Will every saint be in the Bride, the Marriage of the Lamb?

Before answering this question we must remind ourselves of "why there is to be a marriage of Christ and His Church?" (Rev.19:7) The answer is in the example of the first marriage with the "first Adam" and Eve. (Gen.2:25, 1Cor.15:45)

1.  The "first Adam" set the pattern
     The apostle Paul says, that he "was a figure (a model 3) of Him (Jesus) that was to come.      
     (Rom.5:14) The pattern was to:
     a.  Be married. "cleave unto his wife...be one flesh." (Gen.2:24-25)
     b.  Be fruitful, multiply, and replemish the earth..." (Gen.1:28-29) 
     c.  Subdue...have dominion over the fish of th sea, and the fowl of the air, and over every 
          living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen.1:28-29)

          They failed and fell into sin and did not "subdue...and have dominion..."
          (Gen.3:1-24, Rom.5:12-21)

2.  Jesus, the "last Adam" (1Cor.15:45)  fulfilled the pattern
     a.  He gave Himself to be married, as the "first Adam" did, in order to "present" a Bride
          to Himself. (Foreshadowed by Eve. Gen.2:18-25, Eph.5:21-33) 

          Today the Church is "espoused" (engaged 2Cor.11:1-3) to Christ and is 
        being built and (Eph.2:20-22) will soon be presented (Eph.5:27) to Christ, 
        as Eve was to Adam.

     b.  The fruit of this marriage (this union / unity John.17:21-24, Eph.4:1-16) of Christ and His
          Church will be the man child.(Rev.12:1-17)
     c.  Then (Christ / last Adam and HIs Church / Eve) will "subdue...and have dominion over the 
          fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living that moveth upon the earth,"
          continuing on from where the "first Adam" and Eve fell from in the new earth (Rev.22:1)
          and the new heaven. This is the purpose of the marriage of Christ and His Church.


It is a assumed point that everyone will be in the Marriage?

The Bride will come from those Christians that are "alive and remain" in the last days, simply because they are "alive" and all the other Christians are dead. (1Thes.4:13-18) I say, "they will come from..." because not every Christian will except the invitation and preparation needed to be married to Christ. As in the parable of the ten virgins, "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage."
. As in the parable of the ten virgins, "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage."                  (Click here for explanation of these order of events in Revelation)

     
1.  There were those that allowed themselves to be made ready
     a.  "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, 
          and his wife hath made herself ready." (Rev 19:7-8)
     b.  "And while they (the foolish virgins) went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were
          ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matt 25:10-11)

2.  Some will refuse the invitation to be in the wedding
     They (that were "bidden") "made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his
     merchandise: And  the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 
     But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those
     murderers, and burned up their city." (Matt 22:5-8, Luke.14:18)

     Note: This parable can be applied to the Jews (the children of the flesh of Abraham - Rom.9:8),
     and the Church today. (the children of the promise of Abraham - Rom.9:8, Gal.3:1-29; 4:28; 
     6:15-16, Rom.11:25)

     Do these lose the salvation because they refused the invitation? Of course not!
     However, they are building with "wood, hay and stubble." (1Cor.3:9-15) They are like Lot. 
     (Gen.12:4; 13:1-13, 2Peter.2:7-8, Gen.19:1-38, Luke.17:28) These are the "remnant of her 
     seed" that go into the Tribulation. (Rev.12:17)

3.  Some will refuse the preparation needed to be in the wedding
     They will hang on to their blemishes, wrinkles, spots. (Eph.5:21-33) Their oil will run out. 
     (Matt.25:1-13, 2Cor.11:1-3) Their lifestyle (of living for themselves) will cause them to miss 
     God's timing and the door will be shut as it was in the days of Noah. (Gen.7:16, Matt.24:36-37)
     a.  The five foolish virgins did not refuse the invitation, but were slothful in there preparation. 
          They missed God's visitation. (Matt.25:1-13) 
     b.  The guest without the wedding garment failed to prepare himself. (Matt.22:19)
     c.  Those that refuse the "washing of water by the word." (Eph.5:21-33) The Bride will have 
           no spots, blemishes, wrinkles or any such thing.

      Do these lose their salvation? No! They will lose their life because they are saving it now by
      not dying to themselves. (i.e. building with wood, hay and stubble 1Cor.3:9-15) The Bride will 
      be totally committed and consecrated, separated unto the Bridegroom, Jesus.

