“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

And let him who hears say, “Come!”

And let him who thirsts come.

Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

(‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:17)

     To whom, exactly, is it that both “the Spirit” AND “the bride” are speaking to when, together, they stand as one, and say, “Come!”? For plainly, there is another group of people besides that of “the bride” unto whom they are both then earnestly beckoning? And if so, how can that be? But more than this, what is also clear, is that whomever it is that they are calling, they are also clearly then not part of the bride.

     The LORD our God has already told us that under the stretched-out canvas of time, that for everything under heaven, there is a season and a time. Therefore, does not the Spirit of counsel, and of wisdom, and of knowledge, and of understanding (Isaiah 11:2) then not tell us that in order to understand the context of “to whom” the Spirit and the bride are calling, we need to then know both “the season and the time”? Having said that, right from the outset, what we do know is that for such a season as this, and for such a time as this, is that Revelation 22:17 clearly says “Come!” THREE TIMES! Is that then not a peremptory call?

     For such a peremptory occasion as this, to understand the season and the time, we need to look at the entire context. Which is when all who thirst are invited by both the Spirit and the bride to come and take freely of ”the water of life”. For surely this invitation then speaks of all those who are still able to receive unto themselves eternal salvation? For is it not written that “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL BECOME IN HIM A WELL OF WATER SPRINGING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE." (John 4:14).

     Which is that day when, in the combined effort and pursuit of both the Spirit and the bride, that the Spirit and the bride will plainly stand as one, joined as one in sentiment, and united as one in goal. For surely that is the great day spoken of in John 17:22-23 where not only the bride and the bridegrooom will be as one, just as the Son is one with the Father, but it is that great day for which the Son prayed two thousand years ago, which was when He prayed unto His Father that on behalf of all those who would come to believe in Him through THE BRIDE’S MESSAGE, that they too also may all be one. “I am not asking on behalf of them alone (the bride), but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message” (John 17:20-21).

     So if this is a season and a time where, together with the Spirit, the bride will go out and call unto all those who are thirsty to come and take freely of the waters of life, “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me”, is this then not the season and the time of “the great harvest”? Which is that time of “the great tribulation”, being that “very peremptory” time and season where the Spirit and the bride will both say, “Come!”, being that season where the time is not only short, but where those who are thirsty are to seek the LORD while He may still be found, and to call on Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6), being the season and the time spoken of where “the harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:38), being the season and time where the winepress of circumstance (the great tribulation), together with the Spirit, will work together to ripen the harvest for that time when a remnant (the bride) shall go out into all the world and say, “Come! Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

     Zephaniah 1:12 tells us that a time will come about when, together with the lamps (the bride), the Spirit will go out and search all of Jerusalem. Which speaks of that time in Matthew when the King said, “Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.” And whilst some paid no attention and went off -- one to his field, another to his business, the rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. Which is the bride. For there is coming a time when God will send out His bride into all the streets and the thoroughfares to search all Jerusalem for that one lost sheep, and some of them will be killed. For such is the heart and the nature of the true Shepherd. Which is a time when that bride, just like the pattern of the Firstborn, will likewise need to lay down her life for that sheep. Which is both the office and the badge of honour of a true shepherd. For did not David have to face both bear and lion as a shepherd? For is it not written, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

     And for those of the bride who are killed, is it not written, “The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.” Which is confirmed in Zephaniah 1:12-14. “It will come about AT THAT TIME, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps (the bride), And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil! Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.”

     And when the bride goes out with their message, because some paid no attention and went off -- one to his field, another to his business, and because the rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them, is it not also written that “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the thoroughfares of the highways, and invite to the wedding feast as many as you shall find.” So the servants (the bride) went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. (Matthew 22:8-10).

     Does this not speak of a time when, together with the bride, being those bridesmaids or wise virgins who carry their lamps full of the oil of the Spirit, that the Spirit will search for all those who are yet to still arise? Which are all those called, but who still slumber and sleep at the coming of the Son of Man. Which are all those in Jerusalem who are still asleep. That they, too, may likewise have their lamps lit, and that they too, may in turn also say, “Come!”. For is it not written, “And let him who hears say, “Come!”? For is it not also written, “For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.“ (Psalm 18:28). And is it not also written, “There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.” (Acts 20:8).

     May the upper room of Your tabernacle of meeting be filled to overflowing with an abundance of lamps all gathered together and set ablaze with Your fire and oil, that not only may Your name be hallowed in all the earth, but that Your kingdom may come, and that Your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, so that on the last day, ALL may stand (John 6:40).