The Blood, The Bride and the Crown
Hi Friends,
I am writing today about a vision that the Lord gave me recently. I believe that He is preparing his Church for the difficult times that lie ahead.
The Vision
The Colored Squares
In this vision I saw three squares placed one above the other. Yellow was on top, followed by white and then red on the bottom. The boxes or squares were two dimensional like a color key for a map or graph.
As I prayed about the vision, I asked God to show me something in the Bible that might help me to understand its significance. I opened to the pages which introduced of the gospel of Mark and read the outline and about its historical significance. The following day, I continued praying and asking for insight. The Lord brought me to the very same two pages: the introduction to Mark’s gospel.
So I read a second time. Finally, I understood what the Lord was showing me. The predominant message on these two pages concerning the gospel of Mark was the idea of suffering as a disciple of the Lord.
“As one of the church leaders in Rome, John Mark was moved by the Holy Spirit to write this Gospel as a prophetic anticipation of, or a pastoral response to, this time of persecution. His intention was to strengthen the foundations of faith in Roman believers and, if need be, to inspire them to suffer faithfully for the gospel, placing before them the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus their Lord…. There are numerous references throughout Mark to suffering as the cost of discipleship.”
Full Life Study Bible, NIV, Copyright 1992 by Life Publishers International, p.1477.
So I believe that this vision concerns how our faith is tested and perfected through suffering and persecution.
In the vision of the three squares of yellow, white and red, I believe these colors paint a picture of what is to come, as already prophesied in the Book of Revelation.
Yellow
Yellow is used in the Bible to describe several things. Yellow refers to gold, something highly valued. It also describes “brimstone” or sulfur, a yellow compound that brought judgment and destruction to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It also depicts hell as fire and brimstone. Yellow can represent uncleanness as it is used to describe the hair on leprous skin. And yellow can also refers to the trials that will test one’s faith.
Because I believe the message that the Lord is giving us concerns suffering as the cost of following him, I would like to focus on the yellow that represents the trials that will test true faith.
Jesus spoke often of the suffering of “the Son of Man”.
“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:22-23
Jesus is saying that to follow him, we will suffer many of the same things that he suffered. That is why he said that to follow him a person must deny himself and take up his cross.
Jesus wants people to know up front that to follow him will not be an easy thing. Many people who heard his teaching wished to follow him, but discovered that they would have to give up comfort and the familiar things that they valued.
“And a scribe came up and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.’” Matthew 8:19-22
Jesus wanted people to know that to be his disciple, nothing and no one could be more important than He is. This is a test that we should all take for ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith: Can we say that there is no family member or friend or job or hobby or material possession that is more important than Jesus? Do we give the Lord first place in our lives? These are the Lord’s own words in red:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
Jesus also warned his followers that they would be hated because of their association with him.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” John 18:21
But the Lord wants everyone to appreciate the trials that they will undergo for there is purpose in the trials. James states:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Peter reveals God’s purpose and how it will result in praise and honor to his name. He connects the trials represented by yellow with something that is highly valued, gold, also represented by yellow. He compares the testing of our faith with the refining fire that purifies gold.
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
One more meaning of yellow that I must mention, is also part of the equation. Yellow is also associated with cowardice. Using the above scripture we see that the trials have come to test the genuineness of our faith. But what happens when we shrink back? What happens when we face a test and give in to social pressure and go along with the values of the world rather than stand firm in our faith? Jesus gives his answer:
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
Throughout the gospels and the New Testament, we are told that it is the one who believes, who overcomes and who does the will of the Father that will inherit eternal life.
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
In this passage, we have the yellow referring to the cowardly, and the yellow color of burning sulfur. However, I do want to make a note of God’s mercy and forgiveness with respect to repentance. If you remember it was Peter who denied Jesus three times. But after Jesus rose from the dead, He restored Peter when he asked him three times, “Peter do you love me?” This is the account:
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19
What is significant, is that even though we may sin in a very grave way, as Peter did when he denied Jesus, God is so willing to forgive, when we show godly sorrow over what we have done or said that was not right.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!
White
The color white usually refers to purity, and holiness. The church, as the bride of Christ, is dressed in white. The Lord prepares his bride for himself, making her radiant, without spot or wrinkle. White is found several times in the book of Revelation. It is used to describe the saints and the armies of God. White is also used to describe two different horses and a white throne.
In the 19th chapter, we see that the Bride has made herself ready for the wedding of the Lamb:
“‘…For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” Revelation 19:7-8
The first white horse appears in the 6th chapter at the opening of the first seal. Many scholars believe that the rider on this white horse is the antichrist. He, like the devil, appears as an angel of light, so he rides a white horse, but in reality he is coming to deceive the world.
“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”
Revelation 6:2
The second white horse is seen in the 19th chapter of Revelation, ridden by Jesus, coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords:
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” Revelation 19:11-14
The great white throne comes at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth. It is a time of judgment for all.
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judge according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Revelation 20:11-12
So the white color I believe represents judgment, and the attributes of the saints of God: holiness, and purity. It also represents the antichrist who disguises himself to deceive people into believing that he is noble, true and godly, but of course he is not.
Red
The color red represents blood, bloodshed, and sin. Notice that Jesus comes on a white horse, dressed in a robe that is dipped in blood. The red blood declares his victory over sin. As he comes, with his holy army dressed in white he comes with wrath and judgment against all those who oppose him. He will “strike down the nations” with the sword of his mouth, putting an end to the evil in the world, and setting up his reign on the earth.
In the vision, the red square is placed below the other two colors as it is foundational to everything. Red representing sin, is the cause of the broken relationship that exists between man and God. And red representing the Lord’s own sacrifice, the shedding of his blood (red), restores the relationship between God and those who have given themselves to the Lord, to love and serve him.
Repentance and the forgiveness of sins, allows the Bride of Christ to be clothed in white. We are washed by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and made white as snow.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” Revelation 19:6-8
Yellow
If you remember, the yellow represents many different things. The yellow square in the vision is in the top most position. In addition to the trials of the saints and the punishment of the cowards, yellow also represents something of great value, which I believe is the crown that the Lord will place on our heads, as a symbol of leadership, and authority, to rule and reign with him for a thousand years.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
In Summary
The three colored squares point to our future expectations as disciples of Christ. We know that the times of tribulation and testing will come to everyone, as it has throughout history. And the rewards for the faithful and devoted servants of God will be an eternal life with Him. Whether the Lord comes soon, or much later, we must be prepared to meet Him. As we trade sin and our former ways of life, for a life guided by the Holy Spirit, and made possible by the sacrificial death of our Lord, we become cleansed of sin and experience reconciliation with the Father. As his bride, we will be dressed in white, made spotless by his blood. And by abiding in him and holding fast to our faith, we will one day wear a crown that he will give us as a symbol of authority, to reign with him. Hallelujah!
Please share this post with friends, family, the church and those who need a bit of help with their faith! God bless you all!
