We are wrapping up a study regarding the day of the rising of the redeemed from the dead and the seizing of the redeemed from the earth. We have realized that we are supposed to summon people to the Lord with this knowledge. In order to understand the full picture, we should note what the saints are doing after the rising and seizing. The saints have things to do as the above congregation; prayer, intercession, receiving rewards, dressing in white, and becoming part of the army of the Lord. The chosen who will become the Bride will return with the Lord as the Lord’s military. The redeemed saints will be kings and priests on the earth during the millennial kingdom. We see that there are several reasons for the harpazo and the rising up, and why the banquet hall must be filled. Yet this knowledge has been downplayed and dismissed. One reason is because religious leaders are fearful it may not happen. Other religious leaders have used the harpazo as a tool to manipulate and control their congregations. Some have also claimed that this idea of a gathering is a false doctrine, as the word “rapture” does not appear in the text. But let me explain.
I understand the misconception of the word rapture, because when I was young many denominations read the scriptures in Latin, and then expounded on them. Where I lived these were mostly Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Churches. At the same time, a more modern church age was emerging where scriptures were being read in English. This was a point of contention between older congregations and modern denominations, with the idea being that not reading the Latin was thought of as heretical. Yet the reality was that Latin was fading as a known language and people appreciated hearing the scriptures in a language that they understood. The word “rapture” derives from the word “rapiemure”.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Deinde nos, qui vivimus, qui relinquimur, simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Christo in aëra, et sic semper cum Domino erimus.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 G1899 Thereupon G1473 we G3588 the G2198 living, G3588 the ones G4035 remaining, G260 together G4862 with G1473 them G726 shall be seized G1722 in G3507 clouds, G1519 for G529 meeting G3588 the G2962 Lord G1519 in G109 the air, G2532 and G3779 thus G3842 at all times G4862 with G2962 the Lord G1510.8.4 we shall be.
When we take the phrase “simul rapiemur cum” and make a direct translation to English we get “at the same time be caught up together with”. The word rapiemur is a future passive, translated from the Greek word harpazo. The transliteration from rapiemur to “rapture” is simply changing a verb to a noun. The event is technically called “the seizing”, harpazo, rapiemur. But in order to explain this to congregations, some took to naming the event as a “thing”, a noun. Since the seizing happens on one particular day it is easy to explain rapiemur as the rapture, but this should have been explained to the masses. Most people do not explain the technical details of words in a Sunday service. Therefore the misconception of the verb being used as a noun has caused a great deal of misunderstanding. However with a simple understanding of translations and transliterations we can see that in fact the word rapture is used in the Bible; in the Latin translation which was translated from Greek.
We have to recognize that many people did not attend a Church that read scripture from the Latin, so their misunderstanding results from simply not being taught. If we can use our modern tools to teach others, we will be able to do exactly what Paul told us to do, to summon one another with these words.
We can see the saints after the harpazo and after receiving their rewards, coming back with Jesus. John gives us a little blurb or a parenthetical note. He is not giving us the order of the events, but is adding in a bit of information. He is explaining the beast to us, but instead of giving us a timeline order he gives us a few facts from the future. John is talking about the woman who rides the beast, Babylon. The bowls have been poured out and he is describing the beast who is about to take down the evil mother of harlots. As he mentions the beast, he essentially says “this is the one who will make war with the Lamb later, but Jesus will overcome him”. The beast makes war with the lamb after he kills Babylon. This side note is only to help us establish the characters so that a few chapters later we will see this same beast attempt to come after Jesus.
Revelation 17:14 G3778 These G3326 [2against G3588 3the G721 4lamb G4170 1shall wage war], G2532 and G3588 the G721 lamb G3528 will overcome G1473 them, G3754 for G2962 [2Lord G2962 3of lords G1510.2.3 1he is] G2532 and G935 king G935 of kings; G2532 and G3588 the ones G3326 with G1473 him G2822 are called, G2532 and G1588 chosen, G2532 and G4103 trustworthy.
