“My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.” (Song of Solomon 5:4)
This love poem that Solomon wrote about the love between a bride and her bridegroom has symbolic references to Jesus. Jesus referred to Himself as the bridegroom and there are references to Jesus as the bridegroom to the church which is referred to as the bride of Christ. John the Baptist referred to the coming Messiah as the bridegroom in explaining that he was not the Christ. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John 3:29)
In this passage in Song of Solomon, the bridegroom who has come unexpectantly, seeks out the bride. But she’s gone to bed already and is reluctant to get up and to get dressed. (Song of Solomon 5: 2,3) When the bridegroom attempts to open the door, she is moved with emotion. (verse 4) She gets up and opens the door, but he is not there anymore. This is a picture of the church today. The church is waiting for Jesus, but He is tarrying. The church is tired of waiting and has fallen asleep. She is not prepared for the coming of Jesus. There is disobedience and laxness in watching for Him. There is betrayal and idol worship of material things, of the world and of self. There is a love for self instead of love for Christ above all. There is a desire for approval from the world and so we’ve compromised. There are also devote churches and devote children of God worldwide that are still “awake” waiting for the bridegroom. They meet with the Father continually asking Him about the return of the bridegroom. They cry out anxiously for the return of Jesus. In the meanwhile, they obey the Father’s commandments. They prepare for the bridegroom’s return. They watch and pray.
This is the bride that Jesus encounters on His return. He warns the churches in His revelation to John to be prepared. We may ask, “Why is He tarrying?” It may be because we are not ready. In the revelation to John, Jesus speaks to the churches. These are actual churches, and we may understand these revelations in that light. But it also speaks to the types of churches and the individual children of God Jesus will encounter on His return also. Keep these three, the actual church, the type of church and the individual in mind as we review what Jesus said to churches.
To the church in Ephesus, Jesus says that they’re patient and don’t tolerate false leaders. They haven’t wearied in their works and labor. But they have forgotten their first love. (Revelation 2:1-7) They are so busy doing good works, they forgot about loving on Jesus, meeting with Him, worshipping Him and spending time with Him. In other words, they are prayerless. This is a problem with leaders in our churches. We get so involved in serving, we forget the One we serve.
To the church in Smyrna, Jesus says that He knows their works, and tribulation, and poverty. They may be poor in the world, but they are rich toward God. This church suffers and will continue to suffer religious persecution for Jesus from those who think they are serving God but belong to satan. Jesus encourages this church to be faithful till death. (Revelation 2:8-11)
To the church in Pergamos, Jesus says that He knows they’re in the midst of an evil world but have remained faithful to Him. But they are tolerating those who follow the doctrine of Balaam which is idolatry and also the Nicolaitans with their doctrine of man’s religions forbidding the priests to marry. He commands them to repent. (Revelation 2:12-17)
To the church in Thyatira, Jesus says that they have works, charity, service, faith, and patience and their works are great, but they permit the spirit of Jezebel in their church which is witchcraft, worship of images and stirs up the secular world to persecute true believers. Great tribulation is coming to this church if it doesn’t repent. (Revelation 2:18-29)
To the church in Sardis, Jesus says that their works are not perfect. They need to strengthen the fundamentals of the Gospel which are in danger of dying. There are a few in this church that are faithful to the Lord, prepared, watching and waiting for His return. He commands the church to remember what they have received, care and guard those things and repent. (Revelation 3:1-6)
To the church in Philadelphia, Jesus says that they have remained faithful to Him and have kept His Word and He will keep them from the Great Tribulation. He warns them not to let anyone take their crown. (Revelation 3:7-13)
To the church in Laodicea, Jesus says that they are neither hot nor cold. They are trying to please the world and God. They are deceived into thinking they are rich toward God but are not. He commands them to repent and to be zealous for Him. (Revelation 3: 14-22)
These descriptions that Jesus gave are of real churches, real types of churches and real individuals. And even though they are failing, lacking or defected, Jesus commands them to repent because there is still time. God is patient. Jesus wants to return to a bride that is ready to come to Him, one who is awake and one which will open the door to Him when He shows up.
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