Who is the Bride of Christ? (Hint: It's not the Church)

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

 

[Douggg]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Well, your rationale makes sense. If I am understanding you correctly is that the bride is the Kingdom of God.

 

[eleos1954]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The bride of Christ is His church and His church are all the saved. All the saved inherit the kingdom and eternal life with Him.

 

[Grip Docility]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

It’s always been Israel. The Real IsRael.

 

[~Zao~]

The bride is the New Jerusalem, our Mother. Kinda makes us Christians the daughters of Zion.
Not trying to take away from prophesy made only to Israel but scripture sayeth:

• Revelation 21:2
• Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
• Galatians 4:26
• But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
• Hebrews 12:22
• But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

 

[Grip Docility]

We’re wed to Christ as flesh of His flesh, hence the Body of Christ...

Yet Christ is seen on the last day going to meet His Bride.

Vedy Interedsting

 

[nolidad]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Well besides not directly saying who the bride is- it matters not because you are wrong!

The OT saints are called the WIFE of Jehovah! And while God has written a bill of dovorcement against Israel it is also prophesied He would wed here again!

The Church is called the bride of Christ!

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.

We are espoused to Christ which makes us a bride though nor officially married yet (An excellent study on this biblical truth) is found at ariel.org, click resources, click come and see and then download for free the study on the Jewish wedding system and bride of Messiah. so much of teh gospel concerning the church directly follows the Jewish wedding system to a T.

Then in Rev. 19 we see the marriage supper of the lamb and the bride is clearly declared as the church!

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

The bride of Christ is His church and His church are all the saved. All the saved inherit the kingdom and eternal life with Him.

The inheritance of the saints is a sure thing but not the topic of discussion here.

The whole point of the thread is to provide an actual Biblical basis for who the bride is, which is something quite different than popular belief.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

Well besides not directly saying who the bride is- it matters not because you are wrong!

The OT saints are called the WIFE of Jehovah! And while God has written a bill of dovorcement against Israel it is also prophesied He would wed here again!

The Church is called the bride of Christ!

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.

We are espoused to Christ which makes us a bride though nor officially married yet (An excellent study on this biblical truth) is found at ariel.org, click resources, click come and see and then download for free the study on the Jewish wedding system and bride of Messiah. so much of teh gospel concerning the church directly follows the Jewish wedding system to a T.

Then in Rev. 19 we see the marriage supper of the lamb and the bride is clearly declared as the church!

It's one thing to read Scripture, it's another thing to understand it. The aim of this thread is to properly discern what the Bible is saying. No, both these passages from Corinthians and Revelations do not indicate that the Church is the Bride of Christ.

For Revelations 19, I explained it clearly in the OP.

The OT reference and Corinthians passage is being taken out of context. In both cases marriage is being used as a metaphor demonstrating the relationship between God and His people.

The Old Covenant between God and Israel is a completely different story, to apply it here is eisegesis.

In Corinthians, Paul is giving an instruction / teaching using marriage as the vehicle. This is not prophecy.

 

[Messenger 3k]

I know this may be the popular view, but is it the Biblical view?

We often rush to Ephesians 5:25, but where does Paul in that chapter ever say that the Church is the Bride of Christ? He tells husbands to love their wives "just as" Christ loves the Church. It is an expression meant to typify the kind of love husbands ought to have for their wives, which is the greatest kind of love. This has nothing to do with prophecy, it's meant to be instructional.

So who is the Bride of Christ? You'll discover that not only is the "Church" view at odds with Scripture, but it will also cause you to completely miss just how powerful and glorious this particular prophecy actually is.

Matthew 9:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Notice the clear reference to the bridegroom. In speaking of his disciples, what is the word Jesus uses? Attendants. This harkens back to what John said of the Messiah.

John 3:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples during those final few intimate moments He spent with them.

John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Now let's move to Revelations.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

The righteous acts of the Church are what clothe the bride. So who is the bride?

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

What does this all mean?

Psalm 2:6-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

John 3:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

Matthew 25:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

It is not the consummation of Christ and His Church that is in view, although this is an incredibly glorious event.

What is in view is the consummation of Christ and His kingdom. It's all about the eternal Kingship of the Lord Jesus. This is the time when the Father gives the Son His inheritance.

Doesn't that completely shift how you view things?

What the Bible does say is that we are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
...and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

You're partly right and partly wrong.

The church in its entirety is not the bride of Christ. But it's also not the kingdom of God; that would make less sense.

The bride of Christ is in the church.

