From The Desk Of Rev. Joan Krempel

This is a tale of two loves, the deep and forever kind of love that is worth waiting for. It is the story of a bridegroom who waits patiently for his bride, and the story of a husband who longs for his unfaithful wife.

The husband had longed for her from the beginning, had delightedly proposed marriage and she had accepted. The vows exchanged, he then lifted her to a royal status. He became her constant companion, a trusted friend and a strong protector against danger. He was a generous provider, a ready listener, and a faithful partner who lavished on her many wonderful gifts and blessings that he had prepared for her. She was so loved and so desired that he would have denied her nothing. But alas, she eventually became bored with her marriage and longed for the things he could not and would not give her.

In his love for her, he sent her to Egypt for a sumptuous dinner but while there she became enticed by the wealth and grandeur of Egypt, decided to stay, and eventually was entrapped as a slave. The husband was broken hearted and, although he heard her cries for help, he knew she would have to experience the consequences of her wanderings and errors in judgement. It was the only way she would learn the difference between his faithfulness and the world’s deceptions. It is called “tough love” and he had to impose it on her many times through years of her on-again-off-again rebellions and adulteries.

Most husbands would have left her flat and without pity. But not this husband. He loved her too much to let her go. Yes, he would become angry with her, sometimes he had to correct and admonish her severely, but he always forgave her and restored her as his own. She was a young wife, not fully mature in the things of a binding marriage covenant, but he had made his vows to her and he would be long-suffering with her until she was truly ready to break with the temporary seductions of the world.

Yes, he would continue to wait for this was a marriage made in Heaven and would remain so for all eternity. It might remain temporarily for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, but it would become one of the greatest love stories ever. Today he still waits for the on-again-off-again ventures to end and for his wife to desire him as he desires her. Meanwhile, he has confirmed the royal edict...blessings on those who bless her and curses on those who curse her. She is still his royal wife and when she returns to him, in the fullness of her love, they will live happily ever after. He waits...

In the interim, this marriage produced an heir. His name is Jesus. He is the Christ who was, by royal command with the royal sceptor, declared King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he too has chosen a bride. He now speaks of her...

I first saw her in a twilight vision that day in the Garden when the prophetic curses were handed down. She was strikingly young, as ages go, a shimmering light of visionary loveliness, and I fell in love with her at that moment. I would have to wait for her to be born and that might be 4,000 earth years away.

Meanwhile I would hold the vision through the time of preparation, of establishing a royal seed line so that I might become, as prophesied, a son of man(man’s lineage through my mother) as well as the Son of God. It was the only way I could win her as my bride since she would also be of the seed of man.

She would come out of a world of corruption and pain, I was coming out of a world of peace and joy. I would have to identify with her world, and teach her about mine. If she could love me, as I loved her, my Father would also love her and receive her into the royal family. It would then be my pleasure to prepare a new home for us in my Father’s kingdm. I had so many things to share with her, so much I wanted to tell her, and although the waiting was at times unbearable, she was worth the wait...

Almost 2,000 earth years have now passed since we first met face to face, and I succumbed to the Cross to save her from this present world. It has been nearly 6,000 years since I first saw the vision of her in the Garden. Yes, we have declared out love, and our betrothal. Of course, it hasn’t been 2,000 years for me like it has for her. It has been a mere couple of days here in my world, but things move fast here, and get done rather quickly.

First of all, our home has been built and furnished. The crystal floor before the Throne has been polished with sunbeams, and the cherubs, with much giggling, are practicing their showers of rose petals. The chefs are planning and preparing the wedding feast and the banquet staff are arranging table seatings for the guests. The angels continue to rehearse their parts in the homecoming reception and the wedding. Father has the honor of announcing the wedding hour. Even in view of this spectacular event, much of the world is ignoring our invitation to join us and do not know that an heretofore unequaled evil force is about to take over their world. If only they understood how I long to save them...but they will not...

It is for this reason that I will call my bride home any moment now, for all is in readiness, and I long for her as never before. She cannot possibly know how I have yearned for her, desired to be with her, and have waited for this day. I have watched her through the years, preparing herself to be my bride, not realizing she has always been beautiful, holy, and deeply cherished. Ah, my beloved is mine, and her desire is toward me (Song of Solomn). When she arrives, I will take her in my arms and never let her go...

Rev. Joan Krempel
1998