Who Is This Woman?
Who Is This Woman?

Who Is This Woman?

Our eyes are opened when we are born again (John 3:3), yet, just as an infant’s eyes are unable to focus for the first few days, so our newly gained spiritual eyesight also needs to be adjusted. Paul prayed for the Ephesian church that their eyes would be “enlightened” to know God’s Eternal Purpose (Eph 1:17-18; 3:8-11).

The “Genesis 3 to Revelation 20” Focus. The ego-centric society in which we live can greatly hinder the development of our spiritual vision. Much Gospel preaching today seems to address man’s need for the forgiveness of sins rather than God’s original purpose. We could call that narrow, man-centered message the “Genesis 3 to Revelation 20 Focus”. Genesis chapter three starts with the fall of man. Revelation ends with man’s “great escape” – how those whose names are in the Book of Life are able to escape judgment in the lake of fire. Now forgiveness of sins is a wonderful part of the Gospel and the thief on the cross will surely be singing “Amazing Grace” for all of eternity. Nevertheless, God has so much more in His mind than just getting us “cleaned up”!

Genesis 3 and Revelation 20 start and end with man, but by taking a few steps back to include the additional four chapters of God’s Word, we can take in a much grander scene. These four chapters start with God and end with God. Interestingly, Genesis chapters one and two are mirrored in Revelation chapters twenty-one and twenty-two. In both portions we find a River of Life, a Tree of Life, a man and woman, and a marriage. “It is not good for man to be alone,” (Gen 2:18) are words uttered by God concerning Adam, but behind those words is the longing of God’s heart for the “Last Adam,” (1 Cor 15:44-47) Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is God’s heart-cry and His Eternal Purpose: to find a wife for His Son. In the final chapters of Revelation we discover that God’s longing is wonderfully satisfied! A woman is prepared, adorned and glorious, for Jesus Christ (Rev 19:7-8; 21:1-2; 9-11).

Who is this woman? She is the New Jerusalem, a glorious city descending down out of heaven, adorned as a Bride for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. She is the corporate Church, the “Ekklesia” (the Greek word for “church” which does not refer to a building, but rather to the gathering of people). Paul says that this is a “Great Mystery” (Eph 5:32), one which has been “hid for ages,” one about which the prophets have prophesied, and sages have longed to see (Eph 3:2-11; Col 1:25-26).

Amazingly, when spiritual eyesight has been enlightened to take in this wider perspective, the entire Bible becomes vibrant with new life. No longer are the Holy Scriptures merely Sunday School curriculum. They are the very heart of God revealed. God goes to great lengths in His Word to reveal the various ingredients involved in this holy matrimony. Taking Ephesians 5:23-32 as our text, let’s look at four “romances” as they are narrated to us in the Old Testament.

1. Adam & Eve
We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” (Eph 5:30 KJV).

The Scripture informs us that, God brought each creature to Adam, one by one, watching curiously to see what names Adam would give them. When the pageant was over, a suitable companion for him was still not to be found. What was God’s plan?

God would create a helpmate, not by pulling up a separate entity from the dust, but rather by “constructing” Adam’s bride piece by piece from a single rib. Eve, being created of no other element than Adam himself, became the perfect helpmate and loving companion.

In the same way that Adam had a “girl” inside of him, so also Christ had a “girl” inside of Him. This sheds a whole new light on what Paul described as “being in Christ before the world began” (Eph 1:4).

At Calvary, God put this “Last Adam” to sleep. Jesus’ side was pierced. God reached deep within to pull out the only substance He would ever need to be able to fashion, build, and construct the perfect helpmate for His Son. Being of the same spiritual DNA and genetic makeup, Christ and the Church were made for each other. On the day of Pentecost, the question was asked, “What must we do?” The answer was simple: “Repent, be baptized, and receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” At that very moment, the “Great Mystery,” Christ’s “Eve,” was manifested and 3,000 souls were added to Her in one day (Acts 2:37-48).

2. Isaac & Rebekah
That He might present it to Himself” (Eph 5:27)

Abraham had a perfect plan to send his loyal house-servant on a covenanted mission to bring back the perfect woman and present her to his son, Isaac. Once the servant set out, he had only one intent and purpose. All else would merely be a distraction from fulfilling his promised duty.

