Chapter 11: CEREMONY OF FORMAL BETROTHAL

Jesus dismounted from the white horse. Immediately, He turned to help me dismount. Holding me around the waist, He lowered me onto the sea of glass.

As I passed in front of Him, He breathed in the fragrance released from the covenant robe. He said, “You have made My heart beat faster, My sister, My bride.” For a moment we stood looking at each other. Then both He and the white stallion disappeared.

ANGELIC ATTENDANTS

The twenty-four angelic attendants appeared near me on the sea of glass. They busied themselves preparing me for the ceremony. They smoothed the covenant garment and straightened the veil. As they worked, they smiled up into my face at times to reassure me.

Suddenly I realized that I was facing the entire assembly of heaven. The collective splendor before me was overwhelming.

THE THRONE ROOM

The sea of glass was packed with angels and the redeemed. Angels also filled the atmosphere above. Everyone wore white. There were thousands upon thousands gathered. They shone like icicles on a sunny winter’s day. They glistened.

Brighter than them all was the glory of my Father. His piercing white light at the center of the throne radiated out into a rainbow of vibrant colors.

The twenty-four stately elders flanked Him. Angels of His presence stood near the altar of incense before the throne. The four living creatures that are full of eyes were watching. The huge cherubim on either side of the throne peered through the intense light. The seven torches that symbolize the attributes of the Holy Spirit burned even brighter in front of my Father.

PLANETS AND STARS

Amid this breathtaking splendor, images of the planets and stars were passing in review before their Creator. Creation itself was “trooping the colors,” paying homage to its King.

Again, the one lone angel sang:

Blessed is He who comes.

Blessed is He who comes.

CANOPY OF LIGHT

My heavenly Father laced together the fingers of His hands of light. Slowly He stretched out His arms over the sea of glass. His hands cupped into a dome, a canopy.

Then Jesus, more beautiful than all creation, stepped beneath this canopy. He was dressed in white with a gold crown on his head.

The images of the stars and planets baked in place. The seven flames of fire swung around to circle the canopied area. Now Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were manifested together for the ceremony.

So extraordinarily thrilling was the site that the mighty assembly erupted into praise:

Glory to the Lamb.

Glory to the King.

Glory to the Three in One.

Let exaltations ring!

THE PROCESSION

The twenty-four attendants began to move forward by twos. There was awe in their reverence. I remembered the words of Psalm 2:11: “Worship the LORD with reverence, and rejoice with trembling.” The nearer these angels drew to the canopy of my Father’s hands, the brighter they shone. I could understand why my Father called them stars. They were like brilliant lamps or torches.

Two of these angels remained with me to help me move forward at the right time. When the other attendants had stationed themselves outside of the seven flames of fire, the angels with me indicated that now I should move toward the canopy.

I swallowed hard.

I began to walk toward Jesus, feeling very small among this stunning assembly. I marveled that the stars and planets would be witnesses to the ceremony also. Then the entire gathering began to sing. As they extolled our God, I lost my nervousness; instead, my heart raced with expectancy.

EXALTATION

Brighter than a thousand suns

Is the Son of Righteousness,

Through whom all things were begun,

In whom all things blessed.

Bow before His majesty

Th’ created of the sod.

Glory to the One, yet Three,

Glory to our God.

Countless, countless thousands

Bow before His throne.

Countless, countless thousands

Worship God alone.

He created heavens and Earth,

Eternity’s vast plan.

By His Word, He brought to birth

Blessings from His hand.

Power hides He in His hand,

Light within His Son.

Unfolding mercies like a span

Hail, great Three in One!

MY EARTHLY FATHER’S HOUSE

As I continued forward, I saw many whom I knew within the crowd. Some were relatives who had died in years past. My earthly father was among them. But my eyes and attention were upon Him to whom I was going. I thought of Psalm 45:10—11: “Forget your people and your father’s house; then the King will desire your beauty.” I did feel that I was being transferred from my earthly father’s house to the abode of my Husband.

