Marital Union in Heaven, and in Creation, Part 6

Fourth Stage of Holy Marital Union: The Church – A Covenant of Spirit

The culminating marital relationship of our present world is that between Christ and His Church. This Marriage has begun with an earthly betrothal (promise), but it is soon to be consummated in heaven. Because of its both earthly and heavenly natures, this marriage will provide the way for God to complete the Histhalsheluth/Divine Chain of Events in the ages to come; resulting in the ultimate Divine face-to-face (re)union between the Creator and His Creation.

Paul tells of this current betrothal-to-Christ opportunity for all people in the following passage:

2 Corinthians 11:2 … For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Earlier, John the Baptist prophesied of these things in his ministry, saying,

John 3:29 “The One [‘the Christ,’ vs. 28] having the numphē/betrothed girl is the Bridegroom…”

Now, before this marital union can be consummated, the betrothed bride must first be developed and prepared; as were Eve, when God “built [her] into a woman,” and Israel, when God “made [her] a great nation,” and Jerusalem, when God “made [her] thrive like the sprout of the field.” Gen. 2:22; 46:3; Ezek. 16:7

In order for us to become developed and prepared, therefore,

Ephesians 4:14 …we should no longer be children… 15 but…should grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ… 5:27 that He might present her [us, the Church] unto Himself… 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined unto his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.

The consummation of this marriage will be announced at the coming Parousia of the Son of Man, Jesus; that announcement being “likened to” the words,

Matthew 25:6 “‘Behold, the Bridegroom comes…’ 10 …[then] those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding…” Revelation 19:7 “…because the marriage of the Lamb came, and His wife made herself ready.”

Unlike the earlier, earthly, lower-nature marriages of soul and of flesh, this marriage will be a higher, a heavenly, and a spiritual one. Therefore, it will require a spiritual body:

1 Corinthians 15:44 … There is a soulish body, and there is a spiritual body. … 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man. … 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

These things shall all take place beginning at the time of “the Parousia of the Lord,” when “we…shall be caught up together with them [the resurrected dead] in clouds [“the clouds of heaven”], unto a meeting of the Lord,” – “when every eye shall see Him” “face to face” – “to stand before the Son of Man…before the throne of God” in heaven. 1 Thes. 4:15, 17; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7; 1 Cor. 13:12; 1 John 3:2; Luke 21:36; Rev. 7:9, 15

1 Thessalonians 4:17 … And so shall we ALWAYS BE with the Lord.

Therefore, unlike the previous on- and off-again earthly marital unions, this one will be permanent and unbroken; thus providing the way for the eternal fulfillment of God’s Plan of Creation, to be discussed in Part 7.