What Is the Result of the Work of the Bride?

Just as the result of the harlot’s work was, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great,” (the house whose fall was great), so the house which was built on the rock, the house which did not fall in the day of storms, is the result of the work of the bride.

Jesus prophesied about this when He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matt. 7:24-25.

We have already seen how the bride works to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe everything Jesus has commanded. This results in the house that was founded on the rock—the house that stands on the day of storms. And now let us read about the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” Rev. 14:1-3.

The hundred and forty-four thousand had built on Zion—on the rock. There they stood together with the Lamb and sang a new song on the day of storm—the day when Babylon fell. The many waters and the thunder that destroyed the harlot’s house was like the playing of many harps to the bride. It had also been like that for the bride during her life here on earth where her afflictions had worked for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17. Those on Zion had been redeemed from the earth. As disciples they had forsaken everything. They were redeemed from among men to be the firstfruits. They hated father and mother, sister and brother, and even their own life. They had followed the Lamb wherever He went, and in their mouth there was no guile. They were without spot. The result of her work was not a deception but a fulfillment of the promise: salvation from the affliction.

“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief . . . . But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:3-4 and 8-9.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36.

The result of the bride’s work is the gathering together of the firstfruits. They will be spared from the things that will come over the earth, so they can stand before the Son of Man. The bride, not the harlot, is Jesus’ elect. While the harlot is maturing and in her deception is preparing for the great fall on the day of storms, the bride is making herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb. Therefore, whereas the result of the work of the harlot is, “And great was its fall!”, the result of the work of the bride is: The Marriage Feast!

“‘For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.’ Again they said, ‘Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!’ . . . Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!’ And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” Rev. 19:2-9.

The first time we read “Alleluia” in the New Testament is when the harlot is cast down. It is not surprising that there will be such great rejoicing when she is destroyed, the one who so vehemently opposed the work of Jesus and His bride—she who corrupted the earth and deceived all the nations. By her own deception she has destroyed her own house and put all the nations under the feet of the beast; while they are suffering (being trampled down and crushed under the feet of the beast) there will be a marriage in heaven! What a world of difference there is between the work of the bride and the work of the harlot. Many times it looked so hopeless! The harlot had such great power. Everyone had wanted to take the easiest way to the goal. They believed in her sorcery, and the harlot closed in and killed those that she feared would expose her sorcery. Nevertheless, those who had an ear to hear heard the voice from heaven and went out from her. So the bride’s work was not in vain. A firstfruit was redeemed—but there weren’t many. Through all this darkness and conflict a bride was chosen for the Lamb, a little flock that was predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Everything that happened worked together for her best. Rom. 8:28-29. It was for her as the melting pot is for gold. She leaves this earthly life like purified gold. She was led by the Spirit of God, and her works were righteous. These righteous works will become that wedding dress of pure, shining, white linen with which she will adorn herself at her marriage with the Lamb.

However, the Lamb and His wife will not leave the earth and its people in the power of the beast forever. By now the harlot has played all her cards, and the people are waking up to her sorcery. They will be filled with fear and foreboding at the roaring of the sea and the waves. God’s wrath will be fulfilled on the earth. During this time, the beast will have power. Rev. 17:17. But then the time will come for Jesus and the saints.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev. 19:11-19.

This will be an invasion like no other! These “paratroopers” will be without equal. Now the world will experience the fulfillment of the example Jesus gave when He cleansed the temple with the whip of cords. Now the earth will become a house of prayer, and people will be liberated from the beast and the false prophet, who will be cast into the lake of fire; and the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, will be bound for a thousand years. Rev. 20:2.

Jesus was alone when He cleansed the temple. But when He comes to assume power on earth, He will be together with His bride—the called, chosen, and faithful. Rev. 17:14. Then the parable about the nobleman who went on a long journey and came back with royal power will be fulfilled. Then Jesus will set His feet on the Mount of Olives and restore the kingdom again to Israel. Acts 1:6. Then the promise to Abraham will be fulfilled in its deepest sense: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” And there will be peace for a thousand years.

Whereas the result of the harlot’s work is to deliver up the earth and the people to the power of the Antichrist and the beast, leading to war, plagues, and death, the result of the bride’s work together with Jesus is to liberate the earth and the peoples from the beast, the Antichrist, war, plagues, and death.