The Bride Theft

When Cometh That Thief in the Night - Directory
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What if the majority of Christians have been so wrong about the security of their destiny that they find themselves left behind when the Lord comes for his Bride? Wouldn't that be devastating? Like so many of you who have come to read this I had long been of the opinion that every Christian would go to be with the Lord all at once at his coming; first the dead, then the living. I believed the Lord would deal with the matter of separation between the ranks of saints based upon the individual's reward or worthiness upon arrival in heaven ... but I was wrong! I invite you to search the scriptures to test my work and draw your own conclusion. As you do this and search out answers to the questions that will surely arise, I pray that the Lord will grant insight into the truth of these matters. To the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ - Y'shua HaMashiach!

Separation by Resurrection

After learning the significance of the Mount of Olives (bearing the meaning of "division") and of a special place on that mount called Gethsemane, I began to understand how the church would be divided in the last days. Eventually, after much study and prayer, I came to the startling realization that a separation of the church was going to occur by means of selective resurrection. As noted in the scripture, one will be taken and another left behind. This intentionally vague phrase will be fulfilled at various times in various ways, but, I'm convinced one of the correct interpretations and the one most relevant as I write is that one worthy member of the body of Messiah will be taken in resurrection while another member will be left behind. This resurrection divides the unified body of believers into two distinct groups. After a time, those remaining will once again be divided into two, resulting in a total of three ranks. The full harvest of this entity we know as the church will therefore take place in three phases, one resurrection at a time, corresponding to three harvest festivals: Pesah, Shavuot and finally Succot. Each believer will go in his own turn.

The first rank separated out are the cream of the crop, so to speak. They are the worthy of all the age, the Bride, who are those selected to be wed to the Bridegroom himself. This resurrection event (that I have come to know as the "Bride theft") is appointed for Nisan 21, the Yom Tov or last day of Pesah. From among those left behind after the Bride has been stolen away, a great multitude are separated out, being translated or resurrected to their reward after the counting of the Omer is complete on Shavuot. Much later, those found unworthy after the first two selections had been made will receive their reward as part of the final Sukkot harvest.

As I already mentioned, it was after long and prayerful consideration that insight finally came. The following is the passage that finally convinced me that many of this present church will remain behind after others will have been taken.

It is the very matter of identifying who these people are that is pointedly brought to our attention by one of the elders around the throne in verses 13-14, suggesting that insight into the passage depends upon being able to identify them properly. Sure enough, that's what did it for me! Only after identifying them as those who will remain behind after the Bride is stolen away did I understand. For these people to come out of the great tribulation they must first have been in it. For them to have washed their robes, they must have first received a robe and then soiled it. It must be noted that this great multitude are not exclusively Israel but from every nation, tribe, people and language. This feature directs us to relate them to this present church age where the Gentile shares in the blessings afforded the Jew. The matter of when they received the robe is critical. When did the great multitude get robes? During this present age when robes are given to those of every nation, tribe, people and language, a season with a definite moment of closure! You may well ask the question the holy spirit leads us to ask, "Why were they in the great tribulation if they had robes?" Then, the answer the holy spirit gives is that the robes they had previously received were not white but soiled when the Bridegroom came for his Bride. Being left behind as unworthy they immediately enter into the time of great tribulation. They now have a fresh opportunity to wash their robes and make them white. Those who do are pictured here in Revelation 7. The features mentioned in verses 16-17 reflect the nature of what will have befallen these "second-round" saints during the great tribulation, as noted in other passages of scripture. While there will be great lamentation, weeping and gnashing of teeth, every tear will be wiped away. Praise the name of the Lord for his mercy and goodness.

Willing to be Martyrs

I have noted that the condition of the robe (indicating the status of the wearer) is the determining factor in who is found worthy to be selected as the Bride, but what exactly does this mean? I believe there is a deep literal spiritual truth associated with the robe and its condition, but we need to know what they figuratively represent. A robe is a garment of salvation that is white at the time it is given. The color white represents purity and righteousness. The scriptures are specific about what it takes to make a robe white. This multitude in Revelation 7 are observed to have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, so the blood of the Lamb is required. The lamb's blood was only spilled once - at the cross. If you're going to wash your robe in the blood of the Lamb, you're going to have to go the way of the cross. The way of the cross is willing sacrifice, even unto death.

