Books by Dr. Edith Saller

Preface to The Unveiled Bride: A Comprehensive Bible Study of the Bride of Christ from Genesis to Revelation

About the Title

In ancient Israel, betrothal was the first stage of marriage. She was considered married but the marriage wasn't consummated until the bridegroom prepared a wedding chamber for her and came back to bring her there. After the formal betrothal, she was veiled. It was done for her protection and for her status and as a sign she belonged to her husband. Before taking her, the bridegroom lifts the veil to make sure she is his bride. Even today among the very orthodox Jews, "a high point in the marriage ceremony is when the bridegroom, after walking around the bride three times, removes the veil covering from her face and throws it over his shoulder. By this, he is saying to those gathered together at the wedding that the government of his bride now rests on him!"*

And of course, after the final stage of marriage when it is consummated, the bride is unveiled in the intimacy with her husband and later on with her family. But always in public places, she remained veiled. This practice is not in modern Israel but remains in the Islamic world.

There was also a "spiritual veil" over Israel, God's bride. Only the priests could daily enter the holy place of the Tabernacle and only once a year could they enter the second veil into the holiest of holies on the Day of Atonement. But after Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus ) died on the cross, the veil split, signifying we can boldly enter into God's presence through Jesus' shed blood by faith in his atoning sacrifice.

Everything in the Tabernacle is a picture of Jesus but also the believer IN HIM. And so, because of the cross, we can individually and corporately as his bride, be unveiled before Him. We can experience intimacy in His presence and through His Word. We can know Him, really know Him, as we seek His face.

There has been a greater revelation of Jesus more than ever before. Not only is He seen in the New Testament, but He shines through every page of the Old Testament. Not only has this revelation come through personal encounters, but a greater revelation of the Hebraic perspective.

There has also been a greater awareness of the believer IN HIM. And with this awareness has been a greater awareness of the believer as HIS BRIDE. But there have also been many misconceptions of the bride that have "veiled" a true understanding. Just as Jesus runs through every page of THE BOOK- the Bible, so does the concept of the bride. And just as in the Old Testament Hebrew, Jesus is in the Hebrew words, letters, and even in secret codes, even so the bride is "veiled" in the Hebrew love language which is lost to the ordinary believer.

In ancient Israel, an unveiled bride was a sign of shame, or even promiscuity. But today, in the western world, this is no longer the case. Spiritually, it is time to know HIM MORE. And it is time to see the bride unveiled in scripture so we will know our corporate and individual destiny IN HIM.

Introduction

It was September 11, 2006. I was watching a TV documentary of the firemen at Ground Zero. The firemen described how like a silent army they began the insurmountable task of removing bodies from the endless rubble. They worked tirelessly, without talking while inside crying out, "Oh God, where are you? Have you forgotten us? They found that the choking dust was the fragmented particles of human remains. And so, thousands of boots had to be purchased and every two hours the firemen had to change boots to avoid contamination. Three days later, they found crosses in a citadel formed out of the rubble. To all of them, the words were loud and clear: I WAS THERE. I AM HERE.

Tears flowed down my cheeks when I thought of their sacrifice. But an even bigger picture emerged from those fireman than the September 11 tragedy. For I saw a line of "firemen" from history: saints martyred for translating the Bible, missionaries who gave their lives for preaching the gospel, Sudanese Christians persecuted for their faith, and ordinary Christians carrying the cross of Jesus Christ.

But I also saw in this "army" - a bride with clean boots and hearts ablaze- a bride that has been glimpsed in part through individuals, movements, denominations, and ministries but hidden and veiled- UNTIL NOW. This is the bridal army without spot or wrinkle, an army being birthed in the heart of God, a revival army - strong, virtuous, and undaunted who will flow in the glory before our Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach comes back to claim her as his own. And this bride, too, will go through the rubble of humanity not to find souls to bury them but to raise them up, heal and deliver them in the mighty name of Jesus.

In a prophetic vision, Patricia King describes this bride: "I saw the bride of Christ, like Esther, stand before the King. She was beautifully prepared... no spot or wrinkle and was arrayed in fine linen. A golden crown was upon her head. King Jesus delighted in His bride with an intensity that is indescribable. He extended his scepter to her. In the vision, the Bride touched the scepter and as she did, the authority and favor of the King was imparted to her. It appeared like a tangible thick liquid that filled every part of her being. He said, 'Go, my Bride.... Go in my authority and save the nations.

In the next part of the vision, I saw the Bride arrayed in glory riding on the back of a large, beautiful, white war horse. Jesus held the reins and she was cleaving to Him as they rode together into the harvest fields. Jesus and his Bride were absolutely one in vision and they shared the same mission. Kingdom authority- the authority of love and light were radiating off from them and the nations were being flooded with the influence of this 'love authority'. The nations were being flooded with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord."*

This glorious bride has a heart for lost souls. A Spanish couple from Berryville, Arkansas shared a story of an evangelist in Mexico who because he spoke in tongues was dragged by a truck, his head was shaved and he was forced to clean the streets while children of the city jeered him. He was kept in the city jail. When it was time for him to speak up for his defense, he asked that he might speak to the townspeople. The request was granted and he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Many were saved that day.

