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Who is the Messiah’s Bride?
Is “the Bride of Christ” “the Church” or Israel?
Chapter 28, Part 3 Preview: Few people really know who the “bride of Christ” (Messiah’s bride) is. The vast majority believes her to be “the church”, or their church, with only a tiny minority understanding that she is composed of the surviving Israelites of the Great Tribulation, from all 12 tribes, who were as ignorant of their Creator as their ancestors were when they left Egypt! Chances are, you are among the vast majority who have been taught that the marriage supper is between “Christ” and His “Church”—no questions asked. But could the “body of Christ” marry the bride instead? Might you be part of the bridegroom? Would Messiah wake up with “Leah” instead of “Rachel”? Here are the exact terms of the new marriage covenant, that was only summarized in the book of Hebrews! Given a second chance, Yehovah (God) will “still choose” to marry “Israel”. The New Covenant chapter is no place to skimp on reading if you really want to know who the bride is!
New Jerusalem
People tend to read into Revelation 21 the belief that New Jerusalem is strictly for the kadishea (saints). Notice who John said the city is for:
Revelation 21:2-3 I saw the kadosh city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from Yehovah, like a bride adorned for her husband [for the Marriage of the Lamb]. 3 I heard a loud voice from the sky say, “Look, Yehovah’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [Gr. anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and Yehovah will be with them, yes Yehovah Himself will be with them.” —The Gabriel Bible
New Jerusalem is for “humanity” and “they will be His people”. You had better be grafted into Israel. Israel will not be grafted into “the church”!
Romans 11:13-17 I’m speaking to those of you of other nations, since I’m an envoy to the nations, and I honor my ministry, 14 hoping that I can provoke some of my own countrymen to rivalry and Rescue some of them. 15 If their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, then what will their conversion be but the dead coming back to Life? 16 If the firstfruit is kadosh, then the rest are also. If the root is kadosh, the branches are also. 17 If some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive branch have been grafted in their place, and you are now sharing in the nourishment provided by the roots of the olive tree,
People who want to believe that the New Covenant is with the Church, rather than “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”, as Jeremiah 31 says, like to say that the covenant was implemented at Yeshua’s (Jesus’) “first coming”. However, the only Biblical reference to the “Messenger of the covenant” is used in the context of the “second coming” and Judgment Day!
Malachi 3:1-6 I’ll send My messenger, and He’ll prepare the way before Me, and the Sovereign, who you’re looking for will suddenly come to His Temple, the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, who you desire. He’s coming, says Yehovah the Commander! 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can ‘survive’ when He appears? He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap, 3 And He’ll sit like a refiner and purifier of silver. He’ll purify the descendants of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, and they’ll bring Yehovah offerings in morality. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yehovah, as in the old days, as in previous years. [Animal ze’bakim (sacrifices) again, as in Zechariah 14:4, 21] 5 I’ll come come to judge you. I’ll be quick to witness against sorcerers and adulterers, and against perjurers and those who cheat wage earners out of their wages, and cheat widows and orphans, and those who deprive foreigners of their rights, and don’t fear Me, says Yehovah the Commander. 6 Because I, Yehovah, don’t change. That’s why you descendants of Jacob haven’t been destroyed.
Here is a final comment on the covenant, presenting evidence that the (marriage) covenant will be implemented after the Two Witnesses have finished their work—when the beast is attacking “the people who know their Elohim (God)”. [As is elaborated upon in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.]
Daniel 11:31-32 Armed forces will rise up, and they’ll defile the Temple refuge, and put a stop to the daily burnt zebakim, and they’ll set up an appalling detestable idol [KJV, abomination of desolation]. 32 With slick and corrupt talk he will corrupt the wicked who violate the covenant. But the people who know their Elohim will be strong and take action.
The prophetic Scriptures invariably portray Israel as the bride. Accordingly, if Israel is the Bride and the “Lamb” is the husband, then wouldn’t the “Body of Christ” be a part of the husband who is to marry Israel?
1 Corinthians 6:15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members [parts] of the Messiah? ...
It is Biblically evident that Elohim (God) and His Son share everything, including the Throne of David. Why wouldn’t they “share” the Bride as well?
1st Resurrection & Instant Transformation is Better than Being the Bride!
