The Holy Ghost has center stage in this part of the series of the Mysteries of God. To have a real foundation of understanding the Scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit and the greatness of Him, you must go to the Old Testament. The foundation for your understanding is in the Old Testament. When you discover how the Holy Spirit worked in Old Testament days, it will be easier to understand the workings of Him in the New Testament, what He has come to do, what He will do and how He will do it. As you gain understanding, your faith and confidence in His care for you will grow, and you will begin to see how to give yourself soul, mind and body into the hands of the Holy Spirit.

Many have received the baptism in the Holy Ghost, and He has them to some extent, but they don’t know what to do with Him. He does not have their trust enough to be able to teach them what He wants. You not only need to have the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost must have you completely. Until that happens, you will not receive the benefits for yourself and others the way God intends. Learn all about Him; learn how to yield to the Holy Spirit; learn how to reap all His benefits.

The Holy Spirit is gathering a people in one mind, in one accord to make up a bridal company for Jesus Christ: the Bride of Christ. He is saying to people today, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife (Revelation 21:9). Who is the Bride? She is the Church, the body of Christ, those members without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing. She is pure and holy because she has yielded to the Holy Spirit and He has made her so.

See the Bride in Old Testament days in types, shadows and mists. Adam and Eve are a type of Christ and His Bride. A deep sleep came on Adam; his side was opened and from it came Eve, a beautiful bride. Jesus was in the deep sleep of death on Calvary, His side was opened, and from that side is coming the “rib company,” the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Chapter nineteen of Genesis contains wonderful things concerning the Holy Ghost and the Bride. And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground (Genesis 19:1). Destruction was coming, and God sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family. Destruction is coming today; the Tribulation Period is at hand. The Bride will be taken out before Tribulation sets in, just as Lot was taken out before the tribulation of that day.

The two angels represent the Word and the Holy Spirit. Today the Word and the Holy Spirit have come to get us out of here. The Holy Spirit will use the Word, the Word, the Word to prepare the Bride.

The angels told Lot: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it (Genesis 19:13). Today we know destruction is coming again; this time it will be worldwide. Read the book of Revelation that tells how terrible the Tribulation period will be. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law (Genesis 19:14). Lot certainly wasn’t mocking, but many mock today when they hear people warning of the Tribulation Period: Get ready! Get ready! We can be out of here! Destruction is coming! The wrath of God is about to be poured out! The warning falls on deaf ears.

Lot was reluctant to leave without all his family. Although he didn’t like their ways, Lot loved his sons-in-law. In all that danger, he lingered in an effort to save them. In this he is a type of the Bride who will be working up until the last second to rescue all she can, trying to get everyone possible out of the path of God’s judgment.

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed (Genesis 19:16-17).

The Holy Spirit and the Word are saying to the Bride today: Don’t look back; escape for your life! Let the warning echo and re-echo in your spirit daily. Too many of God’s people look back, and in looking back, they become discouraged.

Types and shadows of realities to come tell us of the greatness ahead. Although in these types and shadows we can’t see reality in the way we want, the faith of God will help us realize that how God moved for the types, He will move for us. Through the Holy Spirit we can see and recognize the types and shadows of the Bride. Lot, a type of the Bride, displayed the same devotion the Bride will have, the same love, the same spirit of separation and obedience.

Just as she was on the verge of deliverance, Lot’s wife looked back. At the very last minute, people who could have escaped with the Bride will look back to the world. At the very last countdown time, there will be people who look back, saith the Lord. They will look back, fail God and miss the Rapture. They will have more love for what is in the world than they will have for God.

Disobedience marks the ones left behind at the Rapture. The two angels, the Word, and the Spirit, got Lot’s wife out of the world, but when they let loose of her hand, she let loose of God. Her path was a plain path; she knew she was to keep moving. No one talked her out of going on with God; she did it herself. Deliberately she disobeyed God. She didn’t believe Him. The Bride, however, will believe God. The Bride will believe the Lord in everything, believe the Holy Spirit in everything. She will not be looking back to the world.

