Bored with the church enamored with Israel

[Marilyn C]

We've been through that before. The Body of Christ is the Father's house is the Wife of the Lamb which is the church
and lastly the New Jerusalem.

To show all this again, I'd prefer to do it with someone who hasn't already been shown.
You have been shown and apparently disbelieve the Scripture on this.
And you decided it was hopeless to discuss it with me. Remember?

I am very patient and understand something of your difficulty.
But I think you should take it up in prayer before the Lord more.

I`m glad you are patient as this is an important truth. However, you do seem to want to denigrate me and what I was taught & believe. You really should just stick to discussing scripture and telling the person what YOU think they should do.

Now can you tell me WHY does God want to marry millions of people?

 

[Marilyn C]

This is incomplete because if it were so the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb would
not be on her foundations.

And one of the seven angels . . . spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev. 21:9)
Compare:
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (v.14)

The 12 Apostles were told that they would rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. (Matt. 20: 28) That is why they are in the NJ.

 

[Marilyn C]

The New Jerusalem is the ultimate enlargement and expansion of the church.
It will take the until the end of the 1,000 year millennium to complete her.

But from the church age a remnant of overcomers will be transformed into constient living parts of this city.

In this letter to one of the Christian churches in Asia the promise to the overcomers is to be made pillars in the temple of God.
And the living temple is the living city New Jerusalem.

She is not a place to which we are going. But she is a Person into which we are being transformed and built up into.
That is she is an organic entity of divine and human incorporation - the mingling of divinity and humanity.

And to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write: (Rev. 3:7a)

The letter is to the church. And here is the promise to members of the church:

He who overcomes, him I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall by no means go out anymore, and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev. 3:12-13)

1.) The reward is to those who overcome out from the church age.

2.) To be made a pillar in the temple is a matter of life not physical. The overcomer is transformed to
be a supporting and integral support built into the living temple which is the church and the city.
him I will make a pillar in the temple of My God

3.) The overcomer will wander in and out of this divine and mystical reality no more.
They will go no more out. They are permenently and solidly an organic part of the dwelling place of God in man.
he shall by no means go out anymore

4.) The name written on them of His Father's name and the name of the city of My God shows total ownership and identity. They are God's and they are God united with man.
I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God,

5.) The new name of Christ written upon them also shows total ownership. And it shows they are CHRIST in a new and corporate way.
That is Christ enlarged, Christ expanded, Christ dispensed into humanity for a mingling of Christ and His people.
I will write upon him . . . and My new name.

6.) The living entity is called "New Jerusalem".
I will write upon him . . . the New Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God,

No one has a case to teach that the church is not the New Jerusalem.
As a matter of fact in the letter Jesus expresses His displeasure that He has to vindicate the members of the church.
He does so by saying those who call themselves Jews who opposed the building of the church will know that Christ has loved this people.

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, those who call themselves Jews and are not, but lie — behold, I will cause them to come and fall prostrate before your feet and to know that I have loved you. (v.9)

The living temple is Christ -` But I saw No temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.` (Rev. 21: 22)

God is there by His Holy Spirit for the NJ comes down out of heaven FROM God. (Rev. 21: 2)

The Body of Christ will have authority in every realm. The word `name` signifies authority. Authority in the third heaven, the NJ and the earth, the whole Kingdom of God. They are a `pillar` in the temple which is Christ.

So, where is Christ`s own throne over all of God`s great kingdom?

 

[Marilyn C]

When Paul says - Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Cor. 12;27)
who is the audience receiving this proclamation?

The receiving audience is indicated at the beginning of the epistle.

Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother,

To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints, with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours: (1 Cor. 1:1,2)

He is telling the church in Corinth that they are locally the Body of Christ.
Included in this participation is "all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place"

That proves the scripture says the church is the Body of Christ.
Now where does Scripture say the church is the wife of the Lamb?

Ephesians teaches the church is the wife whom Christ is sanctifying and preparing for Himself to be
without spot or wrinkle or any such defect.

For a husband is head of the wife as also Christ is Head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the Body. (Eph. 5:23)

That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,
That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish. (vs. 26,27)

The audience of the proclamation can be ascertained by the introduction of the epistle.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: (Eph.1:1)

1.) The Body of Christ is the church.

2.) Christ is the Redeemer of the church - the Lamb.

3.) The Redeemer is also the Head of the church and the Savior of the Body.

4.) The picture of the consumation of this salvation is seen in Revelation where the New Jerusalem is prepared
as a bride and wife of the Lamb.

