Who is the Chaste Virgin?

Throughout the Scriptures, we see Believers pictured as a Chaste Bride betrothed to the Bridegroom. In some verses, we are told specific features of this Bride, giving us much-needed insight as to her preparation. In other verses, however, we see dire warning of things that can remove this chaste condition from the Bride-Candidate, and thus disqualify her from being part of the Bride-Company.

In this writing, we will look at those Bible Scriptures that tell us what it means to be chaste, and will also look at the warnings. Those who desire to prepare themselves will want to take special note of these warnings, as they detail those things that are necessary and vital to the Bride's preparation.

We are told that the Bride of Messiah is to be a "chaste virgin." But what does that mean?  Are married folks – or someone with a not-so-faithful history – disqualified from being a part of the Bride company?  Or, is there a meaning of the word "chaste" we may not understand?

To find the answers to these questions, we will begin with the following passage written by the Apostle Paul:

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.   (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)

In the above passage, there are two major instructions for us to see. First, we will look at the fact that the virgin is espoused, or betrothed, to Messiah as a "chaste" virgin. We will look at the word "chaste" and see what Scripture says it really is.

Second, we examine how the Bride's "chaste" status can be removed by corruption.  We will then focus on the Scriptures that show what the various forms of corruption are, and where they come from. Last, we will see what the antidote is.

If the Bride-Candidate is to be among the Chaste Bride-Company, she must be warned of how the serpent continues to bring this corruption, by beguiling the Bride of Messiah today, just as the serpent beguiled the Bride of Adam.

The Apostle Paul was expressing alarm over a sense of jealousy he had, in response to something the Corinthians had said or done. This sense of jealousy had the effect of telling Paul that there was a "corruption" going on, that would remove the Corinthians' chaste status as a Bride. This corruption could thus disqualify individual Bride-Candidates from being a part of the Bride-Company!

Today the Bride is being warned, just as in Paul's day, how the Bride's chaste status can be removed, simply by the "beguiling" of the Bride by the serpent. We will begin by looking at part of the first passage:

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste <53> virgin  to Christ.   (2 Corinthians 11:2)

The Apostle Paul states his goal here in verse 2, that he intends to "present" the Believers to Messiah, as a "chaste" virgin.  The fact that the espoused Bride-Candidate is a virgin does not say any more about her.  From the word 'virgin' we do not know whether she is wise, or foolish; chaste or unchaste; Bride or Bridesmaid.  All we know from the word 'virgin' in the spiritual sense, is that she has been "Born-Again" by being cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb – and has thus identified herself with Yahuweh's people.

But what is a chaste virgin, in this passage?  Let's look further. The word translated 'chaste' is the Greek word 'hagnos,' Strong's number <53>. As we look at this word, several things come into view.

First, we see immediately the Strong's number "53" associated with this word. From Prophetic Numbers In Scripture we recall the prophetic meaning of the number "53" in Scripture speaks of "entering in."  We can surmise from this that those who retain their 'hagnos' status until the end, will indeed "enter in."

Next, we see the word 'hagnos' <53> comes from the same root word as the word 'hagios' <40> which means "holy," or "set-apart for a special purpose." This set-apart quality is one feature of the virgin that qualifies her as a Bride-Candidate. She has set herself apart from the world, for the sole purpose of being prepared for her Bridegroom. This reminds us of the Bride's commitment of herself to the Bridegroom, which she made early-on in her walk, in accordance with Rom 12:1-2.

Next, we notice in the Strong's Concordance Greek lexicon, that one of the definitions of 'hagnos' <53> is "pure from carnality; Clean." Thus we see from this definition alone that the presence of a "carnal" condition can remove the 'hagnos' or "chaste" condition from a Bride-candidate. We will thus include "carnal" among the kinds of corruption that can disqualify one from being among the Bride-Company.

The terms "pure" and "clean" likewise speak of a condition of being unleavened, or free from the "Leaven" of the Doctrines of Men. Since Doctrines affect actions, this pure and unleavened condition implies that the Chaste Virgin has completely abandoned all her former abominations.

