THE MARRIAGE OF THE CHURCH

THE MARRIAGE OF THE CHURCH

• Strictly speaking, the church is not yet the Bride, but a "Virgin" "espoused" to Christ. "Harmonized or joined to."

 "Bride" is a woman "newly married, or about to be married" (Funk) 2 Cor. 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

Edersheim: "From the moment of betrothal both parties were regarded, and treated in law (as to inheritance, adultery, etc.) as if they had actually been married, except as regarded their living together." (Vol. I. p. 354)

• The marriage of the Lamb and His Church will take place just before the manifestation (epiphaneia) of His coming.

Rev. 19:6-7 Cf. Rev. 19:1 and 11-14 for place and time. This is just before the unveiling of Christ. "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:" "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

•  This marriage will be a two-fold event.

Cf. Marriage customs of Christ's day (Peters Theocratic Kingdom III, 301) See article entitled A Jewish Wedding.

 

First - a ceremony and feast at home of bride's father.

Later - a procession to the bridegroom's house where a second feast is held.

 

• This view explains a serious problem of interpretation

Luke 12:36 "Return from the wedding" - at the Father's house.

Matt. 25:10 "Went in with him to the wedding" - at the groom's house.

A critical revision reads in Vs. 1 "And went forth to meet the bride­groom" and the bride.

 

• Several companies of the saved will be present at this marriage

First two groups present at the heavenly ceremony

The Bride - Both Jews and Gentiles - 1 Cor. 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Friends of the Bridegroom - O.T. Saints - John 3:28-29; Matt. 9:15 "Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."

"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."

All are present at the earthly ceremony.

Virgin Attendants - 144,000 - Matt. 25:1-10; Rev. 14:1-4 with 7:1-4 Virgins are Jews. They join the procession from first ceremony to the second.

Bidden Guests - Matt. 22:1-10, cf. Rev. 7:9-17