Are we to be resurrected and transformed Kings and Priests (1 Corinthians:15:52-54) OR Queens and Priestesses married to the King?
Revelation 5:9-10 They sang a new song: “You deserve to take the small book and to open its seals, because You were slain and have purchased us for Yehovah with Your own blood, out of every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and You’ve made them kings and priests for Yehovah, and they’ll rule as kings on the earth”.
Can we with a clear conscience disregard the testimony of the Bible—that Israel is the Messiah’s Bride? These overwhelming statements, contrary as usual to “church doctrine” should make it difficult to rationalize that “the Church” is the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. If people would simply quit trying to misappropriate the things that belong to Israel, they might be free to understand the astonishing splendor of yet another mystery. The relationship of the resurrected kadishea to Yehovah will be on a far higher plane than Israel’s earthly marriage to Yeshua (Jesus) that ceases upon death (til death do us part).
I once thought that the following verse indicated that the kadishea were to have no part in the Messiah’s marriage, but I now see it as strictly a reference to literal marriages rather than the allegorical or analogical marriage that still marks a real time and event. Still, it is worth noting:
Matthew 22:30 In the resurrection of the dead, men don’t take wives, nor are wives married to husbands, but they are like the messengers of Yehovah in Heaven.
The Next Bride: Elohim’s Marriage to Israel
Israel broke its first or “Old” marriage Covenant with Elohim, but Yehovah promised to make a “new” and “better” marriage covenant with the Church-oops, I mean “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”.
Hebrews 8:6-8 But now, Yeshua [Jesus] Messiah has been given a superior ministry since He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, one that was founded on better promises than the former. 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second one. 8 Finding fault with THEM He said, “The time is coming, says Yehovah, when I’ll enact a New marriage Covenant with the ‘household’ of Israel and with the ‘household’ of Judah.
Jeremiah 3:18-22 In those days the ‘nation’ of Judah will live with the ‘nation’ of Israel, and you’ll return together from the Land of the North, to the land that I gave to your ancestors as an inheritance. 19 I said how much I wanted to treat you like My children, and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful heritage of any nations. And I’ve said, “You’ll call Me, my Father, and never turn away from Me.” 20 Surely like when a treacherous wife leaves her ‘husband’, that’s how you’ve been unfaithful with Me, ‘nation’ of Israel, says Yehovah. 21 A voice is heard on the barren heights, the crying and the pleading of the Israelites, because they have perverted of their ways, they’ve forgotten Yehovah their Elohim. 22 Return, you apostate sons, and I’ll heal your apostasy.” “We’re coming to You, because You are Yehovah our Elohim!”
So let’s see, we now have Brides, sons of Yehovah, a chaste virgin, heirs, body parts, a “perfect man”, flock, sheepfold, husbandry, pillars, the temple, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, the body of the Messiah, and a menorah. Let’s not forget that we are to graduate from “servants” to friends as well. All of these are attempts to help us visualize the role of the church; they are all the same thing aren’t they? Maybe not! What if some of them only apply to the physical descendants of Israel, past and future. Let’s consider the relevant Bible verses.
Despite Israel’s treachery, Yehovah will “still choose” to remarry Israel.
Isaiah 14:1 Yehovah will have mercy on Jacob, and choose Israel again, and settle them in their own land. ...
We saw that the exact terms of the new marriage covenant are explained in Jeremiah 31! Jeremiah 30, in the very same context, leads right up to it. When the time is right, Yehovah will still choose to marry “Israel”. As you read thru it you could see that very little of this could possibly apply to the tribe of Judah returning to the land, as pioneers, in 1947!
Read about the Everlasting Covenant here:
Isaiah 61:7-11 Your shame will be replaced with a double inheritance, and instead of humiliation you’ll shout for joy over your territory. So in your land you’ll own twice as much as the other nations. You’ll have everlasting joy. 8 Because I, Yehovah, love justice. I hate robbery and injustice. I’ll certainly give you your compensation, and I’ll make an everlasting covenant [i.e. The New Covenant] with you. 9 Your descendants will be revealed [2] among the nations, and their descendants among all ethnitowns. Everyone who sees them will acknowledge that they are the descendants of the people who Yehovah has blessed.” [Today, Israel is considered scum by the nations].”
