PART I: THE BRIDE FROM THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 1 “Who is the Bride?”

1. Goal is to establish that the concept of the Bride exists in the Old Testament, using references to marital relationship between God and Israel. This in addition to the mentions of Israel as one of the “two sectors of the Church” and other pointers in introduction [P10] are essential for a coming doctrine construct: To justify renewal/replacement of the Church by new “units”, prophets, and small groups by analogous to Old Testament history.
2. Another goal, typical of the author in the beginnings of his lectures, is to establish credibility, through heavy, and sometimes successive use of Bible scripture.

Chapter 2 “Important Truths”

Emphasizes Israel as the people of God, and the gentiles as grafts in it. The benefits to the doctrine are:

1. The conference is in Israel, and co-speaking with leaders of “The Congregation of the Lamb on Mt. Zion”. So it rhymes with the teachings of the TJCII and appeals to the audience.
2. Serves as a build up to the conclusion of the end stage of the end times based on the fact of re-established State of Israel since 1948.

PART II: THE BRIDE FROM THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 3 “Historical Sequence”

First subsection lists references from the Book of Acts referring to the apostles meeting the temple, and some apostles and some first Jew converts maintaining Jewish customs. To such audience it may provide the impression that Apostolic age Christians maintained Jewish customs, and were in harmony and worship with the Jews.

Then the second subsection establishes that during the first four centuries, at least in some areas, “The early Christians never thought of the possibility of separating Christianity from Judaism.”, and potentially attending the synagogues every Sabbath, and “keeping the Sabbath”.

The author then claims that in the 5th century, due to political situation, the Church councils “started to be separated from the Jewish synagogues”. Much later, the Reformation movement in the 16th century compounded the separation.

Chapter 4 “Final Comments”

This is a conclusion of the last two chapters, concluding that: 1) The growth of the early Church was connected to her Jewish roots. 2) The Bible authors were all Jews. 3) exemplifies the Jews’ respect for the scriptures, that respect was lost by time in the church.

PART III: THE BRIDE & THE DIVINE ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 5 “Introduction: the Biblical Meaning of the Word ‘Economy’”

About the Οικονομία “divine economy for us now”. Setting the stage for the reader to accept that God has a different Οικονομία for every stage even in the AD. And questioning what is God’s Οικονομία then for this stage of end time??

Here the author is obviously neglecting several factors:

1. The idea that God has different Οικονομία (economies) in the New Testament is novel. Even the Greek Orthodox Church there’s no notion God has been changing “His” economy at different stages, whether in Old or New Testament.
2. The Οικονομία is dispensed by the Church, as in the example given by the author of the 1st Council in Jerusalem. Here, for obvious reasons, the Stavrofor is ignoring the fact that he is in no position to determine nor change the Church’s dispensation of the economy!
3. “The economy of this stage, the era of the end times” is building one deviation over another! How the author knows that we are in “the era of the end times”? Haven’t we been in “the era of the end times” for more than 2000 years? So no change in Οικονομία? And the Bible told and warned us against speculating about when is the 2nd coming.

Chapter 6 “Stages of the Divine Economy”

Building on the previous chapter idea, this chapter is titled “Stages of the Divine Economy”! Now the author has started the administration of the justifications of the doctrine. So the chapter is 41 pages… He goes at length from the start of the creation to show that God had different economies for different times.

Moving through to the modern times, tying a number of aspects together:

1. The restoration of Jerusalem and Jews return according to the Belfour 1917 declaration and the 1967 war as an important sign. [P67-68].
2. So, based on “The state of the Church today: the current economy of salvation”. Mixing it with some “signs of the end times” lead to the conclusion that “The Church has become estranged from her original image”, “has lost her original place”, and “has lost her authority and message”. [P68-78].
3. Israel: Survived several attempts of annihilation from the Old Testament to the holocaust “where six million Jew were annihilated”. “However, there were times of God’s visitations. Examples of these are: ° They started to return to Israel as a hometown in 1917. ° They restored Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967. ° The Messianic movement started: Many of the Jews found the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, as their own Saviour.” [P80]. However, still half the Jew live outside Israel, and “Israel is still in a state of being estranged from God”, waiting for restoration.
4. “· Moving towards the economy of our days: a new stage in the divine economy” [P81]. Then the author goes from questioning “what would God do?” to a journey through God’s dealings with the people of Israel then the Church, to deduce that there are small groups of people that “God thus entrusts them with His will at the times of the very fine and delicate divine economy; especially the times of moving from one stage to another in the chain of the divine economy (Isaiah 37:31, 32).”
5. Then moves on to “the final stage of the divine economy” questioning “what will happen, to whom will God transfer the responsibility of the vineyard? To whom the vineyard will be given? To whom will God transfer the economy?” [P85] to state that “The Holy Spirit is now gathering the faithful of God’s people, the sufferers and those considered by some as nothing; yet, in God’s eyes they are the good fig and the faithful remnant”. [P86-87]
6. Finally speaking about “· The features of the Bride” and referring to the mystical experiences of the “worshippers of the apostolic age” [P88], he deduces the features: “· They did not defile themselves with women”, “· They follow the lamb wherever He goes” as absolute obedience, and “· Redeemed…first fruit to God…without fault”.

