The bride of Christ

[charity]

Thank you @charity

We must now consider the import of the word “tabernacle”. The Greek word skene, translated tabernacle occurs twenty times in the New Testament. In nineteen of these occurrences it is translated tabernacle and once habitation. The word occurs as follows: In Matthew, Mark and Luke it is used of “the three tabernacles” so desired by Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. In the Acts it is used three times, once of the tabernacle of Molech, once of the tabernacle of witness and once of the tabernacle of David. The “tabernacle” in Hebrews is either: (1) The tabernacle pitched by Moses at the commandment of God. (2) The True Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. (3) The tents in which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were willing as pilgrims to dwell, because they looked for the heavenly Jerusalem, which was also the true tabernacle of God. The three other occurrences of skene are Revelation 13:6; 15:5 and 21:3. We must not assume however that even though the scale is weighted in favour of a reference to the tabernacle in both type and reality, that this is universally accepted. Some have interpreted skenos in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 as of a theatre, and even James, with all his Hebrew leanings, when quoting from the prophet Amos about the “tabernacle of David” has been made to refer rather to “the Davidic scene” thereby repeating in the future the 30 years of his reign, and this passage in Revelation 21 has not escaped, but has been made to read “The scene or area of Divine Activity” instead of “the tabernacle of God”. The Greek word skene translated “tabernacle” has come into our own tongue in the form scene and is associated both in Greek and in English with the theatre. The Greek theatre was in the open air, and the “tent” soon became, by an easy figure of speech the word used to designate the “stage”. While this is so, there is no warrant for anyone to intrude this change of meaning into the New Testament. The Greek language was in formation long before its adoption as the vehicle for New Testament truth and consequently its words often contained Pagan references. It seems an extraordinary idea that James of all men should be made to speak of the “stage” or “scene” of David when it is well known that he was quoting from Amos 9:11 in Acts 15, and more strange still that this Pagan idea should be thrust into John 1:14 or into Revelation 21:3. Let us give an example of the foolishness of seeking in Greek roots a basis for doctrine. The word “interpret” comes a number of times in the New Testament and the Greek word for it is hermeneuo. Now this word is derived from the Pagan idea that the god Hermes or Mercury, which is the Latin equivalent, was the god of interpretation, but shall we then adopt such an idea because it is part of Greek Etymology? However, only a few of our readers will have come under the influence of a teaching which necessitates the kind of treatment of language we have mentioned; and so we pass on to other features of the subject we are considering; namely the place of the “wife”, the “bride” and the “body”, in the outworking of the purposes of grace.

All I'm saying is HE PASSED OVER a LOT.
And then moves on to the tent as the curtain above the world. No longer a "tabernacle" which dwells among men.
I am in the "administrations now" . And have "passed on" from what only a few of their readers come under this influence of a teaching...that "we" , they are considering.

I hear bias..
I will keep going however, that is the full context of which I was refering.
Thank You
Hugs

(just a whatever... If I say there are things in the bible that were put in there and not by God himself, I get BLASTED.
But when other's say we shouldn't pay attention because it has a pagan etymology, we just don't worry about it, nothing to see here, walk on by no problem... )

At some point we have to agree, it is either all God's handiwork or it is flawed.
I lean on the side of All God's handiwork.
:)

Well @Ziggy,

You have certainly taught me a lesson. This is the last time I ever place on the forum a link to anything that I personally found helpful. Perhaps you can tell me what any of this wordage has to do with the subject of the thread? How does this help anyone?

Chris

 

[Ziggy]

Sorry Chris,
I wasn't questioning you. I was mildly disagreeing with certain aspects of what the writer wrote.
I shared my concerns. I didn't mean to offend you.
I'll make a deal.
You link, because I appreciate what you share with us,
and I will do my best not to upset people with my objections.

Hugs

 

[charity]

Sorry Chris,
I wasn't questioning you. I was mildly disagreeing with certain aspects of what the writer wrote.
I shared my concerns. I didn't mean to offend you.
I'll make a deal.
You link, because I appreciate what you share with us,
and I will do my best not to upset people with my objections.

Hugs

Hi @Ziggy,

Thank you for responding. No problem. You have the right to disagree. No offence caused.

With love in Christ Jesus
May His Name be glorified
both in and through us.
Chris

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Hello @VictoryinJesus

Thank you for searching out the links you have provided. I am familiar with the second of the links which takes you to the 'Heaven Dwellers' website, the first I have not seen before, so cannot vouch for their interpretation. Yet no matter what link we access we have to be wary, and take all that is written there to the Scriptures for confirmation don't we?

https://www.bibleunderstanding.com/Bride and the Body.PDF
*This link above will take you to a booklet concerning the Bride and the Body which I have found helpful, too.

