Updated:-Saturday, November 4th, 2023
“If you Don’t Believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ Then…”
“One of your young adult students told me that you gave the class an assignment to locate in the Bible, scriptures which inform them that the Church is the Bride of Christ!“
“She also revealed to me that when they found scriptures which validated this you declared that they do not testify to that.”
“And that you told your class that the Church is not the Bride of Christ!“
“Is this true?” He enquired!
“Yes!” I replied, “It is true.”
Who Is The Lamb’s Wife?
“The Bible tells us who is the “wife” of the Lamb and it’s not the Church“, I supplied.
“Well”, declared the pastor.
“If you don’t believe that the Church is the Bride of Christ then you can’t teach for me” he informed me looking down at his large mahogany desk.
As soon as I heard that reprimand, I knew that I had to teach people globally the truth about the Word of God.
This is an excerpt from an actual conversation that I had more than ten years ago (at the time of writing).
And from it, this website was born!
This Guide on the Bride of Christ will answer all your important questions and the following nine:
Table of Content
- What is the Bride of Christ?
- Is The Term “Bride of Christ” in The Bible?
- Is Jesus Christ the Bridegroom?
- Who Is The Bride of Christ in The Bible?
- Where Is The Bride of Christ?
- When Will The Bride of Christ Manifest?
- How to Become the Bride of Christ?
- Is The Church The Bride of Christ?
- 8 Characteristics of the Bride of Christ
Who Is The Bride of Christ According to Scripture?
You all know by now that I wholeheartedly endorse the KJV and only the KJV because, in my opinion, it alone is the true Word of God.
Click the link above or below to read or watch the video Bible study about that!
As a result, I shall examine who is the Bride of Christ KJV style?
What Does It Mean That The Church Is The Bride of Christ?
It means that Christ has just married or will soon marry the Church. But is this really true? No! This is a figure of speech because the resurrected Christ is a Spirit and not a man.
Moreover, when did Christ marry the Church literally or spiritually?
Which scriptures address this? None! What did Jesus say about this? Nothing!
The Ekklesia
The word church is an English translation derived from the Greek word “ekklesia“.
Ekklesia means the called out.
The Church is the universal group of believers that the Lord Jesus Christ has “called out” of the world. They are still living in the world but they don’t belong to it (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Therefore the assembly of people who have been “called out”, the “church”, or “ekklesia” is the body of Christ, and it’s not an earthly building of any sort.
Consequently, the Church is not a “physical place” but an assembly of people; a group of hearts that God has touched, and who have confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior.
We see in Acts 15:41 where “The saints assembled “; therefore, the true meaning of church is a gathering or assembly of believers.
Did Jesus Have a Wife?
But Jesus Christ didn’t have a wife. He was never married!
To understand the church as a bride, consider the actions and appearances of an earthly bride and groom.
God uses marriage as an analogy throughout the Scripture because of how close we are to Him.
When we think about the word, bride, what may come to mind is a beautiful woman dressed in her plush white wedding gown.
She looks stunning and she is getting herself ready for her groom on the big day.
Since we know that this bride we are referring to is not one person, then it should be easier to understand who is the Bride of Christ?
What Does the Bible Say About The Bride of Christ?
This specific term, “the Bride of Christ” does not even appear in the Bible. Consequently, it does not mention her!
Therefore, there is no scriptural reference to the infamous phrase “Bride of Christ”.
Even though this actual phrase does not exist in the Bible if the concept of it does, then that is OK.
Thus there is only one place in the entire Bible we will find such a notion, and we will look at this later in this Bible Study!
The angel of God carried John away in the spirit and promised to show him “the Lamb’s wife” Revelation 21:9.
So, from the Scripture mentioned immediately above, we learn that “the Lamb” is married for he has a wife.
Do you know who is this “Lamb” that the Bible is talking about here? (John 1:29, 36).
Jesus is the Lamb. However, according to the Scripture above who is his wife? That scripture verse didn’t reveal her identity but the quotation following does.
Revelation 21:10
“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”.
Is Jesus the Bridegroom?
Who is a bridegroom?