10 I’ll greatly rejoice in Yehovah, I’ll be joyful in my Elohim, because He has clothed me with the clothing of deliverance, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom serving as a priest wearing a crown, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 Like the soil pushing up sprouts, and like a garden enabling things that are sown in it to spring up, so the Sovereign Yehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Israel will again have Brides and Grooms who know and praise Yehovah in the House (Temple) of Yehovah:
Jeremiah 33:10-11 “This is what Yehovah says: “Once again there will be heard in this place, the very place that you say, ‘It’s a waste, without people or animals’, in the desolate cities of Judah, and the streets of Jerusalem, devoid of people and animals, 11 the sound of joy and gladness, the voices of the bridegroom and the bride, the voices of those who say, ‘Give thanks to Yehovah the Commander, because Yehovah is good and His loving kindness endures forever,’ and of those who bring ze’bakim [sacrifices] of thanksgiving into Yehovah’s Temple. Because I’ll release the captives to return to the land as in the past, says Yehovah.
Hosea adds to the description of this time:
Hosea 3:4-5 The people of Israel will go many days without a king or prince, and without ze’bakim [sacrifices], and without obelisks [?], and without ephods or household idols. 5 But after that the people of Israel will return, and be devoted to Yehovah their Elohim, and David their king. They will come trembling to Yehovah for His blessings in the LAST DAYS. ...
Revelation 7:4-7 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
Still, in Matthew 9, Yeshua refers to himself as the Bridegroom, while He refers to His Disciples as, in essence, “groomsmen”, not the Bride! Was He confused?
Matthew 9:15 Yeshua replied, “The groomsmen’ [literally: sons] of the bridal ‘party’ [3567] can’t fast as long as the bridegroom is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, then they’ll fast.”
It seems that Paul, perhaps because of his vision of the third heaven, also knew about the enormous “building”, the New Jerusalem, Yehovah’s dwelling place:
Ephestians 2:19-22 So you aren’t foreigners without citizenship, rather, you are fellow citizens with the kadishea [saints and belong to the family of Yehovah. 20 You are the finished structure built on the foundation of the envoys AND the prophets, and Yeshua Messiah has become the cornerstone of the building. 21 Both parts of the building are being assembled together because of Him, as it becomes a Temple dedicated to Yehovah. 22 You are also being built into a dwelling place for Yehovah by the spirit.
Romans 11:13-17 I’m speaking to those of you of other nations, since I’m an envoy to the nations, and I honor my ministry, 14 hoping that I can provoke some of my own countrymen to rivalry and Rescue some of them. 15 If their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, then what will their conversion be but the dead coming back to Life? 16 If the firstfruit is kadosh, then the rest are also. If the root is kadosh, the branches are also. 17 If some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive branch have been grafted in their place, and you are now sharing in the nourishment provided by the roots of the olive tree,
The following verses indicate that Yehovah “keeps His [marriage] covenant” “with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments ... ” in spite of the fact that most of Israel at this time had broken the covenant. This primary eternal marriage covenant was the essence of the covenant that that Yehovah made to Abraham.
Daniel 9:4 I prayed to Yehovah my Elohim, and confessed: “O Yehovah, the great and awesome Elohim, who honors His covenant and loving kindness with those who love Him and preserve His Commandments.
2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes, and the covenant that He made with their ancestors, and the warnings He gave them. They pursued idols, and became worthless. They imitated the nations around them, that Yehovah had commanded that they shouldn’t imitate.
Isaiah 59:20-21 A Redeemer will come to Zion for those of the tribe of Jacob who turn from rebellion, says Yehovah. 21 As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says Yehovah. My Spirit that is on you, and My words that I’ve put in your mouth, won’t depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your descendants, or from the mouths of their descendants’, says Yehovah, “From today to forever.”
Jeremiah 34:13 “This is what Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel says: I made a covenant with your ancestors on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ...
Jeremiah 50:4-5 “In those days, during that time,” says Yehovah, “the people of Israel will return, as well as the people of Judah. They’ll come crying as they travel, and seeking Yehovah their Elohim. 5 They’ll ask the way to Zion, turning to face that direction. They’ll come and bind themselves to Yehovah in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
This awareness of Yehovah’s covenant, and willingness to agree to its terms, is due to the message that they heard from the Two Witnesses! [The Two Witnesses’ message to Israel, about a great reconciliation between Israel and her Yehovah, is covered in detail in Jubilee 2027 AD.]