The answer lies in Matthew 22:1-14.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

You're partly right and partly wrong.

The church in its entirety is not the bride of Christ. But it's also not the kingdom of God; that would make less sense.

The bride of Christ is in the church.

The answer lies in Matthew 22:1-14.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Though I don't follow what you mean when you say the answer lies there. On the contrary, this parallels the OP. The ones who are in attendance are the invited guests.

And I would submit that it absolutely makes sense, because that is what Scripture speaks. The righteous acts of the saints are what "clothe" the bride, if you understand the role that saints play in the kingdom of God then it is unmistakable.

Like I mentioned, the consummation of Christ's kingship is what is in view. See Luke 19:12.

 

[Messenger 3k]

The Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Though I don't follow what you mean when you say the answer lies there. On the contrary, this parallels the OP. The ones who are in attendance are the invited guests.

And I would submit that it absolutely makes sense, because that is what Scripture speaks. The righteous acts of the saints are what "clothe" the bride, if you understand the role that saints play in the kingdom of God then it is unmistakable.

Like I mentioned, the consummation of Christ's kingship is what is in view. See Luke 19:12.

That scripture has nothing to do with the bride of Christ. More so, verse 12 has occurred already.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

That scripture has nothing to do with the bride of Christ. More so, verse 12 has occurred already.

It's related to the parable of the marriage feast...it's about Jesus receiving a kingdom from His Father, the King giving a wedding feast for His Son.

 

[Messenger 3k]

It's related to the parable of the marriage feast...it's about Jesus receiving a kingdom from His Father, the King giving a wedding feast for His Son.

The meaning of the parable.

Jesus came to his own - the Jews, but they didn't accept him as their messiah. They rejected him as king of the Jews. After His death, He arose and ascended to heaven where He was glorified as King of kings.

Revelation 19,
12 "...and on his head are many crowns."
16 "On his robe and on his thigh He has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords."

After which He'll return to reign as King on earth beginning from the millennial reign.

Who then are the bond servants?

To understand this we go back to the parable. It says before the man left to the foreign country, He assembled his bond servants and gave them some money to put to work, saying to them, "occupy till I come" (KJV).

So who did Jesus meet with before He ascended?

His disciples. He met with His disciples wherein He gave them the mandate to go out and bring people to salvation, making the disciples witnesses.

Luke 24:46-48,

"He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (NIV)


This same mandate translates to every one of us believers, making us witnesses as well. A witness bears a testimony. When we believe and become saved, we accept God's testimony about His Son and bear the same testimony.

1 John 5:10,
"He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son." (NKJV)

Therefore, bond servants are us believers who've been entrusted with the task of being witnesses and being responsible for the salvation of others. When every saved person helps to save another so that we increase, this way we can "occupy till He comes".

Everything we have, financially and otherwise, is a resource to being a witness because God provided them for us. This was the money the man gave his bond servants in the parable. Therefore being a witness will involve sacrificing all you have, down to your life if required. But many are too greedy to let go of the pleasures of life in becoming witnesses. An example is the rich man of Matthew 19:16-22, who couldn't forfeit his riches for the sake of following Christ. That's the meaning of the servant who did nothing with what was given him.

As witnesses, we'll reign with Christ when He returns; but to varying capacities, depending on how big our role was as witnesses. Some of us will merely reign with Christ, some will be given special regions on earth to rule over. This is why in the parable, the man gives his bond servants different cities to rule over when he returns.

An example of this is in verse 27-29 of same Matthew 19 above. The disciples wanted to know what was in store for them having forfeited all to become witnesses.

Matthew 19:27-29,

"Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (NIV)

Another example, the church of Laodicea,

Revelation 3

14, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, ruler of God’s creation.

21, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."


That's the meaning of the parable in Luke 19:12-27. It has nothing specifically to do with the bride of Christ.

The parable of the wedding feast however does. And that has a different meaning.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

The meaning of the parable.

Jesus came to his own - the Jews, but they didn't accept him as their messiah. They rejected him as king of the Jews. After His death, He arose and ascended to heaven where He was glorified as King of kings.

Revelation 19,
12 "...and on his head are many crowns."
16 "On his robe and on his thigh He has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords."

After which He'll return to reign as King on earth beginning from the millennial reign.

Who then are the bond servants?

To understand this we go back to the parable. It says before the man left to the foreign country, He assembled his bond servants and gave them some money to put to work, saying to them, "occupy till I come" (KJV).

So who did Jesus meet with before He ascended?