Bridegroom: a man who has just married or is soon to be married.
| SCRIPTURES | Is Jesus the Bridegroom? |
|---|---|
| Matthew 9:15 | No |
| Matthew 25:1;5-6;10 | Yes! |
| Mark 2:19-20 | No |
| Luke 5:33-35 | No |
| John 2:1-11 | No |
| John 3:28-29 | Yes! |
| Revelation 18:23 | No |
| Revelation 21:9 | Yes! |
| Psalm 19:5 | No |
| Isaiah 49:18 | No |
| Isaiah 61:10 | No |
| SCRIPTURES | Is Jesus the Bridegroom? |
According to the three Scriptures, in the table above, Jesus Christ is indeed the Bridegroom. However, none of them validates the Church as his bride.
Listen as John the Baptist validates Jesus Christ as “The Bridegroom.
John Explains The Bridegroom
“Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.”
John 3:25
This happens many times in the Bible but especially in the New Testament. Someone or a group of people would come to Jesus seeking answers to a question.
But they would receive additional information that they did not ask about plus the answer to their original question.
This is a case in point.
“And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.”
John 3:26
First, John reveals our source, heaven. And who is in heaven? The Lord of course!
“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven”
John 3:27
Then he removes all doubts from the people’s minds as to whether he was the Christ or not. He tells them plainly that he was not the Christ.
He says,
“Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.”
John 3:28
Who Is The Bride In Revelation 21?
The following verse of Scripture is the one that really tells us that Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom.
Consequently, John the Baptist explains,
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
John 3:29
First, John makes it easy. He tells us that the man who has the bride is the bridegroom. So, with that statement, John distanced himself from the bride.
He’s really saying, I don’t have “the bride” therefore, I’m not the bridegroom. But he (that one) who has the bride is the bridegroom.
Second, with his other statement, he establishes his association with the Bridegroom and in so doing identifies him.
Thus, he admits that he is “a friend of the bridegroom” and that he listens to him and recognizes his voice and that makes him happy.
He says, “but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice” John 3:29b.
Do you recall who is the subject of this conversation? Jesus! See John 3:36. All of the above would have been generic and general statements except for what John says next.
When he says, “this my joy therefore is fulfilled” he admits that he’s happy because he hears the voice of Jesus; it identifies Jesus as the bridegroom, and it connects John to him for he admits that his voice gives him great joy.
Who Is The Lamb’s Wife In Revelation 21?
According to Revelation twenty-one, the Lamb had just married and was about to attend the reception.
“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“
(Revelation 21:9).
Who is the bride in Revelation 21? She is not the Church. Read Revelation 21:10.
If it’s one thing the Children of Israel (the Jews) know about, it’s marriage. Thus, he utilized a concept that they understood to explain one they hadn’t yet grasped.
Now that we know that the Scriptures declare that Jesus is the Bridegroom, then
Who Are the Children of The Bridechamber?
According to apostles Matthew, Mark, and Luke, what did Jesus say about the Bride of Christ?
Today, one of the arguments that many Christians postulate to prove that the Church is the Bride of Christ is a conversation between Jesus and some of the disciples of John the Baptist.
It’s interesting to note that these followers of John never asked Jesus about the Bride of Christ. Instead, they wanted to know why they and the Pharisees fasted often but Jesus’ followers did not?
Listen to them as they interrogate the Lord:
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Matthew 9:14
According to Apostles Matthew, Mark, and Luke respectively, Jesus replies as follows:
“Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? [B]ut the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”
Matthew 9:15
Thus, according to Apostle Mark, this is Jesus’ response to this inquiry by John’s followers.
“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? [A]s long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.”
Mark 2:19
What Did Jesus Say About The Bride of Christ?
Finally, according to Dr. Luke, in his explanation of the same meeting with the disciples of John, see Luke 5:33-35.
In verse 34, he asked:
“… [Jesus] said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”
Luke 5:34
My intentions for showing all the Scriptures from the Apostles, are to show that they all said the identical thing and that they never mentioned the Bride of Christ.
However, Jesus never spoke to the people unless he spoke in parables. Thus this was a parable.