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)

And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (vs. 9,10)

It is NOT `her,` but `it` referring to the doctrine of the New Man Paul has just written in the first 4 chapters of Ephesians. We are His Body, and there is NO closer relationship than that.

You are trying to build a doctrine on one scripture which is just an exhortation to husbands to love their wives. That is NOT doctrine.

 

[oikonomia]

I`m glad you are patient as this is an important truth. However, you do seem to want to denigrate me and what I was taught & believe. You really should just stick to discussing scripture and telling the person what YOU think they should do.

The error should be exposed. The error that the Body of Christ has nothing to do with the New Jerusalem is an unfortunate
lie that has gripped you. And anyone here should be able to see that by discussing scripture this cheating lie is exposed as false.

Go back and tell the one who taught you that the Body of Christ is neither the Wife of the Lamb or the New Jerusalem that they
have it wrong. And I have no doubt at all that you will eventually see this reality - that we who are saved are His corporate bride and wife. We shall know the truth. And the truth shall make us free.

Now can you tell me WHY does God want to marry millions of people?

I may not be able to tell you why history concludes with the marriage of the Triune God with all those into whom He has dispensed His life. But He certainly wants this to the point that He created all things FOR this.

And we have a window into the heart of God in His creation of man. He said it was not good for the man to be alone.
He said He would make for him a helpmeet. And He brought that helpmeet, his wife, right out of his own body.

This is a window into the heart of God that He thought it was not good for Himself to be alone.
From the very outset of the Bible the big hint is there that the "bachelor" God wanted a counterpart, a match, a "romantic" (if you will) companion. I will comment on Genesis chapter two.

And Jehovah God said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper as his counterpart. (v.18)
Not only it was not good for Adam to be alone. To God it is not good that for eternity He not have a match, helpmeet, companion, in divine love.

Now Jehovah God had formed from the ground every animal of the field and every bird of heaven. And He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called any living animal, that was its name. (v.19)
God built up Adam's anticipation by showing him someone SPECIAL had to be produced to complete him.
Again, this is a window into the eternal heart of our God.

And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of heaven and to every animal of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper as his counterpart. (v.20)
Hundreds and thousands of things Adam defined and named were good. But that SPECIAL match was not among any of them.
God has created billions of items in the universe. There is nothing like His wife the divinized creature man. He became this item
in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of the God-man the Lord Jesus.

And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place.(v.21)
The God-man also "slept" on the cross. And out of His side came blood and water. The blood standing for redemption.
And the water to impart eternal life to those redeemed by the blood.
From what issued out from Christ the wife of the Lamb is also produced.

John 19:33,34
But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He had already died, they did not break His legs;
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.

Ephesians 5:29-32
In the same way the husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his own wife loves himself.
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church,
Because we are members of His Body.
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.
This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church.

Now back to Adam's wife being produced out from Adam's bone.

And Jehovah God built the rib, which He had taken from the man, into a woman and brought her to the man. (v.22)
After building up Adam's anticipation he built a woman out of a part of Adam's live. The one produced his match.
Then the two were brought back together for loving union. This is glimpse into the eternal purpose of God.

And the man said,
This time this is bone of my bones / And flesh of my flesh; / This one shall be called Woman / Because out of Man this one was taken. (v.23)
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (v.24)

Woman is man in another form. And the church is God in another form - divine life and nature taken out of the Son of God and
dispensed into a builded up great corporate counterpart and match for Christ.

Whether we are a male Christian or a female Christian, in this sense we all are a part of a collective woman.
There are other senses of what the church is. But in this sense there is only ONE Man in the universe - God.

All the rest of us saved in His salvation are a big female. God is the only ultimate man, husband, bridegroom.
All the rest of us created by God (male or female) and saved in Christ (brother or sister) are one gigantic WOMAN taken out
of Christ. And He is bringing us back to the Christ for an everlasting marriage.

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)

Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city,
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (v.9b,10)

 

[oikonomia]

 

[oikonomia]

The 12 Apostles were told that they would rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. (Matt. 20: 28) That is why they are in the NJ.

That is true absolutely, that they will function as co-kings over the restored Israel.
They would be in the church and in New Jerusalem regardless. If some are kings over Israel or some are kings
over Hong Kong, Sidney, Camden NJ. or Dallas Texas it is because they are participants in New Jerusalem and are rewarded in this timely manner.

Those rewarded to reign during the millennium are early (on time) participants.
Those who suffer loss and are not rewarded are latter (tardy) participants.

