Will I be Found Worthy of Him When He Comes?

April 16, 2008 - email from The Open Scroll email list

Greetings!

Here's the big question you and I personally have to ask as we prepare for the coming judgment of the church: Will I be found worthy of Him when He comes? I would like to be, and I would like you to be, for His glory and good pleasure, who delights in the righteousness of His people and will rejoice in exalting them with exceeding great grace! Some among us, who read this writing may be found worthy of the Bridegroom, having a white robe, holy, blameless, spotless and without wrinkle or blemish. HOWEVER, the vast majority of the church will not be found worthy, and some among us - perhaps even me! Friends, do not consider me to be a standard of any kind, or anyone you know or may hold in high regard. The standard is as the Lord has established in His Word and made known through the working of the spirit of holiness that works in the children of obedience.

Because of the email that preceded this one, you may be expecting something rather controversial and possibly offensive. Don't go away, its coming. I'm pretty much going to offer a bunch of scriptures, most of which may be found in other writings on theopenscroll.com, with a little commentary. This is not a dissertation or a rant, just a word to the wise. The writings as a category are easy for some to dismiss as not relevant or applicable, but yet are really very important for aspiring Bride candidates to get hold of or to let get hold of them. Because there's some fairly diverse subjects on theopenscroll.com, lots of visitors approach it like a buffet where they just pick out a few of their favorite goodies and move on. For the Bride, though, the banquet spread is not to be lightly snacked on as without much of an appetite, if you will, but rather hungrily consumed as containing the necessary sustenance for the fullness of life. Have some apple pie, but eat your beets and peas. Following this allegory, I am aware you may have already received most or all the required sustenance elsewhere, and I hope you have found it everywhere the Lord has led you to pasture. I have come to believe the neglect of certain essentials will cost some among us dearly, causing us to be found malnourished when He comes, or, as yet having blemishes and a dirty robe that did not get fully made clean and white in the blood of the Lamb.

What I'm about to write is not an easy matter for anyone to consider honestly because it is such an emotional, personal and soulish subject, about which it is so easy to be deceived. Some of you are going to take this as a personal insult from Bob, and, of course, you're welcome to if that's how you see it. It is not intended to be personal, as directed to anyone in particular. The Lord knows who it is for, and why, and I leave the personal conviction part up to Him. I don't feel like I'm appointed to be a judge at the present time, but I'm a messenger testifying that the Judge is coming and He's going to judge you and I and these are some of the standards by which He will judge. I hope and pray a conviction will accompany these words in the power of the holy spirit, to the end that deep and full repentance will come, bringing with it forgiveness, healing and restoration and the fruit of the fullness of salvation of the soul! I don't expect this comes to you as the first witness to these truths, but it may well be the last.

Yes, it may well be the last!

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12) But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13) For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
14) And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

I Timothy 2:11-14

Did your blood pressure spike?

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
35) If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

I Corinthians 14:34-35

Still with me? Are you seeing red? This is not a battle of the sexes, there's no such thing and there never was. It is just the same old conflict between the carnal minded doing what seems right in your own eyes and the heavenly minded doing what IS right in His eyes, with loving obedience and willing subjection under the authority of God. This message is not for those who want to run the race (1 Corinthians 9:24) to place well, it is for those who run to win.

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.
4) Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.
5) But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.

1 Corinthians 11:3-5

Is this your willful practice? Have you fully accepted the role and assigned position of your gender in the headship ascendancy? Men and women, do you actually practice head covering? If you're starting to act or feel guilty, you probably are.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
19) For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
20) For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1 Peter 3:1) In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2) as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3) Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4) but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5) For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6) just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
7) You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 2:18-20, 3:1-7

There's a set of standards for the saints. Pop quiz time. Married men, is this the standard in your relationship, or are your prayers hindered? Married women, is this your personal standard? Has your husband ever heard you speak a word of correction or instruction to him? Are you dependent on your behavior, your chaste and respectful behavior to win him to obedience, or, are you rather frightened with some fear? Don't miss this one on the final exam.

