- Would you make any changes in your life if you knew the Rapture of the Bride of Christ was going to happen this April 9th, 2023?
Can I actually “Foretell” that the Rapture will be April 9th, 2023? No, I cannot but I can tell you the season. You need to read my book Hope for Those Left Behind for the details.
On my Bible Guy Web Site – page Movies – starting with Abraham. We have been watching the Bible Movies in order each evening: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses…
The Bride of Christ, who is she and who is she not. Part 5
Much has been said about the Bride of Christ. It is evident that she exists somewhere and is acting in some capacity. The place nearest to the Bridegroom is the place which is held by the Bride. The Bride is composed of the full overcomers, who are very close in their fellowship with Christ and with each other. They are also in very near relationship to the Holy Ghost, who transmits to them the precious things of the Bridegroom.
Fear not! I am telling you this in advance so you will know that God is in control, has a plan and wants to get your attention.
What you are about to read was written over 100 years ago published in 1919 and The Bible Guy was given permission to republish. What a great honor to have this available today.
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The world has always listened to the message of love; but to the Bride of Christ that message is peculiarly sweet and precious. Christ, the Bridegroom, speaks to no other as He speaks to His beloved bride. His yearning is beautifully expressed in the Songs of Solomon 5:2, “I sleep, but My heart waketh; it is the voice of My beloved that knocketh, saying, Open unto me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”
From 1919 Book The First and The Last by Ira Surface, republished by Thomas Spencer The Bible Guy. CHAPTER 9
I. THE BRIDE CHOSEN BEFORE ISRAEL WILL BE RECALLED
To the careful student it is plain that the Bride of Christ is not composed of Old Testament saints. In Matt. 11:11, it is recorded that Jesus said, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Yet we find John saying (John 3:29, 30), “He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Bride of Christ, therefore, was not among the great men of Israel, among whom John was the greatest.
We are given three very important statements concerning the Bride of Christ, in Acts 15: 14-17:
“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.
“And to this agree the words of the prophets; and it is written. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: “That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”
First: God is taking a people “for His name.” What is the meaning of taking a people for His name? It means that people will be the bride of Jesus, who is the Bridegroom.
Second: That Bride, or people who take the name of Jesus, will be taken from among the Gentiles, not from among the Israelites, whom he represented, were friends of the Bridegroom; agrees with this. A friend is not the Bride, but may be very closely associated with both the Bride and the Bridegroom.
Third: This taking out of the Bride of Christ will be accomplished between the time of John’s statement and the rebuilding of the tabernacle, or the regathering of the Israelites. Since the gathering of the Gentiles, from whom the Bride of Christ is to come, is not the same as the regathering of Israel, it follows that the Bride of Christ, therefore, can not be of Israel.
Again, Israel is already married, is a wife and not a bride, as is shown by Jer. 3:14, 20: “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” “Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, said the Lord.” Israel has been unfaithful, but she will surely be restored to her Husband, God the Father. Note Isa. 54:5-7:
“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and they Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.
“For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”
II. BRIDE OF CHRIST FROM GENTILES
The above references are conclusive proof that Jesus is calling His Bride from among the Gentiles, not Israel. No reasoning that will mix those who are the Bride of Christ with Israel, who is already the Wife of the Father, can be scriptural. John the Baptist represented the prophets, and was the greatest of them all, but he was only the friend of the Bridegroom. Those who are overcomers among the Gentiles will be made one with our wonderful Christ, and be with Him as the heavenly Bride.
It is very precious to know that in that great gathering of the heavenly marriage company there will be such friends as Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, and all those mighty men, who stood so true to God the Father. It is wonderful to know that the Father has sent the Holy Ghost to bear the words of love from the Son to us, who are Gentiles and so weak and poor in ourselves. He tells us that the Son loves us in a peculiar sense.
The Son gave Himself for the “Ekklesia”, and from it He will choose His Bride. Eph. 5:25-27 says:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the “Ekklesia”, and gave Himself for it;
“That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
“That He might present it unto Himself a glorious “Ekklesia”, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
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