Lot’s wife, lukewarm in the Lord, looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt, destroyed. Although her fate no doubt tore their hearts out, it didn’t keep Lot and his daughters from escaping. They yielded to the Spirit of God. If you are the only one in your family to serve God, don’t let it hinder you. That singlemindedness to serve God is the spirit of the Bride. Let nothing turn you back. Obey the Lord. Walk with the Holy Spirit all the way.

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground (Genesis 19:24-25). Brimstone and fire from heaven did not fall until Lot and his daughters were taken out of destruction’s path. When the Bride is taken out just before the destruction of the Tribulation Period, it will be woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth. Judgment will fall as it did in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither (Genesis 19:22). Are your eyes open wide to what is coming? Is your mind in accord with the mind of Jesus? Are you expecting Him to come soon? I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. The Bride is the salt that is keeping back the judgment of God, saith the Lord.

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters (Genesis 19:30). The angels had told Lot to escape to the mountain lest they be consumed. The mountain is a type of God, and the cave where Lot and his daughters took refuge, a type of Christ. The Bride will be hidden away in Heaven with Jesus while the Tribulation rages on Earth.

Another great type of the Bride is found in Genesis 24. And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac (Genesis 24:1-4). Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, ruled over all that Abraham had. This is a beautiful picture: Abraham, a type of God; the servant, a type of the Holy Spirit, and Isaac, a type of Jesus. God in Heaven is saying to the Holy Spirit, Go into another country and bring back a Bride for my Son. The Holy Spirit is the servant; He has come to serve, to be a helper. The types and shadows of the Holy Spirit and the Bride are beautifully laid out for us.

The servant was sent to find a bride for Isaac. The Holy Spirit was sent to get a Bride for Jesus. The servant, Eliezer, traveled to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia. He didn’t know that he was close to the kin of Abraham; he just wanted to accomplish his mission, and the Holy Ghost wants to accomplish His mission of gathering a Bride for Jesus.

Eliezer put out a fleece before the Lord. By a well outside the city he prayed that if the right woman were there, she would give him a drink of water and offer to give his camels water also. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out…And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin (Genesis 24:15,16). The Bride of Christ will be fair, pure, clean, holy without any spots or wrinkles. A virgin, she will not be contaminated with the world. Neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up (verse 16). The Holy Spirit finds those who will make up the Bride drawing living waters from the well of salvation, and He takes them into the greatness of God. She is being chosen, and she will be a serving Bride. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking (Genesis 24:17-19). Rebekah not only did what she was asked, but she did more; she drew water for the camels. Eliezer’s fleece was answered. The serving Bride will go the extra mile, ready to serve from the well of salvation to everyone who will accept the Lord. Not just to her friends and relatives, the Bride will serve living water to whosoever will.

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things (Genesis 24:53). The servant gave gifts to the Bride’s family, but he gave the best to her. In this final hour, the Bride will have the Lord’s best, the favor of God. The greatness of God will be available to her. Christians not really on fire for God will receive some of His blessings, but the Bride will receive the greatest blessings, the miraculous power of the Lord. She will be able to reach up and pull Heaven down.

Eliezer lost no time. He took the bride back with him as soon as possible. Although her brother and mother wanted her to linger, the bride was eager to go. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go (Genesis 24:58). The Bride chooses to go with the Holy Spirit; it’s the desire of her heart. Each member of the bridal company is joyfully saying, I will go!

Rebekah is a definite type, a beautiful shadow of the Bride. She was separated from her family to go with the servant. None of her family went with her. The Bride in this hour will be separated from the family of the world on her way to Heaven, a place she has never seen. Rebekah, too, was going to a country she had never seen. Taken up with Jesus, the Bride will leave everything behind. She will give up all who are not ready to go with her. Rebekah gave up all her family; she left them. God the Father gave up His all when He gave us Jesus. He gave us everything. Didn’t Jesus give up everything to come from Heaven to Earth to be crucified? Yes He did.

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way (Genesis 24:61.) It was not an easy journey for Rebekah, and it will not be an easy journey for the Bride. The camel train is carrying the Bride right now; it’s a bumpy, hard ride, one with persecutions, trials.

I’ve ridden on a camel and found it was not the easiest thing to ride. The camel tried to bite me, then it ran me into a thorn bush. The devil will do everything he can to be rid of you, run you into every thorn bush he can. You may land among the thorns more times than one, but remember the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. In Heaven you will have the roses without the thorns, but until then you will have to put up with the thorns of life.

