Spring 2006
The Adorning Bride
Steve Porter

One morning, as I was waiting on the Lord, I received a vision and saw the throne room. In the center of the room was a woman who knew that the wedding was about to begin. She was anxious and looked side-to-side, as she repeated, “What am I going to wear?” Each time she said this, her face looked more desperate. On her back was written the word “Grace.”

Just as her anxiousness mounted, a beautiful Bride walked through the door. The “beauty of the Lord” was upon her, as her face was bright with the light of the glory of God. Her train was very long and glistened with brilliant rays of light. Her countenance was difficult to gaze at, as the atmosphere of heaven surrounded her. On her back was written the words, “The righteous acts of the saints.”

I continued to pray for sometime as the Lord brought these Scriptures of Revelation 19:7-9 to heart.

“Let us be glad and rejoice and honor Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His Bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by those who are overcomers). And the angel said, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. And he added, These are the true words that come from God.” NLT (comments added)

We are living in the last days when the Lord is calling a people to a progressive walk through an “open door” invitation. The heavenly Bridegroom is bidding His Bride to “Come up here” (Revelation 4:1) for deeper, more intimate fellowship. The throne room is being opened to those who hunger for more of Him. Those that find themselves “in the spirit” are being changed into His same image.

The very glory of God is being poured out on those who heed this call to “come.” In this “throne room experience,” the Bride is being changed from “glory to glory.” The Bridegroom desires that the atmosphere of heaven will be poured out in our secret places of communion with Him.

As the Church Age transitions into the Kingdom Age, the body of Christ will be defined by those that are content with their salvation “grace,” in contrast to those that are prepared through their “righteous acts.”

The “Laodicean spirit” runs freely through the Church today and has slowly wooed many asleep. Thus they are not prepared. Our God has called us to “watch at His gate,” and to “discern the times.” This spirit masks itself cleverly and convinces many that they are “rich and increased in goods, and not in need of anything,” when instead they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-19).

Some churches today have replaced the “Word of the Lord” with motivational speeches. They have replaced Godly elders with management teams. They have exchanged God appointed pastors, with hired Sunday pulpit help. They have become more crowd-sensitive then “spirit-sensitive,” relying on man’s wisdom rather then divine wisdom revealed.

Being Spirit-led has given way to a strict religious structure that “denies the power” and is left with only a form of religion. They sing songs about the Lord, rather than they themselves becoming a “new song.”

They have substituted divine revelation for “tickling of the ears” information - an outward concentrated focused effort on intellectualism rather then purity of heart and mind. A “doing” rather than “being.”

As Laodicea attempts to “blind” the eyes of the Body of Christ, Father is busy preparing a Bride for His Son. The Bride is “buying Gold tried by fire,” His divine nature. As we allow the “fire” to burn away the “dross” we are conformed into the image of His Son. His nature changes our nature and others will say, “Who is this that comes out of the wilderness, leaning on her lover?” (Song of Solomon 8:5)

The conforming fire never “feels” good, but is absolutely necessary if we are to be included in the Bridal Company. In the fire, His divine nature is wrought within us, as we are transformed from “glory to glory.” We will embrace His kingdom and fulfill heavenly mandates. With our “invitation” in hand, we will have our “garment” prepared (clothed with His glory), and not be shamed by our nakedness on the day of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Matthew 22:11-14).

We will not be frantically searching for something to wear, but rather, through our “faithful acts” of “supping with Him,” and by our answering His “knocks” on the door of our spirit, we will be “ready” as His adorned Bride.

“And they sung a new song, saying, You … have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10