To our knowledge  just who the Bride is has never before been clearly understood.  We will share this light in the sequence in which it was  given. This understanding came as we were studying the following text in  relationship to the knockings of Christ discussed previously. 

             AND  BE  YE YOURSELVES LIKE UNTO MEN THAT  WAIT  FOR THEIR LORD, WHEN  HE WILL RETURN FROM THE WEDDING: THAT WHEN  HE COMETH AND KNOCKETH, THEY MAY OPEN UNTO HIM IMMEDIATELY.   Luke 12:36. 

            As we considered this text one thing became clear:  The wedding is over and the Master is returning, we assume,  with His Bride,  for certainly a newly wed groom  would  not be returning from his wedding without her.    But  this  text raises  other questions.   From where is he coming?  And why is He depicted  as knocking  at  the  door of His own home.   Or is it His door  at  which  he  is knocking?  Who are the men waiting for Him to open the door? 

           As  we have seen the Spirit of Prophecy answers the first questions where and when he was coming.   The answer to the other questions in this text led to understanding who the Bride is.   To understand the meaning of this text, we first  must understand the sequence of events of a typical marriage in Christ's time. 

            In  those days the wedding ceremony could take place in the home of  either the bride or the groom.   Always a feast or wedding supper was an integral part of the wedding.   And both before and after the  marriage a wedding  procession
took place. 

            If  the  wedding  was  to  take place at the  bride's  home, the wedding procession  with the groom,  family,  and friends,  would make its way to the bride's  home.  After the wedding service was completed and  they  finished eating,  the groom, with his bride and all guests, would then go to either the groom's home or to their new home where another feast would take place,  this time put on by the family of the groom. 

            But the wedding could also take place at the groom's home and be put on by his  family. Which family hosted the wedding  was determined by the financial status  of the respective families.   Whoever could  best  afford  the  wedding
agreed to support it. 

          It  is  in  light of this custom that Jesus in type is seen in  Luke  12:36 above bringing His Bride from the wedding ceremony to some other place.   Since the  Heavenly  Father is the only one capable of supporting this wedding of the
Son  of  God,  Jesus must be returning to earth from heaven to His  Bride  whom Ellen says waits here for Him to return. 

            Lest some be confused and misunderstand, this return of our Lord IS NOT His second coming in the clouds of glory, but rather His coming in His Holy Spirit, known to us as the latter rain.   The marriage is consummated in type  when the
Bride  receives the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit.   Then filled with  His Spirit she goes forth in the power of the loud cry to knock on the heart's door of all the faithful elect, those chosen to be in the wedding party because they
have on their wedding garments. 

            In the parable of the ten virgins the women are seen waiting for the Bride and Bridegroom to return (in His Spirit)  from the wedding ceremony.   In this case, He is returning from the wedding in Heaven to earth to invite all who are prepared to join in the celebration feast.   The five wise  virgins are waiting to join this wedding procession to spiritually walk to  the wedding feast which will take place in heaven. 

            Most  people  have always assumed the "virgins" were the Bride of Christ because John says in Revelation 14:3,4  the 144,000   are  virgins,   but  an important  truth  in  this parable has been overlooked.    The VIRGINS CANNOT POSSIBLY  BE  THE  BRIDE,   for they are pictured  waiting,   and  meeting  the Bridegroom and Bride AFTER the wedding.   They are only part of the  wedding party or procession.  Neither are they bridesmaids like some have supposed, for
this  heavenly wedding needs no bridesmaids.   Likewise,  the men mentioned  in Luke  12:36   are obviously not the Bride either.   Neither are all  the  other guests  that  were  invited by the Father to the wedding feast as mentioned  in Matthew 22.  These others are those "precious ones who had patiently waited his return."   (Early Writings 251)   The virgins obviously must be the many elect,  beside the Bride, who also are looking for their Lord's return. 

           To answer the above question, whose door Jesus is knocking on? we need to go back to our discussion in Monograph Seven about who is knocking.  In Luke 12:36 it is Jesus who is again knocking. 