Also among those gathered were the angels assigned to me. Some I knew. Some I did not know. But I could tell that these were angels assigned to help me because they were smiling broadly.

MY FATHER’S HOUSE

As I neared the little house of light created by my Father’s hands, I wanted to share my consent. I wanted to say, “Yes, yes, I agree,” to all three members of the Trinity. I felt as light as a wisp of air. I was a cornucopia of joy.

Jesus smiled at me as I passed one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit stationed around the perimeter of my Father’s canopy.

MY ASSENT

As I stepped beneath the canopy, I could contain my joy no longer. I began to walk through an acceptance. The movements were like a stately dance.

I circled Jesus three times, one encircling for each member of the Trinity. As I weaved gently between the mighty torches of the Holy Spirit, I overflowed with love for all Three.

Like Rebekah, I wanted to say, “I will go with this Man.” I began to sing a new song.

Song of the Bride

Hear, Thou great Redeemer blessed,

Deep within my heart find rest;

You who birthed me from Your side,

Then called me forth to be Your bride.

I exult in You alone,

And take Your heart to be my home.

Lover, Friend, Redeemer, Son,

Eternal Husband, make us one.

A Private Moment

When the third circuit had been completed, I took my place at the right of Jesus. I had publicly given my consent before a multitude of witnesses.

He looked deeply into my eyes and spoke privately to me:

Set Me as a seal upon your heart,

As a signet ring upon your finger.

Under His Covering

Gently a tallith settled over our heads. Jesus spoke again, this time in a manner that would bear public witness to all:

I betroth you to Me forever.

I betroth you to Me in righteousness and in Justice,

In loving-kindness and in compassion,

I betroth you to Me in faithfulness—and you will know God.

A RING MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

Then lifting my veil slightly, He took my right hand into both of His. He held my right index finger encased within His right hand as He spoke:

Behold, you are consecrated to Me.

A golden light encompassed my right index finger. From my finger the light spread over my whole being.

My Father’s hands of light became a brilliant cocoon. Besides Jesus, the only other one I could see was the Holy Spirit manifested in flaming towers. The light became more and more intense. I saw two white eagles cartwheeling.

MAHANAIM

Then slowly, as in a ritual dance of birds, I felt suspended within the dazzling light and fire. It was as though Jesus and I began a stylized, courtship dance. I felt that I was vapor that could be inhaled, vapor that could be carried into fire and light.

This was light that could be breathed. It was light that was alive. It went through me as if I was not there at all. I became one with the light—in a dance with it. It was as though within the light and fire, I too became light and fire.

We were vaporous—blending, circling, homogenized yet distinct, fused but separate. The two became entirely one, then separate again.

Although this dance began slowly, it accelerated to a lightning speed. The dance was lightning—lightning, fire, and light, glorious in the extreme.

LULLABY TO CREATION

Then, as if in some suspended silence, I began to hear my Father sing. It was creative sound, a lullaby from the heart of Him who sings to His creation, from Him who holds all things together by the word of His power.

He had given the universe its sounds so that all might sing back to Him. In this rare, suspended silence, I could hear that singular sound released from all creation. From deep within Himself, our God, like a father rocking his child, sang lovingly to His universe.

I sensed the perfect unity within the Godhead, their harmony. By being brought into the Godhead, I began to experience their unity. I shared in their oneness. Jesus was giving me the desires of my heart. As He had sworn, in greater measure I began to “know God.”

RETURN TO THE CEREMONY

From this suspended place, I became conscious again of the ceremony. My Father’s canopied hands, the seven torches of fire, Jesus, the attendants, the angels, and the redeemed all came back into focus. I was once again under the canopy with Jesus.

A jubilant shout came from those assembled. Together they proclaimed:

Consecrated!

CELEBRATION

The throne room erupted into celebration. Dancers began careening past us, reaching out to wish us well. Jesus touched hand after hand. I was smiling but somewhat dazed.

Jesus looked over at me.

Then speaking with affection to those who were reaching toward us, He said, “Please excuse us.” Smiling, He took my hand and said, “Come.”