From the following verses, note that the white robe and the blood of the Lamb relate to one's willingness to die as a martyr.

The willingness to live for the Lord even to the ultimate sacrifice of death for his sake is most essentially what determines a saint's assignment into one of the three ranks. This next passage should clarify that taking up your cross is more than simply crucifying your flesh in a casual sense of limited sacrifice.

When the Lord said "take up his cross and follow me," although it certainly does involve a lifestyle of sacrifice, the literal giving of your physical life may be required. When the Lord mentioned about being killed and on the third day beind raised to life, he was speaking of literal physical death. In this same context we must understand about the lives of those who have in mind the things of God. A man may give his physical life in exchange for his soul, to find it - if it is asked of him. For then, when the Son of Man comes in his Father's glory with his angels He will reward each person according to what he has done. Friend, the blood of the Lamb is found at the cross. When you truly take up your cross, the blood of the Lamb makes your robe white. All sin and guilt stains the robe but it is made white in your willingness even to die for him if he asks it of you. This laundering service is costly, is it not?

So, the people who are seen in Revelation 7 had dirtied their robes, being, in the final analysis, unworthy by reason of their unwillingness to lay down their lives for the Lord's sake, and so were left behind when the Bridegroom came for his Bride.

In the following passage, all three ranks of saints may be observed - the Bride, the white robed great multitude, and, by implication, those saints who are neither.

Make note that the above passage is addressed to a church. The few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes are among the Bride. He who overcomes and who will, like the Bride, be dressed in white, is accounted among the multitude observed in Revelation 7:9-17. Now, it makes little sense to say that the Lord would "never blot out his name from the book of life" if there will not be those whose names will be blotted out. Right? This is a very serious statement. Those who do not make the second cut, so to speak, who are disqualified when the Bride is selected and then further fail to overcome and become dressed in white will surely have their names blotted out from the book of life. Their names will not be acknowledged before Y'shua's Father and his angels. As it is written:

We may infer that the matter of acknowledging him before men can be understood in the context of the willing sacrifice of life for the Lord's sake. As it is also written:

After learning the significance and symbolism of the robe, I have come to appreciate the rich prophetic message given Isaiah.

I feel it is necessary to address whether or not someone we would consider a Christian could possibly take the mark of the beast. Consider the following two passages.

Why would patient endurance be required on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus if there were not some consequence attached to disobedience and unfaithfulness? That consequence must be seen as it is in the context in connection with worshiping the beast and receiving his mark. So, even the saints are threatened by the hazards of this deadly mark!

Why would we be told what they had not done if there were not those of their kind who had indeed done those things? Obviously, some had been threatened with beheading, with losing their lives for Jesus' sake, and chosen instead to attempt to save their lives, worshiping the beast and receiving his mark. Those will not come to life and reign with Christ a thousand years!

There is, however, what appears to be the merciful provision of a solution for those who may repent of having received it.

You may never have considered the connection between the above verse and the mark of the beast, but when you really know there is nothing in the Bible that is trivial or superfluous and that the literal time of greatest tribulation is nearly upon us, the whole body being thrown into hell at the expense or keeping an eye (bio-metric retinal scan access to the beast system of provision) or a right hand (implanted microchip capsule access to the system) points directly to the implementation of the mark and the choices available.

I would like to note the contrast between those who will wash their robes during the great tribulation and those who won't.

The right to the tree of life and access to the city is conditional. Some will be denied access because of their failure to wash their robes. I believe the denial of the right to the tree of life noted in the above verse compares to the name blotted out of the book of life mentioned in Revelation 3:5. What a difference between the two ends, dear friend. Should you miss out on the Bride Theft, take a lesson from it and do not hold this present life so dear.

