bride of Christ it helps us to see what Christ said, and how that play out in our life as a Christian, a called son of God.
Even more so if we take those marriage customs clear back when Christ was walking the earth and teaching, we'll learn a lot about what He had to say. We kind of gloss over that sometimes, because we don't know what He was talking about, some of the phraseology that He used, some of the words indicating certain things. They are jam-packed with meaning.
Those people in that culture who were hearing that at that time were picking up what He was saying and understood a lot better than what we do. Even though some of that was for us today, we don't understand as well. What I want to do is help us do that. I want to help us understand what Christ was talking about when He talked about marriage and weddings and when He talked about the Bride of Christ.
The Christian marriage goes way beyond man's idea of what marriage is today. It's a Divine picture of a relationship between Christ and the Bride of Christ. It is a spiritual representation of our relationship with God as the Bride, and it's a spirit plane relationship. It is a created institution or office.
Mark 2:27 And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man…'" The Sabbath is a created God plane day that God created for man.
God created marriage for man, that He and Christ set before the foundation of the earth. They decided that they wanted to have a family. They had man and woman in mind, a unit or an institution for them to enter into that would symbolize Their institution or Their relationship. They want us to be made in Their image and to learn what They knew and to be able to develop and imitate that 70-year period—three score and ten—of life that we have here on this earth, learning to relate to one another and to God in that marriage plane.
Matthew 22:36: "'Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the Law?' And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment; and the second one is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."'" (vs 36-39).
Basically, you're talking about the marriage situation and institution. In that you learn to love God and your neighbor—that just happens to be your mate—as yourself.
Another thing about marriage is that it's a covenant. Marriage in not just a license, it's not a contract. It's a blood covenant. It's very serious and it's for life. God takes it very seriously.
If we can get the picture that God sees, and we can understand that when we marry, we marry one other person—man and woman or woman and man—we enter into this not before God, but with God. Sometimes we say, 'We come before these witnesses and before God to marry this man and woman.' Really it's that we come with God as part of the marriage. We marry a person who believes the same thing we do, who has been called and has God's Holy Spirit. We enter into that as two.
I want to focus on the overview of what God's plan says about marriage, and some of things that Christ said and how we can understand where He was going with the Bride of Christ and what He wants for us in the future. Ecc. 4:12 talks about a threefold cord:
- might overcome someone
- has a better chance
- has a very good chance of overcoming the problem
When we bring God into the picture, into our relationship, and we see it that way, then we're not as willing and apt to do some of the things we do in our marriages, and get into some of the difficulties that we do in relating to one another.
We see Christ as our fiancé. Who is in your marriage? Who do you have in your marriage with you? There's your husband/wife! Paul was having some problems with the Corinthians
2-Corinthians 11:1: "I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (vs 1-2). We're in a period of time where you have an engagement period with Christ.
Do you see yourself as a bride; for men it's difficult to do. I think it's a little easier for women to do that. For guys it kind bounces off our thinking. It's hard! But get out of the physical realm and think of ourselves as a bride, and all the things that a bride does and the things that a groom does for the bride.
That first love that they have for one another and how that's so special and wonderful. We're in that engagement period. You and your wife/husband are in that engagement period together with Christ, the three of you.
At the end of long list of dos and don'ts for husbands and wives, Paul makes a conclusion:
Ephesians 5:28: "In the same way, husbands are duty-bound to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself; for no man has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the Church" (vs 28-29). You see the relationship: man and woman, Christ and the Church; and us individually as well, as we enter into that marriage with Him.
Verse 30: For we are members of His body—of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh" (vs 30-31). This is a God-ordained purpose. This is why He made us. This is what He purposed before the foundation of the earth, that we would enter into a covenant relationship with one another as one.
Verse 32: "This is a great mystery…"—all that Paul just said in Eph. 5. Men and women dealing with one another is a mystery, but it can be done, in love.
"…but I am speaking in respect to Christ and the Church" (v 32). We see how He brings this into this relationship, He brings in this third cord that strengthens the relationship. We read this every year at the Passover.
John 17:11: "And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one, even as We are one."