After a long journey, he finally arrived at the designated country. Stopping by a well of water, the servant made a simple, but specific request to the Lord. It could not be just any pretty, fair-faced damsel. The chosen woman must not only willingly offer to bring water to him, but also for all of his ten camels. (A side note: one camel can drink up to 30 gallons of water after a long journey. Do the math on that one!)

Standing by the well, even while verbalizing his request, the answer was in progress. A maiden approached and in great excitement “the servant ran to meet her…” (Gen. 24:17). Could this be the one? She agreed to give water to this stranger at his request, but will she willingly give to his camels without being asked? Yes, she is the one!

“And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels
also, until they have done drinking” (Gen. 24:19).

In like manner, on the Day of Pentecost, the Father sent the promised Holy Spirit down into this world to find the perfect Bride and present her to Christ. The Spirit’s mission is clear and precise, and nothing can or will distract Him!

There was but one more concern about Rebekah. She had never seen Isaac. She had no idea what kind of man he was. Would she be willing to go with him through the desert? What would her reply be?

“…they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man?
And she said, I will go” (Gen. 24:58).

How could she be so willing to travel such a long treacherous distance to marry a man she had never even seen before? Undoubtedly, Abraham’s servant must have been whispering wonderful secrets to her about his master’s son.

Likewise the Holy Spirit does just that for us today, revealing Christ to us in every precious way, as we yield our lives to Him:

“He [the Holy Spirit] shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine,
and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:14).

Have we passed the test of willingness and, in the Spirit’s hearing, made the declaration: “I will go”? If so, then rejoice! The desert road still stretches before us, but the precious secrets told us by the Holy Spirit about our “Husband-to-be” will make that journey wonderfully sweet until we see Him face to face!

“And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac,
she lighted off the camel” (Gen. 24:64).

3. Jacob & Rachel
Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for her” (Eph 5:25)

For a second time, the setting for an Old Testament “romance” was a well of water. But this time, it was the man rather than the woman who did the serving! Jacob had traveled from a far country and, upon hearing that Rachel was coming that way, he quickly displayed his might by rolling away the heavy stone from the mouth of the well. He then proceeded to water all of her sheep.

Then the kiss! He had encountered the woman who would be his life-companion. With the remembrance of how long he had waited to find the perfect wife, Jacob now looked ahead to their life of joy together, and lifted up his voice and wept (Gen 29:11).

Nevertheless, one more thing was required of him before she could be whisked off her feet as his bride: He needed to work for seven years in order to win Rachel’s hand in marriage.

“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days
because of the love he had to her” (Gen. 29:20).

Can you imagine the emotional excitement that must have overwhelmed Jacob’s heart as he finished the final day of his seven years’ labor? He must have shouted for all to hear: “At last! My work is done! I can have my bride!”

Several centuries later similar words were echoed by One who also had finally accomplished what was necessary to purchase His Bride. That Man was not just any man, it was the God-Man, Jesus Christ. His words of hope, love, and joy at that final moment on the Cross were: “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

What wonderful love He demonstrated for us “in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). His suffering was the choice of love: “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross…” (Heb. 12:2). What was the “joy” set before Him? What else but you and I, members together of the Living Church!

As we now live out of love for Him, may we always remember from Whom we received that first kiss of grace: “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

4. Esther & Ahasuerus
So that He might sanctify, having cleansed her…” (Eph 5:26)

Winning the king’s favor had never before appeared so easy! All the young virgins of the kingdom were gathered under the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch. For twelve months anything they desired would be given them: the latest Persian fashions, manicures, hair-styles, education in queenly charm, etc. it was theirs for the asking!

Poor Hegai. He must have been worn out in all his efforts to fulfill each woman’s beautification requests. But wait! There was one woman who caught his attention. She was different. There was nothing impatient or finnicky about her. She was next in line to offer her list. How many things would she ask for? What? An empty list! To Hegai’s surprise, all she requested was that Hegai give her whatever he felt was best.

Hegai is a beautiful foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit. How gently He works! Though He is fully authorized and equipped to give each one what was requested, the Spirit’s real search is for those who will leave the choice with Him! Yieldedness literally excites God’s Spirit and encourages Him to perform a quick work in our lives.

When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her (Esther 2:15 NIV).

Now a word must be spoken here about Mordecai as well. He had done a fine job of raising Esther. His duties toward her perfectly characterize those who lead and pastor the Church. Certainly her yieldedness to Hegai was something in which Mordecai had diligently and wisely instructed her. How wise was that instruction! Who better knows the likes and dislikes of the king than the Hegai, the king’s eunuch?