4.  Then there will be those that are dead in Christ. (1Thes.4:13-18)
     These Old and Testament "saints"2 (Eph.9-10) miss the marriage because they will dead 
      when the marriage takes place. To include the "dead in Christ" in the wedding would require 
      a resurrection. This resurrection that will be "a complete  collection of all the (Old and New
      Testament) the saints"1  that will not happen until Jesus returns. 
      (Review: Eschatology One, Phase.10)

   
They "that were ready"(timing / season) went in to the marriage.

God's purpose has been going from "glory to glory," (2Cor.3:18) "line upon line, here a little and there a little." (Isa.28:10-11) and it is our responsibility to know the season. (John.16:12-15, 1Cor.2:1-14)

1.  God's purpose is full of (Times and Seasons) timing
     To "every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl 3:1-2)
     a.  There was a time for Noah and his family to come into the Ark. (Gen.7:1) The world "knew not
          until the flood came," (Matt.24:39) yet Noah knew.
     b.  Abraham's seed would be in bondage 400 years, then released. (Gen.15:1-21, Exod.1-12)
     c.  There was appionted times and seasons in the Law of Moses. (Num.9:2-3; 28:3, Deut.11:14,
          2Chron.15:3 (Deut.31:9-11)
     d.  David spoke of seasons. (Psa.104:27; 145:15)
     e.  The Prophets spoke of times and seasons. (Jer.5:24, Zech.10:1) for the early and latter 
          rains, which the apostle James used in reference to the timing of the Second Coming.
          (James.5:7-8)
      f.  Daniel prophesied of the time to reveal the Messiah, Jesus. (Dan.9:24-26, 1Peter.1:20) 
     g.  Peter said there would be times of refreshing and (restitution) restoration before Jesus 
          would return. (Acts.3:19-25
     h.  Earhtly Jerusalem knew not the time of their visitation. (Luke.19:44)
      i.  "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father 
          only." ( Matt 24:36-38) There is a time!

2.  Those "alive and remain" need to know the "times and the seasons" of the preparation 
      of the Bride, the Lamb's wife.
     a.  There is a greater accountability of the stewardship for the Church that is "alive and remain."
     b.  This does not mean more important. (Note: The Parable of the talents. Matt.25:14-30)
          (1)  The 5 wise were not more important than the 1 talent man. They had a greater 
                 responsibility. Having more talents does not mean more important. In fact: the greatest 
                 must be the servant! 
          (2)  (Note: The accountability required of Moses. Num.20 He did not go in, when the     
                 complainers did) -  We must reject the notion that we are earning our way to a higher
                 status.      
          (3)  The "dead in Christ" are not accountabile for they cannot do anything about
          (4)  Those that refuse the invitation and preparation required for the Bride become 
                 "dull of hearing" and "become blind, and cannot see afar off" They don't understand that 
                 they are accountable.

     There is a job to be done, just as there has been for each generation as God has unfolded 
     His Redemptive Plan.


At the Second Coming we are all together (forever)

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 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 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we (those that are alive and remain and the dead in Christ) ever be with the Lord."  (1Thes.4:13-18)
Together in the "Beloved city." (New Jerusalem)
     
This is the "bride, the Lamb's wife." (Rev.21:9) "that great city, the holy Jerusalem." This is the Church that Jesus built. (Matt.16:18) This is the "last Adam's Eve! (Gen.2:18-25) The Church is people, therefore this "Beloved City" is not an actual material build. It is people!

1.  Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
     a.  The "Lambs Wife." This means she is a "married" woman.
     b.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that 
          great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (Wife, meaning she is
          already married. Not that she is about to be married) Rev 21:9-10, Rev.21:14-23

          Note: When the Prophets spoke of Jerusalem, and their prophecy went beyond the 
          Cross to our present day and into the future, they were speaking of this "great city, the 
          holy Jerusalem." (The Bride, the Lamb's wife) There were not speaking of the earthly city of   
          Jerusalem because it was to be left desolate. Destroyed! (Matt.23:37-39; 24:1-3, 15-23) 
          ( Also interpreted as Esau, (Rom.9:7-9) Ishmael (Gal.4:22-31) and spiritually called Sodom 
          and Egypt. (Rev.11:8)

