Part 6: His Solemn Promise
207th Day
Dear Diary
We have been in revival all day. Norton, with some of the other preachers, asked me to minister with them. They knew that I was led of the Spirit.
208th Day
Dear Diary
This was the day of revealing. God lives in me by the Holy Ghost. My whole journey has been to find my Love. All this time, I have gone from place to place – on my journey, being made ready, pure as he is pure – hoping and believing that I would see him some day.
This morning at breakfast, a pastor and his wife sat with us. By their accents, I knew they were from the south. He had a vision of me in a wedding dress. I was putting my veil on. His wife spoke up and said, “I have the full understanding and interpretation of my husband’s vision. You are almost ready to be married. There’s not much preparation left. You will meet the bridegroom, Jesus, soon.” I could hardly believe it: finally!
Norton and Kate listened. Norton began to speak; then stopped. He went on eating. I knew that something was troubling him.
The three of us went to the final service for the revival. Two began to speak about the rapture; that all Christians would be caught up in the clouds to be with Christ. Norton turned to me and said, “This is absolutely false. The Christian church is waiting to fly away and be one with him. It will never happen. He is in us now.”
After the service, I asked Norton what was bothering him about what that couple had told me this morning. “All this time you have gone from place to place to find Jesus?” he asked. “Don’t you realize that the one you’ve been looking for is the one who already lives in you? Jesus died to send his Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to live in our flesh bodies, when we receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. You are the Bride who makes herself ready to marry Christ the Bridegroom. You become one. You don’t have to go looking for Jesus out there somewhere; he is living in you. “
I didn’t know that I had already found my Love!
It was as if my eyes were finally really open. In my spirit, I now understood all those scriptures that I had questioned and had no answers for. It is here. We are the tabernacle of God; the temple of the Holy Ghost. In that day (the day of our being without sin), he and the Father will take their full and complete abode in us. This is the purpose of my journey.
Norton continued, “I learned the way of perfection and becoming the Bride at my church in Oregon…” I interrupted, “Oregon? I’ve been there, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Firstborn, Rev. Sydney Waters, right?” I showed him the inside of my Bible where the torn label was. He said, “No, the part that is missing is Illinois – Oregon, Illinois. It’s The Church of Jesus Christ Forever in Oregon, Illinois. Those in my church are clean. You can know the message of perfection, but you can never be perfected on your own: God is calling a church, not individuals left to themselves.”
Kate said, “What are you saying? I don’t believe that you have to go to some small church in some small city in Illinois to become his Bride. Jesus is coming for his church – that means everybody who believes on him, because God looks upon us through Jesus.”
Norton replied, “Oh no, the Scripture says he comes for a spotless church. Scripture also says, to him who overcometh, will I make to sit in my throne. Read and study it. That’s being perfect. The Alpha and Omega in Revelation is correcting the church. Why? Because their ways are not perfect. You have to walk as he walked.”
Kate shook her head, “I love you, Norton, but I disagree.” For a second Norton hesitated. Then with great affection, he took Kate’s hand and said, “Kate, you have seen my life. Perfection means living without sin. The completeness of perfection is the change: the glorified body. That is the inheritance; that is becoming one. It will happen soon.”
This was all very disconcerting, to hear my two friends disagreeing like this. I announced, “You know, I’ve had the most wonderful journey. My life has changed. I have met my Love. But now I think I will return to be with my sister in Manila.” Norton said, “That’s fine with me. But I’m leaving for Oregon tomorrow morning.”
The three of us parted, promising to meet the next morning to say good-bye to Norton. Things were still unresolved.
I tossed and turned until three. Then, exhausted, I slipped into sleep. In the dark of the morning, I had this dream: I was in a mansion whose walls were gilded in gold, but whose windows were dirty. A voice of many waters spoke, “Thou art my Bride, but thy windows are still darkened. Clean them, that all may see thy light.” As I looked out the largest window, I saw other mansions and their lights from within were shining bright and clear. I woke out of this dream shaken and reached for my pen to record what was spoken. This was my Love. I knew his voice.
At 7:30, I was packed. In the lobby, I met Norton and Kate. I told them, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going. I had a dream last night. I must go where I can become completely clean.” Kate wanted me to tell her the details. We didn’t have time, we only had 40 minutes to get to the airport, and we had promised to stop at the church to say goodbye to the host pastor.
209th Day
Dear Diary
We flew to Chicago, Illinois, and then drove a hundred miles to Oregon, a city of four thousand situated on the beautiful Rock River. Norton brought me to the Church. He had called ahead. Even though it was Thursday, the people of this Church had come together for my benefit. That was overwhelming to me.
I was ministered to like I have never been before. Finally, after all this time, looking for my Love, reading the Bible, searching and searching; I know that I, as the mansion, will be completely clean. I can see better already. And others are seeing the beauty of my Love in me.
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken… for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
…and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee… Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD:
212th Day
Dear Diary
I love the ministry here. It is correction. It is truth. It is charity, spoken and unspoken. I have never felt a deeper bond in Christ. All love him as I do. In these last three days, I have learned more about my Love than I have during all of my journey. Perfection is true. I am redeemed by his blood, sanctified by his truth. I know I am now without sin.
Though it is a little early, the hint of autumn is in the air. Today is such a sunny day, that I decided to walk to Church.
212th Day
Dear Diary
This is that Day. The Marriage.
The presence of the Lord was so strong in the beginning of the service that we all worshipped him. Some were singing, others were praying in tongues, others were silent and reverent. Three teachings were given, one on The Order for Sons of God; the second, on The Melchisedec Priesthood; the third was on God is Proving Us. Then everything was still. The presence of the Spirit of God quieted all.
One stepped forward, and by the Spirit of the Father, spoke:
This is my Journey.
I am Married.
Soon after, the door opened. Someone was entering the church. Norton greeted him. The Church was so heavenly peaceful. I wondered who had come in. I could hear them talking for a moment. Turning to see who it was, I got chills all over, even though the light from the foyer temporarily hid his face.
As I stood, his tan features became apparent; it was the Captain! Tall, in a blue suit; so clean, the man I had met and challenged in Panama; our chance encounter in Manila. And now, here? My heart stopped. I could hardly contain my joy. I spoke with the deep feelings I had hidden – even from myself. “My dear Captain, what took you so long?”
He smiled, and laughed out loud.
The entire Church applauded.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely.