His disciples. He met with His disciples wherein He gave them the mandate to go out and bring people to salvation, making the disciples witnesses.

Luke 24:46-48,

"He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (NIV)


This same mandate translates to every one of us believers, making us witnesses as well. A witness bears a testimony. When we believe and become saved, we accept God's testimony about His Son and bear the same testimony.

1 John 5:10,
"He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son." (NKJV)

Therefore, bond servants are us believers who've been entrusted with the task of being witnesses and being responsible for the salvation of others. When every saved person helps to save another so that we increase, this way we can "occupy till He comes".

Everything we have, financially and otherwise, is a resource to being a witness because God provided them for us. This was the money the man gave his bond servants in the parable. Therefore being a witness will involve sacrificing all you have, down to your life if required. But many are too greedy to let go of the pleasures of life in becoming witnesses. An example is the rich man of Matthew 19:16-22, who couldn't forfeit his riches for the sake of following Christ. That's the meaning of the servant who did nothing with what was given him.

As witnesses, we'll reign with Christ when He returns; but to varying capacities, depending on how big our role was as witnesses. Some of us will merely reign with Christ, some will be given special regions on earth to rule over. This is why in the parable, the man gives his bond servants different cities to rule over when he returns.

An example of this is in verse 27-29 of same Matthew 19 above. The disciples wanted to know what was in store for them having forfeited all to become witnesses.

Matthew 19:27-29,

"Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (NIV)

Another example, the church of Laodicea,

Revelation 3

14, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, ruler of God’s creation.

21, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."


That's the meaning of the parable in Luke 19:12-27. It has nothing specifically to do with the bride of Christ.

The parable of the wedding feast however does. And that has a different meaning.

The bride is not mentioned in the parable of the wedding feast. And again as I said, I am mentioning Luke 19 for the purpose of how it correlates to what I was explaining pertaining to the kingdom, I am not saying the bride is mentioned there.

 

[Messenger 3k]

The bride is not mentioned in the parable of the wedding feast. And again as I said, I am mentioning Luke 19 for the purpose of how it correlates to what I was explaining pertaining to the kingdom, I am not saying the bride is mentioned there.

The bride is mentioned in the parable of the wedding feast, you just don't know it yet. And I had to explain the parable of Luke 19 in detail not because you said it was mentioned there, but because you erroneously think it has something to do with the bride as being the kingdom of God, whereas it doesn't. Christ is not yet to receive the kingdom, He already has the kingdom. He's only coming to reign over it. That's why He's already crowned King.

The parable of the wedding feast has something to do with the bride, the parable of the 10 virgins has something to do with the bride. If anything, the titles are partly self explanatory; "wedding feast", "virgins".

The parable of Luke 19 however, has nothing to do with the bride of Christ.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

The bride is mentioned in the parable of the wedding feast, you just don't know it yet. And I had to explain the parable of Luke 19 in detail not because you said it was mentioned there, but because you erroneously think it has something to do with the bride as being the kingdom of God, whereas it doesn't. Christ is not yet to receive the kingdom, He already has the kingdom. He's only coming to reign over it. That's why He's already crowned King.

The parable of the wedding feast has something to do with the bride, the parable of the 10 virgins has something to do with the bride. If anything, the titles are partly self explanatory; "wedding feast", "virgins".

The parable of Luke 19 however, has nothing to do with the bride of Christ.

Let's let the Scriptures speak for themselves, you are adding in your own meaning to these passages.

The bride is not in view in the parable of the wedding feast, and we the Church are clearly among the invited guests in attendance. This is why it speaks of guests that have proper wedding garments and those who do not. The bridegroom does not marry the invited guests nor does he marry his attendants, he marries the bride.

Christ has the kingdom spiritually but the day of consummation has not yet arrived when the literal kingdom is fulfilled. This is what Jesus spoke about to His disciples, drinking of the vine "in my Father's kingdom", when He will sit on His glorious throne "in the regeneration". Biblically speaking, this happens when Christ is revealed in glory, at His Second Coming. That is also why in Revelations the marriage supper of the Lamb is announced just prior to His Second coming. It's the consummation, when he receives His inheritance and we with Him. Trumpet 7 in the book of Revelations answers this point directly.

The parable of the ten virgins is just that, a parable. There is a limited amount of literal truth that can be derived from rabbinical parables. This has nothing to do with the bride of Christ.

For the third time, I am not saying Luke 19 is about the bride of Christ.