These abominations she had removed from her life consisted of having graven images and idols in her house; practicing idolatry; eating of food sacrificed to idols; and practicing the Religious Doctrines and Commandments of Men. Each of these former abominations has a prophetic meaning today, which the Bride is warned to avoid, and which are discussed in another article.

We will now look at the goal of the serpent's beguiling of the Bride, and the kinds of corruption that can occur. The serpent's overall goal, as seen in our reference Scripture passage above, is to "corrupt" the minds of the Believers, to a point that they might depart from the simplicity that is in Messiah.

Let's look at the details of how this happens.

There is a description of 'chaste' that can be seen, hidden within the warning of the above passage. Notice the following:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.   (2 Corinthians 11:3)

In the above passage, we see that the word "But" written by Paul implies that the "chaste" condition of the virgin had been removed by having her mind "corrupted." We then see the goal of this corruption: to remove us away from the "simplicity that is in Messiah."

We will later see how ALL the forms of corruption have this ONE characteristic: they ALL attempt to separate us, and remove us, from the simplicity ("single-ness") of only one thing – of allowing "Messiah-in-you" to manifest Himself in you, day-by-day. Let's notice the Bridegroom's goal, as contrasted with the serpent's goal.

The Bridegroom's goal for His Bride is seen in the following verses:

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.   (2 Corinthians 4:10-11)

Here we see the Bridegroom's goal, of  allowing "Messiah-in-you" to manifest Himself in you "always," or day-by-day. Now let's notice the serpent's goal.

The serpent's goal for the Bride-Candidate is just the opposite of the Bridegroom's goal. Thus the serpent tries to separate us away from our single-mindedness of allowing "Messiah-in-you" to manifest Himself in us daily, as seen above in 2 Corinthians 4:10-11.

Today, because of the beguiling of the serpent in our Religious assemblies, most Believers today have had their minds 'corrupted' away from allowing "Messiah-in-you" to live. As a result, most Believers are actually preventing "Messiah-in-them" from manifesting Himself! 

With this in mind as a warning, and for our exhortation, let's look further at the Scriptures, to see some of the ways the Bride can become corrupted.

The apostle Paul has much to warn us about being "carnal," and how this carnality will rob us of the nourishment that we need to become mature and prepared as a Bride.

There are several aspects of "Carnality" that prevent the virgin from remaining "chaste" Bride-Candidates. First we will look at lack of nourishment as a symptom of Carnality. Notice the following passages:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?   (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)

Notice above that the carnal condition of the Bride-Candidate is spiritual immaturity, accompanied by lack of full nourishment by Yahuweh's Word!

The symptoms of this "carnal condition" can be seen above in the 1Corinthians 3:1-4 passage, and are listed as envying, strife, and divisions, such as divide themselves by division-by-name, or what we might call "denominations." This carnality is a corruption that causes mal-nourishment, and removes the Bride's chaste condition, replacing it with the corruption of carnality.

The Bride's mal-nourished condition would tell us she is receiving a watered-down or "corrupted" Gospel, consisting of a mixture of Tradition, along with the Doctrines and Commandments of Men, mixed in with a little truth to make it all appear to be true. We will later list some examples of these corruptions.

Dear Bride Candidate, What are you feeding upon?  Are you diligently studying the Scriptures daily, discovering Truths on your own, and finding strong meat?

Or, do you receive a once-per-week feeding of the watered-down nourishment of milk, that is characteristic of babes? Beloved, this diluted nourishment in most cases carries some form of corruption. Let us beware!