The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward;
If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor. 3:13-16)

 

[oikonomia]

The living temple is Christ -` But I saw No temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.` (Rev. 21: 22)

Are missing what is right before your eyes?
The entire city is God and the Lamb. The CITY is the TEMPLE.

The temple is where the Triune God lives and where the saved have their city.
This shows the mingling of the Triune God with His sons, the saved, transformed, sanctified, glorified people.

So the temple is also the city which is also the bride and wife of the Lamb.
In Ephesians we see the church is the habitation of God in spirit being builded up in God's divine life.

In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. (Eph. 2:21,22)

God is there by His Holy Spirit for the NJ comes down out of heaven FROM God. (Rev. 21: 2)

That is like Eve being taken out of Adam. Her source was Adam. And the source of the church is God in heaven.
And that is like the Lord Jesus being the bread of life who came down out of heaven.

Jesus therefore said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread out of heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world. (John 6:32,33)

The Jews therefore murmured concerning Him because He said, I am the bread that came down out of heaven.
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say,
I have come down out of heaven? (vs.41,42)

New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven like the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down out of heaven.

The things were made known to us by signs (Rev. 1:1)
The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him to show to His slaves the things that must quickly take place; and He made it known by signs, sending it by His angel to His slave John,

Jesus came down not by helicopter or ladder.
He came down by incarnation - by God becomming a man.

New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven by God dispensing His life and nature into the saved.

 

[oikonomia]

We are His Body, and there is NO closer relationship than that.

You must admit I think - that when a group Christians are filled more with the living in Christ and by Christ the
expression of the Body is high and clear.
But when a group of Christians like the ones in Corinth have many who are low in their enjoyment of Christ,
the expression of the Body is low and not that clear.

It is one thing to have the doctrine alone of being the Body.
It is higher and more glorious when a group has denied themselves to live Christ and therefore His Body is manifested.

Corinth had its share of immature, natural, underdeveloped disciples. So Yes . . Paul exhorted them that they are the Body of Christ.
But the long first and second letter was to help them in coming from the mere doctrine of the body life to a rich display of
Christ coordinating all His movements in the members of this body.

So to stand upon the fact that we are the Body of Christ comes first. And if we see that we are to live Christ, rather that He is living and to
live through us, my then the reality of the Body is manifested more . . . and more . . . and more.

Do we have the body manifested among us? This is what we must ask and petition the Lord more for.
If the members are freely avialable for Christ to move through them individually and corporately then
the Body becomes more manifested. And thus also the "one new man" becomes collectively manifested.

You are trying to build a doctrine on one scripture which is just an exhortation to husbands to love their wives. That is NOT doctrine.

Traditionally this chapter is taken only as give advice to give at Christian weddings.
But the whole context of the book should be considered.

Ephesians among all Paul's letters is dedicated to the nature of the church from varied angles.
Because the church is profound and has varied angles God uses the church to display His "multifarious wisdom."
That is the many faceted wisdom of God seen in the church.

In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies
the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church, (Eph. 3:10)

Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (4:13)

This book speaks particularly of the church and unveils the church in seven aspects;
1.) the Body of Christ, the fullness, the expression, of the One who fills all in all.

And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,
Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all. (1:22,23)

2.) the new man - a men "race" or "species" (if you will) transformed from Adam into Christ likeness.
This entity has not only the life of Christ but also the person.

Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances,
that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, (2:15)

3.) the kingdom of Christ and of God (5:5) where there is citizenship where the saints have rights and possess responsibilities.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens . . . (2:19)

4.) the household of God- a family full of life and enjoyment,

. . . but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ( 2:19b)

5.) the dwelling place of God

In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. (2:21,22)

6.) the bride, the wife of Christ for Christ's rest and satisfaction

But as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be subject to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (5;24,25)

So your appreciation for the Body is great.
Let us be enlarged to also appreciate these other aspects of the church according to the Apostle Paul's burden.

 

[oikonomia]

Christ washes the wife which is also His body by the washing in the rhema of the word of God.
That is the instant express speaking of the Spirit to our hearts. Ephesians chapter 5 -

 

[Marilyn C]

The error should be exposed. The error that the Body of Christ has nothing to do with the New Jerusalem is an unfortunate
lie that has gripped you. And anyone here should be able to see that by discussing scripture this cheating lie is exposed as false.

