In a recent episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, host Emmanuel Manishimwe sat down with Texan author Mark Wood to discuss his deeply theological book, The Bride, The Wise Virgins and The Last Adam: The Greatest Love Story No One Knows. Wood shared a gripping personal journey from running away from his faith to a radical reconciliation with God, offering a sobering look at the urgency of the times we live in.

A Journey Through Fire and Faith

Mark Wood’s path to authorship was anything but conventional. Despite being raised in the church by a "very charismatic" pastor grandfather, Wood spent decades running in the opposite direction. His turning point came through a series of intense, often supernatural trials:

• Spiritual Warfare: In 2005, Wood experienced physical manifestations of demonic attacks in his home that drove him to seek God’s voice.
  
  
  
• The Voice of the Spirit: While opening his Bible, he heard the Holy Spirit tell him to keep his heart "steadfast on Jesus," marking the true beginning of his spiritual journey.
  
  
  
• A Brush with Mortality: A 2017 cancer diagnosis and the occurrence of Hurricane Harvey created a "deep fear of dying without knowing God," pushing him to study the scriptures for three days a week.
  
  
  

The Mystery of the Bride

The core of Wood’s work revolves around the Rapture—the "snatching away" of the Church—and the specific identity of "The Bride". Wood challenges the common assumption that all who identify as Christian will be part of this event:

• The One in Seven: Analyzing the seven churches in Revelation, Wood notes that only the Church of Philadelphia is promised to escape the "Hour of Temptation".
  
  
  
• Defining the Bride: He points to Mark 16:15-18 and the Church of Acts as the blueprint for the Bride, characterized by preaching the gospel, baptism, and signs following those who believe.
  
  
  
• The Trap of Idolatry: Wood warns that modern distractions—like social media or even loving one's spouse more than God—act as "lifestyle traps" that drain a believer's spiritual oil.
  
  
  

Urgency and the "Harvest Time"

Wood emphasizes that we are living in a prophetic "harvest time". He uses a variety of biblical timelines to suggest that the end of the current age is near:

• The Budding Fig Tree: He identifies the rebirth of Israel in 1948 as the "budding of the fig tree," signaling that the generation witnessing this event will see all things fulfilled.
  
  
  
• The 2033/2040 Timelines: Based on the concept of "one day is as a thousand years," Wood discusses the significance of 2,000 years (two "days" on God’s calendar) since the crucifixion, pointing toward potential milestones in 2033 and 2040.
  
  
  

"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom... if we don’t fear God, we’re going to lean towards disobedience in our lives."

A Call to Action

Ultimately, Wood’s message is one of preparation and intentionality. He urges believers to move beyond casual reading to intentional Bible study, which he calls the "foundation of faith".

For those interested in supporting a cause, Wood has dedicated half of the proceeds from his book to Be’ad Chaim, an Israeli charity providing abortion counseling and support.

Find the Book: The Bride, The Wise Virgins and The Last Adam is currently available exclusively on Amazon.