            Now, this being the case, one would assume that Jesus would be perhaps knocking at the door of the Bride's house to gain entrance,  but this does not fit with the facts.   In this Scripture He is seen knocking on the door of  His dwelling  place  here on earth.   And where is that dwelling place?   Our heart temples  of  course.   Now since the marriage is complete, He  could  not  be knocking  at  the Bride's heart door because He is already dwelling within  her heart, for the two are one.  This text implies then that after  the  wedding Jesus comes back to earth, and with His Bride both seek to gain entrance to the
hearts of all the faithful WHO ARE NOT THE BRIDE. 

            If the same line of reasoning holds true,  the men who wait for the Lord to return  from the wedding are those who have yet to be touched by the movings of the latter rain of the Spirit.   They are those who are still  only  justified. They  have only received the former rain.   That is why the Lord is knocking at their  heart's  door.   But this coming is different because He with His  Bride come  to offer them the all important--wedding garment so they can  attend  the wedding feast. 

            To  gain  entrance  to the wedding celebration,  the person must  wear  the wedding garment of Jesus'  righteousness,  given by the latter rain of the Holy Spirit.  Because this knocking occurs AFTER the wedding, this event takes place DURING  the  time of the loud cry.   The knock or invitation by the  Bride  and Groom is extended  first to the SDA church and then is extended to the rest  of the honest in heart. 

            Some  will  question why this interpretation includes the  Bride  with  the Groom  when the passage in Luke mentions only the Groom knocking.   The reason, is simple.   The Bride,  New Jerusalem, at the marriage is totally filled with Jesus'  Holy Spirit.   She receives His new name and a star in her forehead and is given her commission as Loudcrier. 

            Our Lord does not return here in the person of Jesus, for this only happens at the second coming.   Rather this return is that silent, secret coming of His Holy Spirit during the loud cry as pictured in  Luke  17.    In Volume  One  we pointed  out that Michael is involved in all end time  spiritual events through His  Holy  Spirit.    The return of our Lord in this parable is  one  of  those events.    The Spirit-filled Bride is the one who actually  does  the knocking. Because of this she is said to accompany the Master as He knocks at the heart's door of His believers.   It is Michael's Spirit through them who gives the loud cry invitation to the elect to come join with the bridal party and  prepare for the wedding feast soon to take place in heaven.   This is the knocking depicted in Luke 12:36. 

    Matthew 25,  a  parallel time passage to Luke 12:36,  tells of five foolish virgins  calling  at the door of the Master's house to  gain  entrance  to  the wedding feast, but they are refused entrance. 

    "THEN  SHALL  THE KINGDOM OF  HEAVEN  BE LIKENED UNTO TEN VIRGINS,  WHICH TOOK THEIR LAMPS, AND WENT FORTH TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM.    AND FIVE OF THEM WERE  WISE,  AND  FIVE  WERE FOOLISH.   THEY THAT WERE FOOLISH TOOK THEIR LAMPS, AND TOOK NO  OIL WITH THEM;   BUT THE WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR  VESSELS WITH THEIR LAMPS.
    WHILE  THE  BRIDEGROOM TARRIED,  THEY  ALL  SLUMBERED  AND SLEPT.   AND AT MIDNIGHT THERE WAS A CRY MADE,  BEHOLD,  THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH;  GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM.   THEN ALL  THOSE VIRGINS AROSE, AND TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS.
    AND THE FOOLISH SAID UNTO THE WISE,  GIVE US OF YOUR  OIL;  FOR OUR LAMPS ARE GONE OUT.   BUT THE WISE ANSWERED, SAYING, NOT SO;  LEST THERE BE NOT ENOUGH FOR US AND YOU:  BUT GO YE RATHER TO THEM THAT SELL, AND BUY FOR YOURSELVES. AND  WHILE THEY WENT TO BUY,  THE BRIDEGROOM CAME;  AND THEY  THAT  WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE  (or wedding feast); AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.   AFTERWARD CAME ALSO THE OTHER VIRGINS, SAYING,  LORD, LORD, OPEN TO US.   BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID,  VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,  I  KNOW YOU NOT.
    WATCH  THEREFORE,  FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE  HOUR WHEREIN THE SON OF MAN COMETH."    Matthew 25:1-13 

            This  parable depicts the scene following Luke 12:36.   The Spirit of  the Bride and Groom have entered individual hearts during the loud  cry.    Those believers are represented in this parable by the five wise virgins because they have the latter rain oil.  (Some will question equating "marriage" in the above text with a wedding feast.  The Greek word used in this text means just that, a wedding feast.)  The wise virgins have received the latter rain, that extra oil of the Holy Spirit which imparts to them their new character, the righteousness of their Lord.  A righteous character is their wedding garment, which, when the
call  goes out by the Bride and Groom to come to the  wedding feast, entitles them entrance to Heaven. 