Here's what is inside the parenthesis of the above set of scriptures. Let it speak to your hearing ear.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22) WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23) and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24) and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25) For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25

Dead people don't get wounded and offended and stray away from the Shepherd, do they? Not when they live to righteousness, they don't! Wives, as with the servants, bear up even to unjust and harsh treatment - even without a word, even a single word! Patient endurance finds favor with God! Don't think for one second your husband might be getting away with anything. My dear friends, this is about your souls, and the Guardian of your souls is calling you close.

Here's why this issue is such a big deal for the Bride.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24) But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26) so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
28) So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29) for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30) because we are members of His body.
31) FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32) This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33) Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-33

What this is about, in truth, is Christ and the church. A mystery is only a mystery until it is revealed and you understand what it means. This is about the Bride of Christ, as distinct from the body of Christ. It is about, "will I be found worthy of Him when He comes?" What will characterize His Bride? Those who are found holy and blameless, cleansed by the washing of water with the word are those sanctified who, as wives who are subject to their husbands in everything, ARE SUBJECT TO THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN EVERYTHING! Men, we model Christ to the world, and before all creation! Women, you model the Bride of Christ! Who cares? All Creation! Is the model of Christ and His Bride in the earth important? YES!!! Picture me, jumping up and down and yelling! Yes!!! Christ and His Bride are about to become one flesh. Do you get it? Get on board with this gender thing. It's big!

You might wonder if this gender business really matters at such a late hour as this. Consider the message from Revelation 2 to the church in Thyatira.

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19) I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20) But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21) I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22) Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
23) And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

Revelation 2:18-23

I think it is very relevant! You might have found yourself thinking, "Wow! Bob is really down on women, isn't he." I'm only "down on women" if I'm down on the Bride. You might think, "Gee Bob is bitter" but no. I've got Jezebel's boot print on my face, but that's just a scar that's been healed. Jezebel knows me. I've been schooled. The scar is a testimony of the Lord's mercy and abundant grace! It's a diploma from the school of "Been there, done that," a badge of qualification to join the troops on the field of battle. I'm not being cocky, but I'm present and accounted for. For me personally, as some of you know, Jezebel has been a subject the Lord has dealt with me about at length in recent years. I have taken some hard lessons, and I have learned some of them very well. There is a spirit of Jezebel at work in the church, manifesting in various ways. I'm not going to preach here about morality and immorality simply because those subjects are being well covered elsewhere and those of you the Lord is addressing in particular are ready for a different lesson. I'm going to preach what is not well covered. Since the Lord is not apt to be grading on a curve, so to speak, we do well to observe His standards. When it comes to the Bride selection, how white does the robe have to be? WHITE! I see some among us who desire to be found worthy at the Bridegroom's coming not only tolerating Jezebel, but unable to recognize her when she is at work among us! I can not keep silent at this time. A portion of meat in due season must be brought forth. A little scrubbing between the toes at this foot washing basin needs to happen. Jezebel leads the Lord's own bond-servants astray. When the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire throws those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, it is no joke! There is yet time remaining to repent! He will kill her children with pestilence, and this is a RIGHT NOW message for you and I, the church, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is not for a people casually considered to be the lost, but for a people known by the Son of God to have "love and faith and service and perseverance," to whom He also says "your deeds of late are greater than at first." Have you been feeling pretty good about your state lately? Good. Is this enough to be content? NO! When Jezebel's children are killed with pestilence, the result will be the intended result, that "all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds."

The Lord has granted me some favor with regard to understanding about Jezebel. I could write a book about what I've learned, but there is no time for such a thing. The big key is in the doing of the deeds, where the rubber meets the road. Again, I will echo the words of the Judge, that He who searches the minds and hearts will give to each of you according to your deeds. So, what are your deeds? How do your deeds compare to His standard?

