The church of God.. the Body of Christ.. the Lamb's wife..

[Markea]

The Apostle Paul tells us a great mystery concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH, in his epistle to the Ephesian church..

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL BE JOINED UNTO HIS WIFE, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, takes us back to GENESIS 2 and quotes directly from that scripture.. It's interesting to see the context there in Genesis..

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

It's here in Genesis where we see the operation of God in taking the woman from the man.. making her a help meet for him..

We can see Adam as a type of Christ here.. (Christ is the Last Adam).. as the One who would go into that deep sleep (death) at Calvary where He would give Himself for the church.. Paul also tells us that the woman was deceived, but that the man was not deceived... this also speaks of the LORD entering into His death in full knowledge of it all..

As we continue through Genesis.. we find some other beautiful pictures of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.. for in the volume of the book it is written of Me says the sweet Psalmist of Israel..

Isaac is a precious picture of Christ.. he was the son of promise, the declared heir of all things.. the only begotten son of his father Abraham..

We all know that wonderful story of Abraham and Isaac going up to that mountain in order to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, his only begotten son.. and it's there where we read the glorious words that GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF A LAMB.. it's all a precious picture of Calvary, where our Lord Jesus Christ would offer Himself without spot unto His Father.. as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world..

After this story we then read of his mother's death.. Sarah.. could this be a type of Israel..?

THEN in chapter 24 we read of Abraham sending his servant to find a bride for his only begotten son Isaac.. and the servant finds her (Rebekah) at the well of water.. and he tells her all things pertaining to Isaac.. the great one who is heir of all.. Rebekah is willing to go and they start the journey on their way back to Isaac..

Is there a more precious story in the scriptures which tells us of these things before they ever came to pass..?

It keeps going too.. for throughout all the scriptures we find treasure after treasure concerning the glory and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ..

Joseph is another awesome picture of Christ.. he was hated by his own brethren.. thrown into the pit..sold to the Gentiles for 20 pieces of silver.. goes from the pit to the prison to the throne.. gives a revelation of the future.. and he TAKES A GENTILE BRIDE WHILE HIDDEN IN A GENTILE LAND.. and ultimately reveals himself to his brethren in their deepest time of need.. and they mourn for him in that day..

He has told us the story within the story.. over and over again.. to His eternal glory and praise..

This is simply the beginning.. what think ye of these things.. ? ? ?

 

[eph3Nine]

We've already gone over this...many times.

You are insisting on bringing COVENANT theology into a Dispensational discussion forum.

There IS no discussion. You've been shown to the contrary and are now merely being REPETETIVE and argumentative...do you see this?

 

[Markea]

We already know your opinion on these things.. and if that's all you have to say about the OP then that's fine.. and seeing that you have nothing to discuss concerning these things.. it's good bye to you.

 

[JerryShugart]

"Is the Church the Bride of Christ?" by Sir Robert Anderson:

"Is the Church the Bride of Christ?" Let us begin by correcting our terminology. In the Patmos visions we read of "the Bride, the Lamb's wife"; but "the Bride of Christ" is unknown to Scripture. The first mention of the Bride is in John 3:29. In a Jewish marriage the "friend of the bridegroom "answered to our "groomsman." His most important duty was to present the bride to the bridegroom. And this was the place which the Baptist claimed. His mission was to prepare Israel to meet the Messiah, "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

With the close of the Baptist's ministry, both the Bride and the Lamb disappear from the New Testament until we reach the Patmos visions. In Revelation 21 the Angel summons the Seer to behold "the Bride, the Lamb's wife"; and he showed him "the Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God." The twelve gates of the city bear the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and in its twelve foundations are "the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." And the foundations are "garnished with all manner of precious stones. For "it is the city that hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God," (Hebrews 11:10) the city for which Abraham looked, when he turned his back upon the then metropolis of the world.

These Apostles of the Bride are not the Apostles who were given after the Ascension for the building up of the Body of Christ — the Apostles of this Christian dispensation, chief among whom was Paul. They are the twelve Apostles of the Lord's earthly ministry to Israel, who shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). They are the Apostles of the Lamb. And "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" are the temple of this city; and the Lamb is the light thereof. Every part of the description and of the symbolism tends to make it clear that this city represents a relationship and a glory pertaining to the people of the covenant. And now we can understand why it is that it is called the Bride of the Lamb, and never the Bride of Christ. For, the mystery of the Body having now been revealed, Christ is identified with the Church which is His Body, whereas His relation to Israel is entirely personal. What relation, then, does "Jerusalem which is above" bear to us? No need here for guessing, and no room for controversy, for on this point Scripture is explicit; "the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our Mother" (Galatians 4:26, R.V.). We know that most of the Fathers were obsessed by the false belief that the Jew had been cast away for ever; but even this seems inadequate to account for their claiming the bridal relationship and glory for the Church of this dispensation.

