Hungering and Thirsting
For Righteousness

Cont., page 2

THE FULFILLING BRIDE

The solution is for Yahweh to call out a people who with their whole hearts will pursue righteousness and truth; who will perform deeds consistent with repentance, even as John the Baptist called for; and thereupon prepare the way for Immanuel. And of necessity, these are not Christians, but the Bride—set apart, making herself ready for Him (Revelation 19:7)—and are the completion of that which He began at the very beginning of the church in the first Remnant. These two Remnant works, separated by the Body of Christ, are the elect, spoken of in Matthew 24:22 and 24, Mark 13:20 and 27, and Luke 18:6-8. They cannot be the Body of Christ (Christians), because as clearly stated in Zechariah 13:7-9, Christians have been cut off from the kingdom of the Shepherd and died. They are sleeping, waiting for the completion of their three days and three nights (3,000 years) in the grave. That is why it is absolutely essential that Yahweh send His Spirit; establish the second son of fresh oil spoken of in Zechariah 4:14, the second Remnant; and call the Bride up to heaven. (Read Resurrection and Judgment.)

As addressed in Trinities, page 3, recorded in Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20, Yahshua spoke of the necessity of the days of Christianity being cut short, and that accomplished by a unique and specific work:

Unless those days had been cut short, no flesh would have been saved; but through the elect those days will be cut short.

So we see here that it is “through” the elect that these days are indeed cut short. Again, this is the Bride work. And the days being cut short are the “great tribulation,” spoken of immediately preceding both of these verses. As addressed in The Great Tribulation, this is the period of the church to this very day, and would last for another 1,000 years if not “cut short.”

In addition to these days being cut short through the elect, we find in Malachi, the book that reveals the Elijah, that he not only effects the same, but also purifies this Bride. Regarding the former, in Malachi 4:5-6 we read again regarding this great tribulation:

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet in the presence of the coming great and terrible day of Yahweh . . . so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

As addressed in The Great Tribulation, page 4, it is indeed the Elijah who prevents Yahweh from continuing this great and terrible day, the great tribulation—the church for the last 2,000 years.

Therefore, by Yahweh sending the fulfilling Elijah, as well as through the elect Elijah company, His Bride, the great tribulation is cut short from three to two. The Millennial Reign of Immanuel and His Bride will then fulfill what kingdom man has failed to accomplish for 2,000 years.

Likewise, this is the “restraining one” spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:7:

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the restraining one will do so until it comes out of the midst.

You can read much more about this in The Great Tribulation, page 6. But clearly, the former and latter works of the Holy Spirit that precede and complete the church period—the two Remnant—are in fact those who restrain the lawless and effect Immanuel’s coming.

This restraining effect is definitely attested to in the Elijah, even the Bride. It is a restraint in sin and worldliness, which are the opposite of righteousness. We read in 2 Peter 3:11-14:

. . . what sort of people must [to bind] you be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening [quickening] the coming of the day of God . . . ? But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless . . . .

First, again we see the hastening, or quickening, of the day of God—quickening it to come early. Furthermore, if Immanuel is coming for a bride that is “spotless and blameless,” and “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27), it is obvious that there MUST be a cleansing of a people before His coming, a place in which righteousness dwells. This is equally expected insomuch that the bride of the Lamb makes herself ready, being clothed in “the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7 and 8). And, the same is clearly evidenced in Exodus 19:10-11, when Yahweh was to “come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” Evidencing the Millennial Reign, this too was to be on the third day. What was their obligation beforehand? They were likewise to prepare for His coming by consecrating themselves to Him.

This was the like purpose of John the Baptist, foreshadowing the work of the fulfilling Elijah. John possessed the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17); but, he was not the fulfilling Elijah. This he clearly stated when asked if he was Elijah, and he answered, “No” (John 1:21). And after John was killed, Yahshua declared that Elijah was yet to come: “Elijah is coming and will restore all things” (Matthew 17:11). Therefore, by his call to repent and to perform deeds consistent with repentance, John testified that this will indeed be the work of the fulfilling Elijah.

This fact is exceptionally clear upon reading that which is promised concerning Elijah. In Malachi 3:1, he is identified as, “My messenger” who will “clear the way before Me,” and is the “messenger of the covenant.” Some translations want to make this Immanuel, but this is impossible. The messenger clears the way before Immanuel. Thus, verses 2 and 3 continue addressing the Elijah:

But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.

Finally, following the bowls in Revelation 15 and 16, and immediately after the great whore in Revelation 17 and 18 and her judgment—all of this being Christianity—comes the essential and fulfilling “come-out-of-her-My-people” Bride in the concluding chapters, 19 thru 22. In Revelation 19:7 we thus read, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” The Bride is indeed the essential conclusion of all the wrath and corruption of the kingdom of heaven, the church, that has taken place for 2,000 years. Thus we heartily agree with the concluding words of Revelation 22:17:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes freely take the water of life.

Continue to page 3 of Hungering and Thirsting For Righteousness for PURIFY YOURSELF

Return to home page