Chapter 22

The Bride of Christ

Three specific times of intercession were conducted at the Lord's direction to help bring forth the Bride of Christ in the earth in our generation. These meetings were held on the Day of Atonement 2004 in New York, on Passover 2005 in Kansas, and on the Feast of Trumpets 2005 again in New York. I realize the Lord has used other meetings to help pray and intercede to bring forth the Bride in our generation, but these are the three in which I was privileged to participate. Here is my testimony and witness of these three meetings:

Day of Atonement 2004 - September 24-26; meetings at
West Point Military Academy, in New York

The Day of Atonement is the holiest most solemn day of the Judeo-Christian calendar. It is a time of repentance and self-inspection on things and relationships that need to be reconciled and restored back to purity. Cleansing and covering for sin is the theme of this particular biblical holiday, and also a focus for this particular gathering in New York. The Lord gave direction to Ken and Mary Stevenson to hold this Convocation in the Thayer Hotel at the West Point Military Academy, which is the headquarters for training and educating U.S. military officers.

We later learned that one of the reasons why the Lord had us meet at this Military Academy is because in the Spirit realm we were battling the principality of Leviathan, which is a control and manipulation spirit. This Leviathan principality has historically always had a stronghold in military mentalities where people will obey orders to their deaths. So we had to go right into a place where Leviathan was strong and overcome that dictatorship mentality, because the Bride of Christ must not operate in this taskmaster overlord attitude.

In Scripture, Ephesians 6:12 reveals an order for the demonic realm, and "principalities" are listed as the highest level. Two of the highest levels of demonic principality are Leviathan and Python. Leviathan was the main evil spirit the Lord came against at this Convocation. While Python was the main principality the Lord uncovered at the Feast of Trumpets 2005 Convocation, which will be discussed later in this chapter. Likewise, two main angels of God who war with these high level principalities are Michael and Gabriel. Michael who is known as the "warring angel" often battles against Leviathan, while Gabriel who is known as the "messenger angel" often battles the lying deceiving tactics of Python. Leviathan manifests with the fist of power and tries to manipulate through brute force or having people abuse their positions of authority. Python manifests as an angel of light and tries to control through false religion, lies and subtle manipulation.

The spirit of Leviathan produces unrighteous selfish kings, and Python produces self-righteous unholy priests. The Word of God in Revelation chapter 13 describes the full maturity of both Leviathan and Python: The "beast from the sea" is the Leviathan stronghold working itself out from among the political kings of the earth. The "beast from the earth" is the Python mentality working itself out from among the religions and philosophies of Man. Daniel also prophesied of these opposing principalities (Dan. 10:13-11:45) when he spoke about the warring kings of the north (mostly controlled by Leviathan) and the kings of the south (mostly controlled by Python) whose conflict spanned generations.36

These two strongholds of Leviathan and Python have been able to sidetrack every move of God to date. Nevertheless, the Bride of Christ will NOT be hindered by these wrong mindsets (strongholds) that kill steal and destroy. Certainly, they may pop up their ugly heads once in a while throughout the ranks of the Bride Body of Christ, but they will not be able to stop the Bride of Christ from moving and doing the Lord's will in the earth. Neither will they be able to prevent the Bride from doing her part in causing the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Roy and Faith Sauzek from Kansas were also in attendance at this convocation. They helped to discern and bring forth the understanding that we needed to intercede deeply for America. There was much weeping and strong prayer for God to have mercy on America and to cleanse our nation. The fourth major hurricane of the year (Hurricane Jeanne) hit Florida during the time of this Convocation, and it sent a clear message that God is indeed cleansing. Water is always poured out during the Fall Festivals of the Lord and it is very symbolic to the cleansing of the Bride of Christ so that she can be "without spot or wrinkle… holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27).

Passover 2005 - April 23-24; meetings at
A Barn in Wellington Kansas

Many Christians have been celebrating the Lord's Passover ever since He had the last supper with the original twelve apostles just before His Crucifixion. However, in our generation the LORD is revealing a transition from the Lord's Supper on the Passover date to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb that Scripture shows will be celebrated throughout the coming Millennium. Just as Jesus transitioned or upgraded Moses' Passover to the Lord's Supper at His First Coming, He is now transitioning it again to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb during His Second Coming (Rev. 19:7). This Passover meeting that we participated in was also celebrating the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Roy and Faith Sauzek were stirred up in their spirits to hold their first Marriage Supper of the Lamb celebration in the barn where their group normally meets in Wellington, Kansas.