Then Jesus talks about sanctifying them with God's Word; Your Word is Truth.
Verse 21: "That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us…" See this threefold cord?
"…in order that the world may believe that You did send Me. And I have given them the glory that You gave to Me, in order that they may be one, in the same way that We are one" (vs 21-22).
Verse 24: "Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me may also be with Me where I am…" We're going to see something here where He takes the Bride to where He is.
It's so interesting when you read and study from that viewpoint: the wedding, marriage and the Bride of Christ. You're going to see something that the apostles understood, and I just recently understood this:
Luke 22:15: "And He said to them, 'With earnest desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you that I will not eat of it again until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God'" (vs 15-16).
Verse 18: "For I say to you, I will not drink at all of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God has come.'"
He's instituting this and He says He's not going take this 'until I see you again.' Remember, He said that they will be where He is.
Verse 20: "In like manner also, He took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you." This is a covenant just like marriage.
What happened in the Old Testament when Christ was speaking these words in that culture? When a man wanted to tell a woman that he liked her and wanted to marry her, he would go to her and bring her a glass of wine. He would offer that glass of wine and say something to the effect: 'I want to spend my life with you, and I will shed my blood for you. I will give my life for you.'
Leviticus 17:11: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood…." Christ says that 'everything you need, everything you want, I will do for you. I will give My life for you. Here's My Word and here's the blood.'
If she takes it and drinks it, she agrees to marry him. They don't get married right away, but she agrees. Christ did the same thing here. The words that He used were the same thing to the apostles. He went to them and handed them the cup and said, 'I will die for you; I will give everything for you. If you take it we're espoused.'
We do this every year. We re-up that commitment to our Fiancé through the Passover, through the wine, the cup. The blood that represents what He will do for us, and has done for us, and what He wants for us in the future.
We are going to see a few things here that are eye-opening. We will see how it runs through the teachings of Christ, that it was very much on His mind. That He wanted not only that group that He called. We know what our calling is:
- we are brethren
- we are the Church
- we are called out
- we are called to the Kingdom of God
But one of things you probably wouldn't say first is that 'I am the Bride of Christ. That's a calling and that's what we are. That's why we were called: to be the Bride of Christ! If we can get that in our mind first and foremost as we go through life, and see that close intimate relationship that Christ has with us everyday—not just at the Festivals—but all year long it helps us, it encourages us, it should be something that really gets us. It should send shivers up our spine to think that God and Christ would do that and that Christ is our fiancé, that we're espoused to Him, the King of kings.
Imagine if you were espoused to Prince William or Prince Harry. They're royal and William is the one who is next in line to be king of England. That would be something! But we are espoused to the King of kings.
When you sit back and get your mind around it, it's awe inspiring; it's really something! To live with Him forever! To go with Him wherever He goes. To do what He does! Our plans and our future are His after the age of man into eternity. It's amazing to think about hat close relationship that we have with Him.
There are five things in those wedding customs that were extant back when Christ was there.
- the arrangement
- the betrothal
- the preparation period
- the wedding ceremony
- the feast
I want to go through those and show you a few things how, during that time, Christ was teaching but brought in those things, those customs, to help people understand what God the Father and Jesus Christ were doing. We can understand that now because it's really a fulfillment for us today.
The arrangement period:
There was the matchmaking. What they would do is that the fathers of the bride and groom would get together and decide that 'I want your daughter to marry my son.' Okay, we're do that! So, they made this matchmaking.
Many times the two didn't see each other or know about each other; it was pre-arranged. But the bride had to agree to it before the espousal ceremony could take place. So, at least she got a word in there.
If you think about John 6:44: "No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him…" So, you can't come to Christ unless that matchmaking has been done prior to that.
2-Timothy 1:9: "Who has saved us and called us with a Holy calling—not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time."
This took place, our arrangement, before the world began. Christ was slain from the foundation of the earth. That was another thing that happened before hand.
Ephesians 1:4: "According as He has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love." Then Paul talks about predestination, choosing the children of God.
So, not only is the family relationship special, but the espousal is special and the arrangement is being made.
The bride was required to approve the marriage. Remember, there was a written contract given and she would sign it and he would sign it. The contract states what they are going to do.
