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Post by kjs on Dec 26, 2018 16:38:23 GMT -6
It seems Many, Many ministries teach that the “church” is the Bride Of Christ!
But the phrase “bride of Christ” does not occur ANYWHERE in the Bible.
There are multiple places in the Apostle Paul’s writings where the Church is spoken about as being the Body Of Christ (with Jesus Christ as the Head) – but absolutely – ZIP, NADA, nothing about the church being the Bride Of Christ. In the OT (Old Testament) there is several places where Israel is portrayed as an unfaithful wife.
So while there is that imagery of Israel being a spouse of God; it is always an unfaithful spouse. There are several OT references where God declared that Israel would return to Him, that they would become what He had purposed for them, and that He would fulfill His covenant promises to them. So if one were to sort-a-kind-a read between the lines – one could make a case of Israel remarry God – so in that case – the Bride imagery can come about.
What a second (I can already hear someone protesting) …. Revelation 19 is clear about the Marriage supper of the Lamb and the Bride.
It sure is, in fact let us read it….. Revelation 19
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
So let us spell this out … In the marriage supper the Groom is the Lamb… we then read that the bride has made herself ready….. Umm, wait a second … In Colossians 2:10-15
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
The Church has no need for “preparation.” We are complete in Him (Jesus Christ)! So just who is the Bride? It appears the Bride is Israel – or more specifically (since the Bride is identified at the end of Revelation) – The Bride is the remnant that Made it through the Tribulation period; I am sure the experts can debate themselves silly on whether this is just Israel or IF it includes anyone coming through the Tribulation without taking the Mark.
Wife and bride are titles that belong to Israel (or remnant), not the Church. Our title is “the body of Christ.” As the body, we are of the bridegroom, not the bride. OK, feel free to debate … but be warned until you find a specific verse saying the Church (Body of Christ) is also the Bride of Christ --- you will not convince me…….. |
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Post by fitz on Dec 26, 2018 16:52:50 GMT -6
2 Corinthians 11:2 (NASB) For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.Ephesians 5:25-27 (25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (26) to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, (27) and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Revelation 21:9-11 (9) One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (11) It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. The text refers to the New Jerusalem as both the “bride” and “wife” of Christ. Of course, the wife of Christ is not the city, but the city figuratively represents all the people who live there. Thus, in the book of Revelation we see that the wife of Christ is neither Israel nor the Christian Church, but rather is every saved person who has ever lived, all of whom will live eternally in the New Jerusalem. Also see: www.gotquestions.org/bride-of-Christ.html My .02 |
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Post by Natalie on Dec 26, 2018 17:55:55 GMT -6
The OT teaches that Israel is the wife of God. The OT also teaches that God has a Son. (Prov 30:4 for example). How could Israel be the wife of the Father and the Son?
There is a beautiful picture in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Of course we know how Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac, the only beloved son pointing to God providing the sacrifice with His Son.
Later in Abraham's story, he sends his servant to a far land to find a wife for his son. Just as the Father sends the Holy Spirit to gather a bride for His Son. Abraham's servant gives gifts to the bride and delivers the bride to the son. So too, the Holy Spirit gives believers gifts and will deliver them to the Son (either by death or rapture). In Gen 24 we never get a name for the servant, just as the Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself but does the will of the Father.
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Post by Natalie on Dec 26, 2018 18:21:35 GMT -6
I thought we had had this discussion before ; it sounded familiar. board.unsealed.org/thread/1661/expect-weddingOne question I have...if Israel is the bride, how can the wedding feast happen before Jesus returns to earth to defeat the enemy and gather the believing remnant? |
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Post by kjs on Dec 27, 2018 10:12:56 GMT -6
I thought we had had this discussion before ; it sounded familiar. board.unsealed.org/thread/1661/expect-weddingOne question I have...if Israel is the bride, how can the wedding feast happen before Jesus returns to earth to defeat the enemy and gather the believing remnant? I think the remnant being talked at the end of 19 - is the group that enters the millennium and they are not part of the wedding supper.
I really think we (Body of Christ) are the guest --- “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
I know the terms are "just metaphors" -- So Body of Christ -- simply means we that are alive are to be the Hands, Feet, and Voice of Jesus.
and it is perfectly possible that another metaphor is being used at the end -- for us to be the Bride of the Lamb --- and thus be with Jesus forever and ever.
But the two metaphors just do not "MIX" in my thought process and I (at this point) have to insist that there are at two different groups being talked about here.
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