We see another symptom of this carnality in the following passage:

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.   (Colossians 2:18-19)

This corruption is seen in the phrase, "not holding to the Head," from whom the nourishment originates. This corruption occurs when we refuse "Messiah-in-you" (Col 1:27), who is our Head, and our Authority. This most often occurs when we reject a Biblical Truth, and thus prevent Messiah-in-us from walking in Resurrection Life – in full obedience to the Scriptures. Most Believers today have become so beguiled and deceived by the Gospel "mixture" – of the Commandments of Men that turn men from the Truth (Titus 1:14) – that they do not realize they have refused the Headship of Messiah-in-them.

What are some of the symptoms of not holding to the Head (Messiah) who is our (Resurrection) Life?  Notice the following:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify (Allow to die) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:   (Colossians 3:1-6)

Here we see another glimpse of "Messiah-in-you" who is our Life. It is our affections that determine our Life. This passage reveals that what we "do" is a barometer of our affections. Do we allow Him to "appear" in us – or do we prevent Him from manifesting His Resurrection Life, and His obedience, in us? 

Most Believers today would deny being involved in "idolatry." Notice, however, that the items listed in the above passage are equated with idolatry, so we see that idolatry can appear in many forms. All forms of idolatry have to do with "your life" which is not (yet reckoned as) dead, as Paul has said, but remains alive. 

For example, Some of these forms of "our life" that we are to reckon as dead are, "our own" understanding, "our own" opinion, "our own" Doctrines, "our own" will, "our own" good, "our own" flesh, "our own" lust, "our own" wealth, etc., all of which are idolatry, and are disobedience. The very definition of "Backsliding" is that one is filled with "his own" ways (Proverbs 14:14)!

It is when we hold to "our own anything," that we are "children of disobedience." The result is that Messiah will not appear in us, or to us – except to bring His wrath, as it plainly states above in Colossians 3:6!

It is during our continued and ongoing disobedience that idolatry occurs in us, prompting the wrath of Yahuweh to bring discipline to us, and the corrections of a loving Father.

So what is the antidote for this form of carnality, of not holding to the Head, because of the idolatry of "our own" ways?  We see both the problem, and the solution, in the following passages:

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.   (Romans 8:5-6)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (allow to die) the deeds of the body, ye shall live.   (Romans 8:13)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   (Galatians 6:8)

In the above passages we see in Rom 8:5-6 and Rom 8:13, we see that living "after (according to) the flesh" is equated to "carnal-mindedness, which leads to death. We also see that being "spiritually minded" leads to (Resurrection) Life. We then see in Gal 6:8 that what we "sow" determines our end result, which is either "corruption" or "Life everlasting." Thus we see a connection between being carnal, which is living according to the flesh, and corruption and death that results from that carnality!

Friend, these verses are talking about Blood-bought Believers. The Apostle Paul was NOT addressing "heathens" in his epistle to the Romans. He was writing to Born-Again Believers when he said to be "carnally-minded" – living according to the flesh – leads to death!  Let's see why this is true.

Perhaps the greatest source of carnality among the Believers today is seen in the following passage in Romans. Notice the following passage:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.   (Romans 8:7-8)

Notice in the above passage in Rom 8:7, Paul tells us the carnal mind is an "enemy" of Yahuweh BECAUSE it not subject to the Law of Yahuweh. We are then told that those that are carnal, or "in the flesh," can not please Yahuweh. 

Most Believers today have been told that they are "NOT subject to the law" of Yahuweh. However, Romans 8:7 would conclude that most 'Believers' today are ENEMIES of Yahuweh – simply because of the carnality that results from NOT being subject to the Law ("Torah")!

The Scriptures go on to tell us the following:

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.   (Romans 5:9-10)

Notice Paul tells us in Romans 5:9-10, that having been justified by Yahushua's death, and by His blood, we will be saved by His life – that is, by our allowing Him to live His Resurrection life within us. If we refuse Yahushua by not being subject to the Law (Torah), we create carnality, and we prevent Yahushua-in-us from walking in the obedience to Torah that He desires to do, while living within us.

