Who else but the Bride of Christ could birth the manchild? This woman described in Revelation 12 with the following description:
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
The true Bride of Christ is the group of the “called out” ones, often referred to in the New Testament as His church. Paul spoke of this bride in 2 Corinthians 11:
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
And John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the bridegroom in John chapter 3:
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
The word “bride” is a term of relationship. The bride relationship must occur before the son can be born in a lawful and righteous manner. It is important that we embrace this understanding as we aspire to be counted among the Sons of FATHER. The relationship of the bride and bridegroom is centered around Love and there is no other primary consideration at the time of the wedding. The bride retains that title during the early relationship and as the relationship matures, they become known as husband and wife. The bride is “being” the object of His affection and the wife denotes “doing and acting”. Let us return to Revelation chapter 2 and reread:
2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
We must focus on the simplicity of our first Love for Jesus Christ, in full submission to Him. We must always consider His words as we dwell on His character since He is the full manifestation of FATHER. Only after we have fully become His Bride are we able to bring forth the manifestation as a Son to FATHER. Our full submission to Jesus as His Bride allows us to become “one” with Him and we take on His Name and attributes. As we take on His Name, He embraces us to the fullness and His banner over us is Love.
In order to qualify for sonship, we must first be a “bride” who does not lose her first Love. You can labor for THE LORD but if you do it out of duty expecting to be rewarded for service rather than out of Love, you will be saddened in the end. Your lampstand will be removed. You must forsake all other suitors of your focus and attention. The world would entice you away from this first Love only to serve up disappointment and despair. Only after we become “one” with Him are we able to be fully birthed as Sons to the FATHER. What a mystery! Now consider what Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 5:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church (called out ones) and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
This glorious woman clothed with the sun is His Bride and has overcome the moon, the lesser light. This lesser light includes past, incomplete revelation and prophetic words arising out of a lower level of understanding. At best these words could only point to the light rather than having the full illumination of the Word contained therein. Many of the rituals performed reflect the reality of Heaven though they are only representations, not the real thing. The physical ark was a reflection of the Heavenly Ark. Though impressive in its own right, it could not fulfill the Heavenly function of the ark, in the middle of the illuminated Temple. The same is true for the Bride. The earthly church can walk out customs, rituals, quote the Lord’s Prayer, and other such acts, but they will not materialize into the true Bride of Christ. The true Bride is cloaked with the sun, not its reflection. This Bride has the fullness of Christ-centered revelation coming forth enabling her to birth the manchild. She is clothed with the incorruptible and has become one with Jesus Christ. What a wonderful picture!
Paul wrote:
Ephesians 5:31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
This Beloved Bride is a chaste virgin just as Mary was a virgin. This Bride is a many-membered virgin “church” who brings forth a manchild just as Mary brought forth Jesus. This parallels Mary’s calling but in a progressive manner in that many Sons are coming forth from this single birthing process. This Bride has twelve stars on her head representing Divine government and her child will rule nations with a rod of iron. This birthing is the consummation of manifesting the manchild. Just as Jesus was born to Mary by the Power of FATHER through the Holy Spirit so shall the Sons come forth by this same Power. This Bride’s pureness remains intact.