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"I saw that while Jesus was in the Most Holy Place, He would be married to the New Jerusalem; and after His work should be accomplished in the holiest, He would descend to the earth in kingly power and take to Himself the precious ones who had patiently waited His return." Early Writings 251 According
to this quote our prophet saw Jesus being married to the New Jerusalem
while he was still IN the Most Holy Place before He closes probation
and leaves the Most Holy Place to come to earth. This would
lead us to think
"THEY (the Bride) WERE NOT TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON AT THE MARRIAGE; for it takes place in heaven, WHILE THEY ARE UPON THE EARTH. The followers of Christ are to "wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding." (Luke 12:36) But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go into the marriage." The phrases "not...present in person" and "to follow Him by faith" help us to grasp the significance of the celestial wedding as it relates to us. Like Moses, we follow Jesus by faith, "SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE." (Hebrews 11:27) What
does this marriage represent? "The marriage represents the
reception by Christ of His kingdom." (GC 426)
Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, "Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to myself." This scene shows Jesus going to His Father to receive the Kingdom. That means He goes from the Holy first apartment into the Most Holy second apartment of the Sanctuary. Receive the kingdom means He is to be married by the Father in the throne room, which is in the Most Holy Place. The answer to the first question of where the wedding takes place is most clearly defined. The answer to the second question, when will the wedding take place? is likewise clearly pointed out, but not in terms of specific dates. Specific dates are never given by the Lord. At this stage, time setting is always a mark of the enemy--but not sequence of events.
"...the living righteous will receive the seal of God prior to the close
of probation; also that these will enjoy special
"Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords." Early Writings 280 In these passages we see that when probation has closed the marriage is complete. The living righteous receive the seal of God prior to the close of probation. Two separate events are in progress. The sealing of the saints and the close of probation. Thus we see the marriage and sealing occur "prior to the close of probation." Also 1 Selected Messages 66 mentions the living righteous will "enjoy special honors in the kingdom of God," and on this same page Ellen says there will be an "extra meeting for those who have the seal of the living God." We will explore possible meanings of this phrase a little later on. The
above quotations answer the questions of where and when.
But the nearness of this event escapes our ability to comprehend.
Though answers to where and when are well defined, the answer
to who is the Bride has been more
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