If you are on that camel train today, weary not. The Lord did not promise a life of ease. Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:24-26)? There is no following Jesus until you have denied yourself.

In Genesis 24:63, we find Isaac to be a type of Jesus. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. One of these days our camel train will be coming in; the Groom will welcome home the Bride. Through the deserts of life, through the deep valleys and over the hills, the Holy Spirit has made her ready. It has been a long journey, but at last the Groom has her in sight. The Bride doesn’t even seem to be tired.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel (verse 64). No one had to help her. She lit off; she was excited. The Bride of Christ will be excited to hear the call: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!

For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself (Genesis 24:65). With a veil of separation she covered herself. The Bride is covered with a veil of separation from the world, a veil that lets the Groom know she is pure, clean, without spot, wrinkle. She does not know the world; the world has put no contamination in her spirit at all.

Dwell on these wonderful types and shadows of the Holy Spirit. Rebekah took a veil and covered herself—ponder it again and again. The Bride is worthy to cover herself with the veil of separation, the righteousness of her Lord who has been sent to her through Calvary. She is separated for His use, separated pure and clean to be His Bride for all eternity.

You can’t separate yourself from the world. The only way you can separate from the world is through the truth, through the Word of God, the righteousness and holiness of God.

Rebekah covered herself; a virgin, she knew she was pure, clean, that when he lifted the veil he would see only purity.

When the Lord lifts the veil from His Bride, He will see nothing but purity. No spots, no wrinkles, no blemishes will be there.

Rebekah must have been a beautiful young woman. The Bible says that she was very fair to look upon (Genesis 24:16). The Bride of Christ will be beautiful, more beautiful than Eve, the first bride the Lord made, more beautiful than all the Rebekah’s that have ever walked on Earth. She will be the most beautiful bride that has ever been, saith the Lord.

You can be a member of the bridal company; all that you need to prepare you for this wonderful company is furnished to you; but you must listen to God’s servant, the Holy Spirit. As Eliezer was sent to get a bride for the son, so the Holy Spirit has been sent to get a Bride for the Son Jesus. To be ready, you will have to serve Him, do that which is pleasing in His sight. Yielding to whatever He asks you to do no matter how low you have to go, you won’t grieve the Holy Spirit, won’t resent Him. The way up is down. Rebekah went down to the well; she went down in humility and she came up with the water of life to serve others.

We rejoice over the types and shadows of the Bride, but think how thrilling to be part of the bridal company in all living reality. Every member will be filled to the brim with the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Ruth is a wonderful type of the Gentile Bride. In chapter one of the book of Ruth, we find her leaving her native country and following the God of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi, her husband and two sons had gone into the land of Moab. While there, the two sons married heathen girls. Then the two sons and their father died. Naomi decides to return to the land of her people. As she starts back, the two daughters-in-law go with her, but one turns back. One isn’t willing to pay the price: she is a type of the lukewarm Christian, those who are not willing to follow Christ all the way, not willing to give up everything.

Naomi said to Ruth, the daughter-in-law who remained, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me (Ruth 1:15-17). Ruth left everything, left the world of sin and darkness behind, her idol gods all behind. Determined to go, she demonstrated how much she loved Naomi and the God Naomi served. Ruth saw in the God of Israel something her idol gods did not have. The Bride of Christ will not turn back either; her mind is fixed. She will go with Jesus all the way.

Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem-judah, and Ruth set to gleaning in the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi’s husband. Boaz told Ruth, Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them (Ruth 2:9). The Bride today will reap the harvest fields of souls.

Boaz went on to tell Ruth, When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn (verse 9). The Lord is saying today to us through the Holy Spirit: Drink, drink, drink of me. Stay in my fields, on my holy ground. Drink from the well of salvation.

Ruth fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger (Ruth 2:10)? The Bride will wonder the same thing again and again. Why have I found so much grace, oh Redeemer Jesus? Ruth considered herself a lowly Gentile from a heathen land.

At one time we were strangers to the Lord. We were strangers to His love, to His way of living, to all of His power and holiness, but He took us in. He became our Redeemer and paid the price for our redemption with His blood. Boaz became Ruth’s redeemer kinsman who paid the price for her redemption; he is a type of Christ and Ruth, remember, a type of the Bride.

