The Holy Ghost at the Wedding Feast

It is unthinkable to suggest that the Holy Ghost will not be removed from the earth at the Rapture of the Bride. The whole idea of the Pentecostal outpouring was the empowerment of the church for evangelism and the purifying of the Bride. The Holy Spirit has wooed from the harvest field of souls and prepared from the harvest a Bride for His Son. The Holy Spirit is indeed the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ and cannot be separated from any event or action that affects the church of Jesus Christ.

The "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" is a crowning event of the church dispensation. The Vicar of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit and this divine person of the Godhead will be a guest of honor at this Wedding Feast. In fact, the Holy Spirit will be more than just a guest of honor. The whole attire of the Bride and her removal to the wedding chamber cannot be assigned to anyone other than the Spirit of Christ. The very term so familiar in the Second Testament, Spirit of Christ, indicates that all the work of redemption and sanctification is of the office of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. This divine person is inseparable from redemption, righteousness, and readiness for the day when a glorious church shall be crowned victorious.

First Testament Shadows
I’ve got some wonderful friends that can never see the church of Jesus Christ prefigured in the First Testament. Their theological system is so rigid that it has built a fence around their minds. They could not be more wrong. It does absolutely no harm to good Biblical dispensational truth to see prophecies in one dispensation that speak of truth in another dispensation. The whole Bible and History, plus prophecy is clearly played out by different dispensations, but they do not have to be antithesis to each other. Our God never does anything without first revealing it to the prophets, and the church is no exception. One of the greatest shadows of the Bride and her preparation and marriage is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Let’s review that beautiful prophetic picture. "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24:2-8). "And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels." (Genesis 24:15-20). "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." (Genesis 24:64-67).

What a breathtaking story! This entire picture prefigures the type of the church, the servant (Spirit of Christ) that discovers the Bride and that removes the Bride from the world to deliver her to the groom. Abraham is called in the Second Testament the "Father of Faith" and we are clearly seen as the "children of faith" rather than the "children of the law" as the First Testament saints are called. Apostle Paul affirms this truth clearly, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16).

The Holy Spirit is clearly the "Servant" that was prefigured in this great event. The words used in Genesis were "Eldest Servant." Those two words carried a meaning far above that of a common person. This "Servant" was entrusted with the choice duty and possession of the "Abraham Estate." The wealth he carried with him was measurable and the business of the Son’s Bride was the most important matter facing both Abraham and the future promises given by God Himself. Every duty that this "Eldest Servant" fulfilled and manifested is the New Testament picture of the great office of the Holy Ghost. This helps to clarify why the person of the Holy Spirit is given the official title of the Holy Ghost. He clearly represents nothing of Himself and everything of Jesus Christ. That is perfectly what the title Holy Ghost suggests.

This "Eldest Servant" was instructed in such a manner as to carry a meaning far beyond the simple story. The question was asked of Abraham, "Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?" (Genesis 24:5). Abraham’s answer was emphatic. He addressed the question twice. He said, "Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24: 6). Again he said, "Only bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24:8). The visit of Jesus Christ to this earth and His death was a completed task and never needed to occur again.

This truth had to be a part of this great prophetic story or truth would be marred.
Abraham and his family were sojourning in the land of the Philistines when God charged him to return to Mount Moriah and offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice. There is a strong indication that after that event, Abraham and Isaac visited Nahor, Abraham’s brother, and met the family of Nahor. (Genesis 22:26-24). Abraham’s words, "only bring not my son thither again," certainly confirm that visit. From those two visits, along with seeing the paganism of the Philistines and other Canaanites as well as the faith of Nahor, Abraham now chooses that his son shall have a bride from his brother’s family.

The spirit of Rebekah is a wonderful type of the Bride of Jesus Christ. She was pure, a virgin having no fornication in her life and was also possessed of a servant’s heart. Her response to the "Eldest Servant" was immediate. Everything he asked was fulfilled in her reaction. When she was told of this man’s purpose and the invitation to become his master’s bride, there was no hesitancy. The gifts she was given by the master’s vicar or representative compiled a perfect picture of the Spirit’s gifts to the church. She was ready immediately to leave for the master’s house.

The return of this "Eldest Servant" and Rebekah, the bride in waiting, was commenced the very next morning. Her readiness presents the very spirit that must possess the Bride of Jesus Christ. Her family blessed her with these words as she prepared to go. "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them." (Genesis 24:60). That is prophetically beautiful! As they left for the Promised Land, it was stated, "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way." (Genesis 24:61).

As this "Eldest Servant" and Rebekah approach the master’s house, the master, Isaac, was seen in a field. Notice that the Bride did not meet the master in the location of His dwelling, but in the "harvest" field. The Word says, "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel." (Genesis 24:64). The two words "lighted off" means to prostrate oneself or cast oneself down. She had asked the Servant who this man was. Immediately, Isaac received His bride and Bible said, "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." (Genesis 24:67).

The "Eldest Servant" did not stay in the vicinity of Nahor’s family, a type of the world; but returned with the bride to deliver her to the groom himself. It was the "Eldest Servant" that introduced the bride to the groom so that the wedding could commence. The joy of this "Servant" was to see the joy of the bride in the presence of the groom.

The Escort of the Royal Bride
The Holy Ghost is clearly the escort of the royal bride and the Psalmist David gives a wonderful prophetic picture of this bride. Often we sing about our Lord as having come from the ivory palaces in His first coming. This is clearly unbiblical for David was not writing of His first coming but of the future Rapture. Look at these beautiful words, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir." (Psalm 45:6-9). "The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace." (Psalm 45:13).