There's an issue some of you reading this presentation have that makes this presentation hard to accept, so I will digress to address matters of salvation. You may be upset or offended about the idea that some "Christians" who were saved now are seen as not being saved. Salvation is not merely an issue of saved or not, but a three part matter, encompassing the fullness of what makes you complete as a child of God. Salvation concerns spirit, soul and body. There is something of each that may be saved or lost. The salvation of one part doesn't necessitate the salvation of the others in whole or part.

When the three parts of man that can be saved from loss are considered instead of limiting salvation to one particular kind, the "once saved - always saved" controversy (Armenian / Calvinist) can be viewed with a different perspective. Both sides of this issue are largely right in what they include and wrong in what they exclude. When you come to the topic of salvation, learn to identify what exactly is being saved from loss and you will be more discerning in matters of the separation of the church. It's helpful to note whether a biblical usage of "salvation" is an all or nothing proposition or a matter of degree, and whether the salvation takes place in the past, present or future.

Consider the simple perspective on salvation and reward from the following passage.

There is something that will be saved of everyone who builds upon the foundation, no matter what the quality of his work. This saving of "he himself" is the salvation that is by grace through faith, a gift that is not of works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) But beyond this mere saving of "he himself," reward is promised that is based upon works. Your reward depends upon what you have built upon the foundation, upon that which survives the fire. With this broader perspective on salvation, you can perhaps lay aside the resistance you may have had to the matter how some saints will have their names blotted out of the book of life. All will not be lost - but much will!

Now, let me introduce what the apostle Paul had to say about a resurrection-separated church from the epistles in this new light.

There certainly are gifts in the life of a saint, and there is also a prize offered at its end. A prize is different from a gift because it must be won, which means it must be earned according to performance in a competition. The distinction is made in the passage above between the corporate body of runners and one who runs in such a way as to get the one prize given to the winner. The emphasis is upon how the race is run. A crucial and extremely relevant point is driven home as the comparison is made with Israel's exodus from Egypt and their wandering in the wilderness. Consider how all the runners in the race are compared to all the Israelites. The runners who don't train diligently compare to the Israelites who set their hearts on evil things. These runners, who are disqualified for the prize, compare to those Israelites who had their bodies scattered across the desert. Did you get that? These points of comparison should be well noted. As were all the Israelites so are all the runners. As were most of the Israelites, so will be most of the runners! Even though it will be such that all the runners ( including you and I ) "drank from the spiritual rock which is Christ," most of their bodies will be "scattered over the desert" landscape of the world under great tribulation - left behind after the Bride is removed. That's right - MOST! That's not a comforting thought for complacent and casual Christians. But, on the other hand, the runners who so run as to get the prize compare to Joshua, Caleb and those Israelites who had been under the age of accountability, the remnant who crossed over into the promised land. Might this knowledge keep you from setting your hearts on evil things? I pray that it will, my friends.

The only other occurrence of the Greek word translated "prize" (brabeion) appears in this same context (of the Bride theft reward) in the following passage.

In this passage Paul emphasizes the effort he's expending to attain his goal, esteeming the prize worthy of his best effort. The prize relates to a better resurrection that will separate those who win the prize from those who don't. I pray that God does indeed make it very clear to us. In the verses that precede the above passage, a distinction is made between those who put confidence in the flesh, and those who don't - between those with two kinds of righteousness. I believe this is another way to state the difference between the Bride and the Body.

I want to point out the fact that the Greek from which the phrase; "the resurrection from the dead" is translated in verse 11 is a special construction, appearing only here. (exanastasis ten ek nekron) E. W. Bullinger's comments in the Companion Bible reflect the emphasis upon a separation. He translates the Greek word exanastasis (which appears only here) as "out-resurrection." In his notes, he writes about this "resurrection from the dead," that it... "implies the resurrection of some, the former of these two classes, (just and unjust, or, perhaps better stated: worthy and unworthy) the others being left behind. ...The exanastasis must therefore mean a further selection of some before the anastasis of 1 Thes. 4:14, and Paul was not yet sure of attaining to this." This student of the scriptures obviously saw something of a resurrection separated church with the more worthy being taken out first!