2822 LSJ Gloss:κλητός called, invited, welcome
Dodson:κλητός called, summoned called, invited, summoned by God to an office or to salvation.
Thayer:
1) called, invited (to a banquet)
1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ
1b) called to (the discharge of) some office
1b1) divinely selected and appointed
κλητός
klētos klay-tos' From the same as G2821; invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint KJV Usage: called.
1588 LSJ Gloss:ἐκλεκτός picked out, select
Dodson:ἐκλεκτός chosen, elect, choice, select chosen out, elect, choice, select, sometimes as subst: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians).
TBESG:ἐκλεκτός select
G:A
ἐκ-λεκτός, -ή, -όν
(< ἐκλέγω), [in LXX for בָּחַר (so prob. in
Refs Isa.28:16, Pro.17:3, for MT בָּחַן), בָּרִיא, etc. ;]
__1. choice, select (cl., rarely; Thuc., Plat., al.), hence, eminent: Rom.16:13 (cf. Eze.27:24).
__2. As in Inscr. (MM, Exp., xii), chosen; esp. as in LXX, of Israel, elect, chosen of God (
Refs Isa.65:9, Psa.105:43, al.); so in NT;
__(a) of Christ: Luk.23:35 (cf. Isa.42:1); fig., λίθος, 1Pe.2:4-6 (LXX);
__(b) of holy angels: 1Ti.5:21;
__(with) of Christians:
Refs Mat.24:22, 24, Mrk.13:20, 22 13:27, 2Ti.2:10, 1Pe.1:1; τ. θεοῦ,
Refs Luk.18:7, Rom.8:33, Col.3:12, Tit.1:1; τ. Χριστοῦ, Mat.24:31; ἐ. κυρία, II Jn 1; ἀδελφή, II Jn 13; γένος, 1Pe.2:9 (LXX); κλητοὶ καὶ ἐ. κ. πιστοί, Rev.17:14; opp. to κλητός (not so in Epp.; see Lft. on
Refs Col.3:12), Mat.20:16
(T, WH, txt., R, omit) Mat.22:14 (Cremer, 405, 775).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) picked out, chosen
1a) chosen by God,
1a1) to obtain salvation through Christ
1a1a) Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God
1a2) the Messiah in called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
1a3) choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
ἐκλεκτός
eklektos ek-lek-tos' From G1586; select; by implication favorite KJV Usage: chosen, elect.
4103 LSJ Gloss:πιστός liquid medicines to be trusted
Dodson:πιστός trustworthy, faithful, believing.
Thayer:
1) trusty, faithful
1a) of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties
1b) one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust
1c) that can be relied on
2) easily persuaded
2a) believing, confiding, trusting
2b) in the NT one who trusts in God's promises
2b1) one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead
2b2) one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation
πιστός
pistos pis-tos' From G3982; objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful KJV Usage: believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true.
Notice the word klētos derives from klēsis (2821), which is a shorter form of kaleō (2564) which is the word that Paul used, parakaleō (3870), to tell us to summon or invite people to the rising up or seizing, harpazo, 1 Thessalonians 4:18. Just as we call or invite others into the sheepfold with this knowledge, in general all people are called or invited into the sheepfold. Then people are chosen from within the redeemed sheepfold to come back with the Lord as His army.
Those who are chosen have been pistos, faithful. Pistis is a noun meaning faith or conviction. Early in our series we noted that in order to be well pleasing we have to have pistis and without pistis we cannot please him.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Now we see that those who had pistis, before the rising up or seizing, are among the chosen because looking backward, they had been pistos, faithful. What does it mean to be faithful? It denotes being trustworthy, or reliable like medicines. The reliability aspect of pistos is similar to a pattern of action. Every time the devil strong arms a child of the Most High God, the child of God turns to the Father and the Son in prayer. The same way one takes aspirin for a headache expecting a similar result, the reliable child of God uses the tools available to him or her every time, therefore producing consistent faith. The one having been trustworthy or faithful did not walk away from the Lord or try and sneak sin into their lives. They simply remain steadfast in their conviction.