In Hebrews chapter one Apostle Paul quoted parts of the above prophecy and placed its fulfillment as redemption accomplished. The entire forty-fifth chapter of Psalms is a glorious picture of His triumph, the Lord Himself returning to earth to receive His Bride and literally coming out of the Ivory Palaces that He Himself said He was going to prepare. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2). The Psalmist David called the prepared place "Ivory Palaces." Isaiah called this heavenly place "the Chamber." "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." (Isaiah 26:20).

The picture of His future Bride as painted by the words of David, the master Psalmist, is breathtaking. The "Queen" is dressed in the "gold of Ophir," the purest gold of Biblical history. She is also seen as "all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold." "Wrought gold" is gold that a master craftsman has exquisitely designed to represent the most beautiful of handiwork. Her attire is further described as following, "She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework." The entire picture is of a bride who has been carefully prepared so that she can be presented to the King. The purification of this Queen and her delicate attire has been the incredible work of a divine power and person. Nothing is missing in her preparation.

Not only is she wonderfully attired; she is escorted by stately powers. She does not wander into the King’s presence but she is presented as royalty to the ultimate person of royalty. Note the Spirit’s words, "She shall be brought unto the king." Again, "with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought." There must be an escort that has royal connections. Biblical history is replete with the fact that only Divine Royalty can present or introduce another to royalty. It was the Father that introduced the Son in the First Testament and the Holy Ghost that introduced the Son in the Second Testament. It was Jesus that introduced the Holy Spirit in St. John’s gospel and the Holy Ghost was sent to introduce Jesus Christ in the church. Soon the time will come for the Holy Ghost to introduce the bride to her "Eternal Royal Groom."

Caught Up by the Holy Ghost
It had never quite dawned on me how clearly the Holy Spirit will be involved in the Rapture of the Bride. The Lord Himself taught us that the Holy Ghost would be sent to affect the entire world all at one time. In fact, Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away." (John 16:7). The work of the Holy Ghost was universal while the work of Jesus was individual. That has not changed. Listen as Saint Paul describes this event we have named the "Rapture." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The truth is very clear. The Lord Himself descends from Heaven. He shouts with the voice of the archangels sound, and the trump of God sounds. Notice how clearly the Spirit describes what happens. The Lord descends and then we are "caught up" to meet Him in the air. Our being "caught up" is clearly presented as connected but reflecting two different expressions of power. The very words "caught up" come from one word in the original language of Greek. They mean, "removed by force, snatched, or seized by force." Clearly the Lord descends, but we are "carried away" by the one who was sent to possess us for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The same word was used in Acts when speaking of Philip when he was "caught up" by the Holy Ghost and supernaturally removed to another location. "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39).

Again, the same word was used when Apostle Paul told of the man "caught up" to the third heavens. "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven." (2 Corinthians 12:2). Again, this was an act of the Holy Ghost that the apostle told us about. The same words was used in Revelation 12:5 where the man child "was caught up to God and to His Throne." (Revelation 12:5)

Jesus was Raised Up From the Dead by the Holy Spirit
The Son of God was clearly resurrected and raised up from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost. Throughout the Bible, the Spirit is the right arm of authority and power acting for the Godhead. This was the Father’s design and it is wonderfully true concerning the resurrection of the Son of God. Apostle Paul described the connection between the Spirit and Christ’s resurrection and our transformed life. He said, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11).

These words have tremendous bearing on both our present spiritual life and the quickening of our bodies at the Rapture or Resurrection. Everything that Jesus has provided in redemption, which certainly included our new resurrected bodies, is manifest in us by the authority of the Holy Ghost. All that Jesus is has been ordained to be manifest in us and the Spirit is God’s expression of power and triumph.

Our Resurrection is by the Holy Ghost
Our bodies are presently flesh and blood, and flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Apostle Paul called it a "great mystery" as he deals with this subject. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51). This change is one of the most spectacular truths of Holy Writ. Listen as Paul describes the intricacies of this future event. "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:35-44).

The term "raised" which is used several times is the exact word Paul used in Romans 8:11. This action is clearly attributed to the Holy Ghost. We have no personal powers, regardless of how godly we live, to resurrect ourselves. This is part of the office of the Holy Ghost provided for the saints of God. Every saint will receive his or her own body gloriously provided with individual attention. The glory of these bodies will all be different and will reflect our personal rewards for surrender and obedience in kingdom activity. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Conclusion
To even imagine the crowning event of all ages, "the Marriage Supper of Jesus Christ and His prepared bride," without the Spirit of Christ is indeed unthinkable. The Holy Ghost never speaks of Himself nor will He allow anyone possessed of Himself to give Him the exaltation due only to Jesus Christ. He has given all glory to the Son and the crescendo of His office will be the escorting of those saints in which He has "raised up" with glorified bodies into the presence of the Royal King. He shall deliver the overcoming saints, "all glorious within," into the Ivory Palaces where eternal things shall occur.

He that raised up the saints shall then deliver each reward to every resurrected or raptured one as assigned to them at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Surely angels will act in perfect accord with the Spirit of Christ as the saints are now prepared to sit with Christ and reign with Him forever. The picture in Revelation as the twenty-four elders are before the throne, having just arrived from the Rapture or Resurrection, suggests this very fact. John wrote, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." (Revelation 4:5-6).

The twenty-four elders represent a multitude (24 being figurative) and joining them around the throne is the angelic company of four living creatures and the Seven Spirits of God. The "seven" is also figurative and suggests the fullness of the Spirit’s office and person. This is an immediate picture following the "catching away."

What a picture this provides! The third member of the eternal Godhead, having escorted the Bride to the Groom, is now present in regal expression. Our God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Ghost will then commence the Wedding Feast and provide for the final judgment. Our frail language is insufficient to describe the glory to follow.