THE BRIDE (One More Time)
I know you guys are tired of my obsession with the bride by now, but, hopefully that is coming to an end. After the last post, I went back over some key scriptures and re-read David's "When He Shall Return from the Wedding", and now I think I may have finally gotten a grip on the whole thing....
My BIGGEST mistake was trying to put the 1000yr reign as the "wedding feast" itself, trying to put too much emphasis on the term "feast" and the "feeding" of Luke 12. In my mind I was trying to make ANY time someone was fed a "wedding feast".
As of today, I think that the entire wedding process, including the feast, is solely partaken of by the bride/elect. When the Son of Man returns to his "household" with his bride after the wedding he can feed them all he wants and for however long without the limitations of a formal ceremony. The explanatory scriptures are thus...
Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Obviously the offer was made to the Jews exclusively, but, they rejected it so the parable goes on to show how the offer was made to include the people of the nations (Isa 49:17). But, for the one who came in and was not provided with the proper garment was cast into..."outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
I was prepared to apply this situation to all Christians and not merely the elect, but the last verse gave me pause.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The entire passage only really gives an instance of one person being cast out of the feast, but, the reasons given for why he was cast out are more important than how many, although the last phrase does give us an indication as to the scope of people excluded. Also, the many who were rejected prior as well as the wording of "chosen" which of course in the NT, is usually limited in its use to the "elect" or "chosen" ones give me reason to assume that this particular parable had the elect in mind, although it was given in benefit of the Pharisees.
Next the parable of the ten virgins lends help to the discussion although I can't do much better a synopsis than David did in his article. Suffice it to say, however, that both parties were "waiting" for the groom, and when the unprepared virgins realized their error...
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Presumably, the groom and his brides have shut the door to the "wedding feast". Another side note is I find that it could be difficult to say whether the next line...
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
.....is a retrospective warning or a continuation of the passage for the remaining virgins to keep watching.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
ALL these verses now appear to describe the elect/bride only who are called to the feast. The elect need also be instructed and corrected before they themselves can teach the rest of the world. I assume this marriage happens between the time of the Seventh Trumpet and the complete Return of Christ during the "meeting in the air".
In the Luke 12 account, I think it simpler to let the scriptures speak for themselves and allow the marriage (which in some translations say "marriage feast") simply be the entire marriage. Those who are fed afterwards (during the 1000yr reign) are those foolish virgins and those waiting, but, not called to be the elect, of whom no one is sure of until the actual calling...
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
It is now easier for me to imagine the 1000yr reign to be akin to Christ and his Apostles feeding the thousands on those particular occasions.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride(the elect) say, Come. And let him that heareth(anyone who then hears and accepts) say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Thanks for your patience and long-suffering. Please, however, correct me where I may be wrong so I can put this topic to rest for a while!
Your Brother in Christ,
Chris
I know you guys are tired of my obsession with the bride by now, but, hopefully that is coming to an end. After the last post, I went back over some key scriptures and re-read David's "When He Shall Return from the Wedding", and now I think I may have finally gotten a grip on the whole thing....
My BIGGEST mistake was trying to put the 1000yr reign as the "wedding feast" itself, trying to put too much emphasis on the term "feast" and the "feeding" of Luke 12. In my mind I was trying to make ANY time someone was fed a "wedding feast".
As of today, I think that the entire wedding process, including the feast, is solely partaken of by the bride/elect. When the Son of Man returns to his "household" with his bride after the wedding he can feed them all he wants and for however long without the limitations of a formal ceremony. The explanatory scriptures are thus...
Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Obviously the offer was made to the Jews exclusively, but, they rejected it so the parable goes on to show how the offer was made to include the people of the nations (Isa 49:17). But, for the one who came in and was not provided with the proper garment was cast into..."outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
I was prepared to apply this situation to all Christians and not merely the elect, but the last verse gave me pause.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The entire passage only really gives an instance of one person being cast out of the feast, but, the reasons given for why he was cast out are more important than how many, although the last phrase does give us an indication as to the scope of people excluded. Also, the many who were rejected prior as well as the wording of "chosen" which of course in the NT, is usually limited in its use to the "elect" or "chosen" ones give me reason to assume that this particular parable had the elect in mind, although it was given in benefit of the Pharisees.
Next the parable of the ten virgins lends help to the discussion although I can't do much better a synopsis than David did in his article. Suffice it to say, however, that both parties were "waiting" for the groom, and when the unprepared virgins realized their error...
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Presumably, the groom and his brides have shut the door to the "wedding feast". Another side note is I find that it could be difficult to say whether the next line...
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
.....is a retrospective warning or a continuation of the passage for the remaining virgins to keep watching.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
ALL these verses now appear to describe the elect/bride only who are called to the feast. The elect need also be instructed and corrected before they themselves can teach the rest of the world. I assume this marriage happens between the time of the Seventh Trumpet and the complete Return of Christ during the "meeting in the air".
In the Luke 12 account, I think it simpler to let the scriptures speak for themselves and allow the marriage (which in some translations say "marriage feast") simply be the entire marriage. Those who are fed afterwards (during the 1000yr reign) are those foolish virgins and those waiting, but, not called to be the elect, of whom no one is sure of until the actual calling...
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
It is now easier for me to imagine the 1000yr reign to be akin to Christ and his Apostles feeding the thousands on those particular occasions.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride(the elect) say, Come. And let him that heareth(anyone who then hears and accepts) say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Thanks for your patience and long-suffering. Please, however, correct me where I may be wrong so I can put this topic to rest for a while!
Your Brother in Christ,
Chris
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