THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
IN any Christian the question, “Who is the Bride of Christ?” … and 99.9% will answer, “The Church.”
Yet from Genesis to Revelation, throughout the entire Bible, NOT ONCE is this statement made. It is no more than a theological conclusion derived from inference and incorrect doctrine.
“The Church” is clearly identified in Ephesians 1:22-23 as “Christ’s Body.” It is never identified as His Bride or Wife.
WHO THEN IS HIS BRIDE? The Bible, GOD’S Word, is quite clear on this point.
For example …
Jeremiah 3:12,14
“Return thou backsliding Israel… Turn O backsliding children, saith the LORD, FOR I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU.”
Isaiah 54:4-5
“Thou (Israel) … shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For THY MAKER IS THY HUSBAND. The Lord of hosts is His name. “
Revelation 21:9-12
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels… saying, come hither, and I will shew thee the bride, THE LAMB’S WIFE. And he … shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem … which had a wall great and high, and twelve gates… and names written thereon which are the NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.”
Hosea 2:14,16,19
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her (IsraeI) … And it shall be at that day saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali… And I WILL BETROTH THEE UNTO ME FOR EVER.”
How then did this monumental theological mix-up occur? It happened simply because man substituted his own traditions and doctrines for the plain Word of God.
Israel, the LITERAL nation of God’s covenants and promises, has been set aside, and replaced by something that they call “the church..” Thus all the promises made to, or about Israel, as we have pointed out above, have been misappropriated to Israel’s alleged substitute, the Church. (That is, of course, unless they are bad or uncomplimentary, in which case they are applied to the Jews.)
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS ISRAEL. THE BIBLE SAYS SO. The Church is His BODY. THE BIBLE SAYS SO. As such, it has an entirely different function, as we will see in our next Study.
