THE FAITHFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST, HIS PURE CHURCH. Please, share this lesson with your family, friends co-worker and all who you can, for the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD. The Bible says there is but one body, or church, into which Jesus calls His end-time people—the bride of Christ. To some, this is unnerving, as there are thousands of churches today that call themselves Christian. Virtually every one of them claims to be God’s church, yet they each differ widely in biblical interpretation, faith, and practice. NOTE: Please read Revelation 12:1–17 before beginning your journey of discovery into these transforming truths. Jesus symbolizes His true church (daughter of ZionJeremiah 6:2) as a pure woman and the false, apostate churches as a harlot. (See 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22, 23; and Isaiah 51:16). In Revelation 12:1, Jesus symbolizes His church as a woman “clothed with the sun,” with “the moon under her feet,” and wearing “a crown of twelve stars.” What do these symbols mean? ANSWER: The sun represents Jesus, His gospel, and His righteousness. “The Lord God is a sun” (Psalm 84:11). (See also Malachi 4:2.) Without Jesus there is no salvation (Acts 4:12). More than anything else, Jesus wants His church to overflow with His presence and glory. “The moon under her feet” represents the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so the sacrificial system was helpful spiritually only as it reflected light from the Messiah to come (Hebrews 10:1). The “crown of twelve stars” represents the work of the 12 disciples, which crowned the early years of the New Testament church. Many denominations call themselves Christian. Does that make them God's true church? Isaiah 4:1. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own BREAD and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. NOTE : Bread is a symbol of the Word of God (John 6:35, 51, 52, 63), and apparel is a symbol of righteousness (Revelation 19:8). The seven women in this prophecy have their own bread (concept of truth) and want to keep their own clothing (righteousness). They do not want the spotless robes of Christ's righteousness. All they want is to take the name of Jesus, probably because the Bible says, "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. What specifications has God given in His Word to help us positively identify His end-time church? REVELATION 12:17. AND THE DRAGON WAS WROTH WITH THE WOMAN, AND WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REMNANT OF HER SEED, WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. 1. It will appear and do its visible work after it emerges from the wilderness in 1798 (Revelation 12:6, 13-17). 2. It will teach the same truths the apostles taught, and all of its teachings will agree with the Bible (Revelation 12:17). 3. It will keep the Ten Commandments, including the Bible Sabbath (Revelation 12:17). 4. It will have the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 12:17; 19:10). 5. It will proclaim God's three end-time messages with a loud voice (Revelation 14:6-14). 6. It will be a worldwide movement (Revelation 14:6). 7. It will teach the everlasting gospel, which is salvation through Jesus Christ alone (Revelation 14:6). NOTE: Many lovely Christians are members of churches that do not meet the above seven specifications. However, no such church can be God's remnant into which He is calling all His sincere children, because His end-time church must meet all seven specifications. Jesus gives you these seven prophetic identification points and then says, "Go and find My church." What does He promise regarding your search? Luke 11:9. Seek, and ye shall FIND. How many church organizations in the world will fit these seven points? Ephesians 4:5. One Lord, one Faith, one baptism. After one of Jesus’ children heeds His loving warning call and comes out of Babylon (Revelation 18:2, 4), what does Jesus ask him or her to do next? “You were called in one body” (Colossians 3:15). “He [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). Answer: The Bible says that God’s people are called into one body, the church. Jesus asks those who leave Babylon to join the remnant church—of which He is the head. Jesus said, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold” (John 10:16). He also calls them “My people” in both the Old Testament (Isaiah 58:1) and the New Testament (Revelation 18:4). Of His sheep outside His fold (church), He says, “Them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ... My sheep hear my voice ... and they follow Me” (John 10:16, 27). How does one enter that body, or church? “By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Answer: We enter Jesus’ end-time remnant church by baptism. Does the Bible provide other evidence that Jesus has only one remnant church into which He is calling all of His people? Answer: Yes—it does. Let’s review it: A. The Bible says there is only one true body, or church (Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18). B. The Bible says our day is like Noah’s day (Luke 17:26, 27). How many ways of escape were there in Noah’s day? Only one—the ark. Once again, today, God has provided a boat, the church, that will take His people safely through earth’s final events. Don’t miss this boat! What is the good news regarding God’s remnant church? Answer: A. Its central theme is “the everlasting gospel”—that is, righteousness by faith in Jesus only (Revelation 14:6). B. It is built on Jesus, the Rock (1 Corinthians 3:11; 10:4), and “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). C. Jesus died for His church (Ephesians 5:25). D. Jesus describes His remnant church so plainly that it’s easy to identify. He also describes the fallen churches and calls His people out of them. Satan will trap only those who keep their eyes and hearts shut to His loving call. E. Its doctrines are all true (1 Timothy 3:15). What is the good news regarding God’s remnant people? Answer: They will: A. Be saved in His heavenly kingdom (Revelation 15:2). B. Overcome the devil by the “power” and “blood” of Jesus (Revelation 12:10, 11). C. Be patient (Revelation 14:12). D. Have Jesus’ faith (Revelation 14:12). E. Find glorious freedom (John 8:31, 32). Earth’s hour is very late. Jesus’ second coming immediately follows the giving of the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6–14). What is Jesus’ urgent plea now to His people? “Come into the ark, you and all your household” (Genesis 7:1). Answer: In Noah’s day, only eight people (including Noah) heeded God’s invitation. Jesus is waiting at the door of His end-time ark, the remnant church, for you. Are you willing to heed Jesus’ call to come into the safety of His end-time remnant church? NOTE Only one church in the entire world fits all of these specifications--the SEVENTH - DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, which is bringing you these seminar messages. It is right now preaching the great three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12 all over the world. Millions are responding don't be left out. To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church. Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741 Pastor; Greg Hudson Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.