It is our allowing of Yahushua-in-us, who is our Life, that allows us to enter eternal life. If we truly have the Son, then we will allow Him to live in us, and we have all that He is – including His eternal, Resurrection Life. If we have the Son, but do not yield to His disciplines, and do not allow Him to live in us, we will not enter Life, and the result is death. This is the reason Paul said of Born-Again Believers, "to be carnally-minded – living according to the flesh – leads to death." This is also in agreement with all the words of Yahushua, and with all that the Prophets spoke, and with all the epistles.

This one source of carnality – of not being subject to the Torah – has resulted in perhaps the greatest corruption to the Bride in our generation, resulting in countless precious virgins losing their "chaste" designation.  Let's see how has this happened.

We saw in the original passage, in 2 Cor 11:3, that it is through subtilty of the serpent, that this corruption of the "mind" or understanding has occurred – through the modern Theologians, then passed along to the professionally-trained, commercial Pastors and Leaders. The result is that the Bride-Company has been deceived today, just as the serpent deceived Eve. 

This corruption of the mind occurs through the wresting, or twisting, of Scripture, resulting in corrupted teaching of Bible Doctrines. These teachings have become a mixture of a little Truth, along with Doctrines and Commandments of Men, and results in corrupted actions by Believers.

This corruption today centers around what Scripture calls the "Doctrine of Balaam." We recall what Balaam did. He rejected the earlier word of Yahuweh, forbidding Balaam to go to prophesy against Israel.

Afterward, however, Balaam sought Yahuweh for a later word, one that would be more favourable to his purposes. Perhaps Balaam thought Yahuweh had "nullified" His earlier word. We do not know. But we do know that Balaam rejected the "earlier" word in favour of the "later" word, and for this reason ("Because he went") Yahuweh sought to kill Balaam (Num 22:22).

This is the "Error of Balaam," and many are teaching this same Doctrine today as a foundational Doctrine. Revelation calls this the "Doctrine of Balaam," and tells us we must repent of this, or Yahuweh will fight against us.

Dear Reader, does Doctrine of Balaam sound familiar to you? Most of the precious Lambs of this generation have been beguiled, by being told the notion that "the earlier Word (the 'Law') has been somehow 'nullified,' and is not now applicable to Yahuweh's people." This notion that the 'Law' has been nullified, and done away with, is not found in any of the words of Yahushua, nor in the epistles, nor in all the Prophets, nor in all of Scripture. Indeed, this notion has required much wresting or twisting of Scripture, along with re-defining of Bible words, to bring it about.

This is the "Beguiling" being done by the serpent.

It because of this beguiling, done through the Doctrines of the Theologians and spiritual Leaders of today, that many Bride-Candidates have become corrupted in their minds regarding the 'Law' or Torah. The result is that their actions have been affected. Because they have been corrupted in their minds, they have abandoned being subject to the Law – the Torah – and do not practice the all the Sabbaths and Feasts of Yahuweh, as was common among the early Believers, and as seen throughout the New Testament.

Notice in Rom 8:7 Paul says that these "carnal" Believers are Yahuweh's enemies, because ("for") they are "not subject to the Law!"

Dear Reader, do we consider ourselves "subject to the Law?"  Or have we all been deceived by the modern Theologians' spin on the teachings of Righteousness, and Law, and Grace, resulting in a "twisted" teaching of these Biblical concepts?

Yahushua used a word picture to describe Doctrines of Scripture that had become "corrupted" by the Doctrines of men. He called this corrupted mixture "Leaven," and He tells us the result this leavened Doctrine has on our actions. 

Let's look at what Yahushua had to say to the Leaders of His day, and to the Leaders of Today:

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.   (Matthew 15:7-9)

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.   (Matthew 16:6)

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.   (Matthew 16:11-12

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.   (Mark 7:8)

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.   (Mark 7:9)

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy <5272>.   (Luke 12:1)     

Here, and in other verses, Yahushua tells us that the Pharisees and Sadducees had laid aside the commandment of Yahuweh, and instead held to the Tradition of men, and were teaching for Doctrines the "Commandments of men." 

