What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches

by Dale M. Sides

Not only are there red letter words in Revelation 3:22, but considering it is the last recorded statement made by the Lord Jesus Christ in the canon of scripture, this verse should "reach out and grab us."

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [NKJ]

Since these are the last recorded words spoken by the First and Last, our risen Lord, It must be important to consider what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. That He said it last is significant, but look at this: He said it seven times (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22) during the discourse in Revelation 2 and 3. This must be one of the most important statements He ever made. Bible students may quickly recognize that the number seven implies "spiritual perfection," so this statement is very, very, (to-the-seventh-time very) important. We need to get our ears right next to the Holy Spirit’s lips to hear what He has to say to the churches.

Jesus said in John 16:7 that He was going to send a Comforter to help us. (Actually, the translation of this is "Helper" in the NKJ.) This Helper gives us direction through what He is presently saying to the churches. This means that although there are the consistent fundamentals of doctrine throughout all the New Testament time period, there will be specific directions given by the Holy Spirit all the time.

Before getting to the specifics of what the Spirit is saying, also note that He emphasized what He is saying to the churches (plural). There is a specific message in addition to sound doctrine that every church needs to heed to be in flow with the whole body of Christ. According what Jesus said in Revelation 2 and 3, (7 times) there is a duty that all believers have—to be aware of the flow of the Holy Spirit at their particular, present time. This is an obligation to see that they (individually) and their churches (corporately) stay within that flow. Can we cut to the chase and simply say: this is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very big deal. This is true for every individual member of the body of Christ—and the greater the responsibility each member has, the greater the consequence of missing what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.

So, do you have an ear to hear? Then listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches…

What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches NOW

The Holy Spirit has been preparing the church for the coming kingdom of the Lord since the day of Pentecost, but it is happening at a much-accelerated rate now. Since the early 1900’s the Holy Spirit has been birthing revivals around the world at an astonishing rate. Seventy percent of all Christians have lived since 1900, and seventy percent of that seventy percent since 1950; seventy percent of that seventy percent since 1980; and seventy percent of that seventy percent has lived since 1990. See how the numbers are increasing as the time factor narrows? This points to the harvest at the end of the age. These statistics show that a crescendo is about to take place. "The Bridegroom is coming!"

This is not to say that there are not other things that the Holy Spirit is currently saying to the church. He is also saying, "Unity in Jesus Christ." "A Jewish King is coming." "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand." and especially, "These are the last days before the coming of the Lord." Yet, "The Bridegroom is coming!" summarizes all of them, because it gives us a practical commandment to follow: "Bride, make yourself ready!"

Now, in order for the bride to get ready, there is a mandatory point of understanding about the bride of Christ that the whole body of Christ needs to grasp. There is a difference between the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. Do you have an ear to hear? Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

There has been much discussion over the years about the bride of Christ. Many people have said that the whole body of Christ is the bride. However, just the spelling tells us that this cannot be true. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: "The Bride of Christ is going to be taken out of the Body of Christ. It is not going to be the entire body of Christ." Understanding this will yield eternal benefits--missing it will yield eternal consequences! This is a very. . . big deal.

Just as the bride of Adam came out of his body, the bride of Christ is going to come out of the body of Christ, also. Look at how simply this truth is explained when Genesis 2:23 and 24 are compared to Ephesians 5:30 and 31:

The next verse in Ephesians 5:32 says it another way, "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." The great mystery is that the Jews and Gentiles are fellow heirs and of the same body. A major aspect of the inheritance of the Jews was to be qualified to become the bride of Messiah. It was not enough just to be born a Jew. They had to be faithful, just like the church has to be faithful. Look at what it says about the Jews being chosen as the bride.

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the LORD. [Hosea 2:19-20 KJV]

The point being made here is that the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches: "Get ready for the Bridegroom. The bride of Christ is going to be chosen out of the body of Christ. Those who are worthy of Him will reign with Him. Those that are not will not."

Jesus Himself taught the same truth in Matthew 22 in the parable of the wedding feast. This account is about a king (God the Father) preparing a wedding feast for his son (Jesus Christ). When the invited guests (Israel) declined the invitation (calling) and killed the messengers (Old Testament prophets who informed them of the qualifications for betrothal), the King (God the Father) burned up their city (Jerusalem in 70AD). The King (God the Father) then dispatched other messengers (New Testament prophets) to get other people (Gentiles) to attend the wedding feast. The messengers (New Testament prophets) invited (called) as many as they could find, both bad and good (Christians, both holy and unholy in their conduct). When the king (God the Father) saw that some of the guests did not have on a wedding garment (white clothing—indicating righteousness), He pronounced judgment on them.¹

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [Matthew 22:12-14 KJV]

Those that are called (kletos) are the body of Christ, but those that are chosen (ekkletos- comprised of ek- out from and kletos- the called) are the bride. This says the same thing that Ephesians 5 did—the bride is going to be chosen out of the body. In this account we learn that eligibility for being chosen depends upon having a white wedding garment. Revelation 19 shows the qualification for obtaining one of these.

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. [Revelation 19:7-8 NKJ]

This white wedding garment is given for the righteous acts of the saints. (The NIV even has this emphasis in a parenthesis.) This is the qualification for being chosen-- righteous acts. In other words, the choosing is not based upon grace. It starts with being called by grace, but then the chosen will be taken out of the called because of their righteous acts.

The bride of Christ will reign with Jesus Christ during His millennial kingdom like Eve was supposed to do with Adam and Israel was supposed to do with the Lord initially. This bride is also given the New Jerusalem as a wedding present in the new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:2). These are the rewards for faithfulness granted to those who serve the Lord with works, not just with words.

The Holy Spirit is testifying some strong words to the all the churches now. He is saying, "Don’t forget the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). If your lifestyle does not warrant you a wedding garment, you will be crying in darkness instead of praising in the light. The bride of Christ will be chosen out of the body. You need to get ready! Repent, get the stains out of your clothes—the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Do not be like the foolish virgins, who are unprepared when the bridegroom comes (Matthew 25:1-12). The Holy Spirit is working to reprove the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. This is the word to the church in the final hours of man’s day.

The bride has to make herself ready (Revelation 19:7), and this is accomplished by being holy and watching for the bridegroom. The closing statement in Revelation 3 expresses the culmination of what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church in the last days:

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [Revelation 3:19-21 NKJ]

The Holy Spirit is chastening us because of the Lord’s love for us. The Lord wants us to reign with him. The door He is knocking at is leading to the wedding chamber (Song of Solomon 5:4). The supper we are being called to, and hopefully will be chosen for, is the marriage supper of the Lamb. To sit on the throne with Him is to reign with Him in the Millennial Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit is working to get the bride ready. Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. Be holy. Be prepared. Be dressed in white. Pay close attention to these words. When man’s day ends, your chance to repent will end, too. Watch and continue to pray in your heart for the Holy Spirit to lead you in what you need to do.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

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End Note:

1. There is another related story of Abraham (representing God the Father) sending his servant (the Holy Spirit) to get a wife for Isaac (Jesus Christ). The servant chose a woman (Rebecca- the bride) out from the other women in Nahor, Mesopotamia. See Genesis 24. Please refer to LMCI’s Episkopos Tape #21, "Jesus is Looking for His Bride."

©1999 Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Inc.