Time and Marriage

It is of vital importance that we always collectively edify one another in the Lord as an eternal family.

For centuries there has only been a transient mutuality but as we draw near to the end of the age the time has come to embrace wholeheartedly our eternal familial unity however strange it may seem.

The enemy with his unseen strategic separation zones seeks to further divide, deprecate, accuse and confuse - a season is coming for a collective review of the reality of unity in the light of our positional identity in Christ. We have to say at this point that we have met participants/members of different denominantions who present so like Jesus in all aspects of life that we feel like scrambling for thier sign on forms....

To go deeper we need to have a brief look at Time itself and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb to His bride (us!) We are aware that time comes to an end it may not be needed again for His purposes but only The Father knows.

Revelation 10:6 says 'delay' in most translations but the gk is actually:

(ὅτι χρόνος οὐκέτι ἔσται)

chronos ouketi estai Word for word:

chronos = time

ouketi = no longer

estai = will be

So literally "Time will be no longer"

There are two words in Gk for time

1. Chronos (χρόνος)

Meaning: sequential, measurable, calendar time

Minutes

Hours

Days

Ordinary, ticking clock time i.e. chronological, chronometer etc etc some have said the ticking clock is linked to the human heart and when the last human heart stops time will also end.

2. Kairos (καιρός) Meaning: the appointed, heavenly, or God beautifully (in His perfect wisdom ordained) moment

A divine window

A season of breakthrough

A moment when heaven intersects earth

“The right time”, not just any time

This is the one we call supernatural time, God’s timing, or a moment of destiny. So The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is not a timed event. It is an eternal celebration that takes place after chronos ends and before Christ returns.

Perhaps we need to see with the Eyes of God here as its His family His children who are whether we realise it or not in preparation for a marriage one that will eclipse anything in our physical world (the transient realm the one constrained by time (chronos itself or in gk. the proskairos realm) and its impossible to imagine a sub-optimal Bride being presented to Jesus at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Its therefore vital that we ask church leaders exactly "what are you doing with your people/your flock - those who are all in your care?", of course we must indeed all also ask ourselves the same question because we have a duty of care for one another. If indeed the responsibility of leaders for example is to place supernatural sequins onto the brides dress and work together with our Glorious Holy Spirit to do as much as we can together to enhance and prepare the bride and its clearly not enough to say well its up to the leaders even though they can prepare and frame all opportunities!

The Bride of Christ and the Marriage supper of the Lamb

Marriage verses

Isaiah 54:5–8 “Your Maker is your husband…”

Isaiah 62:4–5 “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride…”

Hosea 2:19–20 “I will betroth you to Me forever…”

These are the roots of the marriage imagery.

Ephesians 5:25–32 Paul says marriage is a mystery pointing to Christ and the Church.

John 3:29 “The friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly…”

Revelation 21:2,9 The New Jerusalem is called “the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Betrothal — Cross & Resurrection

Preparation — Church Age

Bridegroom Comes — Christ returns for His Hybrid Family!

Marriage — Union in heaven

Marriage Supper — Celebration (Revelation 19:9)

Return to Earth — Christ + Bride

Reign — Millennium

These are the events that need to consideration as the substance of the end result although Romans 8:16 NKJV The Spirit 'Himself' bears witness with 'our spirit' that we are children of God, if our combined focus is that 'we' are Children of God we ought also to do all we can strategically to optimise the means as this is where we are - in the present time.

Its a lovely subject to explore and we would also welcome supportive and edifiying (contributors)