What do you think was God`s Purpose in making - the Nations, Israel and the Body of Christ?

Major said:
I understand your concern. However, for ME it is enough to make ME understand. When I take all the Scriptures on this topic, I am totally statisfied that the Church is the Bride of Christ.

To that I add.........
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” – Revelation 19:7.

1 Corth. 11:2.....
"For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ."

Isaiah 62:5​

“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”​

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“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” – Matthew 25:1​

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” – Revelation 21:2
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23


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Hi Major,

Sorry I can`t accept that scripture (2 Cor. 11: 2) either as part of the doctrine of the bride. We know that all scripture is for us to read, however, all scripture is NOT all about us.

We read in 2 Cor. 11: 2 that the Apostle Paul is speaking to his disciples and telling them that he desires to PRESENT them to the Lord pure. But Paul does not PRESENT us to the Lord. It is the Lord Himself who will present us to Himself.

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to PRESENT you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. `(Jude 24)

Thus 2 Cor. 11: 2 is Paul`s desire for his disciples and Eph. 5: 25 – 33 is an exhortation (amid other exhortations) for husbands to love their wives. There is no doctrine of the bride.

Jesus, the Head of the Body has NOT told us that we are symbolically the bride. Rather Jesus gives us clear doctrine of the Body of Christ as the New Man being brought to maturity of manhood and that we are to put on the new man. (Eph. 2: 15 4: 13 & 24)
 
Now we look at the Old Testament scriptures referring to the Bride and the doctrine is clearly presented. The Bride symbol is for Israel.

` For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused. `(Isa. 54: 5 & 6)

`I will betroth you to me for ever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and justice, in loving – kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and you shall know the Lord. `(Hosea 2: 19 & 20)

Many other scriptures of the Old Testament reveal that Israel is the bride, the wife of the Lord. Even though Israel rebelled and God `divorced` them, He will take back and cleanse them. (Hosea reveals this).

When Jesus came to Israel on earth He reminded them about this reunion, this marriage. (Matt. 22: 1 – 14 25: 1 – 13)
 
Finally in revelation we read of the inheritances of the Body of Christ, Israel and the nations.

The Body of Christ is with the Lord on His own throne in the third heaven. (Rev. 3: 21 4: 1 – 4)

Then when the Lord comes to judge the rebellious and deliver Israel we see that the `wife,` Israel has made herself ready by turning to Him and repenting. (Zech. 12: 10 Rev. 19: 7 & 8)

Then in the New heavens and New earth we read of the city, the New Jerusalem AS a bride coming down out of heaven from God. (Rev. 21: 2) This city was promised to the Old Testament saints. (Heb. 11: 16)

Then the nations of the saved are on the new earth. (Rev. 21: 24)

Every realm has rulership under the Lordship of Christ.

 
Marilyn C said:
Hi Major,

Sorry I can`t accept that scripture (2 Cor. 11: 2) either as part of the doctrine of the bride. We know that all scripture is for us to read, however, all scripture is NOT all about us.

We read in 2 Cor. 11: 2 that the Apostle Paul is speaking to his disciples and telling them that he desires to PRESENT them to the Lord pure. But Paul does not PRESENT us to the Lord. It is the Lord Himself who will present us to Himself.

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to PRESENT you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. `(Jude 24)

Thus 2 Cor. 11: 2 is Paul`s desire for his disciples and Eph. 5: 25 – 33 is an exhortation (amid other exhortations) for husbands to love their wives. There is no doctrine of the bride.

Jesus, the Head of the Body has NOT told us that we are symbolically the bride. Rather Jesus gives us clear doctrine of the Body of Christ as the New Man being brought to maturity of manhood and that we are to put on the new man. (Eph. 2: 15 4: 13 & 24)
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Maybe I am wrong, but I think that you are trying to say that the Bride of Christ is NOT the church but instead is New Jerusalem. Feel free to correct my thinking.

I agree that 2 Corinthians does not validate the church as the bride of Christ and I do not think I said that. Instead, it uses the metaphor
of a betrothed bride to illustrate the intimate relationship between Christ and HIs followers.

I See Ephesians 5:25-27 as the imagery as the presentation to Christ the radiant Church in the same way a husband is presented a wife.

Also, I see 2 Corth. 11:2-3 where Paul relates the Church to Christ’s bride. So, when we come to Revelation 19-21, where reference is made to the “wedding of the Lamb”, the bride of the Lamb in Rev. 19:7 and the wife of the Lamb in Rev. 21:9, it is clear that this bride and the New Jerusalem are one in the same.

When you read Galatians 4:26, what do YOU see that relates the New Jerusalem to???? It is to a woman!

So which is the metaphor? The bride or the city? Or are they both metaphors for a new covenant or people? So is the bride of Christ the Church, a people, or the New Jerusalem, a place where people will live? The answer is both. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and. A people and the place where that people dwell are inseparably linked. That’s even true of God and Heaven. The prodigal son said “I have sinned against Heaven.” Of course, that was the same as saying “I have sinned against God.”

IMHO, It is a false assumption that the bride of Christ must be either the church (God’s people) or the New Jerusalem. In fact, according to Scripture, it is both. One will live in a place so that when seen, they will be indistinguishable.

Now, there are some people who are adamant in the belief that the bride is a city. Well.......I believe that, too, because the Bible plainly says it is.

However.....Does this mean you believe Jesus will marry a city which is made up of streets, buildings and gates?
How does one marry real estate?
Personally, I think that it make sense to interpret scripture in light of what other scriptural passages say?

Can anyone deny that Scripture likens the relationship of Christ and the Church to a husband and his wife should be the question.
 
Major said:
I understand your concern. However, for ME it is enough to make ME understand. When I take all the Scriptures on this topic, I am totally statisfied that the Church is the Bride of Christ.

To that I add.........
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” – Revelation 19:7.

1 Corth. 11:2.....
"For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ."

Isaiah 62:5​

“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”​

​

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” – Matthew 25:1​

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” – Revelation 21:2
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23


​

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The Bride and body of Christ would be the Church, as all the members who have been saved and redeemed by the Lord Jesus
 
Marilyn C said:
Hi Major,

We have a couple of days resting and with Wi-Fi I can reply now. I will comment on the first topic - the bride of Christ. Thank you for your scriptures that you see apply to this topic. However, I have some concerns about using Eph. 5: 25 - 27 as part of the doctrine of the bride of Christ.

1. The pronoun `her` in English refers back to a noun previously written. We do not see any scriptures in Eph. 1 - 4 that refer to the Body of Christ as a female. On the contrary we read of the Head of the Body, (male) writing through the Apostle Paul that His Body is the New Man, that He will bring to maturity of manhood in Himself, and that we are to put on the new man. (Eph. 2: 15 4: 13 4: 24)

Thus, Eph. 4: 25 - 27 cannot I believe, be used as part of the doctrine of the bride of Christ.

The pronoun is `it `referring to the body that `we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.`(Eph. 5: 30)

2. Also, a doctrine cannot be based upon a symbol or typology.
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The Body and bride of Jesus would be the members of His Church, of all he has redeemed and saved
 
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