And from this spiritual perspective, it changes how we see these scriptures.
But, if we understand that he was referring to himself as the “bridegroom” because he would “be taken from them”, then the Bible would agree.
For the Scriptures inform us that Jesus was taken or raptured.
However, anything beyond that is speculation. One of the speculations surrounds the identity of “the children of the bridechamber”.
Who are they?
In all the scriptures above the supposedly greedy disciples of the Lord are the children of the bridechamber.
Since Jesus Christ is the bridegroom, then are they the bride? No! This we should never guess! The Bible must inform us that they are in fact his wife.
Jesus Says This About These Guys…
Jesus explicitly described his disciples as “the children of the bridechamber” in all these parables.
In contemporary language, this means that they belong to the bridal party, but they are not the bride!
There are no Scriptures to show that the Church is the bride of Christ or even the Lamb’s Wife!
This is one of the reasons I say the Church is NOT the Bride of Christ. Additionally, Jesus never described the Church as his bride.
So, what did Jesus say about the Bride of Christ? Nothing!
The early disciples (including the apostles) comprised the First Century Church.
Since Jesus called them the “children of the bridechamber” how could they be the bride?
He emphatically described them as belonging to the bridal party of the wedding and not being the bride.
The Ten Virgins And The Bride of Christ
This narrative of the Ten Virgins is another “proof” many Christians use to support the alleged claim that the Church is the Bride of Christ.
And again, Jesus uses the wedding as his imagery. The Jews know much about and understand weddings. Nevertheless, Matthew is the only disciple of the Lord who carries this narrative!
Read it in Matthew 25:1-13.
Now, the only people who should be a bit unclear about the information, in this parable, should be the new or young Christians.
Yet, very seasoned Christians with many years of following the Lord will tell you with all vehemence that the ten virgins represent the Church and that the “bridegroom” is Jesus Christ.
Above and below I explicitly say “represents” because I’m treating all the virgins as one unit.
But Scriptures only support the latter of these two claims!
Comparison: The Kingdom of Heaven Compares To Ten Virgins!
There is nothing in these references to indicate that the ten virgins represent the church.
They are guessing. But we shouldn’t guess concerning the Scriptures!
But Jesus’ intent when he taught this parable was to explain an aspect of the Kingdom of Heaven that his disciples had not yet grasped by using a wedding metaphor that they understood.
As a result, Apostle Matthew starts his account of this with a comparison.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1
Who Is The Bridegroom in Matthew 25?
Matthew sets up parallelism with his first eleven words, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins” Matthew 25:1.
This parable has nothing to do with the Bride of Christ. It’s about the Kingdom of God. However, let’s examine it in detail.
He’s comparing ten virgins to the Kingdom of Heaven. At first, you may think, “this is a very unusual comparison“.
Why compare two samples that are completely diverse one from the other?
But if you did, you would have missed the comparison.
These virgins were “brides” and to further emphasize the distinction among Christians five of these brides were wise and five were foolish (Matthew 25:2).
Am I saying that there are “wise” Christians and “foolish” Christians? No! The parable tells us that, I don’t need to say it. I’m just saying what the Bible says.
Who is the “bridegroom” in Matthew 25? Is Jesus the bridegroom in this parable?
The Bible tells us that the “bridegroom” is really the “Lord”. And that he rejects the “foolish” virgins because they were not adequately prepared to receive him (Matthew 25:11; 25:12).
So, yes, Jesus is the Bridegroom in this parable.
Note how the five foolish virgins called Him “Lord”, “Lord! Who is our Lord but Christ? (Matthew 25:11-12).
Nevertheless, this parable has no connection to the Church as a unit! So, how could the bridegroom, mentioned in it, relate to the Church?
He doesn’t!
Who Is the Bride of Christ in the Bible?
“The answer to this question is pretty straightforward—you are.” No, it’s not and we are not. The Bible doesn’t teach this. This is someone’s opinion!
Why is the “bridegroom” out? And why is it necessary for the brides to meet the groom? Shouldn’t it be the other way, the bridegroom goes out to meet the bride?
One final question, why ten brides but only one bridegroom?