Ezekiel 16:8 Then when I passed by you, and looked at you, and saw that you were old enough for love! I spread My robe over you, and covered your nakedness. I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Yehovah, and you became Mine.
Ezekiel 37:23-28... they’ll be My people, and I’ll be their Elohim.” 24 My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They’ll ‘live by’ My ordinances, and carefully obey My statutes. 25 They’ll live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren, forever, and My servant David will be their leader forever, for eternity. [Both 05704: “as long” as “time” & 05956: for eternity]. 26 I’ll make a [New] Covenant of peace with them. It will be an Everlasting Covenant with them, and I’ll establish them, and increase their numbers, and set My Kadosh Place among them forever. 27 My home [tabernacle] will also be with them. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 28 The nations will know that I, Yehovah, make Israel kadosh, when My Kadosh Place is among them forever.
This is really what the New Covenant, or marriage agreement is all about: it is about Israel’s becoming faithful to our Elohim and His resuming the role of our faithful provider.
The so called “Old Covenant” is really an addendum that was added to the “perpetual covenant” or “everlasting covenant” that Yehovah made with Abraham! It was the Constitution of ancient Israel.
Galatians 3:8-19 Yehovah knew beforehand that the nations would be made righteous by faith. He previously announced it to Abraham, as the Kadosh Scriptures say, “All nations will be blessed thru you.” 9 So those who are convicted of the truth are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 Those who depend on obeying the Torah are under a curse, because it is written, “Whoever doesn’t practice everything written in the Torah is cursed.” 11 It is apparent that no one becomes righteous before Yehovah by Torah obedience alone, because it is written, “The just must live by faith.” 12 Now the Torah isn’t faith based, still, whoever acts on the things written in it will Live because of them. 13 But the Messiah has redeemed us from the curses specified in the Torah [Deuteronomy 11:28], by being cursed for us (because the Scriptures say, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.”) 14 This occurred so that the blessing of Abraham would be brought about for the other nations thru Yeshua Messiah, so that we could receive the promise of the spirit thru faith. 15 Friends, I’m speaking in human terms, when a human contract is made and signed in public, no one does away with it or changes anything in it. 16 Now a promise was made to Abraham and to his Descendant. He was not told to your descendants—many of them, but to your one Descendant, that being the Messiah. 17 And I’ll say this, the contract that was previously “signed” by Yehovah, in the Messiah, does not invalidate a covenant that was given four hundred and thirty years previously, so as to nullify the promise. 18 If the inheritance ‘could be received’ due to Torah observance, it would not have been a promise, but Yehovah gave it to Abraham as a promise. 19 So why the Torah? It was to accompany [see root word] the promises in order to define violations, until the Descendant came, the One who the promise voluntarily involved. And the Torah was given by spirit Messengers thru a mediator.
Even the land will be “married”. It will be extremely productive and literally bear much fruit. It will not be burdened under a constant rain of chemical sprays and cursed weather:
Isaiah 55:9-12 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 Just like rain and snow come falling from the sky, and not returning before watering the earth, and causing it to sprout and grow, providing seeds for the sower and food for the hungry, 11 that’s how My word is as it leaves My mouth, it won’t return to Me without an effect, but it will accomplish what I want, and it will prosper in whatever I sent it to do. 12 You’ll leave [Babylon] with joy, and be led in [into Israel] in peace, the mountains and the hills will burst into shouts of joy before you, and all of the trees in the land will clap their hands.
Isaiah 62:4-5 You’ll never again be called “Forsaken”, nor will your land be called “Desolate” again, instead, you’ll be called “Hephzibah” [Literally, “My delight is in her”], and your land “Beulah” [Literally, to marry], because Yehovah delights in you, and your land will be married to Him. [This is a tie in to the Jubilee and land Sabbaths.] 5 Just like a young man marrying a virgin, your sons will marry you [the land of Israel], and like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride, that’s how your Elohim will rejoice over you.