Remember when Peter gave the sermon on Day of Pentecost and he said to the people, 'You've killed Christ.' And they said, 'What shall we do?' They were wanting to know what the contract was. What did Peter say? Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and receive the Holy Spirit! There was a contract there and they agreed to it. There were 3-5,000 that were baptized that day.
The responsibilities and the obligations were laid out through the teachings of Christ by the apostles and by Christ.
Then there was a dowry offered by the bride. There was a cost that the groom would give. We know that Christ's shed blood and He gave His life, but the bride has a dowry to give.
Romans 12:1: I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well-pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God" (vs 1-2).
We have a job to do, as well. We give up our lives through baptism. The old man is buried and we come up as a new man, and we live and walk a new way in Christ. There is a cost; it's not a 'no cost religion' or way of life. There are costs to it.
The 'once saved always saved' or 'you don' have to keep the Law' you just believe in Christ and not do anything. It's convenient, but that's not the way it is. There is a contract that is to be made.
The betrothal:
The bride and groom separately took part in an immersion ceremony where both were put under the water separately at different places. This was ceremonial to symbolize spiritual cleansing. We see that through baptism. That's why immersion is so important, that we are put under and come up. It signifies the death of the old man.
It also has a spiritual cleansing. These are things that Christ was talking about and the people around Him understood. We have a hard time understanding some of this stuff, but they picked right up on it because it was a cultural thing that was being done every day.
Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your own wives…" How do you do that? It sounds good, but how do you do that? He tells you! It's simple, but it's also very complicated and difficult because we're human and carnal.
"…in the same way that Christ also loved the Church…" (v 25). What did Christ do? He died for them! Remember the cup? 'I will die for you! I will give My blood for you. I will do everything! I will provide all the needs that you have: your physical needs, your spiritual needs, your emotional needs. That's hard to do. Christ will do that. You've got to learn to think and ask God for help; it's not that difficult.
What you do is what Christ did, "…and gave Himself for it" (v 25). Selfless! Guys, if you get yourself out of the way, and you ask, 'What can I do for you? How can I help? What can I do?' I'm the problem, I'm responsible for the house. If their busy and the dishes need washing, go do the dishes. If something needs to be done, go help her do that. You're responsible for that. It's not 50-50, it's selfless love. That's what Christ did.
This is really important, because without this you can't show the love the Christ and you can't be Christ's espoused fiancé if you don't have the love of Christ, if you aren't growing in the grace of God to measure and the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Women and men, when they're getting ready to be married, they will begin to take on the characteristics of the other person. After 50 years of marriage people will say that they look alike. The reason is because they start to think alike, walk and do and they're hitting on the same things, the same character and love and everything.
Malachi 2:14: "Yet, you say, 'Why?' Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth…" He's in your marriage; He's with you, He's the third cord, He's a witness to your marriage.
"…Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously—yet, she is your companion and your covenant wife" (v 14)—the marriage covenant.
Verse 15: "And did He not make you one? Yet, the vestige of the Spirit is in him. And why one? That He might seek a Godly seed…. [what God is saying is that He's here and watching] …Therefore, guard your spirit, and do not act treacherously against the wife of your youth." It's a covenant and it's for life. He's there and He's in it.
After the cleansing the vows were exchanged and the ring and the sealing of the agreement with that cup of wine. They agreed! One would be the help meet, and the other would be the protector, the guide, the guard and every aspect of her life he would take care of her even if it meant losing his life. That's what Christ said (Luke 22:20).
After the glass of wine they were legally married, but they didn't live together; they went back to their father's homes and lived separately awaiting the wedding. They maintained separate dwelling places, both remaining under their father's roofs and it was referred to as 'taking a wife.' The Hebrew word means to purchase, to take a wife.
Christ purchased us with His blood. He paid for our lives with His blood. That's what happened at the betrothal ceremony. It was an act of purchasing or acquiring a wife for the purpose of marrying her. It sounds simple, but it was a big thing. And it's not a big thing anymore, but it should be, because one out of two marriages fail. If they looked at this way, it wouldn't happen. People would not do that and they would realize that they're in it for life. If they had the education and that thinking before they got married, they would enter into it properly and with a conscience, and conscientiously.