All the virgins set out to intercept the bridegroom.
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them”
Matthew 25:3
“But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
Matthew 25:4
“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.”
Matthew 25:5
Is the statement above saying that the Church (his bride) is sleeping while Jesus is away? No, by no stretch of the imagination, it is saying that!
However, while all the virgins are asleep the bridegroom comes and someone announces his arrival.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
Matthew 25:6
Are The Ten Virgins The Bride of Christ?
Believers in Jesus Christ cannot be “the Bride of Christ”, for, the Holy Bible never once told us that we are. We cannot base our knowledge and faith on inferences, but we must rely on the Word of God to communicate this gem to us. But, it doesn’t!
All the virgins were sleeping and all awaked and poured more oil into their lamps. This is what the Bible means when it says, they “trimmed their lamps” (Matthew 25:7).
“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.”
Matthew 25:7
Observe, brethren, that the focus is not on the “bridegroom” but on the ten virgins. Why? Because the comparison is between them.
The Lord is comparing the “wise virgins” and the “foolish virgins”.
Up to this point, I have not seen anything in this parable that connects to the Bride of Christ! The ten virgins are not the brides of Christ or the Bride of Christ.
“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.”
Matthew 25:8
While the “wise” could add oil to their lamps the “foolish” couldn’t because they had none. They had only brought their lamps and never made preparation for refueling them.
They had no extra oil!
“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.”
Matthew 25:9
Wise Believers Vs. Foolish Believers!
This right here, is what the comparison is all about! Two groups of “Believers” come face-to-face with an identical situation but each deals with it differently.
The lesson: they should all have dealt in an identical manner to the identical situation because they should all have the same goal or goals!
“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
Matthew 25:10
The one occasion that all the virgins should have been ready to participate in some of them were not prepared to partake of.
The Church Is Not Getting Ready!
We all should ensure that we are all waiting for that one event that going to transform us: the Rapture of the Church!
If we miss it, all is lost. The Five Foolish Virgins missed the wedding and lost everything; we must never be like them!
“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.”
Matthew 25:11
The Bible tells us that the “bridegroom”, in this parable, is really the “Lord”. And that he rejects the “foolish” virgins because they were not adequately prepared to receive him (Matthew 25:11; 25:12).
“But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
Matthew 25:12
We are at the end of this parable and I have not seen one thing to link the Bride of Christ to it.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13
Is it strange that in this parable the bride is pursuing the bridegroom?
One Of The Goals of This Parable
The goal of this parable is to teach Believers the importance of being ready. Ready for the rapture! We should not be getting ready, but we must be ready and waiting, 24/7!
The Church is not getting ready but she is ready and waiting!
Earlier, I told you that this parable is in no way related to the Bride of Christ. The Bible tells us what the parable is about at the very start of this Chapter.
It’s a comparison of the Kingdom of Heaven! So how could the Bride of Christ get into that?
We have examined what Jesus said about the Bride of Christ and we’ve discovered that the Parable of The Ten Virgins has no connections to the Bride of Christ.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the Scriptures that will explain who is the Bride of Christ and why?
When Will The Bride of Christ Manifest?
John the Divine reveals who is the Bride of Christ and when she will manifest. The rapture is for the Church. The Bride of Christ is not the Church.
She is more than the Church, thus the rapture is not for the Bride of Christ. Moreover, there are no appropriate, correct, or “rightly dividing” scriptures that tie the two together.
The “Christians” who talk that the Bride of Christ is the Church possess no “Word upon Word” which shows this to be true.
Instead, they speak from their “guts”. But don’t allow any gut-talk to guide your knowledge of the Word of God. They have nothing!
This event will happen at the “time of the end” or the end of time. Daniel 12:4.
That means that “time” as we know it now will stop and we will transition into eternity where there is no time.
This will happen after the rapture of the Church.
All the events in the Holy Bible from Revelation four to Chapter twenty-two are future ones. The Bible describes them as “things which must be hereafter.” Revelation 4:1.
Any time there is “no more sea” on the planet Earth, then time will change into eternity!
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”
Revelation 21:1
Where Exactly Is The Lamb’s Wife?