Keep in mind that during the millennium all the kadishea from every past age will be citizens of the Kingdom of Yehovah. This is what Yeshua indicated in Matthew:
Matthew 8:11 I am certain that many will come from the east and from the west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the Heavens,
In the next breath He indicated that many Israelites would not inherit the Kingdom:
Matthew 8:12 but the native descendants of the Kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness. There will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
In addition to the kadishea, there will be a great number of people in the Kingdom by surprise!
John 10:16 I have other sheep that aren’t in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will also hear My voice and together they’ll all become one flock with one Shepherd.
Here is a quote from Chapter 5, Are the “Unsaved” Lost?. Notice what these righteous say to Yeshua. Truly none of them have ever read Matthew 25:
“The following passage describes Judgment Day—The Last Day. This assessment is not a parable; rather, this is an unambiguous pronouncement!
Matthew 25:31-40 When the Human Son comes in His splendor, and all His spirit messengers with Him, He’ll sit on the throne of His splendor. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of Him, and He’ll separate them from each other, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He’ll put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you gave Me some food, I was thirsty and you gave Me a drink, I was a stranger and you took Me home. 36 I needed clothes and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you cared for Me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 And the righteous will ask Him, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see that You were a stranger and take You home, or needing clothes and give You some? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and come to You’? 40 The King will reply, ‘I can say with certainty that whenever you did anything for one of My brothers, who others thought of as insignificant, you did it for Me.’
It is particularly important that you notice that these “righteous” are totally oblivious as to why they are being rewarded! They truly don’t understand why they are being offered eternal life! They had certainly not understood Yehovah’s plan for humanity! Yet this is a very positive judgment. It is an invitation to pre-qualified (i.e. not wicked) people to become “like the Messengers” (angels). I seriously doubt that anyone will decline the offer when Yehovah says to them: “Enter into the joy of your Master”. However this is a very brief account. I fully expect that these people, when Yehovah has their totally undivided attention, will be exceedingly willing to pledge their allegiance to Yeshua, their Life Giver, as they are forgiven of their sins. These compassionate “gentiles” will be EXCUSED and will be welcomed into the Kingdom!
The Assembly of Yehovah will become the Kingdom of Yehovah. The wise will be given splendor and will shine like the stars forevermore. The earth’s greatest age will pale into significance by comparison. Everyone who persecuted the Assembly thru the past ages will bow down to them. Yeshua will compensate everyone according to his works. At this time, the faithful will receive the highest honor possible—becoming Kings and Priests in the Everlasting Kingdom.
I think it’s more likely that the wedding still hasn’t taken place in Revelation 21:9:
Revelation 21:9 One of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues [Gr. catastrophes] came to me and said, “Come, I’ll show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
It appears to me that the whore of Babylon will claim to be the “virgin fiancee” of the Lamb, i.e “the Bride of Christ”. Contrast the next two verses and notice Isaiah’s sarcasm:
Revelation 17:18 The woman who you saw ‘represents’ the ‘exalted’ city that holds dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Isaiah 47:1-3 Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin maiden of Babylon, sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans, because you’ll no longer be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal, remove your veil, strip off of the train, uncover your leg, pass thru the rivers. 3 Your nakedness will be exposed, yes, your shame will be seen. I’ll take vengeance, and won’t intervene for anyone.
Jeremiah 2:2-3 “Go, and herald within the hearing of Jerusalem, ‘This is what Yehovah says: I remember the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, into a barren land. 3 Israel was dedicated to Yehovah, the firstfruits of His harvest, anyone who devoured him became guilty, and disaster struck them,’” says Yehovah.
The Torah was a prenuptial agreement.
Deuteronomy 6:1-6 These are the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, that Yehovah your Elohim commanded me to teach you, so that you would do them in the land you’re about to enter and occupy. 2 As long as you fear Yehovah your Elohim, enough to obey all of His statutes and His Commandments that I’m giving you, your children and grandchildren as long as you live, your days will be prolonged. 3 So listen Israel, and be obedient, so that things will go well for you, and so that your numbers can increase greatly, as Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 Listen, Israel, Yehovah is our Elohim, Yehovah is One! [Enlarged Ayin] [Enlarged Dalet] 5 You must love Yehovah your Elohim with all your mind, with all your being, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I’m commanding you today must be kept in mind!
Exodus 19 records the ceremony. In unison, the entire Assembly agreed to the terms of the Marriage with an “I do”.
Exodus 19:8 All the people answered together, “Everything that Yehovah has spoken we’ll do”. Moses reported the words of the people to Yehovah.
But trouble came way too quickly. The marriage was over. The Scriptures record the dismal account:
Zechariah 7:11-12 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and covered their ears so they wouldn’t hear. 12 They made their ‘attitudes’ as hard as flint, so as not to hear the Torah and the words that Yehovah the Commander had sent by His spirit thru the former prophets. So great wrath came from Yehovah the Commander.
Believe it or not, Joel is talking about the Messiah’s bride. She is the same adulterous bride that the entire 16th chapter of Ezekiel is devoted to. But here is how the bride chapter ends:
Ezekiel 16:59-60 This is what the Sovereign Yehovah says, “I’ll cause what you’ve ‘effected’. You ‘trashed’ your oath in breaking your marriage vows [covenant]. 60 But I’ll remember the marriage vow I made with you in the days of your youth [the “Old Covenant”], and I’ll [re]establish with you an everlasting [New] Covenant.
Harlot Israel is essentially Hosea’s bride, and here is how that bride story ends:
Hosea 2:14-15 But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35], and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there, and the valley of Achor [trouble] as a doorway of hope. She’ll respond there, as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt.
The New Covenant, also based on the Torah, is destined to work. The faithful remnant will be considerably larger this time.
So, when was the “church” established? It was established at the FIRST recorded PENTECOST at Mount Sinai.
Acts 7:38 He [Moses] is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the Messenger who spoke to him and to our ancestors on Mount Sinai, and he is the one who received the words of life to give to us.
Attempting to call “the church” the bride is an overt example of “Replacement Theology”! Ironically, some of the teachers who speak against replacement theology, actually teach major aspects of it. (Also See The New Covenant.)
Bible Prophecy is Like a Chick Flick!
My wife Lucy really likes Chick Flicks; so much so that I have actually watched a few with her over the last 45 years. They all begin with the prospective couple becoming acquainted with each other due to typical circumstances. Romance seems out of the question since one or both of them make that really clear. But they keep encountering each other. Conflicts or clashes keep occurring that seem sure to wreck any chance that the two will ever be a couple. But of course the audience can naturally see that they are meant for each other. At some point a realization begins to come into focus that a relationship might be a possibility. Yet hindrances keep cropping up that are ‘sure’ to prevent that. Often it is another romantic interest in the way separating them, or a job offer from some far away place. The obstacles begin to fall away until there is just one big one left. But then after the heroic efforts of one party, and some good fortune, togetherness just clicks in a moment of euphoria. Unfortunately, life after the marriage is scarcely mentioned; maybe just a fast forward glimpse of them down the road with a couple of little ones.
All of Bible prophecy is focused on an outcome that is really that simple!
Abraham was promised that his huge family of descendants, like a bride, would live in peace and harmony happily ever after (Genesis 35:11-12). But millennia go by and that outcome is still out of sight. Once even all of the right circumstances came together where this bride-to-be left her horrible circumstances (Egypt) and headed for her “white picket fences, cat and a dog” (the Promised Land), but she chickened out. Complications arose (national captivity, deportation.) She (the 12 tribes) entertained lots of suitors over the centuries but they never brought her any happiness. She found herself working all over the planet (diaspora)—everywhere except for the one place she was meant to be (Jerusalem kept being destroyed). Along comes the Great Tribulation and all of her distractions suddenly vanish! A savior comes along and promises to take care of her; vanquishes all of the dragons (nations trying to exterminate her) and creates a paradise home for her. Unfortunately, life after the marriage is scarcely mentioned; maybe half of what we know about future Earth is in Isaiah 11. Spoiler alert! Here is how the Biblical Chick Flick story spanning the entire Bible ends:
JOEL 2
The Day of Yehovah
1 Blow a shofar in Zion [1]! Sound the alarm on My kadosh mountain [2]! All the inhabitants of the land should tremble, because the Day of Yehovah is coming, it’s soon! 2 It’s a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of thick clouds and darkness. Like the dawn spreading across the mountains, a huge and 'invincible' army moves in. There has never been anything like it, and there will never be anything like it thruout the years, for generations and generations.”