            On  the other hand,  the five foolish virgins represent all those  who  are "destitute of the Holy Spirit."  (Christ Object Lessons 408)  They do not receive the latter rain of  the Holy Spirit because they have not had a former rain experience  and  do not seek a relationship with the Holy Spirit.   According to this parable there does come a time when they realize what has happened.  The words of inspiration come to haunt them. 

             The fellowship of  the Spirit...could alone make you one with the joyous throng at the marriage feast.  Christ Object Lessons  413.

            Finally realizing their need,  they go out to seek the oil of  the  Spirit. In  the parable they finally find some oil and now have light to make their way to wedding.  But knocking on the door they find to their dismay that  they cannot gain entrance, for the service is already in progress.  Probation's door is already closed to them,  and they are lost without.   In this parable we see our  brothers  and  sisters who waited too long  to receive  the  Holy  Spirit. Notice  that they did find oil of The Holy Spirit,  for they were able to make their  way back to the wedding feast,  but it was  too late for the  Spirit  to effect  a change in their lives and  their own filthy robes could not recommend them for entrance. 

            If they had,  as instructed in Luke 12,  "IMMEDIATELY"  opened the door  of their  hearts  when  the Bride and Groom knocked,  they would have had time  to prepare, like the five wise virgins.   The midnight call "BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH; GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM" IS the loud cry call. 

    The  parable  of the marriage feast of Matthew 22  depicts the response  of those outside our church to the knockings of the Bride and Groom in Luke 12:36. Some of them also reject the loud cry, or accept too late and are not given the necessary  wedding garment.   But some do accept and  put  on  the  garment  of Christ's righteousness and join the wedding rocession.    They, along with the Adventist  believers,   walk the Pathway and are allowed to attend the  wedding feast in heaven. 

            The parable of the wedding garment and the ten virgins during this time  is depicted in yet another parable of Jesus found in Luke 11:5-8.   Only this time the Holy Spirit is symbolized by bread. 

    "AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHICH OF YOU SHALL HAVE A FRIEND, AND SHALL GO UNTO HIM AT MIDNIGHT, AND SAY UNTO HIM, FRIEND, LEND ME THREE LOAVES; FOR A FRIEND OF MINE IN HIS JOURNEY IS COME  TO ME,  AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SET BEFORE HIM.   AND HE FROM WITHIN SHALL ANSWER AND SAY,  TROUBLE ME NOT:  THE DOOR IS  NOW  SHUT AND MY CHILDREN ARE WITH ME IN  BED;  I CANNOT RISE AND GIVE THEE.  I SAY UNTO YOU, THOUGH HE WILL NOT RISE AND GIVE HIM,  BECAUSE HE IS HIS FRIEND, YET BECAUSE OF  HIS IMPORTUNITY HE WILL RISE AND GIVE HIM AS MANY AS HE NEEDETH." 

            This  householder, a true Philadelphian but not an SDA, went  to  his comfortable  bed one night with no particular needs he was aware of,  secure in his doctrine (or lack of it) and church attendance.  At midnight,  in the midst of  the  darkest sin in the world and false doctrine in the church,  a   friend stopped by his  house during his trek on the Christian Pathway to inquire about his faith.   Hungry for the bread of the Word,  the visitor asked food from his friend.  Alas! the Philadelphian friend had not a crumb! 

            Alarmed at his own emergency,  and wanting to supply his hungry friend,  he ventured  into the night hoping to borrow from his SDA  neighbor. Neighbor's door was  barred  for the night, so friend pounded. Neighbor, a loyal, doctrinally pure SDA,  has been asleep,  and so is the rest of the family.   He thinks  since probation is closed,  SDA's and their children can  rest  through eternity, their work for the world ended. 

            But wait! Rest is impossible,  for the pesty neighbor is determined to have the  bread  of heaven and won't quit knocking.   Grudgingly Father SDA shuffles into the night with the three loaves (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)  because of
the  annoying tenacity of the Philadelphian. The hungry ones rejoice over the Holy Spirit and their new found truth.  And a surprised neighbor who thought it was too late for anyone else to be saved,  finds them worshipping in his church the next  Sabbath.    Philadelphian Friend has to work hard to  get  the  Holy Spirit,  just as do Loudcriers and other elect  The Holy Spirit does not come with casual inquiry. 