The following two passages are more than clear in answering the question, and I mentioned these in the OP. I am going to have to refrain from responding if all that is going to be done is side step what Scripture clearly says.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

[Messenger 3k]

Let's let the Scriptures speak for themselves, you are adding in your own meaning to these passages.

The bride is not in view in the parable of the wedding feast, and we the Church are clearly among the invited guests in attendance. This is why it speaks of guests that have proper wedding garments and those who do not. The bridegroom does not marry the invited guests nor does he marry his attendants, he marries the bride.

Christ has the kingdom spiritually but the day of consummation has not yet arrived when the literal kingdom is fulfilled. This is what Jesus spoke about to His disciples, drinking of the vine "in my Father's kingdom", when He will sit on His glorious throne "in the regeneration". Biblically speaking, this happens when Christ is revealed in glory, at His Second Coming. That is also why in Revelations the marriage supper of the Lamb is announced just prior to His Second coming. It's the consummation, when he receives His inheritance and we with Him. Trumpet 7 in the book of Revelations answers this point directly.

The parable of the ten virgins is just that, a parable. There is a limited amount of literal truth that can be derived from rabbinical parables. This has nothing to do with the bride of Christ.

For the third time, I am not saying Luke 19 is about the bride of Christ.

The following two passages are more than clear in answering the question, and I mentioned these in the OP. I am going to have to refrain from responding if all that is going to be done is side step what Scripture clearly says.

Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How could the saints be the bride if the righteous acts of the saints are what clothe the bride? You cannot accept the "Church is the Bride" view unless you throw out this critical distinction and break Scripture.

Revelation 21:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

On the contrary, you are the one turning scriptures upside down. The bride is not the kingdom of God, that makes absolutely no sense. The bride is in the church. The bride of Christ is a fraction of the church. The rest are the wedding guests of Matthew 22:1-14. Do I need to go further?

More so, I am dumbfounded by your thinking; if you think that Jesus merely spoke in parables just for speaking sake. Every parable was a message. But that's by the way. I don't have the strength to digress into further revelations.

The righteous acts of the saints refers to the Holy Spirit. Several versions of scripture wrongly render that phrase as "righteous acts". Other versions provide the correct rendering as "righteousness".

Revelation 19:8,

"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." (KJV)

Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit, hence the Holy Spirit is interchangeably also referred to as the "Spirit of Christ".


Romans 8:9

"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." (NIV)

And because Christ has become our righteousness, we are made righteous by virtue of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ) dwelling in us.

1 Corinthians 1:30,

"He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (NET)

Thus when scripture refers to the garment/clothing of the saints in the New Testament, it's referring to the Holy Spirit.

That's the meaning of Revelation 19:8 on which you're erroneously basing your wrong interpretation.

 

[Marilyn C]

[QUOTE="ThatCanadianDude_88, post: 73969076, member: 409934]

Hi ThatCanadianDude,

So glad you have started this vey important discussion. People have been deceived for too long.

1. The term `bride` is used by God to denote His relationship with Israel - husband, (Isa. 54: 50 (master) betrothed, (Hosea 2: 19 & 20). The true Israel will be connected (married) again through the Lamb. That title the `Lamb` is always used in connection to Israel concerning their sacrifices.

2.The term `bride` is also used in relation to the New Jerusalem and it denotes the glory of the city. It is a symbol - `as a bride. (Rev. 21: 2)

3. Jerusalem the mother of us all, refers to the Mount of Zion, (the ruling area) and the city further down. The Body of Christ has been promised the ruling area with Christ, (Mount Zion) and the Old testament saints have been promised the city part, which comes down out of heaven from God.

The two ruling areas will be under the Lord Jesus Christ`s rule, and together in each realm the kingdom of God will be of peace, joy and righteous rulership.

regards, Marilyn.

BTW Paul was talking to his disciples saying that he would present them to the Lord, pure, (2 Cor. 11: 2) whereas the Lord Jesus will present us to Himself. (Jude 24) not Paul.

 

[ewq1938]

So who is the Bride of Christ?

The church.


Rev 19:7 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.
Rev 19:8 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.

New Jerusalem is used as a metaphor for it's inhabitants. Christians are the bride:

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 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.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 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.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Here we are told plainly that the example of a man and one are of one flesh is about Christ and the church.


Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God


Here again it is Christians that will marry Christ who was raised from the dead.


2Co 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.


Spoken to Christians, the church, being presented as Virgins in a spiritual sense.


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

Rev_17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.


If a woman "Babylon" also called a city can represent a group of unsaved people then certainly the bride of Christ, a group of saved people, can be represented as a city "New Jerusalem" as well.