Chapter 7 “The Economy of this Stage, the Era of the End times”

Here’s where the justifications hit home. “The current economy is the economy of the restoration of the Church.” “There are 5 important points in this economy: 1. Appointing prophets who have a special feature 2. Appointing intercessors who have a special feature 3. Appointing men of God who have special feature 4. Restoring the original image of the Church 5. Transferring the focus/centre of the divine work” [P93-94]

PART IV: THE BRIDE FROM THE PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 8 “Restoring the Lost Spiritual Inheritance”

Split into 7 subsections. Seems to list seven “practices” or characteristics for “Restoring the Lost Spiritual Inheritance”. Within those seven points are some of the doctrine and fellowship elements and justifications:

1. “The Word of God”: Emphasizing “spiritual commitment” as a fundamental thing in the early Church with: “° Commitment ° Discipleship ° Spiritual disciplines” [P122]. The emphasizes the importance of handing down. With the claim that “in the early Church, ‘spiritual fatherhood’was considered a gift from God. No one was allowed to offer spiritual guidance unless he was granted the gift so the souls would not be misled.” [P123]
2. “Worship and its various forms”: After emphasizing the Sabbath as an early Church “was always a day set apart for the Lord.” And “as a foundation for worship and sanctification!” [P126-127], he goes on to list 3 forms of worship: daily, weekly, and seasonal. The weekly include “° Observing the Sabbath”, and receiving a special “prophetic message”.
3. “Seasons of salvation”: The seasons as cycles, each having fasting then feast. With a subsection about “The Mystical Life”.
4. “The Covenant with God”: Emphasizing that a covenant has commitment, loyalty, and conditions.
5. “Holiness”: “means being set apart for the Lord and for His word”.
6. “The divine presence”: Levels of God’s presence. To keep his presence, we should “Avoid idolatry”; “Establishing holiness in our camp”; “Continual worship”.
7. “The times of restoration of all things”: discusses “the following aspects:”

• “The connection and unity between the Gentiles and the Jews” arguing that “The Church neglected the Jewishness of Jesus in the flesh and lost hre connection with the Jews” [P145-146]. So “Now, the Lord is moving the hearts of people in every place towards restoring this connection so that the Church may restore her true image as ‘One New Man’ (Ephesians 2:15); and hence be prepared as a Bride who awaits her Bridegroom.” [P146]
• “Facing the battles of the enemy” going over various areas of spiritual battles. Then concludes that when the “anointing and gifts” of Apostolic, Priesthood, Prophetic roles “unite together, this leads to a great victory.” [P148]
• “The spiritual exodus and its various forms” explains that the “spiritual exodus” can happen by “coming out of the world”; “coming out of the walls of denominational divisions”; “coming out of the isolation and separation from Israel” [P150-151]
• “Revivals and how they happened in the early Church in the early centuries” states the “fact” that the Church was “in a continuous state of true revival” [P151]. And goes on some praising of the Church highness then.

Chapter 9 “Practical Highlights”

Discussing several aspects:

