Bob and Doves
Bob, This makes so much sense what you have
mentioned here. So often, we refer to ourselves as the
Body, whose arms, legs, mouth, ears, hands, etc.....each has
it's job to do when we want to show that we have our purpose
in Christ. And then, we say we are the Bride of
Christ. Well, which one is it anyway; we can't be both
the body of the groom and then call ourselves the bride?
It was in the wilderness that the children of Israel
received their contract of marriage to Yahuah, which, by the
way, they soon broke that Marriage
Covenant with their Husband by building
the golden calf of Egypt's god and dancing in his
honor. They got tired of waiting for Moses
to return (a picture much like the groom coming for his
wife) So, in that vein of thought about a marriage
contract, what is Israel? Is she the Body or is she
the Bride.
How often do we read in the OT the stories of the
unfaithful wife? We have Gomer who represents the
ultimate of the Harlot Wife being taken back by her husband
over and over again because Hosea loved her so much.
(Hosea is a picture of Our Lord's great love for his wife
despite her constant whoring with others (gods).
Her husband will return to her once she is able to say,
"Bless is He that comes in the Name of the
Lord."
The Body has already acknowledge it is a part of the
Lord, hasn't it?
And if Israel is the Bride, then the 10 bridesmaids story
makes so much more sense also. Five of them, which I
believe was a representation of those in the OT who had the
oil of faith and were ready to go with the OT believers when
the trumpet blew, calling them up out of their graves
to the Wedding Feast but the foolish ones that did not buy
of His Oil, were not ready and even lazy about their
future role in their attendance to the Bride.
To me, It looks like a perfect picture
of them (Israel) missing the feast prepared for them
and now they must go through Great Tribulation from
which God's mercy will hide those He knows are His own while
those who are of the Apostate Jews will get their due coming
to them at His Coming.
Bob, you sure did stir my possible understanding a whole
lot with your own article below. Who knows, there may
be more to this whole thought than previously considered.
Thank You.
Gerlinda
Bob Anderson (2 Aug 2013)
"re: Reply to Marilyn, Gino, Garry, KML (07/18) and
Laurie (07/20)"