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

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A

Ariel82

Guest
#21
The saints past, present and future make up Heavenly Jerusalem the same way God is called the Temple...


Revelation 21
22And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

Are they are building?
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#22
Yeah.... The whole river of life probably gives you a hard time too?
I don't understand the need to be facetious (or slightly belittling). I am just sharing what appears to be an evident truth in scripture, that the Lamb's wife, the bride, is the new Jerusalem. I then also see the inadequate evidence given to suggest that the bride is the Church of Christ, the Body of Christ.

To me, the analogy of a husband and wife is used as a symbolic representation of what Christ is to the Church, becoming one body. Yet, it is a symbolism, not that the Church is the Lamb's wife, only that the analogy as like a shadow points to Christ. The mystery.

In respect to who or what the bride is, our clearest scripture is Revelation 21:2 and Revelation 21:9. It is straightforward and to the point. The angel says he will show John the bride, the Lamb's wife, and then the angel brings him in the spirit to the great city, holy Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#23
It's not meant to be facteous or belittling.

If you understand how the "river of life" represents God's words flowing from His throne,then you would understand the symbolism used to describe the Heavenly Jerusalem because words can't fully convey the spiritual reality.

it's why Jesus used parables.

To the woman at the well Jesus talked of Living water.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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#24
It's not meant to be facteous or belittling.

If you understand how the "river of life" represents God's words flowing from His throne,then you would understand the symbolism used to describe the Heavenly Jerusalem because words can't fully convey the spiritual reality.

it's why Jesus used parables.

To the woman at the well Jesus talked of Living water.
So you don't believe that the new Jerusalem is a literal city? You believe the whole passage is describing the saints?
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#25
We currently live in temporary tents. Jesus promises mansions.

Do you believe He refers to buildings or resurrected bodies?

:unsure:
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#26
So you don't believe that the new Jerusalem is a literal city? You believe the whole passage is describing the saints?
I believe it describe what it will be like to see and live with God face to face.

Now we see the world dimly and in part. In the future these will be no darkness and we will know how to live with one another truly as parts of One body.
 

FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,125
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#27
A discussion between better theologians than myself....think i'll just read this one.:)
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
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#28
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.
Hello Ben,

The designation of bride in regards to the new Jerusalem is figurative as a description of the city, for the city is not the literal bride of Christ and I can prove it:

""Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!
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. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)

Since the bride is receiving fine linen, bright and clean to wear and that fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's people, then the bride of Christ cannot possibly be the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem just also happens to be compared as a bride in appearance, because of its beauty. Can a city receive fine linen, bright and clean to wear because of her righteous acts?

Bride given fine linen, white and clean = fine linen represents the righteous acts of God's people = God's people = the church

"His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean."

Notice also, that the bride who receive her fine linen, is then seen in Rev.19:14 following Christ out of heaven and wearing that same fine linen, white and clean and riding on white horses, which demonstrates that the bride/church is already in heaven and is following Christ to the earth to end the age. Consider also the following scripture regarding the church as the bride:

"A dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease."

The Bridegroom = Jesus

The bride = everyone who comes to Him
 
Sep 4, 2012
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#29
We individually are not the bride, but corporeally we are Jerusalem, who is our mother and is Christ's bride. Paul is talking corporeally here:

For I am jealous [for] you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you [in marriage] to one husband, to present [you as] a pure virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#30
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.
There are plenty of verses that reveal that the Church is the Bride of Christ (to become the Lamb's Wife). I will give you just one passage.

EPHESIANS 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.


When you go to Revelation 19 you will find that the Bride becomes the Wife at the Marriage of the Lamb.

Also, it would be totally ABSURD to regard anything inanimate (such as a city) as the Bride. Have you heard of anyone marrying bricks and mortar?
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
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#31
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?
Yes, the Church is the Bride of Christ. Why is the new Jerusalem new? Because we are spiritual Jerusalem. We have been clothed with Christ/white robes/righteousness. Revelation 7:14- they washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (baptism). Ananias said to Paul "What are you waiting for, arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." When a bride marries her husband she takes his name. We have taken the name CHRISTIan.

Isaiah says in isaiah 61:10 "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." The Bride of Christ is not a physical person, it is not meant literally but figuratively.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#32
I see no reason to complicate things.

Revelation is a book of images. The heavenly Jerusalem is church. Its not a literal city, its an image.

City, bride, body, these are all images of the church.

Fire, Lion, Rock, Light, these are all images of God.

Cannot God be a lion, because he is already a rock? Cannot church be a city or bride because its already a body? I do not think so.

There is no need to see contradictions.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#33
What do you think of the Revelations 21:2, and 21:9? It clearly defines the Lamb's wife as the new Jerusalem.
I think it goes together with Peter telling us we, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
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#34
I see no reason to complicate things.

Revelation is a book of images. The heavenly Jerusalem is church. Its not a literal city, its an image.

City, bride, body, these are all images of the church.

Fire, Lion, Rock, Light, these are all images of God.

Cannot God be a lion, because he is already a rock? Cannot church be a city or bride because its already a body? I do not think so.

There is no need to see contradictions.
Hello Trofimus,

First of all, though the book of Revelation has symbolic imagery in it, it should not be read as though everything were symbolism. The book should be read in the plain literal sense until another sense is required. It is interpreting the book as being all symbolic that distorts the meaning.

The new Jerusalem is indeed a literal city, for there is way too much detail for it to not be. For example, we have the measurements of the width, depth and height and thickness of the city walls given and that by human measurement which John says the angel was using.

We have twelve gates mentioned, each made from a single pearl with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on them.

We are told that the foundations of the walls are made from different precious stones and that it is garnished with multiple gems and much, much more.