            Jesus  explains  in  the next few verses that God is not grudging like  the neighbor. He contrasts the Father's willingness with the neighbor's  grudging help. But we have to realize a need, ask repeatedly and share. Bread gets moldy if you don't use it.   In verses 8-13  Jesus tells what  the  Father is willing to give. 

     "AND  I  SAY UNTO YOU,  ASK,  AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN  YOU;  SEEK,  AND YE SHALL FIND;  KNOCK AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.    FOR  EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH;  AND  HE  THAT
SEEKETH  FINDETH;   AND  TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH  IT  SHALL  BE OPENED.    IF A SON SHALL ASK BREAD OF ANY OF YOU THAT IS  A FATHER, WILL HE GIVE HIM A STONE: OR IF HE ASK A FISH,  WILL
HE FOR A FISH GIVE HIM A SERPENT? OR IF HE SHALL ASK AN EGG, WILL HE OFFER HIM A SCORPION?  IF YE THEN, BEING EVIL,  KNOW HOW  TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN:  HOW  MUCH  MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM." 

            There  are  other  possible meanings here,  parallels that may also  apply. The  householder  might  represent Laodicean Adventism  and  the  neighbor  the Father.    The  children  in bed might represent His adopted elect  before  the general  close  of  probation,  the 144,000  Bride of Christ who are having spiritual  intercourse with the Groom Jesus.   They are married and sealed  and probation for them has closed.   The next day will be the dawn of the loud  cry and they will go out with power to proclaim the third angel's message. 

            The  children  might also represent immature SDA's who don't have the  Holy Spirit in sufficient quantity to be a bride or Loudcrier, but they are saved. 

            The Father is depicted being reluctant to give bread for time of the loud cry has not yet begun.  It is night because the glory of the Lord (His  Holy Spirit in the loud cry time) has not yet come.   The dawn of Day Star,  the Sun of  Righteousness  is  yet to appear.   Night may be depicted because of church apostasy.  Either way, in this parable,  it is not yet time for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore the "Bread of Life,"  Jesus, is given to them in the power of the former rain of the Holy Spirit. 

            As spiritual intercourse takes place between the Bride and Groom, spiritual seed is being planted through the Bride in the hearts of those friends who came asking for spiritual food.   When the day of the Lord's glory dawns,  its light and warm rays will cause those seeds to rapidly grow into  a mature harvest and result  in their sealing,  the general close of probation and then the  harvest gathered by the Bride and Groom. 

            If the householder seeking bread for his friend represents Laodicean  SDA's not  chosen to be the Bride of Christ because they did not accept the call when first given,  then the householder is depicted as coming to the Father  because
intercession  in the Most Holy Place has ceased.   The giving  of  the bread is possible even though Jesus is no longer interceding on behalf  of  the saints. It  is now given through the Bride because of spiritual intercourse with Jesus. The Laodicean householder is also welcome to partake of this bread and  receive the  latter rain of Holy Spirit (those called to the wedding feast),  or he may not,  because he feels satisfied with his spiritual baby food.   He may in fact go back to bed  when  the  friend  leaves  and  continue with his  sleep  of indifference.   At  this  time  in the story,  even  though  Jesus' work of intercession  has ceased,  He has not yet come out of the  Most  Holy Place and probation has not yet closed for the world. 

            If  we  take the interpretation that the householder is an SDA Laodicean rather than a Philadelphian non-SDA, it is interesting  that  Laodicea  is depicted  as having a part in sharing with friends the bread of life that will prepare them for the reception of the latter rain.   But it will also be noted that Laodicea was destitute of this bread, not having any.  He had to go to the Father to receive the former rain of the Holy Spirit in order to give those seeking. 

            This  is  the time after Jesus is depicted in Revelation  knocking  on  the hearts  door  of  Laodicea to gain entrance.   As a neighbor and friend he  had repeatedly knocked on his door and sought entrance and to share His bread.  But Laodicea was  satisfied with what he had.   Finally the Lord  no longer knocked and Laodicea finds himself without food. 

