| CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DOCTRINE | March 2006 |
The Lamb’s Wife
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“Come hither, I will shew thee the bride.” |
THE WORD ‘BRIDE’ IN THE Hebrew is kallah, which is from a primitive root meaning ‘to complete,’ also ‘a son’s wife.’ The Greek word used in the New Testament is numphe, and means ‘a betrothed girl,’ ‘a son’s wife.’ We read in Genesis 2:18 that Eve was made to be a “help meet” for Adam; in other words, to complete Adam; for while he remained alone, he was not from God’s standpoint complete. Different illustrations are used in the Scriptures to convey the thought of the unity of Christ and the church. The term bride particularly applies to the marriage day, but no one picture can adequately reveal all the glories that will come to the church. During the Gospel Age, the church is the body of Christ, called unto his eternal glory, after that they have “suffered a while” (I Pet. 5:10), and have been made perfect to do God’s will.
Paul, in II Corinthians 11:2, says, “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” God does not want the affections of the church turned to the world. The term ‘chaste’ suggests that we should not set our affections on any one else, or allow them to stray to the world; for James 4:4 says, “The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” Paul feared that as the serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety, so we might be allured from our Lord. (II Cor. 11:3) Satan’s attack on Eve was, “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat? … God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods.” (Gen. 3:1-5) Similarly, Satan seeks to beguile the church by suggesting doubts regarding the fulfillment of the Divine Word. Let us see that we are not corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
A BRIDE FOR ISAAC
The account of Abraham’s servant seeking a bride for Isaac is found in Genesis, chapter twenty-four. Abraham admonished him not to seek a bride from the people of the land, but to go to Abraham’s own people. This illustrates the selection of the bride of Christ. Rebekah made the journey to the bridegroom she had not seen; so also it is written of the church in relationship to her Lord. “Whom, not having seen, you love; … but believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and glorious.” (I Pet. 1:8, Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott) In Revelation 19:7, we read, “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Upon the robe provided by her Lord, the needlework of the approved character must be worked out. She proves herself faithful, and to her is “granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”—vs. 8
Revelation 3:4 says of those in Sardis who had not defiled their garments, “They shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” All the overcomers will be worthy because of their faithfulness, and on the marriage day, in glory and beauty arrayed, will be manifested as the bride of Christ. The panorama of Revelation can only be seen by those in the Spirit during the Lord’s day. (Rev. 1:10) We read in Revelation 21:10, “He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city”—for the bride had become the holy city. As stated in verse two, John saw the “new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
The illustration of the bride specifically refers, as we have seen, to the marriage day. Thereafter, the bride class has become the new heavenly government for the blessing of humanity. The term bride alone could not adequately show the splendor of the church glorified. This is better portrayed under the heading of a city having the glory of God, and of which the Lamb is the light thereof, where God dwells. This will be the capital—the center of world government—and the nations being saved will walk in the light of it, for there shall be no night there. It will be for the salvation of humanity. Should we not thank our Heavenly Father for having invited us to be of the bride class and, as the espoused, watch carefully every step that would draw us away from our Lord, remembering that the Adversary is very subtle and would lead us away from the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus.