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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Bride - Church or New Jerusalem? | Is 61:10 | skccab | 185872 | ||
Hi all I have so enjoyed reading everyone's questions, answers and comments. I'm gonna take the home page up on it's offer and ask a question. It's one that I stood firmly on before, back in the 70's but now I'm not so sure, so here goes. Why does everyone call the church the Bride of Christ, when in Rev. 21:2 John sees "the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared AS a bride adorned for her husband"; then in v.9 the angel told John he would show him the bride, the Lamb's wife, in v. 10 John sees New Jerusalem again. The first instance New Jerusalem is "as" a bride, in v.10 it is New Jerusalem that the angel calls the bride, and goes on the describe the city. I was taught (way back in the 70's and 80's that we identify ourselves (that is, the church) as a chaste bride awaiting her husband, and I know the saints will inhabit New Jerusalem, but isn't that a literal city? I stood firm on this a long time ago, that the bride is New Jerusalem and not the church (for the Bible says that we are the body of Christ, and He is the Head of the church so how could the church be a bride which is female and Christ is quite obviously male?). I'm not trying to start a heated debate, really, I'm not. I actually am wavering here, in this area, because no one seems to think this way now. I'm just wondering why. cheri |
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2 | Bride - Church or New Jerusalem? | Is 61:10 | fellowlaborer | 185975 | ||
Greetings Everyone. Thank you Cherie the scriptures and question you posed caused me to consider... Isa 61:10 reveals a grateful soul that has been redeemed; being clothed in salvation; whereas, before decked in the garments of hell and destruction - now covered in the robe of righteusness... Hallelujah, it's beautiful and yet it seems of a different direction of the question you posed. When I pondered your question regarding the Church, in reference - so many terms and phrases are used many times, lending variables that cause us to search out the scripture. To name some: "Zion" [Isa 51:16, 52:1, Heb 12:22, (relating to the Holy City) and more]; "Israel" [Mk 12:29; Matt 2:6, Rom 9:6(Hallelujah! We're included)]; "Kingdom of God" Luke 17:20-21 (referring to our Christ as well); and the Church being called the "Bride of Christ," for one, may stem from Eph 5:23-32 beautifully describing love reflected in the union of marriage; and there is scripture referring to our God as husbandman. The Church - sometimes referred to lands/nations - geographical id; and some such as: "body of Christ," "sons of God," "children of God," - relational id. Thank you for the "digging excursion." It's okay, to refer to the church as the bride of Christ -- I don't think God would be moved much by semantics. Okaayyyy, I'll stop. |
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3 | Bride - Church or New Jerusalem? | Is 61:10 | skccab | 185976 | ||
Fellowlaborer Thank you for your thoughts. I'm just getting off midnight shift so my brain is not so swift. I orginally didn't have a scripture reference when I posed the question (I'm not sure how it got there, I'm very new to this and all forums and their mysteries!), I was just wondering mainly about the part of Rev. 21 where there is no question about who/what "the bride, the lamb's wife" is. I will ponder what you wrote prayerfully, and follow your references tonight at work. Thank you for them. And isn't this place such a blessing? So many new family members to get to know. Blessings Cheri |
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