What is the meaning of the word, "Apocalypse?" Revelation: specifically, the Greek word means unveiling, as in the unveiling of a bride. In the context of the Bible, the Apocalypse refers to the unveiling of the Bride of Christ. Why does she need to be unveiled? Because her identity begins by being hidden to us; hidden to all of us as a group of human beings, and hidden to each of us as an individual.
What is the Apocalypse? It is the moment when the veil is lifted and we realize that we, Humanity, each individually and all collectively, are the Lover of Divinity. We, Humanity, are the one he came to redeem, the one he has vowed to marry for eternity at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. We are the one he has paid the bride price for; the one who cost him his very life. He is our Beloved and we are his.
I may point to a month, date, time the veil was lifted for me. Of course, you may point to a different time when the veil was lifted for you; or perhaps your Apocalypse remains in the future.
The timing may be relative to your life experience or mine, but nothing changes the eternal truth of the Apocalypse, the significance of the Wedding, or the identity of the Bride.
There will be those who prefer to look forward to future "foretold" events. In my life, the "foretold" has already occurred: the veil has been lifted, and the identity of the Bride is clear. As one who is betrothed, my role is to prepare. I may not know the day or the hour of the wedding, but there is no need to wait to accept the invitation to the feast. I gratefully plan to attend.
Both the Spirit and the Bride call us to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. From the end of time as we know it, the Bride invites all of us, each of us. Because time no longer exists where she is, the Bride consists of those dead, living, and not yet born--who in times past understood, or currently understand, or in the future will understand and actively occupy their role as the Spouse of Divinity. I don't know the names of all the individuals who will answer her invitation. I don't think it is for me to know or judge who will accept. The Bride invites all who are thirsty to drink from the living waters and bask in the presence of God. I understand someone up there is keeping track of the details--there's a book of life with names in it, I hear, but no one has put me in charge of it.
I can only experience my own moment of revelation: I can't say when you will have yours. Perhaps it's enough for me to pass the invitation along; perhaps I can lend the Bride my assistance as I identify with her by extending the invitation to you.
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"
See you there.
RSS Feed