Yahushua then tells us that the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is their "Doctrine." He then says that this leaven is "hypocrisy," which Greek word stems from <5271>, meaning to simulate or imitate by substituting one thing for another.

Putting these all the verses together, we understand that the Traditions and Commandments of Men, when combined with the Truth of Scripture, is as "leaven," and as a man-made substitute, is merely an imitation of the True, and causes the Commandments of Yahuweh to be rejected.

Thus we are to "take heed" and "Beware" of these leavened doctrines – so that WE would not reject the Commandments of Yahuweh! The irony is that today, one of the foremost "Traditions of Men" is the rejection of the earlier Commandments of Yahuweh!

Titus tells us that the Commandments of men turn men away from the Truth (Titus 1:14). The result of this "corruption" caused by the leavening of Doctrines is that the daily lives and practices of the Believers is completely void of walking in the commandments of Yahuweh. Hence the Festivals of Messiah are ignored, and agape love waxes cold, and the New Covenant is trampled underfoot.

The results? The Bride-Candidates have been beguiled, and the Bride has lost her 'chaste' condition. Notice this lament of the Bride in Song of Solomon:

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.   (Song of Songs 5:7)

 
This passage is a description of today. The Watchmen, the Keepers of the Walls of Salvation, are responsible to feed, and to lead, Yahuweh's people, and to present them as a chaste virgin Bride. Instead, these Leaders smote the Bride, and took away her Bridal veil, which speaks of removing from her those qualities that qualify her as a Bride-Candidate. If she is going to prepare herself, and remove the corruption, she must act quickly.

Let's look briefly at "all of Scripture" for further confirmation.

We have seen some of the corruptions described by Yahushua and by the Apostle Paul, that can cause the Bride to lose her chaste status.

But what does the Torah say about corruption, and its causes and effects? Let's look briefly at a few passages from Torah:

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,   (Deuteronomy 4:16)

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:   (Deuteronomy 4:25)

We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.   (Nehemiah 1:7)

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.   (Deuteronomy 31:29)

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.   (Malachi 2:8)

In the above passages, we see that corruption is related in every case to violation of the Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments of Yahuweh by Yahuweh's people. This is as we saw in all the previous descriptions by Yahushua and by Paul. Thus far we see agreement in "all of Scripture."    

Let's now look at the solution to the problem. Let's see what the recommended "antidote" is.

As we saw in Chavah (Eve) and in How Does the Bride Prepare?, the Bride-Candidate must first "pass from," must leave the influence of these Leaders. She must then seek the Bridegroom with all her heart, as did the Bride in Song of Solomon. She must cease hearing the Doctrines and Commandments of Men, and feed only upon the pure word of Yahuweh. The Bride is cautioned, however, that she must maintain a heart attitude of submission, while under the authority of her Leaders, whether they are right or wrong. Until the Bride becomes separated from one Leader, and placed by Yahuweh under another, she must maintain proper submission to her leaders, and to all with whom she is in fellowship.

Next, understand that the Bride-Candidates that will go in with the Bridegroom as "Wise" virgins are those who have removed all forms of corruption and carnality. This requires a firm decision to become subject to the Torah, the complete Word of Yahuweh, both the "earlier" and the "later" word. Unless she makes this decision, the Bride-Candidate can prevent Yahushua-in-her from walking in Resurrection Life – in full obedience to the Torah, thus disqualifying her from being among those entering in.  

Third, get into the Scriptures. Remove the "Leaven." Believe nothing spoken or written by men, including this writer, unless the Scriptures bear witness to it as Truth!

Seek the Bridegroom with all your heart. Become a "do-er" of the Word. Ignore what others think, or say about your path – unless accompanied by Scripture. None of us are to be above Scriptural rebuke and correction.

In making these choices, the Bride-Candidate will lose close friends and loved ones, but will be among the Company of those who remove all forms of corruption.

These are they who will be presented as the 'Chaste' Virgin, and will enter in to be with the Bridegroom.

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