You may have noticed that verse 14 parallels verse 11. After looking closely at the Greek and comparing various translations, I believe a better translation of verse 14 is thus: "toward the goal, I pursue unto the prize of the heavenward calling of God in Christ Jesus." The prize of the heavenward calling is this particular resurrection from the dead Paul referred to in verse 11.

Paul continues.

He is addressing brothers, those who have attained or reached the status of "having a robe," so to speak., not those who have attained nothing to live up to. He further tells us to take note of those with a particular lifestyle, not with a particular heritage. He goes on to say:

Stay with me, now. He didn't state that "there are many enemies" of the cross of Christ, nor did he state that "many are enemies." The NIV and NRSV offer "live as" instead of "are" enemies, an excellent interpretation within the context in which it appears. The manner of living is the theme of the context, right? So, we must ask, "many WHO live as enemies of the cross of Christ? Have you jumped outside the context of the church yet? Many CHRISTIANS live as enemies of the cross of Christ! Notice, too, that they live as enemies specifically of the "cross" of Christ, and not of Christ himself. If these people to whom he refers are not his brothers in the Lord, why would Paul be saying it again with tears?

He then speaks about their destiny and why this will be so.

This is cause for sadness, knowing the destiny of so many of our brothers and sisters. The fact that their mind is on earthly things points us back to verses 3 and 4, the matter of confidence in the flesh. Paul concludes his sobering lesson with the contrasting destiny and encouraging hope of those who walk after his example:

Indeed, this is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! Because, if you do not stand firm you will not eagerly await a Savior from heaven and your destiny will be destruction! The resurrection associated with a prize is worth contending for, the one I call "the Bride theft."

The Bride is going to be taken first, as the hardworking among all the farmers in the Lord's harvest field.

The following passage is filled with now familiar themes - a better resurrection, the willingness to endure suffering and death, a race.

Verse 40 suggests to me that these martyrs from ages past will be made perfect with those in the last days who will gain a better resurrection. WOW! What an awesome plan! The reason why our Lord endured and why the martyrs from ages past could and did was because of joy in hope. And so shall it be with you and I, as necessary.

The Theft

The separation of those who are worthy out from among the unworthy will appear to those who are left behind as a theft. As though a thief had stealthily broken into their house, the unworthy will awaken to find their most precious valuables gone.

Let's clearly identify the references. The Lord is going to be the one coming as a thief, coming stealthily to remove the valuables from the house. The house that is broken into represents the house of Ephesians 2:19-22, variously known as the temple, his Body, or the church that is composed of those in Christ who are alive and remain when he comes. The owner or head of the house (oikodespotes) refers to those who have been appointed over the church with authority - the respected and recognizable "big name" leaders. This event where the Bridegroom-thief comes and steals away his valuable Bride by resurrection thereby removing those with white robes from the Body-house is what I call the Bride Theft.

This passage is very cleverly constructed in order to conceal the truth and then to reveal it in due time to those for whom it is intended - you and I. Make note that verse 43 above does not say, "If the owner of the house would have kept watch, he would have known at what time of night the thief was coming and not let his house be broken into," a logical sequence that might seem to make more sense than what is actually written. What is written, however, makes perfect sense to me. Just as the knowledge of the time will come to those keeping watch, it is the ability to truly watch and understand the signs seen that is given according as the times and dates become known. The watching and the knowing the time and dates are woven together.

Before I move on to the next passage, I'd like to elaborate just a bit on the owner of the house. Verse 39 reveals important information about his attitude at the time of the theft. The owner will not know at what time of night the thief is coming, will not be keeping watch and will not want his house to be broken into. These compare to the religious leaders of Israel at Y'shua's first advent but now also to the recognized church leadership. Friend, wisdom dictates that you don't follow them and their ways. Lay aside your pre-conceived ideas, which are largely the deceiving doctrines promoted by the owners of the house and take a fresh look at the revelation being opened to us about the close of the age. Amen?

Moving on, we find a similar set of statements in Luke. Here, a particular time of night is specified, naming two of the night watches. Make note of them, as they are neither superfluous nor trivial.