Go back and tell the one who taught you that the Body of Christ is neither the Wife of the Lamb or the New Jerusalem that they
have it wrong. And I have no doubt at all that you will eventually see this reality - that we who are saved are His corporate bride and wife. We shall know the truth. And the truth shall make us free.

I may not be able to tell you why history concludes with the marriage of the Triune God with all those into whom He has dispensed His life. But He certainly wants this to the point that He created all things FOR this.

And we have a window into the heart of God in His creation of man. He said it was not good for the man to be alone.
He said He would make for him a helpmeet. And He brought that helpmeet, his wife, right out of his own body.

This is a window into the heart of God that He thought it was not good for Himself to be alone.
From the very outset of the Bible the big hint is there that the "bachelor" God wanted a counterpart, a match, a "romantic" (if you will) companion. I will comment on Genesis chapter two.

And Jehovah God said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper as his counterpart. (v.18)
Not only it was not good for Adam to be alone. To God it is not good that for eternity He not have a match, helpmeet, companion, in divine love.

Now Jehovah God had formed from the ground every animal of the field and every bird of heaven. And He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called any living animal, that was its name. (v.19)
God built up Adam's anticipation by showing him someone SPECIAL had to be produced to complete him.
Again, this is a window into the eternal heart of our God.

And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of heaven and to every animal of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper as his counterpart. (v.20)
Hundreds and thousands of things Adam defined and named were good. But that SPECIAL match was not among any of them.
God has created billions of items in the universe. There is nothing like His wife the divinized creature man. He became this item
in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of the God-man the Lord Jesus.

And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place.(v.21)
The God-man also "slept" on the cross. And out of His side came blood and water. The blood standing for redemption.
And the water to impart eternal life to those redeemed by the blood.
From what issued out from Christ the wife of the Lamb is also produced.

John 19:33,34
But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He had already died, they did not break His legs;
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.

Ephesians 5:29-32
In the same way the husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his own wife loves himself.
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church,
Because we are members of His Body.
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.
This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church.

Now back to Adam's wife being produced out from Adam's bone.

And Jehovah God built the rib, which He had taken from the man, into a woman and brought her to the man. (v.22)
After building up Adam's anticipation he built a woman out of a part of Adam's live. The one produced his match.
Then the two were brought back together for loving union. This is glimpse into the eternal purpose of God.

And the man said,
This time this is bone of my bones / And flesh of my flesh; / This one shall be called Woman / Because out of Man this one was taken. (v.23)
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (v.24)

Woman is man in another form. And the church is God in another form - divine life and nature taken out of the Son of God and
dispensed into a builded up great corporate counterpart and match for Christ.

Whether we are a male Christian or a female Christian, in this sense we all are a part of a collective woman.
There are other senses of what the church is. But in this sense there is only ONE Man in the universe - God.

All the rest of us saved in His salvation are a big female. God is the only ultimate man, husband, bridegroom.
All the rest of us created by God (male or female) and saved in Christ (brother or sister) are one gigantic WOMAN taken out
of Christ. And He is bringing us back to the Christ for an everlasting marriage.

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)

Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city,
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (v.9b,10)

God was NOT alone and therefore needed a helpmate. The idea that God marries millions of men and women is ridiculous. That would be polygamy and homosexual. It is a SYMBOL!!!!!! Not actual.

So are you going to tell a homosexual man to come to Jesus and marry Him? See how ridiculous it is.

 

[Marilyn C]

That is true absolutely, that they will function as co-kings over the restored Israel.
They would be in the church and in New Jerusalem regardless. If some are kings over Israel or some are kings
over Hong Kong, Sidney, Camden NJ. or Dallas Texas it is because they are participants in New Jerusalem and are rewarded in this timely manner.

Those rewarded to reign during the millennium are early (on time) participants.
Those who suffer loss and are not rewarded are latter (tardy) participants.

The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward;
If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor. 3:13-16)

There is NO scripture that says the Body of Christ is on earth in the millennium.

 

[Marilyn C]

Are missing what is right before your eyes?
The entire city is God and the Lamb. The CITY is the TEMPLE.

The temple is where the Triune God lives and where the saved have their city.
This shows the mingling of the Triune God with His sons, the saved, transformed, sanctified, glorified people.

So the temple is also the city which is also the bride and wife of the Lamb.
In Ephesians we see the church is the habitation of God in spirit being builded up in God's divine life.

In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. (Eph. 2:21,22)


That is like Eve being taken out of Adam. Her source was Adam. And the source of the church is God in heaven.
And that is like the Lord Jesus being the bread of life who came down out of heaven.

