THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

[Frits]

On 12/9/2020 at 7:56 PM, missmuffet said:

Question: "What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ?"

Answer: The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age. Her responsibility during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24). At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2).
In the eternal state, believers will have access to the heavenly city known as New Jerusalem, also called “the holy city” in Revelation 21:2 and 10. The New Jerusalem is not the church, but it takes on some of the church’s characteristics. In his vision of the end of the age, the apostle John sees the city coming down from heaven adorned “as a bride,” meaning that the city will be gloriously radiant and the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness. Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city. The city is called the bride because it encompasses all who are the bride, just as all the students of a school are sometimes called “the school.”

Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ, and we wait with great anticipation for the day when we will be united with our Bridegroom. Until then, we remain faithful to Him and say with all the redeemed of the Lord, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

https://www.gotquestions.org/bride-of-Christ.html

 

I'm sorry @missmuffet, but on the basis of the Bible, I disagree with some of the things you claim.

1) "Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27)."

The Lord Jesus Christ is not the bridegroom but the 'husband', 'the Man'.  In Eph. 5: 25-27 is not spoken of the bride, but of 'the church', the 'wife', 'the woman' of the Lord Jesus.

2) "Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age."

Your term "engagement period" is made up and does not appear in the Bible in view of Jesus Christ and His Church. The Lord Jesus does not live separately from his Church, she is also not a "bride" but his Woman, and through his Spirit already has communion with her.

3) "At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized"

The rapture of the Church does not indicate a first communion with the Lord Jesus, but the developed maturity of the church members through the Holy Spirit (charismata). This makes it possible for these church members to receive the glory of God.

4) "the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness."

The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem in Rev. 21: 2 do indeed wear white robes, indicating their righteousness. These are, for example, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Elijah, Daniel, the other prophets of God and all people who sought the city with foundations, of which God is the designer and builder. (Heb. 11:10)

5) "Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city."

Because the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are made up of mere righteous, they wear white garments, but they never had the opportunity to undergo the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it had not yet been Pentecost.
At the unification of this great group of the righteous with the members of Christ, they too are baptized with the holy spirit. So they could not come to perfection without us!  (Heb.11:39-40)

Besides, the Lord Jesus did not die for a city or a people, but for the sin of the whole world, so for all people at all times and all places.

6) "Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ"

So the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not the bride but his 'Wife', as stated in Rev. 21: 9

"I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

God bless you.

 

[missmuffet]

31 minutes ago, Frits said:

I'm sorry @missmuffet, but on the basis of the Bible, I disagree with some of the things you claim.

1) "Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27)."

The Lord Jesus Christ is not the bridegroom but the 'husband', 'the Man'.  In Eph. 5: 25-27 is not spoken of the bride, but of 'the church', the 'wife', 'the woman' of the Lord Jesus.

2) "Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age."

Your term "engagement period" is made up and does not appear in the Bible in view of Jesus Christ and His Church. The Lord Jesus does not live separately from his Church, she is also not a "bride" but his Woman, and through his Spirit already has communion with her.

3) "At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized"

The rapture of the Church does not indicate a first communion with the Lord Jesus, but the developed maturity of the church members through the Holy Spirit (charismata). This makes it possible for these church members to receive the glory of God.

4) "the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness."

The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem in Rev. 21: 2 do indeed wear white robes, indicating their righteousness. These are, for example, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Elijah, Daniel, the other prophets of God and all people who sought the city with foundations, of which God is the designer and builder. (Heb. 11:10)

5) "Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city."

Because the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are made up of mere righteous, they wear white garments, but they never had the opportunity to undergo the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it had not yet been Pentecost.
At the unification of this great group of the righteous with the members of Christ, they too are baptized with the holy spirit. So they could not come to perfection without us!  (Heb.11:39-40)

Besides, the Lord Jesus did not die for a city or a people, but for the sin of the whole world, so for all people at all times and all places.

6) "Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ"

So the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not the bride but his 'Wife', as stated in Rev. 21: 9

"I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

God bless you.

 

Suit yourself.

[Heleadethme]

On 12/9/2020 at 10:50 AM, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

Sorry brother, with all due respect, but this is splitting hairs.  What is a city but a community of people?  In this case, the people of God, through Christ.  Jesus is not a bridegroom to buildings and businesses.

[douge]

22 hours ago, Heleadethme said:

Sorry brother, with all due respect, but this is splitting hairs.  What is a city but a community of people?  In this case, the people of God, through Christ.  Jesus is not a bridegroom to buildings and businesses.

There are other verses to consider in regard to this city, which I did not go into depth on:

The city reflects the glory of God:

[Revelation 21:11 KJV] 11 Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

The Lord is the temple in the city:

[Revelation 21:22 KJV] 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

The Lamb is the light of the city:

[Revelation 21:23 KJV] 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

The Gentiles nations that are saved will be in the city:

[Revelation 21:24 KJV] 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

The saints will be in the city:

[Revelation 21:27 KJV] 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

It is not just a city, it is composed of God himself and those saved.

[Frits]

1) "Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27)."

The Lord Jesus Christ is not the bridegroom but the 'husband', 'the Man'. In Eph. 5: 25-27 is not spoken of the bride, but of 'the church', the 'wife', 'the woman' of the Lord Jesus.

2) "Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age."

