A Bride or a Whore?

A Bride or a Whore?
Tuesday May 11, 2010

Read Revelation 17:1-18

In the children’s story, “the Little Mermaid” a young mermaid is given the chance to become human, falls in love with a prince, and agrees to marry him. However an evil witch, Ursula, poses as the bride and seeks to steal the prince for herself. In the end of course Ursula is destroyed and Ariel is joined with her prince. (I must have watched this movie with my children a zillion times back in the day.) It would be a pretty creepy story if somehow the prince were to wed both. Some kind of part time marriage with a girlfriend on the side arrangement may work in the filth of television and movies but it will not fly in children’s story books or more importantly in eternity. God will not allow us to play the bride and the whore at the same time. We have to choose which we will be, especially in these days when we can almost hear the angel warming up the trumpet of Christ’s return.
One of the most striking things in the book of Revelation is the stark contrast between good and evil. One is either part of the New Jerusalem or the New Babylon for example. In Chapters 12 and 17 we see the contrast between the woman clothed with the sun, representing the people of God, and the whore of Babylon, who represents the enemy of God. In the last days she may be the false one world religion or government. In either case she seduces the nations into opposing God and persecuting his people.
In the last days we see these two women in clear opposition to each other, each having a separate destiny. The bride of Christ may be persecuted and pursued by the devil, but she is ultimately rescued by her husband and Lord. The false bride is judged and destroyed by the same.
The temptation we face today is to tell ourselves that we can follow Christ as his bride without having to separate ourselves from the lifestyle and values of this world. I fear that we have handed the world a gospel full of loopholes and exceptions that give the false impression that we can follow Christ without really having to make any changes in our lifestyle. We’ve told them, “Just pray this prayer and you’re saved.” In so doing we have taught a whole generation how to dress like a bride by day and walk the streets at night. Without a clean break from our old life of sin and a decision to follow Christ faithfully there is no salvation.
Let us remember today what verse 14 tells us: “He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and those who are with him are called and chosen and faithful.” If we are to be with our prince forever we must live as those who are called- called out of the values of this world, Chosen- chosen to walk with him in holiness, and faithful- staying close to him in all our ways with no compromise. Let us remember today that our Lord is coming for a bride, not a girlfriend. He is coming for one committed to him forever, not a live in for the moment. He will not allow us to dine at his table by day while we walk the streets of Babylon at night. He will not invite you to have a home in the New Jerusalem while you lease an apartment in Babylon. Choose this day who you will serve. Let the world see in you the radiance of his called, chosen, and faithful bride.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at
http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group "begotten by the word")
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach
http://www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)

Be blessed Today
Pastor Kitner