This ended in a feast and they went home and waited for the wedding.
Preparation period:
This is the period when they are waiting. The groom would prepare a place for the two to live at his father's house or on his father's property. They usually build another house on the property.
John 14:1: "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you" (vs 1-2). Isn't that interesting?
That's what the custom was during this preparation period. They went back and the man began to build and prepare a place for her to stay. They would actually come out and inspect it to make sure it was better than where she was living before.
I remember before our daughter was born, we had a room for her; we painted it yellow with white trim. There were bunnies and we got a crib, and the little music thing. We were preparing for her to come and to occupy that room. We were excited. When she came there were tears of joy.
This is what Christ is talking about, "…I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again…" (vs 2-3). That's the next phase; He comes again.
"…and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also. And where I am going you know, and the way you know" (vs 3-4). So, He already told them, but they didn't get it. He told them that He was going to come back and get them, but 'I'm going to go right now and prepare a place for you.'
He said that there were many dwelling places, but they had to wait. We have to wait, and now after being baptized and having God's Holy Spirit, there's a waiting period. We prepare ourselves during this time. They would prepare themselves, their garments; the bride is preparing herself.
Revelation 19:8: "And it was granted to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God'" (vs 8-9).
The fine linen is the 'good works' in us, the Holy Spirit in us doing the works of God. Doing those righteous works and growing and overcoming through the power of the Holy Spirit. Getting all the evil and profane of the wicked out, and the Holy in. Growing the measure of the stature of Christ, in the image of Christ and imitating Christ, our Fiancé.
That's the fine linen that we're given when we receive eternal life. Women would go home and they would start dressmaking, making their dress. You couldn't go down to the corner and buy it. They would put all these ornaments on it making it very, very beautiful.
They would also consecrate themselves by separating themselves from the world, so they would save themselves for their husband, and the husband would save himself for the wife. That was a period of consecration. So much is talked about sanctifying and consecrating yourself from the world.
James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world"—separate. Christ said to keep them out of the world (John 17).
They're going to be in he world, but keep them from the evil one; keep them separate from the evil one. That's what they did during this period of time, a year. It was for purity. The bride and groom examined themselves during this time. They set themselves apart.
The wedding ceremony:
The bride would wait with great anticipation for the groom, but she didn't know when it was coming. They didn't know when the wedding was going to happen. Who was the one who arranged it and paying for everything? Who was the one who helped pick out the bride? They were waiting for it and excited about it.
Matthew 24:36: "But concerning that day, and the hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."
One of the things that bride-to-be would say to the groom when she would see him is, 'When is the wedding?' He would say, 'I don't know, only father knows.' They would keep the oil in their lamps burning at night. If they came, she had to be ready to go.
Christ talks about the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1: "Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be compared to ten virgins… [bridesmaids, as well] …who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The ones who were foolish took their lamps, but they did not take oil… [representing the Holy Spirit] …with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. Now, when the bridegroom was gone a long time, they all became drowsy and slept. But in the middle of the night…" (vs 1-6). God will wait; He'll give you time. He'll send you warnings and will work with you. He'll give you as much time as He can, but…
"…there was a cry: 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out'" (vs 6-8).
We know that you can't give somebody the Holy Spirit. You have to be working, overcoming, and it's something that happens over a period of time.
Verse 9: "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there not be enough for us and for you. But instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut…. [and can't be opened again] …And afterwards the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But He answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'" (vs 9-12).
The good thing is that five of them went into the marriage. That's great and exciting. They were in utopia, on top of the world. But there's a warning for the other five:
Verse 13: "Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming." Who knows that? The Father!
- watch
- be careful
- be preparing
- be ready
- have your stuff ready to go
- have the oil in your lamp
When the Father would say to go, let's have the wedding, the groom and his wedding entourage would head down the street and one of his friends in front would say, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes.' Then they would blow a shofar.
Verse 6: "But in the middle of the night there was a cry: 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.'" The same verbiage and the same words that Christ said. They knew what Christ was talking about.
