Here we must talk about intensive spiritual living versus nominal Christian living. Crowns are never given as souvenirs but they are won. Brideship is an attainment, by striving towards the goal for the prize of the High Calling In Christ Jesus.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-15
Paul knew that Christ had made him His own (Salvation), but he did not know if he had made Brideship (Rapture) his own! But he pressed on towards the Goal for the Prize! (Winning the REWARD to rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years).
Let us rejoice and exult and give Him Glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; It was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteous DEEDS (dikaióma – righteous deed) of the saints.
Revelation 19:7-8
Notice Brideship is resting not on a Gift level but a Work Level! Consider the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13:
hen the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13
All ten represented the Kingdom of Heaven, they are all Virgins, they ALL have their lamps burning and filled with oil, they ALL slumbered and slept. Why did only five make Brideship? Five took extra flasks of oil so they would be sure not to run out! Oil is certainly a type of the Holy Spirit, and they just did not keep filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul says:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
The five Virgins that did not go into the Bridegroom were locked out in outer darkness where they will gnash their teeth. They did not lose their Salvation, just their reward!
For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
They will be in the same outer darkness as the Jews are in today, but ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED
And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”
Romans 11:26
Remember the parable about the man that came to the wedding feast without a wedding garment?
But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:11-14
Here again we have our FRIEND saved but missing the RAPTURE! There are many in the Church but few in the Bride. There is only one reward offered in the WORD OF God and the TESTIMONY OF JESUS, and that is BRIDESHIP. Christ is not coming for a nominal Church, but a BRIDE.
** STRIVE ** YOU MAY ATTAIN