This tells us that there are some among the redeemed who may not have been completely faithful. They may not have been reliable in their walk. When pressure came they did not turn to the Father or the Son, but maybe turned away from the Father and Son, only to walk with the Lord after the pressure was over.
As Paul explained, those who believe on the hinge point that Jesus died and rose up, are redeemed. The redeemed are eligible to receive rewards. Some may not receive rewards, but they will still have their salvation. Then there are those who endure to the end of their lives, they are overcomers. They receive gifts in Paradise given by Jesus. Some people may receive rewards for their works that survive the fire apocalypse. From this entire group of redeemed and rewarded, there will be some chosen to wear white and join the wedding banquet. These are people who were faithful.
Daniel has some interesting prophetic insight into this group who will wear white. Daniel receives revelation from an angel who says that the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. The words will not be understood, there will have to be an unveiling at the end of the age. Then the people living at that point in time will understand Daniel’s words.
Daniel 12:9 G2532 And G2036 he said, G1204 Go G* Daniel! G3754 for G1719.2 [3 are obstructed G2532 4and G4972 5sealed G3588 1the G3056 2words] G2193 until G2540 [2time G4009 1end].
Daniel was asking about something that he was scribing, but didn’t understand. He was not going to understand it. No one would understand it until the time of the end. The time when these things are about to take place. Several events would have to take place before these words would make sense. The Messiah would have to come to earth. The Messiah would have to be murdered and rise up the third day. The Messiah would then take back the keys to hades and death and set the captives free. The Messiah would have to send the Holy Spirit to the earth. Then after these events, the servants and prophets of the Lord would be able to expound on the future events that will unfold at the end of the age. This is why we see John and Paul explaining things that relate to Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Enoch.
There will be chosen people who are whitened and purified by fire and sanctified. This sounds strangely similar to John’s words.
Daniel 12:10 G1586 [2shall be chosen G2532 3and G1588.1 4whitened G2532 5and G4448 6purified by fire G2532 7and G37 8sanctified G4183 1Many]. G2532 And G457.1 [2shall act lawlessly G459 1 the lawless ones], G2532 and G3756 [3shall not G4920 4perceive G3956 1all G459 2 the lawless ones], G2532 but G3588 the G3540.1 intelligent G4920 shall perceive.
The lawless people will not perceive the chosen, whitened, purified by fire, and sanctified ones. The spiritually intelligent people will perceive what is taking place, but not the lawless. We can see today that people generally do not understand Christians, especially those who attempt to live holy lives. While Christians are persecuted, tried by fire on the earth, the lawless believe Christians are foolish. We talked about the fire apocalypse, that all our works will go through fire. The lawless will one day recognize that Christian persecution had a benefit. There is a group who were called and then chosen. They are wearing white. Now we must notice the timing.
Daniel 12:11 G2532 And G575 from G2540 the time G3883.1 of the alteration G3588 of the G1734.1 perpetual sacrifice, G2532 and G3588 the G1325 putting of G3588 the G946 abomination G2050 of desolation -- G2250 [4days G5507 1a thousand G1250 2two hundred G1767.3 3ninety].
There will be a three and one half year period of one thousand two hundred and ninety days. There will be a perpetual sacrifice. That means there will be continual sacrifices, perpetual or never ending, until the abomination of desolation. There have been several abominations and several desolations. This one however, indicates that there will have to be perpetual sacrifices first. The abomination this is in reference to is at the end of the age, when the son of perdition sits in the Holy of Holies on the mercy seat, then comes out to announce that since he did not die he is God. Paul explained this to us. That is the last abomination. It happens about three and one half years into the tribulation, which is also the time when Jesus is coronated and the saints receive their rewards. These people are wearing white, have been purified by fire, and are sanctified or set apart. Where do we see people wearing white? At the end of the tribulation. We will look at that shortly.
Jesus gives us some insight into this time period of being chosen. In the parable of the wages of the vineyard workers we see that some people will serve the Lord their entire lives and some only the last part of their lives. We can see that the laborers feel that those who worked longer should get higher wages. Jesus says it does not work that way.
