Is the bride of Christ the church as in the people of the church? Or is it a city.

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Scott Downey

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2 Corinthians 11

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The wedding supper of the Lamb, what does that mean to you?
Who lives in the city of God?
When the angel says he will show the bride, we see the city, but I see this as the place where the bride is.
So to me the bride is Christ's church of us who are saved.
Paul describes this as a great mystery, so have you thought of this before?

Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Revelation 19

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 20

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


Ephesians 5

Marriage—Christ and the Church​

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, [h]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
 
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Helen

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I agree , I too believe the Bride is the Glorious Church without spot or wrinkle . Not sure that it is all of those who name the name of Christ though.
It also talks about the Overcomers . I believe the overcomers are the Sons of God , birthed out of the Bride . A people within a people . Those that follow the Lamb wither so ever he go….( Moses , Abraham , David , the others ….down through the ages? ).
 
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Scott Downey

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I agree , I too believe the Bride is the Glorious Church without spot or wrinkle . Not sure that it is all of those who name the name of Christ though.
It also talks about the Overcomers . I believe the overcomers are the Sons of God , birthed out of the Bride . A people within a people . Those that follow the Lamb wither so ever he go….( Moses , Abraham , David , the others ….down through the ages? ).
Unless you overcome the world by your faith, you will not have a place with Christ.
I see that as the same as how we must bear good fruit to the work of God in our life, else we are not His people.

Matthew 3, John the Baptist says

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit [a]and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 7, Jesus says

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
 
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Marilyn C

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2 Corinthians 11

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The wedding supper of the Lamb, what does that mean to you?
Who lives in the city of God?
When the angel says he will show the bride, we see the city, but I see this as the place where the bride is.
So to me the bride is Christ's church of us who are saved.
Paul describes this as a great mystery, so have you thought of this before?

Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Revelation 19

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 20

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


Ephesians 5

Marriage—Christ and the Church​

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, [h]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Hi Scott,

2 Cor.11. Paul is talking to his own disciples and desiring them to be pure. HE wants to present them to the Lord. However, for us it is the Lord who will present us to Himself NOT Paul. (Jude 24)

Eph. 5: 32 speaks of the husband and loving his wife as Christ does His Body, the New Man.

Rev. 19: 7 refers to the `wife,` which is Israel in scripture. (Isa. 54: 5 & 6. Hos. 2: 19 & 20)

This view does not have sound doctrine but uses an encouragement by Paul and a symbol. These are NOT the basis of true doctrine.

Rev. 21: 2 & 11 refers to the New Jerusalem AS a bride because of the glory of God upon it.

The New Jerusalem is thus the Administrative centre for God`s rulership through Israel over the earth. It is also the means whereby God connects and interlocks the spiritual and physical realms. The symbol of this is the `Bride,` representing this connecting and interlocking.

 

Scott Downey

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The concept of marriage here is oneness with the Lord.
For in any marriage God says they are joined as one.
And since Christ lives forever having the power of an endless life, we who are married to Christ, are also joined with Him forever as in a marriage.

Would any of you then deny that you are married to Christ as His bride in the sight of God the Father for a heavenly and holy purpose?

Romans 7
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.


1 Corinthians 6:15-17
New King James Version
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Paul makes the analogy of husband and wife in marriage to our own marriage with Christ, and us as the bride of Christ.
Since we are a part of His body we are joined to the Lord as in a marriage.

The body is as the bride, and Christ is the head, just as in an earthly marriage.
Paul describes this as a great mystery, however it is a true and certain reality.

Ephesians 5
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This has clearly been written.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law [a]has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
 
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Scott Downey

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Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

Now who is the bride of Christ? Is it not those who are joined to Christ's body and form the body of Christ? Those who are one with Him, those who are His family?

Revelation 22
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

14 Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [h]But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
 

Ronald David Bruno

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2 Corinthians 11

1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The wedding supper of the Lamb, what does that mean to you?
Who lives in the city of God?
When the angel says he will show the bride, we see the city, but I see this as the place where the bride is.
So to me the bride is Christ's church of us who are saved.
Paul describes this as a great mystery, so have you thought of this before?

Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Revelation 19

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 20

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


Ephesians 5

Marriage—Christ and the Church​

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, [h]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
The angel said I will show you the bride of Christ, which is the Church or often called the Body if Christ. He presented also the New Jerusalem (the New Heaven and Earth), where they will dwell.
A city has always been known as a gathering place where humans dwell. The angel could not show the Bride ( several billions of souls) just floating around on clouds, void of a dwelling place.
Christ ascended almost 2000 years ago and said, "I go to prepare a place for you..." and keeping in mind that He created the universe, earth and life in six days, how much more amazing will our new home be after putting quite a bit more time into it?
_______
Post in thread 'What Does It Mean That No One Knows The Day Or The Hour (Mark 13:32)? Here Is One View' What Does It Mean That No One Knows The Day Or The Hour (Mark 13:32)? Here Is One View
 
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Scott Downey

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The angel said I will show you the bride of Christ, which is the Church or often called the Body if Christ. He presented also the New Jerusalem (the New Heaven and Earth), where they will dwell.
A city has always been known as a gathering place where humans dwell. The angel could not show the Bride ( several billions of souls) just floating around on clouds, void of a dwelling place.
Christ ascended almost 2000 years ago and said, "I go to prepare a place for you..." and keeping in mind that He created the universe, earth and life in six days, how much more amazing will our new home be after putting quite a bit more time into it?
Yes, the city is where the bride is. The city is designed especially for the people of God

The city has foundations, the heavenly country has the city there built by God.
The people of God have their part in the heavenly city

Rev 22
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

14 Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Hebrews 11

Faithful Abraham​

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she[d] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope​

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off [e]were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 12:22
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Hebrews 13:14
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Exactly so, for the city is the dwelling place of the bride of Christ which is His body made up of individual people.
 

Marilyn C

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The concept of marriage here is oneness with the Lord.
For in any marriage God says they are joined as one.
And since Christ lives forever having the power of an endless life, we who are married to Christ, are also joined with Him forever as in a marriage.

Would any of you then deny that you are married to Christ as His bride in the sight of God the Father for a heavenly and holy purpose?

Romans 7
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.


1 Corinthians 6:15-17
New King James Version
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Paul makes the analogy of husband and wife in marriage to our own marriage with Christ, and us as the bride of Christ.
Since we are a part of His body we are joined to the Lord as in a marriage.

The body is as the bride, and Christ is the head, just as in an earthly marriage.
Paul describes this as a great mystery, however it is a true and certain reality.

Ephesians 5
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This has clearly been written.

Romans 7

1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law [a]has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom. 7: 4 the word in Greek is `Ginomai` might become - cf. v. 13 it is NOT `Gamed,` married.

I Cor. 6: 15 - 17 does not say anything about us being a bride.

Eph. 5 30 `For we are members of His Body, of His flesh and His bones.` Christ is masculine, and so is His Body.
 

Marilyn C

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Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

Now who is the bride of Christ? Is it not those who are joined to Christ's body and form the body of Christ? Those who are one with Him, those who are His family?

Revelation 22
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [f]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

14 Blessed are those who [g]do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [h]But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
BODY - One New Man - Eph. 2: 15 & 16) Masculine.
.............Unto a perfect Man - Eph. 4: 12 & 13. harmonizes with a Masculine Head.

BRIDE - `Cry out & shout you you inhabitress of Zion ` (Isa. 12: 6 Feminine.
..................The Lamb`s Wife. (Rev. 21: 9)

The BODY of CHRIST is obviously part of the Bridegroom; thus destined to reign with Him on the Throne. (Rev. 3: 21) This is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ eternally. It is linked with the realm of Thrones and Dominions and rates the highest calling. (Col. 1: 16 Phil. 3: 14)

The BRIDE was clearly and categorically revealed to Joh: `Come and I will show you the Bride, the Lamb`s Wife..... he showed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.` (Rev. 21: 9 - 10)

Descending into the lower heavens - the realm of Principalities and Powers. (Col. 1: 16)
The elect Old Testament Saints dwell in that city. Heb. 11 & 12)