THE CHURCH'S PLACE
Picture in your minds-eye a throne room and the characters therein. To find yourself in front of the king could mean either a blessing or judgment. To be in front and to either side of the throne could mean you were part of court. The council supporting and advising him in the matters of the nation would be standing off to the side and behind the king's throne. The queen would be directly to the king's right sitting on another throne.
Now imagine God's glorious throne. For someone to be standing directly in front of The King one may still be either receiving a blessing or judgment. The ones located to the side and still in front may still be associated with The King's court. However, there are two caveats to this Throne Room - (1) there are no advisers or council because God needs none and (2) there is a place for The Bride of Christ - Believers.
Because of Christ's sacrificial and substituting death and resurrection for everyone, those who believe in His gift of salvation and redemption are elevated, blessed and seen through Christ's Righteousness. A number of Scriptural passages testify to the Believer's lofty position In and Through Christ.
Ephesians 2:6
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,"
Now imagine God's glorious throne. For someone to be standing directly in front of The King one may still be either receiving a blessing or judgment. The ones located to the side and still in front may still be associated with The King's court. However, there are two caveats to this Throne Room - (1) there are no advisers or council because God needs none and (2) there is a place for The Bride of Christ - Believers.
Because of Christ's sacrificial and substituting death and resurrection for everyone, those who believe in His gift of salvation and redemption are elevated, blessed and seen through Christ's Righteousness. A number of Scriptural passages testify to the Believer's lofty position In and Through Christ.
Ephesians 2:6
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,"
2 Timothy 2:12
'...if we endure, we will also reign with him."
Revelation 3:21-22
"To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:21-22
"To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 5:10
"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Revelation 20:4
"And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
"And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Revelation 20:6
"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."
"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."
Revelation 22:5
"There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
There is no doubt of the Bride and Groom motif in Scripture. Passages such as Matthew 9:15; 25:1, 5-6, 10 speak about the Bridegroom - Christ. Verses such as John 3:29 and Revelation 19:7; 22:17 declare the Bride - The Church - Believers. This idea is a great and marvelous thing to ponder. The power, benefits and place Christians will have in Christ after the Marriage and Marriage Supper of The Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9) will be awesome! However, it is my belief, as Christ's betrothed, that we Christians - His Bride - show forth His power, benefits and place now!
It is long past due for The Bride of Christ to start acting like the soon-to-be Wife of Christ. I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to Christians everywhere we are enthroned with Christ and so have the benefits thereof - now and in the future! It is time Believers - The Bride of Christ - sit down next to Christ and practice reigning - for that is The Church's Place.
"There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
There is no doubt of the Bride and Groom motif in Scripture. Passages such as Matthew 9:15; 25:1, 5-6, 10 speak about the Bridegroom - Christ. Verses such as John 3:29 and Revelation 19:7; 22:17 declare the Bride - The Church - Believers. This idea is a great and marvelous thing to ponder. The power, benefits and place Christians will have in Christ after the Marriage and Marriage Supper of The Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9) will be awesome! However, it is my belief, as Christ's betrothed, that we Christians - His Bride - show forth His power, benefits and place now!
It is long past due for The Bride of Christ to start acting like the soon-to-be Wife of Christ. I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to Christians everywhere we are enthroned with Christ and so have the benefits thereof - now and in the future! It is time Believers - The Bride of Christ - sit down next to Christ and practice reigning - for that is The Church's Place.
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