There are two reasons for refusing to believe that the Church is the Bride. First, because Scripture nowhere states that it is the Bride, and secondly, because Scripture implicitly teaches that it is not the Bride. The question, Is A the wife of B? may be answered in the negative, either by pointing to C as his wife, or by indicating a relationship between A and B which is incompatible with that of marriage. And in both these ways Scripture vetoes the Church-Bride theory. For it teaches that the Bride is "our Mother," and that the Church is the Body of Christ.

The 5th chapter of Ephesians, moreover, ought to be accepted as making an end of controversy on this subject. The marriage relationship is there readjusted by a heavenly standard. If, therefore, the Church were the Bride, we should find it asserted here with emphatic prominence. But it is the Body relationship that is emphasized. Christ loved the Church, and the Church is His Body; therefore a Christian is to love his wife as his own body. In the 81st verse the ordinance of Genesis 2:24 is re-enacted for the Christian with a new sanction and a new meaning. The "great mystery" of verse 32 is not that a man and his wife are one body, for such a use of the word "mystery" is foreign to Scripture. And moreover, the Apostle says expressly, "I am speaking about Christ and the Church." And the last verse of the chapter disposes of the whole question' "Nevertheless, though man and wife are not one body, yet because Christ and the Church are one body) let every one of you love his wife even as himself."

By a strange vagary of exegesis the Apostle's words in 2 Corinthians 11:2 are sometimes appealed to in support of the Church-Bride theory. Dr. Edersheim cites this passage to illustrate the position of groomsmen (or "friends of the bridegroom") at a Jewish marriage. Besides their other functions, they were, he says, "the guarantors of the bride's virgin chastity."And the Apostle uses this figure to express his "jealousy" — his solicitude, for the Corinthian Christians.

 

[Markea]

I was aware that Anderson does not believe that the church of God is the Lamb's wife.. although I forgot who he believes the bride to be..

 

[GLJCA]

"Is the Church the Bride of Christ?" by Sir Robert Anderson:

"Is the Church the Bride of Christ?" Let us begin by correcting our terminology. In the Patmos visions we read of "the Bride, the Lamb's wife"; but "the Bride of Christ" is unknown to Scripture. The first mention of the Bride is in John 3:29. In a Jewish marriage the "friend of the bridegroom "answered to our "groomsman." His most important duty was to present the bride to the bridegroom. And this was the place which the Baptist claimed. His mission was to prepare Israel to meet the Messiah, "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

With the close of the Baptist's ministry, both the Bride and the Lamb disappear from the New Testament until we reach the Patmos visions. In Revelation 21 the Angel summons the Seer to behold "the Bride, the Lamb's wife"; and he showed him "the Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God." The twelve gates of the city bear the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and in its twelve foundations are "the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." And the foundations are "garnished with all manner of precious stones. For "it is the city that hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God," (Hebrews 11:10) the city for which Abraham looked, when he turned his back upon the then metropolis of the world.

These Apostles of the Bride are not the Apostles who were given after the Ascension for the building up of the Body of Christ — the Apostles of this Christian dispensation, chief among whom was Paul. They are the twelve Apostles of the Lord's earthly ministry to Israel, who shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). They are the Apostles of the Lamb. And "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" are the temple of this city; and the Lamb is the light thereof. Every part of the description and of the symbolism tends to make it clear that this city represents a relationship and a glory pertaining to the people of the covenant. And now we can understand why it is that it is called the Bride of the Lamb, and never the Bride of Christ. For, the mystery of the Body having now been revealed, Christ is identified with the Church which is His Body, whereas His relation to Israel is entirely personal. What relation, then, does "Jerusalem which is above" bear to us? No need here for guessing, and no room for controversy, for on this point Scripture is explicit; "the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our Mother" (Galatians 4:26, R.V.). We know that most of the Fathers were obsessed by the false belief that the Jew had been cast away for ever; but even this seems inadequate to account for their claiming the bridal relationship and glory for the Church of this dispensation.