Three Spheres
* Also, this is a link to a study on the subject of the three spheres of blessing, on www.believer.com.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

thank you for the link. I’ve started reading but I haven’t had the time yet, to sit down and really absorb what is being said. My hope is to devote the weekend to giving it a fair chance. I’ve never heard of the different spheres of blessing. Suspect I’ll disagree at least in some areas. But I really want to have some perspective of your view and how you see it. When we talk there is always a disconnect and maybe giving another perspective a chance, will at least help with how you and I can communicate better. I don’t know. Hopefully it will click...not making any promises.

 

[BarneyFife]

Hello @BarneyFife,

With the greatest respect to you, Barney, you must make your own search, not expect me to provide the references for you. The figures of, 'The Wife', 'The Bride' and 'The Body of Christ' (which are the figures in question + one) are upon the pages of Scripture. They are clear, they are separate, and are destined to fill three spheres of blessing in the time to come. Namely, 'The Earth' (Romans 9:3-5), 'The Heavenly Jerusalem' (Galatians 3:28;4:5,26; Hebrews 12:22,23; Revelation 21:9,10) and 'Far above all' (Ephesians 1:4,5; 2:6,12,16).

Happy hunting.
In Christ Jesus
Chris

What I asked for was Scripture evidence for the general statement that God does not "mix His metaphors." If we're just telling each other to search for themselves then I guess there's no basis for discussion except for the opinions of man.

They are clear, they are separate, and are destined to fill three spheres of blessing in the time to come.

With respect, I have no knowledge of this concept from the Bible. It sounds like dispensationalism, to which I do not subscribe at all. God saves every sinner the same way--by the blood of Christ and His ministry in the temple (sanctuary) of Heaven (Revelation 11:19).

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Set a tabernacle for the sun.
To me implying in the place of.
It’s the heavens going forth declaring the Glory of God as a bridegroom going forth from His chamber.

as Paul to run a race.

Well then my bad and it is the heavens and not just the sun.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I’m not an awaiting bride, His seed is in me and I’m going forth declaring His glory.

As do I as well. but we are still (as teh church) are going to wed Jesus in heaven one day! One should motivate the other.

 

[BarneyFife]

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)

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Hello @VictoryinJesus

Thank you for searching out the links you have provided. I am familiar with the second of the links which takes you to the 'Heaven Dwellers' website, the first I have not seen before, so cannot vouch for their interpretation. Yet no matter what link we access we have to be wary, and take all that is written there to the Scriptures for confirmation don't we?

https://www.bibleunderstanding.com/Bride and the Body.PDF
*This link above will take you to a booklet concerning the Bride and the Body which I have found helpful, too.

Three Spheres
* Also, this is a link to a study on the subject of the three spheres of blessing, on www.believer.com.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

okay...have a few questions and I might get this wrong because I’m struggling here. First, I’ve maybe found something we do agree on? The Three Spheres Of Blessings
(1) "The earth" (Matt. 5:5) The Kingdom
(2) "Jerusalem which is above" (Gal. 4:26) The Bride
(3) "In heavenly places" (Eph. 1:3) The Body

Do not disagree with New Jerusalem as The bride. maybe the disagreement or ongoing question for me is not who is The Bride...but who is a part of The Bride?

I was reading on the topic of three spheres of blessing and like I said I’m struggling. Was about to give up ...because should it be this difficult? instead I watched a video by the same author of the links thinking maybe hearing it would help. He said something like:

“John ministers to the family of Faith.
Paul ministers to the first born son of Faith.” Maybe got that wrong but what does that mean?

Also He spoke of three aspects of adoption:
-Jew nationally
-The children of Abraham spiritually
-The church from the foundation of the world, going up to where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

Do the three aspects of adoption help with understanding the three spheres of blessings?

 

[farouk]

okay...have a few questions and I might get this wrong because I’m struggling here. First, I’ve maybe found something we do agree on? The Three Spheres Of Blessings
(1) "The earth" (Matt. 5:5) The Kingdom
(2) "Jerusalem which is above" (Gal. 4:26) The Bride
(3) "In heavenly places" (Eph. 1:3) The Body

Do not disagree with New Jerusalem as The bride. maybe the disagreement or ongoing question is not who the bride is... but who is a part of the bride?

I was reading on the topic of three spheres of blessing and like I said struggling. Was about to give up ...because should it be this difficult? instead I watched a video by the same author of the links thinking maybe hearing it would help. He said something like:

“John ministers to the family of Faith.
Paul ministers to the first born son of Faith.” Maybe got that wrong but what does that mean?

