Dear John
I have read and learned from your website everyday since March 28, 1998 when out of the blue I "knew" Jesus was coming back soon. He just put that knowledge in my head as I was washing the dishes and I haven't doubted it for even a second.

I have a big question for which I have been trying to find an answer. It is making me crazy! Don't just jump on me for asking - consider what I'm saying and read the refernces carefully.

Who says the bride of Christ is the church? I know I've heard it taught many times and when I did an internet search, all the "teaching" ministries say the same thing. However, when I read Revelation 21, I saw that the new city of Jerusalem is the bride. Then I looked back at all the places used to teach that the church is the bride and I saw that invitations were offered to come, the bridegroom was coming, come to the feast, and etc. So, if I'm missing some point here that I can't understand, please let me know. I just can't get it out of my mind that the new Jerusalem is the bride so how can the church be the bride.

I really would like to straighten this out in my mind because it's driving me crazy! I know Jesus is coming for us soon and I am anxiously waiting. But who is really the bride?????

Sincerely,
Barbara
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Don't worry too much, Barbara. The BODY of Christ has to be the bride. Who else can it be? The Lord who died for the Church is not going to marry a city. The City of God is just a symbol. Paul explicitly said so in Gal 4:24,  "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar." We cannot be too LITERAL or Sarah will be the only bride of Christ since she is the freewoman that represents the New Jerusalem according to Galatians chapter 4!
John