Boaz told Ruth: The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust (Ruth 2:12). Today the Redeemer Jesus is letting us know that we are resting under the wings of Lord God Almighty. All Heaven shelters us; all Heaven backs us up. All the wealth and protection of Heaven is ours. We have come out of a strange land, leaving the land of sin behind. Under the Almighty’s wings we have found love instead of hate, peace instead of torment, joy instead of strife. We have found strength instead of weakness, wisdom and knowledge instead of ignorance. Learning the ways of the Almighty, we have security instead of insecurity, faith instead of despair. We have everything wonderful and holy in Jesus.

Live by faith. Faith sees the things of God. When we take on faith, we have the eyes of faith, the ears of faith. We are safe in the Lord under whose wings we have come to trust.

Ruth told Boaz, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens (Ruth 2:13). The Lord has comforted us through the Holy Ghost. Knowing He would pay the price for our souls, Jesus said, It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7).

Ruth, acknowledging the comfort that she had received, was grateful for it. We found that same love and care in Jesus when we came out of the cruel, cruel world. He was light to our souls, warmth through and through to our very lives. We had been cold in sin so long, and now we are warm, wrapped in His blanket of love. How wonderful!

Boaz, a type of our Redeemer Kinsman, is saying to his servants, Let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not (Ruth 2:16). Ruth knew where her blessings came from. The Holy Spirit has directions to let handfuls fall on purpose for the Bride today; and she knows they come from Him. You can expect the extra blessings, the extra helps, strength, power from On High. You can expect the extra favor of the Almighty, the very favor of Almighty God, undiluted by reservations. Perfect obedience brings perfect blessings from the Lord as you live in His love in perfection. Look for the handfuls of purpose from the Holy Spirit. His blessings are no accident.

In the third chapter, Ruth shows her love for the bridegroom and her desire to be his bride. In the fourth chapter we find that the Law had shut Ruth out from the inheritance that rightfully was hers. Her nearest of kin, representing the Law, could not bring redemption, and Ruth couldn’t redeem herself. Neither can the Law redeem souls for time and eternity. There was no redemption for her until she received it by the grace of Boaz. The Gentile Bride was shut out until her Redeemer Kinsman came and redeemed her through grace. Grace set her free. Grace paid for her redemption.

Boaz went to the nearest of kin who had first opportunity to redeem the inheritance of Naomi and Ruth. Boaz told the nearest of kin, And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it (Ruth 4:4). The Law cried out at first, I will redeem you! But it didn’t work.

Now grace speaks: Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance [the Law is speaking]: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it (Ruth 4:5,6).

Redemption must be perfect; the redeemer must be fit, willing and able to be a redeemer kinsman. The Law could not redeem, could not pay the price, but Jesus, our Boaz can. Under the Law, we were Gentiles left out; the Law was for the Jewish people. The Lord gave the Law to the Jews. But now we see the Gentile bride, Ruth, brought in by a redeemer kinsman, Boaz, a type of Jesus. It’s a beautiful picture of redemption: Ruth, a type of the Bride of Christ, and Boaz a type of Jesus.

Travel with me through the Scriptures, seeking, hunting types and shadows of Jesus. The third chapter of Daniel is exciting, one that teaches great faith. In it is a vivid, wonderful type of the Bride. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God and refused to worship a golden image. Certain Chaldeans accused them before the king. These men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king (Daniel 3:12,13). The Bride will not worship the wealth of this land or the gods of this world.

Although Nebuchadnezzar went into a rage, he gave the three Hebrew boys another chance. He said, Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands (Daniel 3:15)?

The devil will do anything and everything to influence you to bow to him; he will play all kinds of his music. Will the Bride give in? Will she bow to the world? If she turns to worship the world, she will burn. If she doesn’t bow, she won’t burn. The Bride does not have bending knees in the presence of the evil one, only in the presence of the Lord God Almighty.

The three Hebrew boys gave the same answer the Bride would give: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:17,18). The Bride does not compromise with the world. She doesn’t alibi; she doesn’t justify lukewarmness; she leaves no doubt about where she stands. If God wants to deliver her, He will deliver. It not, so be it.