There are two reasons for refusing to believe that the Church is the Bride. First, because Scripture nowhere states that it is the Bride, and secondly, because Scripture implicitly teaches that it is not the Bride. The question, Is A the wife of B? may be answered in the negative, either by pointing to C as his wife, or by indicating a relationship between A and B which is incompatible with that of marriage. And in both these ways Scripture vetoes the Church-Bride theory. For it teaches that the Bride is "our Mother," and that the Church is the Body of Christ.

The 5th chapter of Ephesians, moreover, ought to be accepted as making an end of controversy on this subject. The marriage relationship is there readjusted by a heavenly standard. If, therefore, the Church were the Bride, we should find it asserted here with emphatic prominence. But it is the Body relationship that is emphasized. Christ loved the Church, and the Church is His Body; therefore a Christian is to love his wife as his own body. In the 81st verse the ordinance of Genesis 2:24 is re-enacted for the Christian with a new sanction and a new meaning. The "great mystery" of verse 32 is not that a man and his wife are one body, for such a use of the word "mystery" is foreign to Scripture. And moreover, the Apostle says expressly, "I am speaking about Christ and the Church." And the last verse of the chapter disposes of the whole question' "Nevertheless, though man and wife are not one body, yet because Christ and the Church are one body) let every one of you love his wife even as himself."

By a strange vagary of exegesis the Apostle's words in 2 Corinthians 11:2 are sometimes appealed to in support of the Church-Bride theory. Dr. Edersheim cites this passage to illustrate the position of groomsmen (or "friends of the bridegroom") at a Jewish marriage. Besides their other functions, they were, he says, "the guarantors of the bride's virgin chastity."And the Apostle uses this figure to express his "jealousy" — his solicitude, for the Corinthian Christians.

Jerry, We must allow scripture to interpret scripture. The vast majority of the prophectic language in Revelation is found in other parts of scripture. One example of this is;
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Here the writer equates Mount Sion(Zion) and the city of the living God, both names given to Israel in the OT, with the Church of Jesus Christ. He also equates the heavenly Jerusalem to the Church of the firstborn, which refers to the Church of Jesus Christ also.



This guys credibility shrunk drastically when he tried to distinguish between the Bride of the Lamb and the Bride of Christ. Some one should tell him that they are one in the same, since Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the WORLD. Jesus is not a paligamist.



There is too much evidence in the Bible that the Church is the Bride of the Lamb(Christ), the New Heavenly Jerusalem. The evidence is just being ignored by some, which is sad.



GLJCA

 

[eph3Nine]

LOL...the church, which is His Body is the MASCULINE usage of the word. Why would Christ be married to Himself? Scripture identifies who the Lambs WIFE is, and its ISRAEL. There is NO BRIDE OF CHRIST...that term is not even used in Pauls epistles. We are the church, which is His Body. The church which has a marriage contract with God is the KINGDOM church, which is the Nation Israel.

I aint sayin this again....You guys simply refuse to AGREE WITH GOD! Which means YOU are setting yourself up to be god...hmmmmmm, I seem to remember someone else doing this very same thing, and as I remember, he didn't fare so well either!!! (all this needs is some horns and a tail and pitchfork to clearly show to whom I am referring... )

LOL LOL LOL...not really funny, but it IS what you are doing!

 

[Markea]

It's good to add some other aspects of these things.. in Matthew 22 we're given a parable concerning the marriage of the king's son.. and although it may not speak directly as to 'who' the bride is.. it's certainly interesting to read through it..

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

How does this parable speak to us.. what can we learn from it.. ?

Most likely we'll hear that it's not for us (from the Paul fanatics), as they tend to not be able to speak to these parables..lol..although that shouldn't stop the rest of us from enjoying the living and abiding word of God.

 

[Markea]

Here's another interesting tidbit from Luke's gospel.. definitely in the context of the kingdom.. notice what it says.. I'll embolden it for emphasis..

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

When he will return from the wedding..? ? ? Interesting thought isn't it..?

In Revelation 19 we're told about the marriage of the Lamb and how His bride has made herself ready.. these are arrayed in fine linen clean and white and are following Him when He comes..

What think ye..?

 

[JerryShugart]

Jerry, We must allow scripture to interpret scripture. The vast majority of the prophectic language in Revelation is found in other parts of scripture. One example of this is;
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The words in the Hebrews were written in the same time period as the following:

"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all"(Gal.4:25,26).

Notice that Paul did not say that we are the "Jerusalem which is above" but instead says that the Jerusalem which is above is "our mother".

Here the writer equates Mount Sion(Zion) and the city of the living God, both names given to Israel in the OT, with the Church of Jesus Christ.

