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Church, speaks of it as a “virgin es poused to one husband” (2 Cor. 11:1- 2). This cannot be said of an adul terous wife who is to be restored in the future. Israel is Jehovah’s earthly wife (Hos. 2:20-23). The Church is a heavenly body and is the virgin wife of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7; 21:9). The latter pas sage shows the Church in heaven while the vials of wrath have been poured out during the great tribulation, other wise known as “ the time of Jacob’s trouble.” This is a city said to be in heaven, not the earthly Jerusalem promised Israel; and this heavenly body is seen “ coming down out of heaven” and giving light to the world (v. 11), and “ the nations (on earth) shall walk in the light of it.” It is called “ the Lamb’s wife.” The fact that the names of the twelve apostles are on the foun dations does not indicate that its in habitants are only Israelites. The Church was built on the teachings of the twelve apostles. Nor is it out of place that on each gate is the name of a tribe of Israel, for it was from them that we received the oracles of God, and Israel is the gate through which salvation has come to all nations, kin dreds and tribes. As the names of architects are often inscribed on their works, so Israel and the apostles are to be had in everlasting remembrance (Rom. 11:11, 12, 28). There is a heavenly Jerusalem whose inhabitants are known as “ the church of the first born, the spirits of Just men made per fect” (Heb. 12:22, 23) and which is clearly distinguished from the Jewish capital of Palestine. Notice in Rev. 19:7, 8 that those who are called “ the Lamb’s wife” are said to be those “ arrayed in fine linen which iis the righteousness of the saints.” This righteousness is the righteousness of God upon all who believe (Rom. 3:21) and shows that the reference is to the Church.
gjinmiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiimuiiiiHuiiHiiHinuiiimiiifniniiiMiiiiiiuiiiiHiHnimiuiiiiiHiiiiiiinimmiig i IS THE CHURCH THE BRIDE? | By K. L. | 9iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiii!iMiU>iiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!llMn;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiHiiiim H srri N our July Issue appeared ||j an article entitled “ The Church the Bride of Christ,” ial by J. H. Todd. There is a prevalent teaching to the effect that the Bride is Israel, not the Church, and as might be expected, some ob jections to the view taken by Mr. Todd have been received. The objections are six, as follows: 1. The term “ wife” or “ bride" is an Old Testament idea and is applied only to the wilderness church. 2. An Israelite was forbidden to take a wife from any other people (Deut. 7:3) and Jesus could not there fore have a Gentile Bride. 3. The Church is the Body of Christ and Ephesians 5 is not intended to teach the relationship of Bride. 4. Jesus is called “ Lamb of God” and the Israelites, “ sheep.” A lamb would look for a mate among those of its own kind. The title “ Lamb” is a Jewish title. 5. God is the Father of Christ, also the Father of all believers (Jno. 1:12). He could not be the Father of both Bridegroom and Bride. 6. The Old Testament types have no application to the Church. Our answers to these points are con tained in a letter written to one ob jector and we present it herewith in the hope that it will be of service to some others. It is true that the Old Testament ref erences to the "wife of Jehovah” should be applied to Israel. As such, Israel is now disowned as an adulterous wife, but is yet to be restored. The New Testament, referring to the
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