Jesus therefore said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread out of heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world. (John 6:32,33)

The Jews therefore murmured concerning Him because He said, I am the bread that came down out of heaven.
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say,
I have come down out of heaven? (vs.41,42)

New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven like the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down out of heaven.

The things were made known to us by signs (Rev. 1:1)
The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him to show to His slaves the things that must quickly take place; and He made it known by signs, sending it by His angel to His slave John,

Jesus came down not by helicopter or ladder.
He came down by incarnation - by God becomming a man.

New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven by God dispensing His life and nature into the saved.

Let us read together - `Then I, John, saw the holy city New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, FROM GOD....`(Rev. 21: 2)

FROM God not with God. God is there by His Holy Spirit as He is in all His great Kingdom.

Jesus in His glorified body is always `FAR ABOVE ALL.....not only in this age but also in that which is to come.` (Eph. 1: 21)

 

[oikonomia]

God was NOT alone and therefore needed a helpmate.

The Triune God created all things. To say that God was not alone from eternity is to deny the Bible's teaching.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not one thing came into being which has come into being. (John 1:3)

Because in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and unto Him.
And He is before all things, and all things cohere in Him; (Col. 1:16,17)

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for You have created all things, and because of Your will they were, and were created. (Rev. 4:11)

Even the ancient angels were created by God. He tells us that alone He brought the creation into existence and no one was with Him.

Thus says Jehovah who redeemed you / And formed you from the womb, / I am Jehovah who makes all things, / Who alone stretches out the heavens, / Who spreads out the earth (Who was with Me?); (Isa. 44:24)

So to speak of the uncreated eternal Person as a "bachelor" before all beings and things were created is accurate.
Millions of angels as servants did not fulfill His desire for a Wife. In fact the highest among these angelic creations became the
catalyst of rebellion. And that gave rise for God to fulfill His eternal purpose to become a man and produce His loving match - the church.

It was in His heart before the foundation of the world to have a counterpart.

Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love,
Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Eph. 1:4,5)

Father, concerning that which You have given Me, I desire that they also may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)

The idea that God marries millions of men and women is ridiculous. That would be polygamy and homosexual. It is a SYMBOL!!!!!! Not actual.

The soulish man of spiritually immaturity may be unable to discern spiritual things.
The apostle's teaching may appear as foolishness to those who need more growth in life and renewing of the mind.

Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things with spiritual words. But a soulish man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he is not able to know them because they are discerned spiritually. (1 Cor. 2:13,14)

God used the words of "marriage" and "married" and other spousal expressions for His saints in both testaments. So we may use the language that He used with proper understanding of spiritual things.

Old Testament: (Isa. 54:6; Jer. 3:1; Ezek. 16:8; Hosea 2:19)
New Testament: (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:31-32)

The ultimate climax of the Bible and the culmination of history end with the marriage words used for God and
His redeemed, sanctified, transformed, and glorified people.

Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has made herself ready. (Rev. 19:7)

So are you going to tell a homosexual man to come to Jesus and marry Him? See how ridiculous it is.

You haven't been paying attention to the New Testament. It is not the fallen man whom Christ marries.
It is the redeemed, regenerated, sanctified, transformed, conformed, resurrected and glorfied man who forms His wife.

His salvation is guaranteed to produce this matching wife.

. . . Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her
That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,
That He might present the church to Himself glorious,
not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:25-27)

Your foolish complaint suggests that the bride and wife of Christ has wrinkles of oldness and stains, blemishes, unclean spots, and
other defects will be presented to Christ for marriage.

The Bride has cooperated with His transformation to make herself ready.

Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.

And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage dinner of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God. (Rev. 19:7-9)

Therefore the transformation of the Lord's Spirit working in the saved brings them to match Christ.
This process we cannot halt. We can only postpone and procrastinate. But we all will be both renewed fully in our minds
and transformed into His image from one degree of glory to the next, to the next, to the next until we match Him for this marriage.

And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:17,18)

And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will be. We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see Him even as He is. And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as He is pure. (1 John 3:2,3)

 

[Marilyn C]

The Triune God created all things. To say that God was not alone from eternity is to deny the Bible's teaching.


Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love,
Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Eph. 1:4,5)



. . . Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

God, three persons were alone. There was no one else.

Note into sonship. There is no `her,` but an `it` referring back to the subject the New Man.

 

[oikonomia]

God, three persons were alone. There was no one else.