What they would do is go to the house and pick her up and take her back to where the wedding was going to be at the father's house. Remember that Christ said, 'I will come again and get you.' That's what the custom was and that's why they understood.
The vows were completed and the ceremony with the glass of wine and then the sexual relations and consummated the marriage, and they lived together forever as a covenant.
That's the way the marriage was setup in the time of Christ. Those were the things that Christ was talking about and why they understood what He was saying. There are so many things in here about a wedding and marriage. It's pinnacle in the foundation in the plan of God. Again, it's what God is doing with His Family, but it's more than that, it's an intimate relationship with Him.
The feast:
A joyous time, an exciting time. They're at the house and this is the highlight of the marriage custom. One of the first miracles that Christ did was change water into wine. The feast lasted seven days: dancing, music, celebration and food. There was happiness for seven days.
The purpose was to honor the groom, but the groom got to honor the wife, too. Remember the dress she was making, she could show that off and he would say things about her that were great, wonderful and beautiful. The groom would honor her, but the rest of the guests would honor the groom. They would say poems and give toasts.
When we are changed (1-Thess.4:17, 1-Cor. 15:52) and we're at the wedding feast and we're married to Christ:
Revelation 15:1: "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is filled up." That's getting ready to happen.
Christ said, 'Vengeance is Mine. Don't you do it, I will repay and take care of it.' The bride is standing on a Sea of Glass:
Verse 2: "And I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the lyres of God." They're getting ready to see Christ avenge His Bride, who for years had been martyred and beaten. That was tough.
When somebody says something to your wife or girlfriend, you're ready to fight to protect her. Well, Christ took all that time and now is the time for vengeance.
They're on the Sea of Glass, v 3: "And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb…" They sing this song to the Groom. This is what would happen at the wedding feast; they would sing songs to the groom. The Bride of Christ sings songs to the Lamb.
"…saying, 'Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are Holy; and all the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed.' And after these things I looked…" (vs 3-5)—and here comes the angel with the vials and he pours out the plagues on the earth, and we see that. Before that, we are singing songs to our Husband, the Groom.
Revelation 14:2: "Then I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of great thunder; and I heard the sound of lyre players playing their lyres. And they were singing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one was able to learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; they are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no guile wasfound in their mouths; for they are blameless before the throne of God" (vs 2-5)—singing songs and playing harps and music to the Groom.
Christ presents us to the Father, also. He displays His wife and says, 'Here are the children you gave Me.' And we see God the Father face-to-face. Christ says, 'Here they are; here's My wife.' It's amazing and wonderful time!
Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and shout with joy…" Remember your position; you're espoused to Christ. You're His fiancé and He is your inheritance and your are His inheritance. When two get together, you inherit what the other one has. They become one in heart, mind, soul and everything! If you're having problems with your mate, you're 'shooting yourself in the foot.'
"…and let us give glory to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready" (v 7).
There are so many ways to make yourself ready. The character and femininity (Prov. 31) all the things that you do to change your character and attitude and relationships with your fellow man and Jesus Christ and God the Father. That's how you make yourself ready. You wait for the Groom to come!
Verse 8: "And it was granted to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God.' And I fell at his feet to worship him…." (vs 8-10).
Think about being the Bride of Christ and think about your Husband to be, and all these things that we've heard.
1-Thessalonians 4:18: "Therefore, encourage one another with these words."
All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version
Scriptural References:
- Mark 2:27
- Matthew 22:36-39
- 2 Corinthians 11:1-2
- Ephesians 5:28-32
- John 17:11, 21-22, 24
- Luke 22:15-16, 18, 20
- Leviticus 17:11
- John 6:44
- 2 Timothy 1:9
- Ephesians 1:4
- Romans 12:1-2
- Ephesians 5:25
- Malachi 2:14-15
- John 14:1-4
- Revelation 19:8-9
- James 1:27
- Mathew 24:36
- Matthew 25:1-13, 6
- Revelation 15:1-5
- Revelation 14:2-5
- Revelation 19:7-10
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Ecclesiastes 4:12
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
- 1 Corinthians 15:52
- Proverbs 31
SD: bo
Transcribed: 11/5/17