We have Jesus and Paul referring to the new Jerusalem as a literal city:

"I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

Paul on speaking about the hero's of faith:

"All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#35
Hello Trofimus,

First of all, though the book of Revelation has symbolic imagery in it, it should not be read as though everything were symbolism. The book should be read in the plain literal sense until another sense is required. It is interpreting the book as being all symbolic that distorts the meaning.

The new Jerusalem is indeed a literal city, for there is way too much detail for it to not be. For example, we have the measurements of the width, depth and height and thickness of the city walls given and that by human measurement which John says the angel was using.

We have twelve gates mentioned, each made from a single pearl with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on them.

We are told that the foundations of the walls are made from different precious stones and that it is garnished with multiple gems and much, much more.

We have Jesus and Paul referring to the new Jerusalem as a literal city:

"I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

Paul on speaking about the hero's of faith:

"All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
City - a material thing - cannot be a bride of God.

Also, your explanation is not mainstream/traditional:

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers:
"The city-bride is now adorned for her Husband. We know what her ornaments are, now that He is about to present her to Himself a glorious Church"

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
"This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, the church triumphant."

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
"This, of course, does not mean that this great city was "literally" to descend upon the earth, and to occupy any one part of the renovated world; but it is a symbolical or figurative representation, designed to show that the abode of the righteous will be splendid and glorious."

Matthew Poole's Commentary
"The holy city, new Jerusalem; that is, the whole chorus or number of the elect of God"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
"The same with the beloved city in Revelation 20:9 the church of God: sometimes the church militant is called a city"

Geneva Study Bible
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The state of this glorious Church is first described generally..."

Expositor's Greek Testament
"The Christian prophet John not only sees it but sees it realised among Christian people"

Pulpit Commentary
"The holy city" is the Church of God (see on Revelation 11:2)"

--------

All commentaries I was able to find were saying that its church. Some commentaries were somehow indifferent in their meaning so I was not sure what they teach. I have found no commentary saying its a literal city.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,760
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#36
I have found no commentary saying its a literal city.
And you never will.

That idea is so ABSURD that it cannot even be considered for one minute.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#37
And you never will.

That idea is so ABSURD that it cannot even be considered for one minute.
I am quite certain that in todays era its very easy to write a commentary for any small church, so maybe there is something like that, existing somewhere.

But such a commentary will not be reputable or generally used/spread, IMHO.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#38
I like the story of Ruth and Boaz, I like think there is a parallel
there of Jesus and and church (His people).

Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. To confirm this hd gave his
sandal. Boaz bought Ruth back. She became his bride. For a woman
not to be covered and aided by a man in biblical times, it meant a life
of poverty, no sense of belonging, a life of hardship.

Jesus did the same for us, He bought us with a price, He redeemed us
with His blood, rather than a sandal. We are His redeemed individually and
also collectively as the church - His bride.

We were lost now we are found. We were not covered, now we are covered
by the blood of the lamb.

Ruth 4:1-10 NKJV
[1] Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close
relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, "Come aside, friend, sit
down here." So he came aside and sat down. [2] And he took ten men of the
elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

[3] Then he said to the close relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the
country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother
Elimelech. [4] And I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it back in the presence
of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem
it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is
no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."

[5] Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you
must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate
the name of the dead through his inheritance." [6] And the close relative
said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem
my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

[7] Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming
and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave
it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. [8] Therefore the close
relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he took off his sandal

. [9] And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this
day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's
and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. [10] Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess,
the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name
of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be
cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are
witnesses this day."
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,162
2,380
113
#39
City - a material thing - cannot be a bride of God.
I don't know why you said the above, because I'm agreement with that. In my post I said that there is too way much detail for the new Jerusalem to not be a literal city. You obviously misread my post.

Also, your explanation is not mainstream/traditional:

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers:
"The city-bride is now adorned for her Husband. We know what her ornaments are, now that He is about to present her to Himself a glorious Church"

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
"This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, the church triumphant."

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
"This, of course, does not mean that this great city was "literally" to descend upon the earth, and to occupy any one part of the renovated world; but it is a symbolical or figurative representation, designed to show that the abode of the righteous will be splendid and glorious."

Matthew Poole's Commentary
"The holy city, new Jerusalem; that is, the whole chorus or number of the elect of God"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
"The same with the beloved city in Revelation 20:9 the church of God: sometimes the church militant is called a city"

Geneva Study Bible
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The state of this glorious Church is first described generally..."

Expositor's Greek Testament
"The Christian prophet John not only sees it but sees it realised among Christian people"

Pulpit Commentary
"The holy city" is the Church of God (see on Revelation 11:2)"
--------


I'm not nor have I ever been concerned about mainstream, but only what the word of God says. And the word of God says that the new Jerusalem is a literal city that will be coming down out of heaven and which we will be living in.

All commentaries I was able to find were saying that its church. Some commentaries were somehow indifferent in their meaning so I was not sure what they teach. I have found no commentary saying its a literal city.
Commentaries don't make the new Jerusalem literal or symbolic. It is the word of God and the description of the city and the fact that scriptures says that it is a city. Jesus says that for the one who is victorious, He will write on that person the name of His God and the name of the city of His God, the New Jerusalem. Paul mentions the new Jerusalem in that the hero's of faith were waiting forward to that city that God had made for them. You don't need a commentary, when you have chapter 21 and 22 giving complete details about the city.

As I said, there is way too much detailed information about the city for it to be speaking symbolically.

It's a real city!
 
Sep 4, 2012
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#40
We have twelve gates mentioned, each made from a single pearl with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on them.
If we interpret that literally then we have to assume the existence of some very large oysters.