Matthew 20:16 G3779 Thus G1510.8.6 will be G3588 the G2078 last G4413 first, G2532 and G3588 the G4413 first G2078 last. G4183 For many G1063 G1510.2.6 are G2822 called, G3641 but few G1161 G1588 chosen.
Jesus can pay the last workers the same wage as the first workers. Many are called but few will be chosen. This tells us that the amount of time one serves the Lord is not as important as the attitude of the laborer. Demanding better wages for longer work hours shows that the workers are only looking at the day(s) they worked for the Master. The Master looks at all days, before and after working. Seeing people under hardship of no work, the Master recognizes their struggle. Then invites those people to the same pay as the others.
Jesus then tells the disciples of the marriage of the kings son. The servants went out to invite people but the invitees refused. We saw that we are to summon people with our news of the rising up and the seizing, the harpazo. Remember, the servants are rewarded at the bēma ceremony. The first invited guests, the heirs of Jacob, rejected the invitation. Then others were invited.
There is a purpose to filling the wedding banquet. The king would not care if the first people he called refused the invitation if there was no point in having a certain number of people at the banquet wearing white. The purpose in filling the wedding feast is what comes next. The Bride wears white and comes back with the Bridegroom as the army. The purpose for inviting the nations is to fill the number of the army. Paul also tells us that we are waiting on a number to be fulfilled, Romans 11:25.
Matthew 22:14 G4183 For many G1063 G1510.2.6 are G2822 called, G3641 but few G1161 G1588 are chosen.
Who accepted the invitation? In this story the nations accepted the invitation. The Jews did not. Who will be coming back with Jesus at the end of the six thousand year age? The ones who accepted the invitation. The many who were called did not accept the invitation, and out of those who accepted there were some who were chosen. They are the faithful or trustworthy. The Bride comes out of the redeemed and makes herself ready, then comes back with Jesus on the Day of the Lord. The Bride is made up of the called, chosen, and faithful.
The people who are chosen are wearing white. A man who is not wearing white sneaks into the group who are chosen as Jesus mentions. He is cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. No one can sneak into the group who is wearing white, their lack of proper attire will be noticed. This is a covenanted group. They must be purified by fire and sanctified. Jesus then mentions something interesting. The group of chosen can be misled.
Matthew 24:24 G1453 For shall arise G1063 G5580 false christs G2532 and G5578 false prophets, G2532 and G1325 they will give G4592 [2signs G3173 1great] G2532 and G5059 miracles, G5620 so as G4105 to mislead, G1487 if G1415 possible, G2532 even G3588 the G1588 chosen ones
All followers of Jesus can be misled by false christs and false prophets. People will see the signs and miracles and be misled. Of the people being misled, some of them may be the chosen ones who will be wearing white. We want to remember that the Father is all-knowing, he knows who will choose Jesus as their Lord and he knows who will be servants, prophets, holy, and the reverent. He is fully aware of who will be chosen to wear white.
This is an important point. As we have studied, people are not “chosen” for salvation and redemption, while others are not. We choose Him, he makes the offer like a throwing of the dice, casting of lots, and whoever accepts Him as Lord, is saved and redeemed. The path to salvation, which was chosen from Genesis 3:16, is then the road that we are on. We can then choose to go far or not to go far. Salvation is available for anyone who chooses. Then we walk the path and our works will be collected and then tried by fire.
From the group of the saved and redeemed, we see that people are servants, prophets, holy, or reverent. Paul told us that our works might not survive the fire apocalypse. But even if our works do not survive the fire, we still have salvation. Out of this group, there will be some people who are given white to wear. They will be invited to the marriage of the Lamb and come back with him at the end of the tribulation. These are the people who were chosen and found trustworthy.
Paul tells us that he suffers hardship as an evildoer, but he endures this for the sake of the chosen. Many are called, but few choose Him. Paul dedicates his life to give people the opportunity to choose the Lord, which will give people the opportunity to be chosen for His army.