2.  The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: 
     a.  What are the Nations? (Rev.21:
          The only people in the Millennium that will make up these Nations, are Christians. There is no
          Heathens (unsaved, unredeemed) in the Millennium to make up nations. Nothing "that defileth,
          neither...worketh abomination, or maketh a lie." (Rev.21:27) 
          (Review: Eschatology One. Phase.10)
     b.  Note the chart below  
         (1)  When Jesus returns, the dragon (Satan) is put in the bottomless pit. (Rev.19:20; 20:1-3)
         (2)  The beast (antichrist) and false prophet are put in the lake of fire. (Rev.19:20)
         (3)  "And the remnant (or the remaining, i.e. "the whole world" that had been gathered together 
                to fight against Jesus when He returns) were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the
                horse." (Rev.19:21)

                       This leaves no unsaved to go alive into the Millennium!
           The only ones that go alive (without physical death) into the Millennium are those Christians that are "alive and
                                      remain" at Christ's return as foreshadowed by Noah. (Gen.7:23, Matt.24:36-37)
                                                                  
                                                                          ( Click here for explanation of this chart )

   
          Note: The "Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth" come from "the rest of the dead" (Rev.20:5 the 
             unsaved dead) come "up on the breadth of the earth" (Rev.20:9) after the 1000 year rest. (Rev.20) These 
             "nations" DO NOT come through the Millennium. They come "up (resurrect) up on the breadth of the earth." 

     b.  The kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 
          The "gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they 
          (the kings) shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it." (Rev.21:25) Now it is
          understood where these "kings" come from. They are the Christians in the Millenuim.
          No wonder we are called "kings and priests." (Rev.1:6; 5:10, 1Peter.2:5-9)
     c.  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever 
          worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 
          (Rev 21:24-27)  It is a holy City (Jerusalem, Bride, wife, Glorious Church without spot, 
          blemishes, wrinkles "or any such thing."- Eph.5:21-33)

3.  Abraham looked for this "city', the Bride 
     "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for 
     an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in 
     the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the 
     heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, 
     whose builder and maker is God." (Heb 11:8-11; 12:18-22, Rev.22:9-27) This city is the 
     New Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride the Lamb's wife.           
     a.  These (Heb.11:1-40) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having 
          seen them afar off, (i.e. The New Covenant) were:
          (1)  Persuaded of them, 
          (2)  Embraced them, 
          (3)  Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
          (4)  Declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country
                from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
     b.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not 
          ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Heb 11:13-17) The
          New Jerusalem, the beloved City, the Bride the Lamb's wife.

3.  The Prophets desired to see those things. (Matt.13:10-17, 1Peter.1:10-12)      
     Unto "whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, 
     which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy
     Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." They "desired to see
     those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and
     have not heard them." (Matt 13:17-18)

4.  This mystery was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed.
     For "this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard...How that 
     by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;...Which in other ages (generations) was not
     made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and 
     prophets by the Spirit."(Eph 3:1-6) This mystery is that "ye are come unto mount Sion, 
     and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company 
     of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and 
     to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." (Heb 12:22-24, Gal.4:28) 

To Summarize: "Who is in the Bride?"

1.  God, the Father will have a Bride for His Son.
2.  The "alive and remain" generation has this responsibility to accept and proclaim the "season" of 
     the Bride that has been foreshadowed by the Old Testament types and Shadows. (Blue print)
3.  The "alive and remain" generation will be called to a weighter accountability and committment 
     that has never been experienced by previous generations.
4.  This will not be responsibility of the dead in Christ. (i.e. the Old and New Testament saints which
     include the generations of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, David) They will 
     not be in the Marriage of Christ and His Church, because they are dead.
5.  This does not mean they are not worthy to be the Bride. NO! It simply means, they are dead. 
     How can they be in the Wedding, when there is no ressurection for them until the Second Coming?
6.  When Jesus returns the "alive and remain" group and the "dead in Christ" group will unite
     and "forever be with Lord" going in and out of the New Jerusalem, the Bride City during the
     Millenium. (the 1000 year rest)

    
Notes--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  Our "gathering together" - a complete collection; especially a Christian meeting (for worship): KJV - assembling (gathering) together.
2.  Saints - OT:2623 from OT:2616; properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint): KJV - godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, [ungodly.
3.  Figure - NT:5179 a die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance;  
     specifically, a sampler ("type"), i.e. a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning): KJV - en- ex-) ample, fashion, figure, form, manner,  
     pattern, print.
4.  Supper - NT:1173 a dinner, i.e. the chief meal (usually in the evening): KJV - feast, supper.

All Greek and Hebrew definitions is from, (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006   
     Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)