It is a bride that is persecuted but well provided for by a loving bridegroom. Fifteen years ago, a local pastor was having a tremendous revival in a nearby town. The small church grew to over 600 people. Local pastors shunned him, however. The anointing was strong but opposition rose up against him and he was voted out ---by ONE vote. Dismayed, the next day he cleared off his desk in one swoop. He didn't look at the contents for five years. He went on the road as a traveling evangelist and his kids slept on the
floor in their humble trail trailer. Fifteen years later, he assists John Hagee Ministries. He knows Paula White personally and helps Perry Stone. He preaches with TBN evangelists and is on TV sometimes. Five years after being voted out, he looked at the contents of his desk. It included another vote and it said yes. If he had seen that vote he would have stayed. He could have brought the congregation up to 3000. But God had other plans. He wanted him to evangelize the world. Recently, he came to a little town near his original pastorate. On Sunday morning sometimes there are 200 present but on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights there are as few as 50. He came for three days and the offering he received was the third largest offering he has ever received and he goes to large congregations!!! That day he received a supernatural offering from a supernatural God near the place (within 15 mi.) where he was persecuted!

Not only does this bride wear "clean boots" and "ride with the Lord Jesus", sometimes she has an umbrella and a heart of compassion! I had given my friend Susan's daughter Toni a word at the altar that God was giving her a compassion for people no one else cares about. I didn't know it but the day before something went wrong with her car while she was on the way to Fayetteville. She called her sister Sarah to come and get her. Sarah picked her up and when they got into Fayetteville an old man merged into their lane and hit Sarah's car! They had to wait a long time for the police to arrive but no one was hurt and the man had insurance. When they finally reached their apartment, it had started raining very hard. Toni looked up and saw a little old man with a cane and she immediately went out and walked him home with her umbrella in the pouring rain. During their walk, she found out he just had a stroke and there was no one to help him. She said to her mom later, "Mom, I got to walk a little old man home in my umbrella! Is it possible or probable that God orchestrated the whole thing because he cared about that little man enough to send him someone to help keep him dry? If it had not been for all the delays, Toni would not have been there. She would have been sitting in class!

That bride has gone through "death" to be resurrected into HIS PURPOSE. A faithful mother (my sister Eileen) sat beside her dying son. Karl was only ten years old but he had terminal cancer that reached his lymph nodes. She stood on healing scriptures and her boy valiantly believed. As his body grew weaker, his heart grew stronger. He was a Jacob that wrestled with God. Near his death, he was praying for people in the hospital. Doctors and nurses loved him. He would not accept a "No" as an answer. But in the end, Karl died and went to heaven. The mother and father's hearts were broken. Had God failed them or they failed God? A week later, little Katie was born. But in the months and years that followed something else was birthed- a love for the Lutheran Church- a church she had grown up in and left when she got filled with the Holy Spirit. But now, God wanted her to return to teach and intercede for that denomination. Since then, she and her husband have gone to walk the streets of Germany and pray for the Lutheran people. Their journey will take them to Scandinavian countries. They are teaching couples and young people about the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Their pain birthed compassion which has led to their destiny and purpose. They are a picture of the broken hearted, poured out bride that reaches her destiny IN HIM!

The bride is totally surrendered and is willing to pay the price to fulfill God's plan for her life. Gwen Shaw, founder of End Time Handmaidens, an organization that calls women and men to intercede and go to the nations, has emphasized this total surrender in her autobiography and her many books. Her life has been of total sacrifice to the Father's will which has led her to go to over 100 nations. Her love for people and her impartation to call the bride to be ready has greatly affected my life.

It is a bride that goes where God tells her to go. Recently, my friend Jill Atkins led a small Joel army of intercessors to Jerusalem to the Old City and now she has come back with a word from Jerusalem and resurrection life accompanies her every step!

That bride- the army of the Living God- is beginning to arise and awaken. And she will move like a mighty force all over this nation and the world. She will be unveiled and the entire world will know her by her beauty, strength, and glory because she reflects her groom- Yeshua HaMashiach- Jesus Christ! She will be a glorious bride because she is IN HIM!! Let's take a look at what the scriptures tell us about the Bride. There are direct scriptures but also many hidden beneath types and symbols, in the Biblical feasts, and even in the Hebrew words and letters. It is time to unveil the Bride from Genesis to Revelation. It is time to know that the Old AND New Covenants were marriage covenants. It is time to know Yeshua HaMashiach not only as Savior, Lord, and Shepherd but our Heavenly Bridegroom who is coming back SOON! Bride, let's get ready! Hine ze Ba! BEHOLD, HE COMES!!!!

More information about purchasing The Unveiled Bride

*Lascelle, Ruth Specter, Jewish Faith and the New Covenant, p. 134
**Patricia King, September 2003, extremeprophetic.com

© 2007 Dr. Edith Saller. All Rights Reserved.