2 Timothy 2:9 G1722 in G3739 which G2553 I suffer hardship G3360 unto G1199 bonds G5613 as G2557 an evildoer; G235 but G3588 the G3056 word G3588 G2316 of God G3756 is not G1210 bound.
10 G1223 Because of G3778 this G3956 [2all things G5278 1I endure] G1223 on account of G3588 the G1588 chosen, G2443 that G2532 also G1473 they G4991 [2deliverance G5177 1should attain], G3588 of the one G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus G3326 with G1391 [2glory G166 1eternal].
Paul is willing to suffer so that people can attain deliverance and eternal glory. The chosen become the army. They are those who not only were called, but will be chosen. If one wants to be chosen for the army, they first have to choose Him, then endure, and work as a servant, prophet, holy or reverent. Jesus was chosen and valued.
1 Peter 2:4 G4314 To G3739 whom G4334 coming forward G3037 [2stone G2198 1as a living], G5259 [3by G444 4men G3303 1indeed G593 2being rejected], G3844 but by G1161 G2316 God G1588 chosen, G1784 valued;
5 G2532 also G1473 yourselves, G5613 as G3037 [2stones G2198 1living], G3618 are being built up G3624 [2house G4152 1a spiritual], G2406 [2priesthood G39 1a holy], G399 to offer G4152 spiritual G2378 sacrifices, G2144 well-received G3588 G2316 to God G1223 through G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
Jesus is chosen and valued as a living stone and we are also living stones. We are building up a spiritual house of the Lord as a Holy Priesthood. Who are going to be kings and priests on the earth? The redeemed. The redeemed are a royal priesthood and a holy nation.
1 Peter 2:9 G1473 But you G1161 G1085 [2race G1588 1 are a chosen], G934 a royal G2406 priesthood, G1484 [2nation G39 1a holy], G2992 a people G1519 for G4047 procurement; G3704 so that G3588 [2the G703 3virtues G1804 1you should publish] G3588 of the one G1537 [2from out of G4655 3darkness G1473 1calling you] G2564 G1519 into G3588 G2298 his wonderful G1473 G5457 light.
Abraham is the father of many nations, ethnos, goyim. Abraham is the father of all believers. Just as Jesus told the disciples, the nations were invited to the banquet. Believers are a royal priesthood and one holy nation, ethnos, goyim. We see the idea of people having different national identities has vanished. There will no longer be varying ethnicities but one chosen race. Those invited to the banquet have been chosen to be His army, they have a number of positions to fill.
Enoch gives us some ideas about the Day of the Lord and the elect, but who are the elect? Are there more than one group of elect? Elect means “chosen”. One group is chosen for the New Heaven and New Earth, another group is chosen to come back with Jesus on the Day of the Lord. There is also a group who will inhabit Israel during the millennial reign. The first century disciples understood these ideas and it was not a mystery to them, but the 21st century disciples are thoroughly confused. We have lost the cohesiveness of the prophetic words the Holy Spirit gave us, but we can try to get some of this knowledge back and put events and timing in their proper order.
We read the first chapter of Enoch last week. Let’s look at it again noticing some details.
BOOK OF ENOCH: Parable of Enoch on the Future Lot of the Wicked and the Righteous
CHAPTER I.
The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect ⌈⌈and⌉⌉ righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked ⌈⌈and godless⌉⌉ are to be removed.
Enoch is writing before the flood at the time of Noah and he sees far into the future. There are two groups, the “elect” and the “righteous”. The wicked and godless will be removed by the righteous. In Matthew 24 Jesus tells us that the angels will gather the elect from the ends of the heavens and the earth. These are people who came to believe on Jesus after the harpazo, but then found themselves enduring the tribulation. Some people from this group were martyred and some survived the tribulation.
Enoch 1:2. And he took up his parable and said--Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, ⌈which⌉ the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is for to come.
A ‘remote generation to come’ is who Enoch is writing to. Think about how confusing Enoch’s writings must have been to previous ages. This is clearly why so many have tried to dismiss Enoch’s words, it simply wasn’t their time to understand them. However, by the time John writes to us regarding the tribulation events, we see how Enoch’s words fit perfectly. Yet it was not the time to understand John’s words either. We are now at a point in time where we are starting to understand these prophecies.
