The Bride of Christ, NOT who (rather what) you think it is.

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BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#1
Revelation 21:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 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 21:9-11 King James Version (KJV)
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

10 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,

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


I've heard for the longest time that the Church is the Bride of Christ, have even heard analogies from preachers that just as a man shares secrets with his wife, so God reveals hidden things to His church. I have in the past made a thread on this topic asking to be shown where the Church, the Body of Christ, is called the Bride of Christ. Scripture was provided but to no avail, many of the verses used were analogies (metaphors) of how a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. What was truly clear on the bride of Christ, is revealed in Revelation 21.

It is the new Jerusalem, the holy Jerusalem. Where in scripture do you see it so blatantly stated, as here? In fact, it tell us in Revelations 21 that those who will walk in the new Jerusalem (the Lamb's wife) are those whose names are written in the book of life (us!).

Revelation 21:24-27 King James Version (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.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

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.


How is it that we are taught we are the bride of Christ, when we shall reside in the new Jerusalem that is called "the Lamb's wife" and in Revelation 21:2, that it is prepared "as a bride adorned for her husband?" Is this teaching just accepted at face value without any scriptural backing?
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#2
Another verse to consider. We are not the bride itself, because we are its fine linen.

Revelation 19:7-8 King James Version (KJV)
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Notice the separation between her and the saints.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#3
Another verse to consider. We are not the bride itself, because we are its fine linen.

Revelation 19:7-8 King James Version (KJV)
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Notice the separation between her and the saints.
...no ....

have the you heard the term "clothes in righteousness"

Clothes are not people but their actions and deeds in this life.

We are clothes in Jesus righteousness....the Bride is clothes in the righteousness of the saints.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#4
Jesus is called the cornerstone.

Our bodies are Temples

We are called living stones

1 Peter 2:5
New International Version
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

****

Not sure why you would say it doesn't have a biblical basis.​
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#5
Ephesians 5
9For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#6
1 Corinthians 12

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptizedby[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#7
People have a selfish view of marriage, but God tells us when a man and woman join together they become One.

Physically people understand how that works, but mentally and spiritually?

How many people are actually One with their spouse in purpose, in prayer?
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#8
Ephesians 5
9For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Yes, we have become the Body of Christ. I will not pretend to fully understand this mystery in its fullness. Yet this is speaking of our union with Christ, being a part of His body. Scripture even says we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Not to mention the myriad of verses speaking of us being members of His body, even bones (Ephesians 5:30).

This does not mean we are His bride, it means we are His body. If His body, how can we be His bride? Imagine, verse 29 you pasted above makes it clear. The Lord nourishes and cherishes the Church, just as a man does his own flesh. This is not about us being the Lamb's wife, but His body.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#9
Ephesians 5
9For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
The Bride and Christ....two become one flesh....not sure if I have words to explain it.

The whole point of this passage is to have husbands love their wives as if they are part of their own bodies,their flesh.

The church being the Bride is because Jesus loves us like His own body, his own flesh.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#10
The Bride and Christ....two become one flesh....not sure if I have words to explain it.
What do you think of the Revelations 21:2, and 21:9? It clearly defines the Lamb's wife as the new Jerusalem.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#11
If the church is not the Bride the who do you think the Bible is referring to?

Who will Jesus join and be one flesh with at the Wedding feast?
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#12
What do you think of the Revelations 21:2, and 21:9? It clearly defines the Lamb's wife as the new Jerusalem.
I believe we (saints of the past, present and future) are the living stones that make up that great city and Jesus is our cornerstone.

What other type of building material do you think God would use?
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#13
Revelation 21
14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#14
I believe we (saints of the past, present and future) are the living stones that make up that great city and Jesus is our cornerstone.

What other type of building material do you think God would use?
But it makes the saints distinct from the great city, even saying those with their names written in the Book of Life will enter it. So if the new Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife, how can that be us, when we will be entering it? We are distinct from it, yet also our righteousness is its linen. Does this not point to us walking amongst the city, "clothing it?"
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#15
1 Corinthians 3:11
New International Version
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ​
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#16
But it makes the saints distinct from the great city, even saying those with their names written in the Book of Life will enter it. So if the new Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife, how can that be us, when we will be entering it? We are distinct from it, yet also our righteousness is its linen. Does this not point to us walking amongst the city, "clothing it?"
Is the church a building or the people?

How much more is the city of God....buildings as humanity sees or the people who make up the city?

How is a building built?

Can you do it without first bringing the materials in the gates?
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#17
We clothe the city, which is the bride, the Lamb's wife, that the angel shewed. What did the angel show? It says the angel "shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem." How do you say that we are the bride of Christ, when scripture says it is the new Jerusalem? You then try to say we make up that new Jerusalem, as its building blocks, yet scripture says we walk in it, and are not it, itself. There is a distinction.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#18
Can you give me the Bible verses that support these statements?

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But it makes the saints distinct from the great city, even saying those with their names written in the Book of Life will enter it.
Revelation 20 says nothing about those written in the book of life enter Jerusalem....just those who are not being thrown in the fire.

Revelation 21 doesn't mention anyone entering except "the kings of the earth" it just shows that saints being present with God
 

BenFTW

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Oct 7, 2012
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#19
Can you give me the Bible verses that support these statements?

.

Revelation 20 says nothing about those written in the book of life enter Jerusalem....just those who are not being thrown in the fire.

Revelation 21 doesn't mention anyone entering except "the kings of the earth" it just shows that saints being present with God
They are in the OP (original post). Revelations 21:27 clearly says "they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" are the ones who will enter (it says "they shall in no wise enter.... but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life").
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#20
Yeah.... The whole river of life probably gives you a hard time too?