            This is why the Lord is reluctant to open the door.   But if Laodicea wants bread  bad  enough to continue to press the Father,  He,  not willing that  any should perish will finally give the needed bread.   His seeming  reluctance  is only  His  way  of making sure Laodicea really wants this bread bad  enough  to agonize before Him to receive it.   After all, for over 140+  years He has been knocking  on Laodicea's heart door,  with no response.   If Laodicea wants  the bread of life he is going to have to seek it with all his heart. 

            But when the awakening begins to take place in the midnight of this earth's history  and in the darkest hour of Laodicea's life,  people begin  to remember the  seeds of truth read or heard,  perhaps implanted years ago, or  recently
because  of the endeavors of the Bride and Groom.   Even though  asleep,   some Laodicean individuals awaken to the fact that something  is happening.  What he sees happening in the lives of his friends makes him realize this is the end of time, and  he  too goes out to seek the bread offered to him  so  many  times before. 

            Laodicea's  neighbor could have been His best friend,  Jesus,  and actually wanted Laodicea to move into His home, but Laodicea, being an independent sort, would have none of it.   He wanted to "do his own thing."   He did not want the
Bread of Life.  Rather, he preferred the wine of Babylon and her delicacies. 

            This parable may have many other applications,  all true.   Not only  could this parable have individual meaning, but it could just as easily be applied to the corporate body, the organized church. 

            Applying this parable to our church, the householder may well represent the leaders of the organized church.  The friends who come asking may be the honest in heart within our church, as well as those outside.   This parable shows that
Laodicea will be responsible for sharing the  Holy Spirit with others, but only after she seeks the bread of life (The Holy Spirit) herself. 

            Interestingly  enough,   you  will  notice in the parable  the  householder (leaders)   is never shown actually partaking of the bread himself.    He  only gives  it to others who ask.   He may preach Christ and Him crucified,  but  he himself may be, as Paul puts it, "A CASTAWAY."  He has all the truth and light, but it is not a heart religion.   But praise the Lord,  not all the ten virgins (the SDA church) are found wanting.   Some will heed the call and come when the Bride and the Groom say come. 

            In Luke 11:9  Jesus tells us to ask,  seek and knock for the  Holy  Spirit. This  is  the time in verse 5 when Laodicea comes to the neighbor and knocks on the  door to receive bread of the Holy Spirit.   After this time only one  more knocking  is described in Scripture and that is when the Bride and Groom  knock for the last time. 

            If you will recall, Revelation and Song of Solomon described Jesus not only knocking but also calling.   We said the calling represented the wooings of the Holy  Spirit as Jesus knocked to gain entrance to the heart.   We  equated  the knocking with the call. 

            Now take this one step further.   When our Lord returns the second time, He comes: 

    " ...WITH  A  SHOUT,   WITH  THE VOICE  OF  THE  ARCHANGEL (Michael), AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.   THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL
BE CAUGHT UP IN THE AIR TO MEET  HIM AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. "
                                                                                                                                     1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 

        Now when we are caught up in the air with the resurrected saints,  what  is the next thing to take place?  The righteous who are alive at the second coming are  taken to Heaven with the resurrected saints and the wedding  feast  begins shortly thereafter. 

        This Scripture agrees perfectly with Revelation 3:20. 

    "BEHOLD,  I  STAND AT THE DOOR,  AND KNOCK:  IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME." 

            You will notice if we open the door to Him,  Jesus says He will come in and sup with us.   He then adds parenthetically "AND HE WITH ME."   This last  part refers  to the time the Bride knocks at the believer's heart door to invite him to the Groom's banqueting house for the marriage feast.   All these  Scriptures point to the time of the wedding feast and describe those who will be there. 

            After  or  during the wedding feast in heaven (which is not the  marriage), another very  important event takes place,  which is even more  important  than being  invited to the feast,  but without an invitation to the feast the second event  could not take place.   All those in attendance are initially GUESTS  of the  Bride  and Groom.   But after the feast is over the Father invites them to become  part of God's FAMILY.   They are officially adopted into  God's  family because  they  too,  like the Bride,  reflect God's character perfectly and are clothed with His robe of righteousness.  They too,  become heirs of the kingdom and  joint heirs with Christ.   How fantastic is our God to make provision  for any who will come and make them part of the heavenly family.