So are you a polytheist?
Or do you believe that the Word that was with God was not God?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Note into sonship. There is no `her,` but an `it` referring back to the subject the New Man.

We should have no problem understanding the "the new man" is a living person.
The new man is created according to God in righteousness and holiness.
If God is not just an "it" then neither would be the new man created according to His image.

And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality. (Eph. 4:24)

Notice the characteristics of this "new man" are the attributes of personhood.

Therefore having put off the lie, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (v.25)
Putting off requires the will. That is a person's activity.
Having a neighbor is not the attribute of an "it" but of a person.
Being members of one another is also a matter of personhood.

Be angry, yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your indignation, (v.26)
These are attributes and virtues of personhood and not just an "it".

Neither give place to the devil. (v.27)
This is the decision of personhood and not just an non-living "it".

He who steals should steal no more, but rather should labor, working with his own hands in that which is respectable, that he may have something to share with him who has need. (v.28)
This still is referring to the "new man" we are to put on. And these behaviors indicate the "new man" has personhood.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, according to the need, that it may give grace to those who hear. (v.29)
Paul is still describing virtues expressed by the new man. It is rediculous to teach that the "new man" is not a person.
The Person being expressed is Jesus Christ dispensed into human personalities.
We spontaneously expressed Adam before. We must "put on" the Person of Jesus Christ that we may express Him instead.

Compare to Romans 13:14.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. (v.30)
The Holy Spirit is not just an "it" but a living Spirit which is the Person of Christ Himself.
"The last Adam became a life giving Spirit" (1 Cor. 15:45)
And this Person came into the Christian to make a living and organic union with the believer.
"He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17)

Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and clamor and evil speaking be removed from you, with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ also forgave you. (Eph. 4:31,32)

So putting on the new man is the process resulting in our cooperation of letting the Person of Christ make
home in our hearts more and more by faith. We believe that Jesus Christ can be OUR person.
We have faith that He can fill us, permeate our personality, expand His expression in our souls.

So the new man is more than a inanamite "it" of a non-living "thing". It is the Person of the second man - Christ.
And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor. 3:17)

 

[Marilyn C]

So are you a polytheist?
Or do you believe that the Word that was with God was not God?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

We should have no problem understanding the "the new man" is a living person.
The new man is created according to God in righteousness and holiness.
If God is not just an "it" then neither would be the new man created according to His image.

Trinity - 3 persons in one.

`It` refers to the new Man, the Body, which is a picture of our relationship with Christ - Head & male Body. Not Head & female body.

 

[oikonomia]

Trinity - 3 persons in one.

`It` refers to the new Man, the Body, which is a picture of our relationship with Christ - Head & male Body. Not Head & female body.

Your reply is short, concise, and inadaquate to refute that God wanted a counterpart.
The word "bachelor" is not too much to use.

It is also inadaquate to refute that "one new man" that we are to put on is Christ.
And Christ is not an it but consummately a Person.

And put on the new man, (Eph. 4:24a)
Compare:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, (Rom. 13:14a)

Here are verses to we enjoy in the local churches on Christ our Person.
That is being in Christ (the new man) to express Him instead of Adam.

All I have in Adam is but sin and death,
I in Christ inherit life and righteousness;
When in flesh abiding, Adam I express,
But when in the spirit Christ is manifest.

When I am in Adam, though I may not sin,
Unto death, a sinner, sentenced I have been;
When in Christ I need not righteously to act,
I’m already righteous, justified in fact.

Thru my death with Christ, from Adam I am free,
Thru my life with Christ, new life is given me!
Minding not the flesh, old Adam cannot move,
Minding just the spirit, life divine I prove.

Minding just the spirit is God’s saving way,
Minding just the spirit, Christ we will display;
Minding just the spirit, we can overcome,
Minding just the spirit, we the race may run.

Minding just the spirit, we the cross will know,
And His resurrection pow’r thru us will flow;
Minding just the spirit, Christ will live thru me,
And His life within will reach maturity.

In the spirit Christ is life and all to me,
Strengthening and blessing all-inclusively;
Living in the spirit, holiness I prove,
And the triune God within my heart doth move.

Hymn: All I have in Adam is but sin and death

Christian hymns and spiritual songs with wonderful truths and music.

www.hymnal.net

 

[ralliann]

Maybe because that's what God's whole program is about.

Really? I thought it was about Gods promises to our Father Abraham....

 

[Laodicean60]

Really? I thought it was about Gods promises to our Father Abraham....

Yes, but it doesn't come down and stand on Mt. Everest.