I want to share with you a dream I had many years ago. Some of you may already be familiar with it, but it seems so appropriate for this hour in which we’re living and it may encourage someone reading who is struggling with weariness or endurance. The people in the dream were women, representing the Bride of Christ.
In the dream, I was in a large room with other women. The room seemed to be off to the side in a large building, like a palace or castle. The door from outside of the building opened into the room where all of us were excitedly awaiting our Bridegroom. We were all going to marry the same man, but there was no jealousy among us. We were just so thrilled that He was coming and that we were ready for Him. The air was filled with joy and anticipation, because we knew it wouldn't be long and we were so happy! We were doing things in preparation while we waited. The Bridegroom was going to come through that door, where we were all basically 'hidden away' and not through the main entrance. He was coming from the outside directly to His Bride!
The interesting thing about the dream was that we were all dressed in the same attire, but with different colors for each outfit. We weren't standing around in white robes or wedding dresses. This will sound odd to some people, but we were wearing the sort of clothing that a harem girl would wear! The clothes were beautiful!
Here is the understanding Holy Spirit gave about this first part of the dream. (I will share the rest of the dream in another edition of The Vine.)
1) The parable of the 10 virgins. 5 awake and waiting. 5 asleep.
2) The betrothed were not in the main part of the palace. They were 'set apart'. They were in a location in the palace that not many were interested in finding or waiting in.
3) These virgins were there for one reason...the Bridegroom. Not for the Pomp and Circumstance (the programs, the appearance, the show) of the rest of the virgins who were in the palace. These virgins were serious and wide awake!
4) The building (palace) had many other occupants, but not all were watching or preparing for the Bridegroom/King. However, He's not interested in the trappings of the 'church', or man-made religion. He's only interested in those who have made their way to the 'secret place' to be prepared for His arrival.
5) Our attire represented our uniqueness, even amongst ourselves. The colors of our garments were indicative of different gifts, talents, life experiences, callings...but we were all dressed in wedding garments. We were 'betrothed', but we weren't yet fully married. We all knew we were going to marry the same man and there was no jealousy among us. We were not jealous of one another’s gifts or talents…or anything. We were overjoyed that we would be marrying Him!
6) We weren't just standing around, waiting. We were busy - joyfully busy - preparing. We're not just to be hidden away in a corner in a palace...waiting for Him to show up. We're to be busy - much like He was busy...about His Father's business. If we are not, then we are asleep. He's coming for the bride who is like He is - in pursuit of Father's will for this world. As it says in scripture, we are to be active!
Luke 12:35-40 says, 35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Matthew 25:1-13 says, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
I want to leave you with one more scripture that comes to mind…
It’s in Revelation 19:-6-9
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