When trials or temptations come your way, know that your God is able to deliver. When the devil pushes you toward the furnace of affliction, shout, “My God is able to deliver, and I won’t bow! I won’t bow to anything of the devil.” The Hebrew boys were ready to die shouting, “He is able! Our God is able!”

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19,20). The Bride will have the most severe of trials and persecutions, but she will have great power to defeat the devil. The Lord is saying, She is mine, and no devil can destroy her.

Nebuchadnezzar must have had a certain respect for the three Hebrew boys because he commanded his most mighty military men to bind them. When the devil respects you enough to send his strongest forces against you, take it as a compliment to your experience in God.

Don’t whimper that the Lord doesn’t love you because the devil is after you; that’s the time to shout, “Hallelujah, he can’t get me! The devil must have confidence in my experience or else he wouldn’t be fighting me so!” Praise God when persecutions come; they came to Jesus, and with Jesus you can overcome as He did. Take on the mind of Jesus to think the way He thinks.

Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? …Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God (Daniel 3:22,24,25). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had been thrown into the furnace bound as securely as the most mighty men in the army could bind them. Now they were loose, walking in the midst of the fire.

The Bride may be bound for the moment, but she won’t stay bound. Persecutions may close in on her, but she is not really defeated; it just looks to the world as though the devil is able to overcome her. They don’t see the Fourth Man, Jesus. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the Bride will be unharmed as the enemy comes against her.

God fought for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and He will fight for the Bride in this final hour. All Heaven will back her up. Signs, wonders and miracles of all kinds will be performed to protect her and to help her bring in the harvest, saith the Lord. This is Heaven’s hour of greatness.

How did King Nebudchadnezzar know the Fourth Man in the furnace was like the Son of God? Just a few minutes earlier the devil had taken the king over, but now the Holy Ghost gave him insight. The Lord was able to take over Balaam’s donkey and speak through her, and He was able to take over the heathen king, too. What a shock it must have been to see people walking in the midst of a furnace heated so hot that it had killed the men who had thrown in the Hebrew boys!

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them (Daniel 3:27,27). Now Nebuchadnezzar them the servants of the Most High God. The three Hebrews, a type of the Bride, were true, true. Nothing could stop them.

In the furnace of affliction the Fourth Man will be with the Bride all the way; the power of the Holy Ghost will be hers. Then on that glorious morn, the furnace will open and King Jesus will be the one to say, Come forth, Bride; come on up! Joyfully she will rise to meet Him in the air, leaving all her tribulations behind. The Bride will not be here for the great Tribulation Period. The end of her furnace of afflictions will be the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the furnace of affliction for the ungodly and the lukewarm. God’s cup of indignation will be poured out, and Jesus’ garment bloody as He brings judgment on all who are left.

First Thessalonians 5:23 describes the Bride: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The three in the fiery furnace represent your spirit, soul and body. Just as there was no scent of smoke on the Hebrew boys, there will be no scent of the world on the Bride. When the Master cries Come out! she will be preserved soul, mind and body.

The greatness of God in store for the Bride as she comes up out of the furnace is beyond the mind. How sad that some are not willing to be raptured; their furnace is cold, and they don’t feel the need to leave. Fiery trials have not come their way. Be willing to pull down all the power of God available; you will need it when you go through trials. Get ready for the Lord to move for you. You can do your best praying in times of stress. The Lord lets some people be hemmed into a corner so they will turn to Him, refined until all the dross is gone. For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap (Malachi 3:2).

Look for every shadow of the Bride, every glimpse to see what will be in store when she emerges from the types and shadows into living reality. The great power, great protection, wonders and miracles that were benefits of the types and shadows of the Bride are benefits of the Bride today. The types sought God earnestly, and so the Bride seeks Him with her whole heart.

Daniel knew a decree had gone out stating that for thirty days no one could ask a petition of anyone but the king. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime (Daniel 6:10). Not hiding away to pray, Daniel simply prayed as usual. Daniel is a type of the praying Bride. The Bride will earnestly seek God. As she prays, her mind is on the Lord, not wandering in different directions or restless. She is looking toward deliverance, rejoicing in the greatness of God. Daniel gave thanks, and the Bride also will be full of gratitude and thanksgiving.