The Lord had made all things new. There will be a new earth, and a new heaven, and a new Jerusalem!
“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 21:2
Note that in the Scripture immediately above, the Bible only compares the New Jerusalem to “a bride”. It didn’t inform us that she is the actual Bride of Christ!
But things get more interesting when one of the angels of God and heaven promised to show John the Divine the Bride of Christ.
“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.“
Revelation 21:9
The Lamb’s wife, the Bride of Christ, is in heaven. However, when the time is right she will descend from heaven to the earth.
The Identity of the Bride of Christ
The Lamb Has a Wife!
So, folks, the Lamb is married. But who is the Lamb’s wife?
Who is the Lamb of God? None other than Jesus Christ.
The angel of God is about to reveal to John the Divine and to us the identity of the Lamb’s wife.
The angel showed John not a person but a city. He showed him the “great city, the holy Jerusalem” descending from God (Revelation 21:10).
Earlier, he had only compared this same city to a bride. Now, he fine-tuned his description for he identifies the Lamb’s wife.
“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 21:10
Who Is The Wife Of The Lamb?
The new, holy, Jerusalem, brethren, is the wife of the Lamb. She is the Bride of Christ.
Is the Church the New Jerusalem? No!!
Did someone just ask, how could a city be the wife of the Lamb?
The Lord, via His Word, The Holy Bible, is using the Holy Jerusalem symbolically in this sense.
The Lord destroyed The Old Jerusalem. He removed her because of the multitude of her sins. Her whoredom (idolatry).
Because the Lord destroyed her, He replaced her. And The New, holy, Jerusalem is her replacement. It came down from God and heaven. And in it are the Remnant of Israel.
I know, this still doesn’t answer, how come a city is the wife of the Lamb?
Revelation 21:11
“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.”
The Representation of New, Holy, Jerusalem
The new, Holy Jerusalem represents the nation of Israel. She is the same Israel, but not the same people, that the Lord God is married to.
All the gates of the city represent all the twelve tribes of Israel.
Revelation 21:12
“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.”
Each of the gates has the name of one of the sons of Israel (Revelation 21:13).
The gold of the new, holy, Jerusalem symbolizes the glory of God and the holiness of the Lamb’s wife.
Recall, He destroyed the Old Jerusalem because of their presumptuous sins.
Now, the marriage supper of the Lamb will usher in the holy and new bride.
Was The Lord Betrothed To Israel?
God wanted Israel to wake up and recognize His deep love for His unfaithful people. He tells them:
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, love and compassion.
(Hosea 2:19)
Not only was the Lord engaged to Israel but He married her. She became His wife. But he wasn’t married to all the people.
In the Scripture immediately below, note how He selectively chooses whom He is married to!
“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”
Jeremiah 3:14
Where Is “Zion”?
Where is “Zion” but Jerusalem?
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
Malachi 2:11
The representation of the Nation of Israel as the New, Holy Jerusalem is a manifestation of the holiness of a people and the fulfillment of the love of God.
Finally, they are at a place where they could please the Lord God.
But, here is the shocker.
The New, Holy Jerusalem, not only contains the Remnant of Israel, but also the Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Israel rejected God’s word. She was the adulterous wife. We see through the Word of God that He no longer kept her as a wife. Hosea 2,3:1-5; Jeremiah 3:1-18; Ezekiel 16.
Whose Names Are in The Lamb’s Book of Life?
Why do I say this? Because the Scriptures inform us of the identical thing using different words.
It says:
“And there shall in no wise enter into it [anything] that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, [nor] maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Revelation 21:27
The following people will not enter into “it”, meaning the New, Holy Jerusalem: those that “defileth”, do abominable works, or liars.
But the only ones who qualify to enter into her are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Revelation 21:27.
Whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
The entire nation of Israel will not be saved. Salvation will only be extended to those Jews whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book“
Daniel 12:1
Is Your Name In The Lamb’s Book of Life?
The names of all the people of Israel will not be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Only some of them!
The Bible refers to them as the Remnant of Israel, that is, the remaining ones.