Now, in a familiar passage written to those who have become knowledgeable about times and dates, we read:

This passage is about the Bride theft, when the Bridegroom comes like a thief in the third watch of the night. The statement that some will not escape makes no sense whatsoever unless others will! The escape is by means of removal by the thief, and this is desirable for those who are taken. We want to escape the destruction!

The word for destruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 appears elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 5:5. Beginning in verse 4, we will begin reading a very interesting portion of a passage that has been wrestled with for many centuries, one that can be viewed in the context of the Bride theft with fresh insight.

None of the popular English versions seem to translate the Greek word, whose root means "to assemble or gather," properly. This word, "sunachthentwn," is in the aorist tense. Bullinger offers this as a translation: "Having been gathered together in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye and my spirit." This accurately reflects the aorist tense, and also properly translates the connected phrase. Think about this for a moment. When will some have been gathered together with Paul's spirit, who assuredly is accounted among the Bride, if not when the Bride theft occurs? Paul, as one who is dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive and remain will be gathered together with him and the others of the Bride to meet the Lord in the air, right?

Consider that the day of the Lord is that same day of the Lord that comes like a thief. When the Bridegroom steals the Bride away in that day, he provides escape for her from destruction. Those who are handed over to Satan do not escape the destruction, but are left behind for Satan to destroy their sinful nature primarily through his agent assigned this task - the one known as the lawless one. By means of their new predicament, these who will have been handed over to Satan in the day of the Lord will actually have a blessing in that they are given an opportunity for the spirit to be saved. What a gracious God we have to extend such an opportunity!

A similar warning comes in the book of Revelation. The distinction between the people is made again in the matter of being awake or asleep. The awake are alert and self-controlled, obeying what they have received and heard; repenting.

There are definite benefits for being awake that relate to knowing at what time the "thief" will come and to keeping one's clothes with oneself.

The following verse is of like kind, appearing in the context of Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. It is a prophecy about Jesus leading the church of the last days to the cross.

If you have read and understood the lesson I presented about Gethsemane, you know when the Lord leads you to the cross you go willingly with joy and thankfulness that you are counted worthy to suffer for his sake. If you rather choose to flee, you will leave what is here portrayed as a linen garment behind.

Consider the promise and the prayer about the trial in the following pair of verses.

Mercifully, provision has been made for deliverance from the evil one, who has a specially appointed period of reign through the agency of the lawless one. Will you be kept from the hour of "peirasmos," or, will you be left behind to endure it? What about those whom the Lord might be placing on your heart as you read?

According to this prophet's description of the last days:

Who are the righteous who perish, or, who are taken away to be spared from evil? In the next resurrection on the Lord's schedule, they are the precious Bride, taken away to be wed to the Bridegroom Y'shua HaMashiach!

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth

When the worthy are separated out and taken to be with the Lord the unworthy who remain behind will not enjoy their new circumstances. The wicked and the unworthy are cast into a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Not very pleasant sounding, is it? I'm not sure you can lump every place weeping and gnashing is mentioned into one place or one event, but various accounts associate it with:

• "the fiery furnace" (Matthew 13:42)
• "outer darkness" (Matthew 22:13, 25:30)
• "a place or portion with the hypocrites" (Matthew 24:51)

Let me introduce you to such a place in the words of Amos.

Verse 20 is descriptive of the outer darkness. The fiery furnace into which Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown (Daniel 3) was a type of this same period of time; the great tribulation. This is where the hypocrites will be, who claim to be what they are not. As most honest people realize, the worst hypocrites are religious, and today, they are found in the church.

In typology, Matthew shows Peter as a particular faction of the church who denies the Lord.

The three times signals a time of a resurrection. The rooster crowing watch is the third watch of the night - the Bride Theft watch. Going outside and weeping bitterly is what those who deny the Lord will do after the Bride is stolen away. Do you see it?

Stand firm, then, if you desire to be a child of the free woman. But let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (that is to live after the flesh and to be carnal minded) and you will be cast out and denied sharing an inheritance with the free woman's son. Is this not one of the lessons of the Bride Theft?

There is going to be a harsh lesson taught to the people of the world. The message is clear: Learn righteous now, or learn righteousness later. Or, not at all. It is still your choice, brothers and sisters.