Roy's ministry focus since the early 1990's has been teaching and writing concerning the spotless Bride of Christ.37 It is not hard or difficult to understand how to become a part of the Bride of Christ, but it does take obedience to what God asks from us in His Word and walking by His Spirit. ALL people are welcome to become a part of the Bride of Christ, but not everyone is willing to pay the price of obedience to remain in this Bride Body. The Bride of Christ is a living, breathing organism sustained by God and not a man made institution where you can become a member by association.

There were only twelve of us at this Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Ken and Mary Stevenson from New York participated and brought a word from Revelation 15:3-4 which is the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, saying "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You. For Your judgments have been manifested."

One thing that happened during this time of worship was the release of some of the land that the Lord has been promising this group in Kansas to build a center for teaching information on the Bride of Christ. It is located on the hill called "The Place." For over eighteen years this group has been receiving prophetic words and signs for "The Place" and this convocation seemed to really release some things in the natural to help this vision come to pass.

I believe the Lord has also given me some understanding regarding the purpose of "The Place" ministry center in Kansas and this illustration above depicts that understanding. "Hills" in the Bible are symbolic of governments, authority, and ruler ship. The hill in this illustration represents TRUTH and JUSTICE, which is why it has a flame on top. The hill in this illustration also doubles as an army helmet because "the hill called the place" will be a command center for many parts of the Lord's Army.

The bride in the illustration is of course the Bride of Christ. The Bride represents the MERCY and GRACE of Christ which is why she has a heart on her because she is taking the Lord's mercy and grace to a world who needs His love. The phrase "The Place" is wedding language referenced in the Bible and also in Jewish wedding traditions where the groom would prepare "a place" for his soon-to-be bride. Jesus says, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also" (John 14:3).

Finally, in the middle, and between the two symbols of JUSTICE (the hill) and MERCY (the bride), is THE CROSS. The only place where the Lord's Fire of Justice and His Heart of Mercy can meet is at the Cross. Psalm 85:10 states, "Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed."

The Cross of Christ is what is so very central to the work being established at the Hill called The Place. It is the only thing that will be able to BALANCE out the Army-like Command Center and the Bride-like compassion for the world that Jesus gave His life to save. Previous moves of God have always gravitated to one of these two extremes (justice or compassion), but only the Cross (death to self) is able to keep us on the right track. The Wisdom of the Cross is the very Power of God, and the Cross is the prevalent theme throughout all of the writings in this book.

Feast of Trumpets 2005 - October 3-5; meetings at
The Castle in Wappingers Falls, New York

The Feast of Trumpets is one of the seven major feasts of the Lord, and it is the biblical time of the year when kings begin their official reign (regardless of the time during the year when they actually started ruling). Hence, the reason for the trumpets is to announce the coming of the king! Also, trumpets are always symbolic for a message. Anytime there is a trumpet in the book of Revelation it is because God is speaking a message. Similarly, there was a very clear trumpeted message the Lord spoke at this time, which was:

"HERE COMES THE BRIDE!"

Roy and Faith Sauzek from Kansas also attended this Convocation. Roy explained to us how he had not been released by the Lord to talk publicly about our recent celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb until this Trumpets Convocation. In similar experience, today (October 13th 2005 - the Day of Atonement) is the first time the Lord has given me direction to write publicly about these three Convocations. Ken and Mary Stevenson hosted this third Convocation in the building where their Everlasting Covenant fellowship currently meets called "The Castle." Prophetic intercession surrounding this Convocation revealed Ken has a calling similar to that of king David in the Bible. Likewise, Roy has a calling similar to that of Moses who was a priest. God is calling forth the kings and priests in our day, and this Convocation prophetically announced the coming forth of the kings and priests in the Bride of Christ.

The Lord symbolically demonstrated this message by having Ken represent the Jew and Roy represent the Gentile. Ken, who teaches on the Jewish feasts and who may even have Jewish lineage, had the Israeli flag draped over his shoulders, while Roy had the American flag draped upon his shoulders. During worship and prayer, Fran Beauchamps was shown in the Spirit that I was to have the Christian flag draped upon my shoulders while standing between Ken and Roy. My stance between the king and the priest represented intercession to bring about the "one new man" which is the Bride of Christ made up of both Jew and Gentile. As I stood between them I read from Ephesians 2:11-18 part of which says, "He Himself (Christ) is our peace, who has made both (Jew and Gentile) one... so as to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN from the two, thus making peace."

