Scriptures are New King James translation unless otherwise indicated.

Recently, I was awakened at 5:32 AM and instructed to look at Ephesians 5:32. I knew this verse spoke about the responsibilities in the husband and wife relationship but there was more. To my surprise the verse said this:

“This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32).

Two words stood out to me: “great mystery.” As I dug into the mysteries of God in Scripture, I found a treasure trove of truth leading up to the greatest of mysteries: the holy longing in God’s heart to find a bride for His Son.

God has been building up to a point in history when the bride will be presented to her Bridegroom and that holy void will be filled. The bride and bridegroom paradigm will be restored to the church. This is the greatest time to be alive in the history of Christianity. We have a part to play in this great mystery now being fully revealed to us.

Mysteries in Scripture

In the New Testament, at least thirteen different truths carry the distinction of a mystery—profound truths purposely hidden by God for thousands of years. These mysteries are designated to be revealed to a specific group of people at a God-ordained period of time. 

The tabernacle, a picture of God dwelling in the midst of men, is an illustration of how mysteries are revealed over long periods of time. The full truth of this mystery is disclosed when Paul wrote that God would dwell in man and that men would become His dwelling place:

“That is the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27 NET, emphasis added).

Jesus’ ministry further amplifies the biblical truth of mysteries. In Matthew 13, a great multitude gathers to hear about the seed and the sower. However, Jesus leaves without explaining the meaning of the parable. When His disciples ask why He spoke to them in parables, His response is revealing: 

“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (see Matthew 13:11).

The disciples who followed Jesus closely were given the understanding and revelation of the mysteries of the kingdom that the multitudes were not given. Those to whom these mysteries are given were called blessed (see Matthew 13:10-17).

While many New Testament mysteries have been disclosed, a few are yet to be uncovered. Intriguingly, the only mystery yet to be reveled is the one pertaining to Christ and His church, what Paul designated as the “great mystery” in Ephesians 5. This mystery has been reserved for the end time generation—our generation! 

Prophetic Insight into this “Great Mystery”

In a prophetic experience recorded in The Weightiest Matter, a 2007 MorningStar Prophetic Bulletin, Rick Joyner wrote about this great mystery and the desire of the Father to find a bride for His Son, giving us insight into the heart and passion of God:

“As I kept looking at this ball of fire, I saw into it. At its core there was another ball that was a blue/gold metal. This was the nuclear center that caused the fire, which was like a nuclear reaction going on from this inner sphere. This ball was made of the most dense, heavy matter possible. It was also the weightiest thing that mattered to God—His desire for His bride.

“I knew that was why I was struck by the ball of fire before being shown the bridal gown. The main fire, the main passion of God, is for His bride.

“I was being shown this at the beginning of the creation because I was to understand that this was the main thing on God’s heart when He created the universe—His bride, who would be His eternal companion.

“I knew that I was given to understand the ages and ages in which this fire had existed without change, but also to understand both His patience and His resolve to have His bride. This is the main reason that He created the universe, and it is the main reason for its existence.”

In this experience, Rick understood that from the beginning of creation, the weightiest matter on the heart of God was to find a bride for this Son. This is the main reason for the creation and existence of the universe.

It is interesting to note that the last creative act God accomplished in His Creative Week was to make a bride for the first Adam. We are living in monumental times where God’s last creative act in His Redemptive Week will be to create a bride for the Second Adam!

It is apparent that we are in a time when we will witness the culmination of this great mystery. Without question the number one topic of the New Testament centers on the second coming of Jesus. Over three hundred verses in the New Testament address His return, and there is clear instruction on how the believer should prepare in the season of His coming. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus says that in the season of His return, the kingdom of heaven will be like a company of wise and foolish virgins. This parable gives clear direction for believers to “be ready:”

     

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But He answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.  

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming’” (Matthew 25:10-13).

  

The Book of Esther is an Old Testament illustration of a woman in a season of preparation for marriage to the King. She finds herself in this place of privilege only through God’s favor. However, through the wisdom of her Uncle Mordecai, she understands the purpose accompanying this responsibility.

The Book of Esther speaks prophetically to the end-time church. While we are making ourselves ready for the culmination of the great mystery of Christ and His church, leaders like Mordecai are needed to impart wisdom and purpose to the bride company in the final stages of her preparation. In The Weightiest Matter, Rick also speaks of a new breed of leaders that will arise. Like Mordecai, they will prepare His people for the end of the age experience.

The greatest passion of God, the fire that burns in His heart, is for His bride, the church. This fire will touch the earth again, and His messengers will burn with it. They will arise with this passion to see the bride made ready. A new breed of ministry is now being commissioned. These are the true friends of the Bridegroom. They will be spiritual eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom. A eunuch cannot have a desire for the bride or to use her for his own purposes. Rather, his whole satisfaction comes from seeing the King’s satisfaction with His bride—this will be their passion.

Prepare the Way

We have a responsibility to prepare the body of Christ and also ourselves, but time is of the essence. In this season, the door is still open, but as the parable of the wise and foolish virgins indicates, we must make ourselves ready before the door is shut. Ask God, what does this mean for you? How should you invest your life to fulfill the longing in God’s heart for His bride?

God desires intimate fellowship with His people, and this should inspire us to get rid of the things hindering us from entering into the most intimate encounter with our King. What an incredible opportunity to be a part of this profound mystery reserved for the end of the age! May we be ready and help others to do the same. Indeed, we are alive on the earth “for such a time as this.”