Also He spoke of three aspects of adoption:
-Jew nationally
-The children of Abraham spiritually
-The church form the foundation of the world, going up to where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

Seems the three aspects has a lot to do with the three spheres of blessings?

@VictoryinJesus A comment from this angle: In 1 Corinthians 10.32 we see the three groups of people in God's purposes: Jews, Gentiles and the church of God.

Mixing them up could lead to a lot of definitional confusion...

 

[farouk]

@Waiting on him You can see that I tend to look at the scheme of things in Scripture from a dispensational perspective, which really seems to make sense, being clear about the distinctions between, Jews, Gentiles and the church of God I certainly don't have all the answers, but these distinctions seem helpful in interpreting Scripture.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Some are likely to come up short on that, but isn't it better to end up among the clean or even the unclean animals in the lower levels of the ark built by Noah [having missed out on being at the top] rather than being left outside where they were all killed

It's better to be a live dog than a dead lion.

 

[amadeus]

It's better to be a live dog than a dead lion.

Amen Sister! Have not seen you around here much lately. Hopefully God is blessing you. I recall you passing through some hard times in the flesh. No need to elaborate. I have you in my prayers.

 

[amadeus]

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)

That alone being that half of those virgins were unprepared and therefore missed him when he knocked contains our answer... if we can understand it.

 

[Enoch111]

Do not disagree with New Jerusalem as The bride.

That is simply a personification of the New Jerusalem. What it really means that those who reside within that city -- the saints of God -- are the Bride of Christ. While this should be glaringly obvious, people don't seem to understand that personification is a figure of speech. Thus we have Hades and Death riding on a pale horse, and also being cast into the Lake of Fire.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

That is simply a personification of the New Jerusalem. What it really means that those who reside within that city -- the saints of God -- are the Bride of Christ. While this should be glaringly obvious, people don't seem to understand that personification is a figure of speech. Thus we have Hades and Death riding on a pale horse, and also being cast into the Lake of Fire.

understand the frustration. I feel the same way about New Jerusalem as an actual cube with dimensions...

 

[Ziggy]

That alone being that half of those virgins were unprepared and therefore missed him when he knocked contains our answer... if we can understand it.

Funny, I was just running over some verses and I found,
I think Rueben, Gad, and half of Mannaseh already recieved their inheritance on the other side Jordan, while the rest crossed over.

In the 10 lamps.. out of 12 tribes... 2 lamps are missing.. 5 are half full..

So I took a walk over to the NT and found that the two brothers.. Mother asks, one on the right hand and the other on the Left.
Jesus asks are you able to drink from the cup I will drink from. They said yes, He said they will.

Mat 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
Mat 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
Mat 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

So is their "indignation" rather than "love" draining their oil out of their lamps?

Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Mar 10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

Luk 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

Mar 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

Zebedee from Zabdiy, grandson of Judah, had a grandson named Achon who stole a babylonian shirt from Jericho when the walls fall, and hid it.

Jos 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, H2067 the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

Jos 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Jos 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
Jos 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Seems coveting things runs in the Zebedee family. They covet the best garments and the best seats.

Anywho.. that's because I was looking for the "pricks" that Saul was kicking against and I found Achon..
hmm..

Lamps half full and 2 are missing.. and 1/2 tribe of manasseh.. maybe someone not fully converted yet.
Just thinking.
Hugs

 

[Ziggy]

understand the frustration. I feel the same way about New Jerusalem as an actual cube with dimensions...

I like your new pic :)

 

[amadeus]

Seems coveting things runs in the Zebedee family. They covet the best garments and the best seats.

Anywho.. that's because I was looking for the "pricks" that Saul was kicking against and I found Achon..
hmm..

Lamps half full and 2 are missing.. and 1/2 tribe of manasseh.. maybe someone not fully converted yet.
Just thinking.
Hugs

Consider also the tribe of Dan, missing in chapter 7 of the Revelation. Why?

 

[Ziggy]

Consider also the tribe of Dan, missing in chapter 7 of the Revelation. Why?

Dan fell

Amo 8:14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

The sin of Samaria and the manner of Beersheba:

This just one example:
2Ki 1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, H8111 and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

The Bible says Satan tempted David to number the tribes of Israel. And then God rebuked him for not trusting him.
so Beersheba is a place.. from Dan to Beersheba:

2Sa 24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

It's idolatry that brought Dan down.

Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Jdg 5:17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

Jdg 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.