Enoch1:3. Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them:
The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling,
4. And the eternal God will tread upon the earth, (even) on Mount Sinai,
⌈And appear from His camp⌉
And appear in the strength of His might from the heaven of heavens.
5. And all shall be smitten with fear
And the Watchers shall quake,
And great fear and trembling shall seize them unto the ends of the earth.
6. And the high mountains shall be shaken,
And the high hills shall be made low,
And shall melt like wax before the flame
7. And the earth shall be ⌈wholly⌉ rent in sunder,
And all that is upon the earth shall perish,
And there shall be a judgement upon all (men).
Enoch is talking about the Day of the Lord, the day Jesus comes to earth with his armies at the end of the tribulation. Enoch says that this will be such an event that even “the Watchers” will quake. The Watchers are sentinels, military angels, and even they will be a little nervous. Jude reiterates this as we saw last week.
Enoch1:8. But with the righteous He will make peace.
And will protect the elect,
And mercy shall be upon them.
And they shall all belong to God,
And they shall be prospered,
And they shall ⌈all⌉ be blessed.
⌈And He will help them all⌉,
And light shall appear unto them,
⌈And He will make peace with them⌉.
Jesus told us of this day in Matthew 24. Remember the three questions? 1) When will Jerusalem and the temple be destroyed? 2) When will Jesus come back to earth? 3) When will the new heaven and earth take place? Jesus is answering question number 2, and tells them that the angels will gather the heirs of Jacob, the elect of Israel. Enoch then mentions a few more things.
Enoch 1:9. And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of ⌈His⌉ holy ones
To execute judgement upon all,
And to destroy ⌈all⌉ the ungodly:
And to convict all flesh
Of all the works ⌈of their ungodliness⌉ which they have ungodly committed,
And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners ⌈have spoken⌉ against Him.
Who executes judgment? Jesus and his Holy Ones. They will convict all flesh. We see that the elect will have a chance to live in Israel with Jesus as their King. The righteous who have risen up, or harpazo’d, will come back with him. They will destroy the ungodly, they will execute judgment. But we need to broaden our thinking. These are not only humans with pure DNA, we are talking about descendants of the Nephilim. Those mixed tribes who further mixed their DNA with humankind. The very groups that descended from the fallen angels. The armies of Holy Ones, come to execute judgment on all. They come to destroy the ungodly. This includes the fallen spiritual sons of God. We studied this in our series on the Book of Revelation.
The Holy Ones that are wearing white will be seen and known by all beings, the humans, the human-hybrids, the fallen angels, the other fallen sons of God, and the demons who are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim. All the ungodly. This also suggests that there will be those with flesh who may not be human. The devil’s end time army of human-hybrid bodies to house the disembodied evil spirits.
After the Bride is chosen, they go to the wedding. The wedding is a union, a merging of people who will now work together, live together, fight together, and love one another. There is a number that must be fulfilled. They will be unified as a team. The Bride prepared herself for this event.
Revelation 14:7 G5463 Let us rejoice G2532 and G21 exult, G2532 and G1325 let us give G3588 the G1391 glory G1473 to him! G3754 for G2064 [5is come G3588 1the G1062 2wedding G3588 3of the G721 4lamb], G2532 and G3588 G1135 his wife G1473 G2090 prepared G1438 herself.
2090LSJ Gloss:ἑτοιμάζω to make
Dodson:ἑτοιμάζω I make ready, prepare.
Thayer:
1) to make ready, prepare
1a) to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
2) metaph.
2a) drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable
2b) to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings
ἑτοιμάζω
hetoimazō het-oy-mad'-zo From G2092; to prepare KJV Usage: prepare, provide, make ready.
2092
ἑτοιμος
hetoimos het-oy'-mos From an old noun ἕτεος heteos (fitness); adjusted, that is, ready KJV Usage: prepared, (made) ready (-iness, to our hand).