Herein is an important exhortation for all those entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Church! Beware of the carnal temptation to take over the Heavenly Hegai’s job! Never attempt to dress up the Church of God with attire and adornments you feel are fit. That work belongs to the Holy Spirit and to Him alone!!

In the same way, Paul reminded the elders of Ephesus that it was not their talents and intellect, but rather the Holy Spirit who had made them overseers over the “flock of God” which Christ “purchased with His own Blood” (Acts 20:28).

As Esther yielded, Hegai worked “speedily” to get her ready for the big day of the royal beauty pageant:

“…Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for purification…” (Esther 2:8-9).

Is it any wonder that some souls get saved and within a short time they have grown in maturity and grace far beyond that of others in the church who have been members for years and even decades? Yieldedness is a virtue that literally excites God’s Spirit and encourages Him to perform a quick work in our lives!

The time of purification and beautification was proportionately measured out: six months of myrrh (a bitter, yet fragrant oil) and six months of sweet perfumes. When we struggle to bring to pass our own concepts of what pleases the king, imbalances and frustrations never cease. Yieldedness enables the Holy Spirit to bring situations into our lives in just the right measure: “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Cor. 1:5 NIV).

The word “purification” in Hebrew literally means “a rubbing, scouring, polishing, sharpening, and brightening.” What better word to describe the Spirit’s process of sanctifying and cleansing a Bride for Christ! Hallelujah!

“…to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:26-27).

All who saw Esther knew there was something different about her. Would she win the pageant? The other women under Hegai’s care frantically struggled throughout those twelve months to dress themselves up for the king, but not Esther. She obeyed Mordecai’s counsel and simply rested comfortably and confidently, leaving all choices to Hegai. Consequently Hegai knew what the king’s choice would be:

“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17).

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 There are some important benefits we will experience when we allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten our eyes to take in this grander scene of God’s Eternal Purpose as it is revealed throughout His Word:

Eternal Perspective on Life. As one songwriter eloquently wrote: “Now my pathway shines brighter when eternal my outlook.” Our life and all of life’s situations take on new light when we realize the glorious purpose for which God has saved us. Referring to life’s many difficult situations, Paul made this declaration: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:17-18).

So Great a Salvation. While the “Genesis 3 to Revelation 20 Focus” may be narrowed in upon man’s need for forgiveness, we cannot deny that  Good News of God’s forgiveness is a wonderful message. Yet, when the Gospel is elevated to encompass God’s Eternal Purpose of preparing the corporate Church – cleansed, sanctified, glorious without spot or wrinkle, fully matured, prepared, and adorned as a Bride for Christ, we can declare with Paul that this Gospel is a “Glorious Gospel” (1 Tim 1:11)! All that the Church could ever require for such a preparation has been abundantly provided through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross! How “great a salvation” (Heb 2:3)!

Our Need for Each Other. Seeing that this Woman is a Corporate Woman, the responsibility as members of one body take on serious proportions. It is for this Corporate Woman that Christ paid such a price. What previously may have seemed like nothing more than casual Sunday social gatherings as faithful church members suddenly takes on deep urgency with eternal implications: “Forsake not the assembling together of yourselves” (Heb 10:25). When Christ’s “Eve” first manifested on the day of Pentecost, this urgency was clearly evidenced: “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house…” (Acts 2:44-47). No wonder Jesus spoke of the power of gathering and agreeing together in times of corporate prayer (Mat 18:19-20). To be able, as His Bride, to express our love to Christ and to be able to express His love to the world around us, we truly do need each other.

A Longing For Christ’s Return. In the closing verses of Revelation, we read “the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’” (Rev 22:17). Seeing what is upon God’s heart throughout Scriptures, is it not wonderfully evident that our greatest passion should be for Christ to return? Paul declared that he “loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). The Bride’s heart should ache: What is taking Him so long? Jesus is waiting for His Bride to grow up fully mature in all of His fulness. Peter tells us how we can shorten that time: “what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

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In conclusion, let’s ask ourselves: Can there be any greater love story than this? Can there be any greater romance than that between Christ and the Church? Church is no longer a building with an address. It is a “Woman,”  a Corporate Woman, the Ekklesia, the assembling together, the functioning, the participating, and the Spirit-led partnership and commitment of born-again Christians who have their eyes opened and enlightened to see clearly who this Woman, the Bride of Christ, really is!

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