Unholy Matrimony

By Bonnie Jones

July 2022

Recently one morning I had an extremely disturbing dream. At the beginning of the dream I was only an observer in fact it was as if I was watching a movie. Later I stepped into the dream as a participator because I needed to set things straight. We can’t just stand by idly and do nothing!

Is the Bride of Christ Play-Acting?

In the dream the bride to be and the groom’s younger brother were play-acting the wedding night on live television. They would then send a video to the groom; he was at war and out on the battlefield. I thought they were sending a message to the groom to encourage him and remind him of the longing of his beloved’s heart of love toward him. However they were being paid to make this video. The stage was set and all the cameras were in place.

At the beginning everything appeared innocent and pure. As the cameras began to roll the bride appeared on the scene wearing a beautiful long white strapless wedding gown, the bodice adorned with lace and small white pearls. She had long dark hair but had it drawn up into a twist. Truly she was beautiful! I noticed she was not wearing a veil or jewelry. Then the younger brother, dark haired and clean-shaven entered the scene wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie. Indeed he was quite handsome.

Remember, they said they were play-acting so I was expecting some clowning around for the camera and the two of them to send a word of encouragement to the brother at war. Something like, “Hurry home! Or I’m still waiting! Or we miss you!” But that is not what happened. At first they exchanged a slight kiss and then another and then a passionate one. And one thing led to another. The cameras kept rolling as the scenes became more and more erotic. They definitely were not play-acting. And now they were in bed.

Setting The Record Straight

At this point I was so angry that they were dishonoring God and the holiness of marriage. They were making a mockery of something God calls sacred.  That’s when I stepped into the dream. Grabbing both of them by the hair and dragging them across the room I threw them both down a flight of stairs. As they’re tumbling down the stairs I was pointing a finger at them and shouting. “May God NOT bless this union! May God FORGIVE your unfaithfulness! May God NOT remember your sin!”

Then I awoke angry by what I had just witnessed. And I wondered who would stand in the gap? Who will stand for righteousness? For God says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) and who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! (Isaiah 5:23) We can’t stand by idly observing wickedness and doing nothing about it. I believe that in the dream I symbolized godly justice. And I also believe it’s a prophetic sign the bride of Christ is turning from its fellowship with the world and compromising the Word of God.

The Unfaithful Bride

Here’s what I feel the Lord is saying through this dream. The bride to be is the bride of Christ “worldwide” who’s been playing the harlot with the world. The younger brother represents the world system as described in Galatians 5:19-21. It says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  It’s unfortunate but much of the body of Christ continues to partake of many of the above-mentioned works of the flesh. Greed, pride, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life disqualifies the bride from holiness. This young man was really handsome but so are many things in the world that entice people to partake of things God considers abominable.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

The Lord Is Our Elder Brother

According to Romans 8:29 Jesus is our elder brother and He’s been busy preparing the church for His return. His battle is doing intercession for His bride to walk in love and come into the unity of the faith. (Ephesians 4:13) He’s wooing His bride into holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1) and calling her to come follow Him into the harvest field. He’s calling His bride to be holy as He is holy.

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

This bride could not wear a veil because she does not have a godly spiritual covering. She’s been play-acting for so long she can’t distinguish truth from falsehood. She’s been riding both sides of the fence and willing to compromise the gospel. And in His absence she continues playing the harlot by choosing to enter into unholy matrimony with the world for notoriety for the love of money.

When Kings Go Out To War

This reminds me of the story of King David when he saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop. From the account of 2 Samuel 11, in the spring, when kings go forth to battle David remained in Jerusalem. Of course we don’t know why he decided to stay home in that season. However it was not the custom for kings not to lead the command in battle. Instead he sent experienced military leaders to do the job he was commissioned to do himself. Had David grow weary? Was he discouraged?  Had his mind drifted away from the presence of the Lord? Scripture doesn’t tell us. But what it does tell us is that he was not where he was supposed to be and this caused him to fall from the grace of God and ultimately sin with Bathsheba.

There are other accounts of kings going to battle; in Genesis 14 King Chedorlaomer and his allies (the 4 kings) met the rebel 5 kings in battle in the Valley of Sid’dim (Salt Sea). The 5 kings were defeated and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah died there. This is also where Lot was abducted. And in 2 Chronicles 18 Judah’s King Jehoshaphat’s son was married to Ahab’s daughter. Ahab was the King of Israel. Because he was allied with Ahab through marriage Jehoshaphat joined him in battle at Ramoth-gilead. Of course this is where the wicked Ahab lost his life. These are just two accounts of kings going to battle.

The Bridal Veil

A veil represents the purity of a bride’s heart, which is hidden. It also signifies her virginity that’s forbidden until the wedding night. Here’s what I also believe the dream is saying. This bride already lost her virginity that’s why she wasn’t wearing a veil. She couldn’t be given in marriage; she had already prostituted the anointing for money. Jesus is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27) He’s not coming for one who’s in bed with the world and willing to compromise true love for sensual pleasure.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Behind The Veil

Rebekah represents the bride of Christ. The first thing Rebekah did when she realized her beloved was near covered her face with a veil. Isaac could not look upon her beauty or her virginity until they were married. Rebekah had purity in her heart and a longing in her soul for her beloved. And Isaac who represents the Lord would lift her veil so true intimacy would take place as they consummate their marriage vows.

Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. (Genesis 24:64-66)

You see the Lord is coming to lift the veil over the face of His bride, His beloved who has been faithful to Him by preparing herself for His return. He’s been faithful to continuously intercede for her while she prepares herself in holiness, faithfulness, truth and love. Like the bridegroom in SOS chapter 4 anticipates the loveliness of the Shulamite behind the veil, so does the Lord. I believe the bride of Christ is going to have face-to-face encounters with her Beloved as He lifts her veil and she enters into His presence behind the veil. There’s a dimension we have not yet attained. I believe that like Moses met with God with unveiled face so will His bride. And the glory of the Lord will rest upon her and all who see her will know that she has been in the presence of the Lord.

But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. (Exodus 34:34-35)