So, some of the Jews will be saved, and some of those of the Church Era. And these two groups will be in The New Jerusalem.
Christ Jesus writes, in His Book of Life, the names of those who believe in and obey the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
If you don’t believe this to be true, then listen to Apostle Paul as he explains the same thing?
“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life”
Philippians 4:3
This describes the Church. If our names are not in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we have no inheritance with the Lord.
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Revelation 13:8
Thus, the New, Holy, Jerusalem, the Lamb’s bride, contains both Israel and the Church. This city is the bride of Christ!
Did The Lord God Divorce Israel?
God repeatedly called out Isreal for her rejection of His undying love for her. Listen as He explains in the verses below:
“They say if a man put away his wife and she goes from him and become another man’s shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to me, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 3:1; Deuteronomy 24:1
“When a man has taken a wife and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” ()
Jeremiah 3:8
“And I saw when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not but went and played the harlot also.
(Ezekiel 16: 51)
Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins, but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done. Not commit half the sins you did.
8 Characteristics of the Bride of Christ
- She possesses the glory of God (Revelation 21:11).
- The Bride of Christ is righteous (Revelation 21:11).
- She is pure, precious, and priceless (Revelation 21:11).
- The Wife of the Lamb is from heaven (Revelation 21:10).
- The Bride of Christ is from God.
- She is new and she is not a “woman”.
- The Lamb’s wife is comprised of all precious stones and minerals.
- She contains both Israel and the Church.
How to Become the Bride of Christ?
- Hear the Gospel of the Kingdom
- Receive It
- Repent
- Believe
- Born Again
- Have Your Name Written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
- Maintain Your Faith in Jesus Christ!
Bride of Christ Verses – Scriptures
The Holy Bible never once mentions the Bride of Christ. Thus, uncovering verses of Scripture that speak to this topic is no easy task.
There are no Bride of Christ verses in the Holy Scripture.
Is Christ Separated From His Bride?
“The Marriage Supper of the Lamb” will occur at the end of time. Until then, Christ (and not Jesus) is not yet married to his bride.
Thus to say that they are separated is false. Even if we want to extend this metaphor of the Marriage of the Lamb, this still wouldn’t make any good sense.
For if Christ is separated (whether physically or spiritually) from his bride, then she is powerless. She has no power of her own, John 15:5.
Is the Church powerless?
If the Holy Ghost (Christ Jesus or Lord) is not connected to and working through the Church then she could do nothing!
As Christians, we expect that all Believers pursuing righteousness would be living apart from his wife-to-be until the wedding. Christ is never separated from His bride and will never be.
Finally, neither the Second Advent of Christ nor the rapture of His Church is relevant in this context of Scriptures. They are totally unrelated and will transpire at different times relevant to The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
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You wasted 30 min of my study time only to see that the church is the bride of Christ (along with believing Israel). If I was your pastor I wouldn’t let you teach for me either if you start by saying that the church is not the bride of Christ , and then end your study with “well, actually it is, along with believing Israel” [my interpretation of your statements].
Hey Steve,
you didn’t squander your time because you learn something new. Also, I’m happy you weren’t that pastor because you misunderstood the text. That statement, which I
can’t find in the study, doesn’t concede that the Church is the bride of Christ for she is not, and no scripture support that claim.
KJV
2 Cor 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.
Hey Jeff,
thanks for your comment and for reading. I’m aware of 2 Corinthians 11:2. Where in that verse tells us that the Church is the Bride of Christ. Additionally, does Paul possess that power? Could he marry us to Christ?
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Your study is just as flawed as that of people who believe that the church is the bride of Christ, I see no difference. The bride of Christ (The Lambs Wife) is ONE WOMAN. She is the daughter of Zion; Jerusalem.. JERUSALEM is her NAME and throughout the bible she is DEPICTED as a city… the city itself is NOT the wife of the lamb!
Those are your thoughts on the topic “Christ’s Ambassador” and the Bible doesn’t support them. The City, The New Jerusalem, that shall descend from Heaven, will it be empty or filled with Believers?
If you can answer that biblically and correct, then you would realize that your answer is the “flawed” one.