If the Church of Jesus Christ is "israel" or "Covenant Israel" then why would Paul call the Church the "New Man"?

"Covenant Israel" had been in existence for hundreds of years before Paul wrote those words so it is certain that he is not referring to "Covenant Israel" as the "New Man":

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two one New Man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby"(Eph.2:15,16).

It is too bad that there are those on this thread who do not even understand the meaning of the word "new".

In His grace,--Jerry

 

[Markea]

It is too bad that there are those on this thread who do not even understand the meaning of the word "new".

Like as in new Jerusalem.. ?

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

[JerryShugart]

Like as in new Jerusalem.. ?

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Markea,

Yes it is called "new" but look at the context of when "New Jerusalem" is revealed.

After the "Great White Throne" and after the One Thousand year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His grace,--Jerry

 

[nb_christseeker]

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Don't worry about these things. Just believe.

 

[Markea]

Markea,

Yes it is called "new" but look at the context of when "New Jerusalem" is revealed.

After the "Great White Throne" and after the One Thousand year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His grace,--Jerry

Ahh, I'm sure it's all the same thing Jerry..

So who did Anderson claim that the bride was..?

 

[eph3Nine]

There is no BRIDE Of CHRIST...not a biblical term!

Anderson KNOWS who the lambs wife is...scripture tells him...it is ISRAEL.

 

[Markea]

So there's a Bridegroom, but no bride.. ok..

 

[GLJCA]

LOL...the church, which is His Body is the MASCULINE usage of the word. Why would Christ be married to Himself? Scripture identifies who the Lambs WIFE is, and its ISRAEL. There is NO BRIDE OF CHRIST...that term is not even used in Pauls epistles. We are the church, which is His Body. The church which has a marriage contract with God is the KINGDOM church, which is the Nation Israel.

I aint sayin this again....You guys simply refuse to AGREE WITH GOD! Which means YOU are setting yourself up to be god...hmmmmmm, I seem to remember someone else doing this very same thing, and as I remember, he didn't fare so well either!!! (all this needs is some horns and a tail and pitchfork to clearly show to whom I am referring... )

LOL LOL LOL...not really funny, but it IS what you are doing!

Well one thing I have to give you is a sense of humor. Yes you are right the bride of Christ is Covenant Israel. Oh, did I fail to mention that the Church is Covenant Israel by virtue of the Gentiles being grafted into the Covenant with believing Israel. The Church is the visible Covenant Israel today. The nation of Israel are Christ haters. They hate even the mention of His name. Jesus told them that they were of their father the devil. God is not going to give them anything but judgement then and now unless they repent. When and if they repent they will be grafted back into Covenant Israel along with the believing Gentiles and the believing Jews.

Frankly I am glad that you are not sayin it again because it is mighty repetitive especially since you have no proof or scriptural backup. So far all you have done is make statements that can not be proven. Please take a challenge and find proof.

I showed you scriptures showing that the Church is the New Jerusalem, which is the bride of Christ, Covenant Israel. You have given me nothing but statements without merit. Prove your statements that is all I ask. So far it seems that you can't do it. That should tell you something.

GLJCA

 

[eph3Nine]

GLGCA....sigh...it isnt that we wont...we have given you tons of scripture, and you reject it all. Why continue? You obviously enjoy being ignorant...so we will let you continue. BEING RIGHT is more important to you than what is Gods TRUTH. With those kind of people we cannot continue to wrap pearls around something smelling of pig drippings...wink.

The Body of Christ never was and never will be covenant ANYTHING.

Until you acknowledge that there are indeed TWO separate programs...One for Israel...that God isnt finished with Yet, and a MYSTERY program given to Paul in due time for we the Body of Christ...then you will continue on in your proud ignorance.

I weep for those who simply will not see. Truly I do.

 

[Markea]

So there's a BRIDEGROOM and no BRIDE eph.. is that right.. NO.. of course that's not right.. you said it.. but as usual, it's false..

Nothing new there...

 

[eph3Nine]

So there's a BRIDEGROOM and no BRIDE eph.. is that right.. NO.. of course that's not right.. you said it.. but as usual, it's false..

Nothing new there...

Sigh...I do so hate to repeat myself. There is a WIFE spoken of in scripture. NO BRIDE. The Lambs WIFE is identified as Israel. READ MY LIPS...ISRAEL.

You can call me a liar, but when you repeatedly do it to God and try and make YOURSELF the utmost authority as to what He meant...thats really NOT too bright.

The only thing ringing false here, Is YOU. You should be ashamed of yourself. The more you talk the worse it gets.