1. “Bridal Love” After describing the perfectness of the Bride, the author asks to “Let us cry out asking to be granted new pouring of the Spirit of God.” [P155-156] “The new pouring will:” “° Ignite the burning coal of love and faith”; “° Deepen and increase out chastity”; “° Awaken our deep consecration and being totally set apart to the Lord.”; “° Release the visions of the Kingdom of God that are related to the ministry of the End Times.” “As a result, ‘new callings’and ‘new anointing’ will be released and we will be able to know them and receive them.” [P156] Next goes on with references and contemplations around bridal love, characteristics, and unity with the bridegroom.
2. “The Heavenly Place” Asserts that a believer has both “a physical place on earth and a spiritual place in the heavenly places.” And that “Fellowship with God has two forms: sometimes God comes to our world and sometimes He lifts us up to His world.” [P165] Then under “Acquiring virtues or discovering weaknesses?” comes to end with “We then start to understand the mystery of the heavenly place and move in it from one sphere to another. As we go upwards, higher in these heavenly spheres, we enter into deeper fellowship with God (the manifestation of the Trinity); we receive revelations and mysteries in the word of God and the spiritual authority increases.” [P168]
3. “The Spiritual Altar” drawing from the Old Testament, the author claims “According to scholars, the tabernacle, the temple after entering the land, refers to Christ and also to the believer. Therefore, we need to perceive the mystery of our lives as temples of the Lord that have worship altars and that we should offer spiritual sacrifices” [P169] The section goes on to emphasize the value of the “prayer altar” in the family’s house, and its impact on both the family spiritual warfare and parent-children relationship.
4. “Walking according to the Gospel” Walking “in Love”, “in Holiness”, “in the Light”, “circumspectly” are distinguishing features of the “people of God” [P172]. Then goes on with a subsection of “Biblical pictures of consecrated lives to the Lord” with two examples: “The widow who gave the two mites” and “Mary who broke the alabaster jar” as reference to putting away “the foreign gods” and the “hidden idols” that entered live because of the “spirit of the world” [P175].
5. “The Testimony and the Message” As “ambassadors of the heavenly Kingdom” “sent from our heavenly place to our earthly place” “to minister the message of the Kingdom of God to our generation”, “requires us to be vigilant and watchful against sin and the evils of the world”… “in order to receive the anointing of ministry and the divine commission (1 Timothy 1:11, 12)”… “Hence we receive the spiritual authority which is necessary to complete our message and mission.” [P178]
6. “The Challenges and Sufferings” “what is important is how do we understand God’s economy for us in the midst of sufferings and how do we face sufferings?” “God allows sufferings…” and “suffering bears fruit within us” [P179-180]. “through the hope of eternal life that we can be steadfast in sufferings and overcome them” [P182]
7. “Acquiring the Prophetic Spirit” “Our world is full of confusion; we can even say that ‘falsehood’ has unfortunately become the currency of the generation. Therefore, we so much need to acquire the Prophetic Spirit that acts like a knife which separates the precious form the vile (Jeremiah 15:19)”. “The Prophetic Spirit grants us spiritual insights and fine discernment; hence, we learn how to prophetically read the events around us; understand God’s mind regarding them; and know how to act towards them” [P185].

PART V: THE BRIDE & THE ESCHATOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 10 “Some Ideas about the Scene of the Second Coming of Christ”

From Zachariah 14:5 “Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with you” and Mat 25:6-7 ‘And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.’ The author answers a question “Who are these saints? They are surely the Bride who has been prepared for Him and who has waited for Him.” Then goes on to explain the ‘rapture’ based on Thessalonians 4:17. [P190-191]

Then emphasizing with references that the bride would be souls from “all the nations, the Gentiles, and from Israel, those returning to the Messiah.” [P192]

“What about the rest, those who are not the Bride?” “The departed souls who are not the Bride,” “cannot rise until the end of the period of the Lord’s reign.” [P197] The rest of the souls who will be alive at the time of the coming of the King will be left for a stage of sanctification and getting ready for what is to come. They have a chance to respond to the gospel preached to them.” [P197-198] “Regardless of whether the ‘thousand years’ is actually a calculated time”… “it is a term which refers to a sufficient time full of blessings and richness and completion of God’s redemptive purposes to their fullness.” [P198]

“Final Comments” “We still need to be prepared and perfected”… on foundations: “· Established faith”; “· Boldness of faith”; “· Bridal love”; “· Bridal ornament”; “· Bridal responsibility” “These bridal souls have learned to live the mystical and liturgical life”; “· Acquiring spiritual discernment”. [P200-202]

Conclusion “THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRIDE & NEW ZION”

“First: Zion in the Scriptures” “· The Lord dwells in Mount Zion”; “· Zion is” “a place for the people to learn about God and His ways”, “a place of healing and forgiveness”, “a place of great joy”, “a place for releasing God’s blessings and His authority to the earth”; “Zion experiences the abundance of God’s provision”; “Zion has a special favour in God’s eyes she is inscribed on the palms of His hands and He watches her walls”; “Zion has great powers and might in wars”; “Zion will awake and put on her ornaments; nothing unclean shall enter her and the cloud of God’s glory will cover her”; “Zion wil be filled with the glory of God’s presence to shine to others, to the nations and the kings”; “Zion in her royal image: the Lord is in her midst and she is the subject of His joy” [P204-209]

“Second: The significance of these features of Zion” “Zion is the place where the Lord meets those who have been prepared for ‘special encounters’ with the Lord. They are the bridal souls whom the Holy Spirit gathers together in ‘Kingdom units’ so that their preparation may be completed through these encounters.” “The souls who are driven by bridal love need to get together in these units in order to encourage one another and receive the promises related to Zion: promises of protection, blessing, God’s revelations, and so on.” “The time will come when the Holy spirit gathers these ‘Kingdom units’, the spiritual Zion, not necessarily physically but spiritually. Through them, He will fulfill God’s final purpose: the final harvest and preparing the scene on earth for the return of Christ, the King.” [P210-211]

“FINAL APPEAL” “Therefore, I entreat you all not only to read the talks; but, let them be a spiritual drink’ that fills you.” [P212]