In the book of Acts, the saints of God prayed for holy boldness, and God shook the place with the power of the Holy Ghost. Why will the Bride have this same holy boldness? Because she loves Jesus better than she loves life; she loves the power of the Holy Ghost better than she loves any other power.

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions (Daniel 6:11,16-19).

The king is a type of Jesus coming in haste after His Bride. On that great morning, our Jesus will appear quickly to bring out His Bride from the lions of this old world, the lions of fear, despair, distress and destruction.

Was God able to deliver Daniel? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt (Daniel 6:21,22).

The Bride will be innocent. You can have all the greatness of God if you are justified, innocent in His eyes. But self-justification will destroy your blessings.

Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den (verse 23). The Lord Jesus will be exceeding glad for the Bride. He will take her out of the den of this world, and up, up she will go, leaving all the lions behind. They can never again torment her. What a wonderful Redeemer we have!

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den (Daniel 6:24). This is a picture of the Tribulation Period that will begin after the Bride is taken out. People will fall into total destruction. King Jesus will command it done.

We see the Bride coming forth quickly out of the lions’ den in types and shadows. We see the Bride in the type of Noah, Lot, Elijah, Queen Esther.

Ester was a beautiful, pure, clean maiden. The servant prepared her to go before the king who was seeking a bride. All the beautiful virgins of the kingdom were brought in. They could ask for any apparel they wanted, but Easter was the only one who asked the king’s servant to dress her the way he wanted. Use the colors you choose; you know the king. This is the Bride saying to the Holy Spirit: You know the Lord. I want to be dressed in the garments of righteousness that please Him. Many try to dress in their own righteousness, but the Bride will seek only His. Those who will not yield to the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s servant, will not please God. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what the Bridegroom Jesus likes.

Elijah and Elisha, full of the Holy Ghost, are wonderful types of the Bride. Many, many years before Pentecost, they had the Holy Ghost. The fruits and gifts of the Spirit were manifested in their lives. In Old Testament times, there were a few special people, such as the prophets, who had the Holy Ghost. At times, years went by between the appearances of these anointed ones. But when the Church entered the grace dispensation beginning with Pentecost, we find a pouring out of the Holy Spirit on everyone who would accept Him.

Enoch, whom God took to Heaven, is a type of the Bride. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). Like Enoch, the Bride will please God.

You will not please the Lord today unless you go on to receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost after you have become saved. The Holy Ghost is given to the obedient: The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him (Acts 5:32). The Holy Ghost baptism is a command of Jesus, not an option. Jesus commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father…For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4,5). When you willingly do all the Lord commands, you please Him. Those who make up the bridal company will be people who please God. They will be holy, pure, clean and filled with the Spirit.

Look Again at Some of the Types

The Bride comes to the well of salvation to receive from the servant, a type of the Holy Ghost. You will not find the Holy Ghost unless you find salvation. The Bride will have to receive salvation before the Holy Ghost can really deal with her. God help us to prepare, to be all that He wants us to be, to yield completely to the Holy Ghost as Rebekah, a virgin pure and fair, yielded to Eliezar!

As we look back on the Noah family we see their total obedience in building the ark, preparing for a way of escape. The left everyone behind as they worked until the day was done, until the ark was finished. Not grumbling and complaining, they had no time to listen to gossip and idle talk, no time for the sins of the world or the lust of the flesh. They were workers for the Lord. The three stories of the ark represent Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Lot and his two daughters left everything behind. The two angels, the Word and the Holy Ghost, pulled on them; and the Word and the Holy Ghost are pulling on us today to get us out.

We have the greatness of Heaven through the Word and the Holy Ghost. We have it all, the protection that saved the three Hebrew boys. Heaven’s door opens, and deliverance from the furnace of affliction is ours.

We see the door open for Daniel, and up he goes. Up the Bride goes, leaving all the lions of this world behind.

Like Ruth, the Bride will be faithful all the way. The living God will be her God; God’s people will be her people. Be with God’s people until the end of the journey; let nothing stop you. Be with the Bride as she receives handfuls on purpose. The Law failed, but grace appeared, and through grace, redemption; Ruth was set free and became the beautiful bride of Boaz, her redeemer kinsman. How wonderful, how great!