3 A fire devours before them, and a flame blazes behind them. The land before them is like the garden of Eden, but behind them it’s a devastated desert, and nothing escapes...
Still Time to Repent—For Some!
12 “Yet even now,” Yehovah says, “Turn to Me with all your being, with fasting and crying and mourning. 13 Rip your 'paradigm', not your clothes, and return to Yehovah, your Elohim, because He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and hesitant to send disaster. 14 Who knows? He might give you a reprieve, and leave a blessing behind, such as a grain offering and a wine offering to Yehovah, your Elohim.”
15 Blow a shofar in Zion, announce the fast, summon the Festival Assembly. 16 Gather the people. Announce an assembly. Gather the elders. Gather the children, even the nursing babies. The bridegroom should leave his chamber, and the bride her chuppah (hint, hint). 17 The priests who serve Yehovah cry between the portico and the altar. They’re saying, ‘Spare Your people,’ Yehovah, and don’t allow Your heritage to be scorned by the enemy, ridiculed by foreigners. Why should the nations ask, “Where is their Elohim?’”
18 Then Yehovah will be zealous for His land, and have pity on His people. 19 Yehovah will say to His people, “I’ll send you grain and new wine and oil, you’ll have an abundance! I won’t allow you to be ridiculed by the nations any longer.” 20 20 I’ll remove the northern army far from you, and drive him away into a parched and desolate land, with its vanguard into the eastern [Dead] Sea. His stench will rise up, the stench of his putrefying will rise, because He has done great things.
21 Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and celebrate, because Yehovah has done great things. 22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the plains, because the pastures of the wilderness will soon be green. The trees will produce their fruit. The fig trees and grapevines will yield abundantly. 23 So rejoice, people of Zion, and rejoice in Yehovah your Elohim, because He gives you the early rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both latter and early rain as before. 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 25 I’ll make up for the years eaten by the swarming locusts, the great locusts, the grasshoppers and the caterpillars, My great army that I sent 'against' you. 26 You’ll have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and you’ll praise the name of Yehovah, your Elohim, who has done 'miracles' for you you, and My people will never be disappointed again. 27 You’ll know that I’m 'among you' in Israel, and that I am Yehovah, your Elohim, and that there is no other, and My people will never be disappointed again.”
28 After this [the Great Tribulation], I’ll pour out My spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophecy and your old men will dream prophetic dreams, your young men will see prophetic visions. 29 I’ll even pour out My spirit on servants and handmaids in those days, 30 I’ll show wonderful signs in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will become blood red in the presence of [6] the great and awesome Day of Yehovah coming to pass. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of Yehovah will be rescued as Yehovah has said, ‘Because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be a way of escape [rootword: refugees], for the survivors who Yehovah is inviting [calling].’”
Isaiah 4:33 Then anyone left alive in Zion, anyone who is left behind in Jerusalem will be called kadosh, everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, 4 once Yehovah has washed away the filth of the maidens of Zion, and rinsed the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of justice and a spirit that sets ablaze! 5 Yehovah will create ABOVE the entire site of Mount Zion and ABOVE her assemblies a cloud during the day and smoke, and a bright flaming fire during the night; because ABOVE all the splendor there will be a chuppah [canopy of protection] [2]. 6 It will be a sukkah [tabernacle] to provide 'shade' in the daytime from the heat and for a refuge and shelter from storms and rain.
[2] A chuppah is a bride and bridegroom’s chamber—Brown-Driver-Briggs.
Revelation 21:2, 10-14 I saw the kadosh city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from Yehovah, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband... In the spirit realm he carried me to the top of a vast, lofty mountain, and he showed me the kadosh city of Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from Yehovah, 11 bringing with it the splendor of Yehovah. Her brilliance resembled a very precious gem, like a jasper stone, as transparent as crystal. 12 It had a very massive and high wall with twelve gates. The names of the twelve tribes descended from Israel were inscribed on them.
Revelation 19:7 Let’s rejoice and be exuberant and praise Him, because the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. [That takes 1,260 days].
A ‘CliffsNotes version’ of the final chapter of this happily ever after story is found in Ezekiel 20!
Chapter 29 concerns who the Bridegroom is:
Addendum #5