The term "engagement" does not appear in the Bible in view of Jesus Christ and His Church.

The Lord Jesus does not live separately from his Church, she is also not a "bride" but his Woman, and through his Spirit already has communion with her.

3) "At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized

The rapture of the Church does not indicate a first communion with the Lord Jesus, but the developed maturity of the church members through the Holy Spirit (charismata).  This makes it possible for these church members to receive the glory of God.

4) "the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness."

The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem in Rev.21:2 do indeed wear white robes, indicating their righteousness.  These are, for example, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Elijah, Daniel, the other prophets of God and all people who sought the city with foundations, of which God is the designer and builder. (Heb. 11:10)

5) "Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city."

Because the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are made up of mere righteous, they wear white garments, but they never had the opportunity to undergo the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it had not yet been Pentecost.
At the unification of this great group of the righteous with the members of Christ, they too are baptized with the holy spirit. So they could not come to perfection without us!  (Hebrews 11: 39-40)

Besides, the Lord Jesus did not die for a city or a people, but for the sin of the whole world, so for all people at all times and all places.

6) "Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ"

So the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not the bride but his 'Wife', as stated in Rev. 21: 9

"I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

Be blessed.
 

[Markie51]

On 12/9/2020 at 10:50 AM, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelattion 21:9-10.

I agree with you that the "Bride  of Christ" is not the "Church" or "Jerusalem."  No "...cities are coming down out of heaven...." The reference made in this scripture are symbolic.  Jesus' bride are the 1444,00 anointed.  Compare a sampling: Matthew 22:3; Luke 14;17; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 1;3; Revelation 19:9.

[douge]

22 hours ago, Markie51 said:

I agree with you that the "Bride  of Christ" is not the "Church" or "Jerusalem."  No "...cities are coming down out of heaven...." The reference made in this scripture are symbolic.  Jesus' bride are the 1444,00 anointed.  Compare a sampling: Matthew 22:3; Luke 14;17; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 1;3; Revelation 19:9.

Revelation 21:2 KJV - And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation says there is a city coming down from heaven.

It describes a city with literal walls and gates....doesn't sound symbolic:

Revelation 21:10 KJV - And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Revelation 21:12 KJV - And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

[Marilyn C]

On 12/10/2020 at 2:20 AM, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

Hi douge,

I agree with you. Now the symbol of the word `bride` is used by God for His time purposes & for His eternal purposes.

Time purpose.

God`s relationship to Israel is one of `husband,` master/Lord.

`For your Maker is your husband...` (Isa. 54: 5) 

When Israel rebels against God then He `divorces` them. Later on He `remarries His wife,` Israel. (Isa. 50: 1,  Rev. 19: 7) This means God connects again to them. He is betrothed to them forever, He says. And Hosea`s marriage, divorce and remarriage is to show Israel, what is & will happen to them. (Hos. 2: 19 & 20)

Eternal Purpose. 

God built the heavenly city and its glory is like a bride. (Heb. 11: 10 & 16, Rev. 21: 2) This reveals that God is connecting the spiritual realm to the natural realm.  

Note Christ`s rulership (base) of authority and power is in the third heaven on Mount Zion, where the Body of Christ will rule with Him.

regards, Marilyn.

[Leonardo Von]

Quote

THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

To be more precise, the Church is the Bride of the Lamb.

[Reinitin]

On 12/9/2020 at 9:50 AM, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

Verse doctrines can be cons. Rat posion is 90% corn.

Paul uses alot of torah examples to make a mystery from the beginning of creation  known/ and show Gods Word fulfilled in Christ. 

Read past eph 5 because in eph 6. (hear the man out, he didnt teach for hours the scriptures that reveal Gods hidden plan through all scripturd, so people could run out half cocked with one verse.

The seperation by verses and chapter heading was not even added till like the 16 hundreds for indexing. Because when you follow a verse through the Word if God you get mire context on the plans or character or heart, ect of God. 

Paul is teaching in his letters. Pulling all kinds of old testiment scriptured to show Christ and God and being one was his plan from the begining.

a man and his wife become one. This devine design God was proclaimed in gen 2, matt 19, mark 10, ephesian 6

He is explaining what Jesus asked for in John 17. Verse 20ish is a prayer for everyone today to be one with him and our father. 

" Father i pray not only for these you have given me ( diciplines) but for everyone who believes in me through their message ( us ) May They all be one. As you Father are in me and i am in you ,may they also be one in us so the world may believe you sent me. "

Sorry, i didnt post verses and probably Lisa paraphrased my quote. my phone looses worthy and my started message when i open the online bible.

Study to show yourself appoved, look it up and see if what i tell you is true.

We become "one" like a husband and wife, like adam and eve were created to become one flesh to fill the earth. We become one in Spirit a new creation. I in him and he in me a new creation from heavenly seed to multiply and fill the kingdom of heaven

Thus.. the bride of Christ his beloved, our first love we become one with was always his intention.  

"The whole would was subjected to frustration because God hoped for Son's."

The beatiful city is filled with his people, His offspring, His family and we are one through Christ our Conwuering King with our Father in His New Jerusalem that needs no sun cause it is lit by the Glory of his presents dwelling with us.

Emanuel God with us. Its prettu clear and all a thread from the begining to the end. 

Edited September 5, 2021 by Reinitin
Found my readers.. it was bad?