Ezekiel chapter 37 speaks about the two sticks of Judah (Jews) and Ephraim (Christians) becoming one stick in the Lord's hand. This was another Word brought forth by the Spirit of the Lord through several independent sources at this Convocation:

On the first day of the Convocation, Ken's entire message revolved around Ezekiel chapter 37. Two days later, Jane Greenstein first arrived without knowledge of the Ezekiel 37 words that had already been shared. The Lord had directed her to give us four stakes to plant around the "The Castle" property to claim it back for the Kingdom of God. These stakes were Chinese chopsticks that were stuck together creating a tangible imagery of the two sticks being made one, and she had written Ezekiel 37 on each stick prior to attending!

Another very exciting confirmation was two Ezekiel 37 posters (shown here),38 which I had purchased about seven years ago. The Lord had directed me to give one poster to Ken prior to the Convocation and then to mail the other poster, already framed, to Roy after the Convocation. Ken and Roy each represented one of the sticks depicted in Ezekiel 37 (priests and kings) that the Lord was bringing together as ONE during this prophetic 2005 Feast of Trumpets Convocation.

Another confirmation came even after this gathering through a married couple named Jon and Jolene Hamill. They actually lived out the truth of Ezekiel 37 within the context of their marriage several years ago. However, they experienced a time of intercession a week prior to this gathering over the two sticks that they held as memorials for their marriage. They had lost these two sticks and were interceding to see them restored. I read about their story only days after this convocation.39

Other signs and wonders occurred on the same date of this Convocation that served as confirmations of what the Spirit was saying and doing. For example, there was an earthquake in Israel that shook the fault line on the Mount of Olives.40 Also, there was an annular solar eclipse over the entire Middle East on the same day as this earthquake (October 3rd 2005).41 With such an important message as the Bride of Christ coming forth, there was no doubt that many signs would follow.42

Historically, this Feast of Trumpets 2005 date was exactly 38.8 years (2,000 weeks or 14,000 days) from the capture of Jerusalem in 1967 when the Jews won the Temple Mount in battle but in unbelief gave it back to the Muslims. This is significant because the two other most important generations of unbelief were also 14,000 days in length:

1) There were exactly 14,000 days that the Israelites wandered in unbelief in the desert after receiving the Law, before entering the Promised Land.

2) There were exactly 14,000 days from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem until Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.

Presently, the years from 1967 to 2005 mark the third generation 14,000 day time period of unbelief wilderness wanderings experienced by God's modern day people! But the exciting part is that NOW IS THE TIME to enter into the "Promised Land" for those who will only believe like Joshua and Caleb!

It is now time for the Bride of Christ to enter into the promises of God. Now is also the time to trump the message that the Bride of Christ does exist in the earth and that God is now bringing His Bride together according to His timing, at His command and with His direction! This will not be another denomination or organization, but will begin to come forth in each city and nation as the Lord directs and connects those who are a part of His Bride Body through divine relationship.

NEW BEGINNINGS is part of the message of the Feast of Trumpets, and a definite part of what the Lord was saying at this convocation. The Lord is trumpeting the return of His Son Jesus Christ to begin ruling the earth! However, Jesus is first returning through and TO His Bride. Ready or not, HERE COMES THE BRIDE!

In His own hometown on a certain day, Jesus stood up in the local synagogue and read from Isaiah 61:1-2 which says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Then he closed the book and said, "today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." The religious people were so angry at Jesus for proclaiming this Scripture as applicable to Himself, that they tried to "throw him down over the cliff." (Luke 4:18-30)

Likewise today, through the vessel of His Bride Body, the Lord is opening up that same chapter of Isaiah 61, where He left off two thousand years ago in the middle of verse two, and He is finishing it! This unread passage distinguishes the fact that He is now coming for Judgment. It explains that He is now fulfilling "the day of vengeance of our God." It says that His servants and priests and kings will now be honored and "eat the riches of the Gentiles" instead of being shamed and having to hide from the unrighteous authorities in the earth. No doubt this truth will cause the religious people of our day to want to "throw us down over the cliff" as they did to Jesus. However, they were not successful then and they will not be successful now. May the Bride of Christ come forth and fulfill her destiny in our generation!

HERE COMES THE BRIDE!