Jezebel. She is a false Bride. AntiBride. She is not a person or even a people, really, but a spirit like unto and in close association with antiChrist. As is Christ and His Bride, so is antiChrist and antiBride. The lawless one will appear to the deluded as Christ, and in a similar fashion lawless Jezebel appears as the Bride of Christ. In Babylon, she is positioned as a star, with the respect and awe of adoring saints. She is considered a prophetess, having the attributes like unto true prophetic gifts and wielding authority from the most High God. She operates with spiritual control, but not by the working of the holy spirit. She exalts herself before the King, feigning humility, where the true Bride humbles herself before the King. Jezebel controls people by lies and manipulation, masterfully gaining and utilizing inside information and playing confidence games to slide alongside her victims and usurp their authority. She is vicious and unrepentant, even murdering without conscience. She feigns subjection to men and to the King, yet she is subject only to the nature of the spirit that feeds her addiction to power, reveling in the ability to stealthily humiliate, castrate and destroy. If you think you haven't been exposed to this spirit, I say to you it has just not yet been revealed to you. The antidote to Jezebel is to put aside those deeds of witchcraft and do the deeds of the Bride. Be subject to the head of the church in everything! If you would truly have Him as your Husband, be subject to Him in everything. Put away rebellion against the rule and authority of God in your life. To my male friends, accept your assigned gender role and abide confidently and securely in it. To my female friends, accept your assigned gender role and abide confidently and securely in it. To the praise of His glory as He is about to present to Himself His glorious Bride!

In all these gender specific commands, consider how the obedient saints model the relationship of Christ and His bride. Consider how the disobedient church is a corrupt and perverted model. The Babylon church of his body is the harlot, unfaithful. Women who speak in church, do you model the Bride or the antiBride Harlot? The message the world needs is not the word of the Bride but the word of the Bridegroom! Women who instruct men? Is it right for the church to instruct Christ? Women who nag, humiliate and manipulate their husbands? It should not be so, but, indeed, the church attempts to manipulate Christ all day long with self serving prayer and many schemes. Many are quite happy to serve the Lord, so long as it is as an adviser. Men, too operate with Jezebelic witchcraft in these ways. Men who passively let women act in such ways as those, do you model Christ, or Ahab the submissive enabler? Or, do you even encourage such behavior? Oh, people, the model I see in action is not yet right. We all need courage, and repentance. Life today might seem a little more complicated with regard to the kinds of interactions we can have among the saints, but it's really not. The same principles apply.

Men and women in the church are under a curse because of rebellion against the authority of God and refusal to submit to His rule. Men and women both can be children of Jezebel, but it is most commonly a female gender matter, with men typically shoring her up in the spirit of Ahab. Yet, it requires the participation of men to permit and persist the work of Jezebel in the church and I believe men are the more accountable as man is the appointed head of woman and he is responsible to give himself for her as Christ does the church. Yes, men, the curse came when Adam willfully disobeyed, and you are accountable for standing against Jezebel through your humble obedience and subjection to your Head's rule of authority.

There are differences between single women, married women, divorced women and widows. And the same with men. There's no time for and no need for hard rules. This is a matter of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Some of you women teach men and need to repent of it. Some of you men let yourselves be taught of women and you need to repent of it. In each one of these gender specific commands I've addressed in this writing: If the shoe fits, wear it. Amen? Before you react and do something you might regret, like reach through the internet and strangle me, take some time to consider it before the Lord honestly and humbly. We all need each other's help, to wash each other's feet, to lift each other up in prayer. Bar none. I believe this with my whole heart.

My personal testimony is that for little obedience in these matters I've seen amazingly huge blessing! And, conversely, for what seems to me little disobedience, amazingly huge consequence. The truth is, He is merciful and abounds in grace towards me. And I have been preserved to have the honor of bringing this testimony before you today, beloved.

May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,
"THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS,
AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."
5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)
6) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
7) But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
8) And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.

Romans 3:4-8

Let us not think to do evil so good may come. Let us simply obey His commands, which is to pay the debt of love we truly owe, and trust the one who sends us to make good on His promises, so that you may prevail when you are judged, my beloved.

Bob Schlenker
TheOpenScroll.com