T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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ing to be a habitation for God, and she is a bride for the 'Son of God. It is in Revelation 19, 20 and 22, that we get mention particularly of the bride. In Rev. 19:7-9, the marriage is the subject, and the wife has maue nerseit ready: in Chap. 21, the vision is of the bride as the heavenly city coming down out of heaven; then' in Chap. 22, she is associated with the Spirit in the call “Come”. In Chapters 19 and 21 the scenes are both heavenly, whereas if they had to do with Israel they should be earthly. That proves that it is not Israel that is in view. After Chap. 5 of this book we uu not find the church until we come to Chap, 19 as she is in heaven, but now she has made herself ready and is clothed in fine linen, the “Righteousness of the Saints.” She has been before the Judgment Seat, where her works have been judged, and the righteousness in which she is cloth ed is her acts which have stood the test and have been approved. This is not the righteousness of God dealt with in Romans which is the believer’s by faith in Christ as in Romans 3:24-25. Let be lievers therefore note mat now we are preparing the wedding robes for the bride. Let them be as fine as possible. In Rev. 22 the bride calls with the Spirit “Come.” If this is a call to the Lord to come to which He responds in verse 20, it could not be from Israel, for she will not be in a position of blessing until He has come. If it is a call to the sinner the same difficulty presents itself unless it applies to the Millennial time. As such an appeal, however, it applies rather to the present than the future, and is a word of grace. In both of the passages referred to in the Epistles. 2 Cor. 11:2 and Eph. 5:25-32. definite reference is made to Genesis 2 and 3 and to the union between Adam and Eve as typical. Eve was given by God to Adam to be one with him and to share with him in all the privileges con-
HE term bride really belongs to the wedding day and all of its significance is connected with that day. Previous to that time she is not known by
that name. And so in me case of the church she is not yet the bride, but awaits the eventful -day. Now she is said to be espoused (2 Cor. 11:2). With the Jews the espousal was an event of much importance. In Ephesians 5:25-32 there are seven great statements of the work of Christ for His church and these are used to en force the responsibility of man as hus band in his treatment of his wife. Effort has been made to show that it is not the church as bride or wife here, but as the body; but the exhortation is not for the man to care for his body as Christ does, but for his wife. Christ loved the church, He gave Himself for it, He sanctifies it, having cleansed it, He nourishes it, He cherishes it and finally He presents it a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. T h e presentation is the great consumma tion and climax of all that goes before. That is the great Coming event for the church. The Greek evidently shows the text should read “that> He Himself might present it,” • indicating that it is His presentation to the Father of the bride won by Himself. In that Epistle there are two great thoughts regarding the church in its union with Christ. The first is that of “nearness” (Eph. 2:15), and the other which we get in chapter 5, that of “dear ness,” The church is presented in three rela tionships, one to each of the persons of the Trinity. She is a body formed by the baptism in the Spirit, she is a build
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