The word hetoimazō comes from an old noun, heteos, which means “fitness”. If we wonder what preparedness looks like it looks like fitness. This indicates that we have to work to become prepared. This is why the white linen is given to these saints, because they earned it by their righteous acts.
Revelation 14:8 G2532 And G1325 it was given G1473 to her G2443 that G4016 she should wear G1039 fine linen G2986 bright G2532 and G2513 clean; G3588 for the G1063 G1039 fine linen, G3588 [2the G1345 3right actions G1510.2.3 1is] G3588 of the G39 holy ones.
1345 LSJ Gloss:δικαίωμα an act by which wrong is set right
Dodson:δικαίωμα a thing pronounced to be just a thing pronounced (by God) to be righteous (just, the right); or the restoration of a criminal, a fresh chance given him; a righteous deed, an instance of perfect righteousness.
Thayer:
1) that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law
1a) what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance
1b) a judicial decision, sentence
1b1) of God
1b1a) either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him
1b1b) unfavourable: sentence of condemnation
2) a righteous act or deed
δικαίωμα
dikaiōma dik-ah'-yo-mah From G1344; an equitable deed; by implication a statute or decision KJV Usage: judgment, justification, ordinance, righteousness.
The fitness that we work on is righteous acts. As we exercise equitable deeds, we will then gain a white robe. This infers that our rewards are what determines whether we become the Bride. Our righteous deeds are what we do to prepare for union with Jesus our Lord. If we remember what we studied a few weeks ago, we see Paul telling us that our works will go through fire.
There are a few more things that we should make note of regarding the Bride. The Bride is the military, and the Bride is on white horses.
Revelation 19:14 G2532 And G3588 the G4753 militaries, G3588 the ones G1722 in G3588 the G3772 heaven G190 followed G1473 him G1909 upon G2462 [2horses G3022 1white], G1746 being clothed in G1039 [3fine linen G3022 2white G2513 1clean].
4753 LSJ Gloss:στράτευμα an expedition, campaign
Dodson:στράτευμα an army an army, detachment of troops.
Thayer:
1) an army
2) a band of soldiers
3) bodyguard, guards men
στράτευμα
strateuma strat'-yoo-mah From G4754; an armament, that is, (by implication) a body of troops (more or less extensive or systematic) KJV Usage: army, soldier, man of war.
4754
στρατεύομαι
strateuomai strat-yoo'-om-ahee Middle voice from the base of G4756; to serve in a military campaign; figuratively to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations KJV Usage: soldier, (go to) war (-fare).
The ones in union with the Lord are a detachment of troops for a military campaign. The Bride has become the ones to fight alongside the Lord. This is why it is important to have a specific number of people for the wedding banquet.
Revelation 19:19 G2532 And G1492 I saw G3588 the G2342 beast, G2532 and G3588 the G935 kings G3588 of the G1093 earth, G2532 and G3588 G4753 their militaries G1473 G4863 being gathered together G4160 to make G4171 war G3326 with G3588 the one G2521 sitting G1909 upon G3588 the G2462 horse, G2532 and G3326 with G3588 G4753 his military. G1473
This is where we see the beast making war with the Lord and his military. In order to be part of the military we have to prepare via our righteous acts. Then through continued exercises of righteous works and deeds we have made ourselves ready to wear the uniform of the Bride. To become the Bride we must be called, chosen, and faithful. Many people are called, invited, and summoned, to become the chosen, but not many have been faithful. In order to become part of the group at the bēma rewards ceremony we have to be part of the redeemed who were either raised up or seized off the earth. The only way that people become part of the group that is harpazo’d is if they believe that Jesus died and rose up on the third day. The way that people learn about this is by telling them all the aspects of the day of the rising up and seizing, the rapture-ing of the redeemed. Many people will be redeemed, but fewer will be chosen due to the exercising of their own faithfulness. We are to invite others with these words to fulfill the number of nations coming into the sheepfold and by filling the banquet hall so that the number of people for the army is complete.