The Bride in types, shadows and mists: In the New Testament, John the Revelator is a type of the Bride, the Lamb’s wife being caught up into Heaven. The Bride, remember, will not go through the Tribulation Period. The Lord promised that she would be taken out before the Tribulation. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Revelation 3:10). John was shown the Bride.

Salvation and Healing Come from the Lord

Some of you are ready to meet the Lord; others are not. If you are not sure of your salvation, pray this prayer with me now. Oh, God: Save my soul! I have failed you. I have sinned against you. I am so sorry. But I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins, all of them. Come into my heart Jesus! Lord, I want to be ready when you come. If I have one spot or wrinkle, if I have one leech, set me free! Set me free so I can do all the work that you want me to do and win every soul that you want me to win. In the name of Jesus, I have come to do your will, oh Lord.

If you are sick or afflicted, know that you have the power of Jesus with you to bring physical deliverance. I am not the healer; Jesus is the healer. Get ready for your miracle now. With His blood stripes you can have healing. Claim the promise in the Word of God: With his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). You who have cancer, heart trouble, paralysis, or any other disease or affliction: There is nothing the Lord cannot heal. You can be made whole. That little afflicted baby can be healed. In the name of Jesus, I bring the sick and afflicted to you, Lord, today to be healed. In obedience to your Word I pray for them. From your supernatural gifts of healing and your supernatural gift of miracles, through the power of the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus, Heal! Heal!

His power is flowing into your body or into your child’s body if you believed that prayer. That power will work night and day, when you accept it, to get you or your loved one well. Watch every sign of improvement. Be a witness to God working daily, and then write and tell me about the results. I want to rejoice with you. God bless you and help you to be ready when Jesus comes.

We have come to the hour you will be either in or out with God. The Lord said He was going to push people out of the way. When the Lord pushes you, you may never stop until you land in hell. This is the final hour, saith the Lord. You are living in an hour of greatness, but it is also a tragic and fearful hour if you are not ready to meet your God. Soon the Bride will be gathered up with Jesus to be with Him forever.

Come See the Lamb’s Wife

Come and let me show you the Bride, the Lamb’s wife. See her, how glorious she is. No spots, no wrinkles, no blemishes mar her garments of righteousness.

The Bride in the Song of Solomon is lovely, wonderful, coming up out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved. Fair as the moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners, she is the Bride of Christ. As the Bride emerges from the types, shadows and the mists of the past, what a glorious sight she is in this her hour of greatness! She will shine forth the power and the Spirit of the Almighty, the greatness of the Lord. She will serve, serve, serve and give, give, give; and she will be blessed and favored.

Yea, saith the Sprit of God: I am moving with my greatness, and my Holy Spirit is preparing the Bride. The Bride will indeed walk in all the greatness of heaven. The Bride indeed will be pure and clean. The Bride indeed will have all the favor of heaven, and no power will be able to defeat her. She will walk in perfect obedience to the will of her Lord. She will indeed glean in the harvest fields to bring in all of the harvest, all of the harvest, and she will be directed by my Spirit to lost humanity throughout the whole world—earth’s great harvest field—and she will work until the day is done. She will sacrifice because she has my love. She will be an overcomer because my grace is sufficient. The powers of the evil one will not be able to defeat her, and she will be victorious in all that I have planned for her, saith the Lord.

Study the Word of God and learn the preparations you must make. He is bringing the Bride into spiritual Canaan, into the greatness of the fruits of the Spirit, into the works of His mighty gifts and all the greatness of Heaven. The mind of the Bride will work as Jesus’ mind works, for she will take on the mind of Him. As she comes up out of the wilderness, leaning on His arm she knows that two cannot walk together unless they agree. The Bible asks, Can two walk together, except they be agreed (Amos 3:3)? No they can’t. Clearly she knows that Jesus is her strength, her love, her all in all.

Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. See the Bride emerge in our day from the types and shadows into all living reality, adorned with all the power needed to evangelize the world in this last and final hour. Don’t fail your Lord in this last hour. Be a member of the glorious bridal company, and be used of the Holy Spirit to bring in the world harvest.