IT IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

At present the Ecclesia is a virgin espoused. Paul wrote " for I am jealous over you, with a jealousy of God. For I betroth you to one Man, to present a pure virgin to Christ.." 2 Corinthians 11:1-2. In his day espousal, betrothal was as sacred as marriage.

In the Hebrew writings we can see two types of the bride of Christ.

TYPE ONE

The first Adam was given a bride by God. After living alone for a time, God put Adam to sleep and took a TSETA from Adam's body, and made a woman. The Hebrew word 'tseta' does not denote a 'rib', it is used of the chambers in the Temple building.1 Kings 6:5-8. When God presented the woman to Adam, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Genesis:2:21-24.

So, the second Adam, Jesus, must have a bride also. Now Jesus, during His life on earth lived alone as a man, like Adam. He slept the sleep of death, and out of His side, as a result of His offering for mankind, there came, through the Holy Spirit, the Ecclesia. For only through faith in Jesus' offering for our sin can we be saved. Romans 10:9.

We , of the Ecclesia can say like Adam, "We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones, they two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great: yet I am speaking as to Christ, and as to the Ecclesia. Ephesians 5:29-33. This is the third secret of Ephesians.

As the woman was presented to Adam by God, so the Ecclesia, called -out by God, for Christ who ".. loves the Ecclesia, and gives Himself up for it, IN ORDER that He should be hallowing, ( making holy) cleansing it in the bath of water, in a declaration , in order that He should be presenting to Himself a glorified ecclesia.."Hebrews 5:25-27.

TYPE TWO

Abraham instructed his trusted servant Eliezer with, "But thou shalt go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.."Genesis 24:12-14

Abraham is a type of God the Father.
Sarah is a type of Israel.
Isaac is a type of the Holy Spirit.
Rebekah is a type of the Ecclesia.

God the Father sent the Holy Spirit unto this world to collect the chosen wife for His only Son, Christ Jesus. When the full number of the Ecclesia is complete, the Holy Spirit will take her to the Father's home. Christ will come out to meet her in the air, in the eventide of this dispensation. Thessalonians 4:15-17.

THE TWO BRIDES

A. In the Hebrew scriptures Israel was married to Jehovah, " Thy Maker is thine Husband."Isaiah 54; 5,8 and because of her wayward practices, Israel has been 'put away', divorced by her Husband. But Jehovah promised to take her back when she repents and turns to God, "Turn, O backsliding sons saith Jehovah, for I am married to a you." Jeremiah 3: 1-8. Israel will not be accepted back as a virgin, but as a wife.

B. In the Greek Scriptures the Ecclesia is the new creation, the virgin espoused to Christ.. "For I betroth you to one Man, to present a pure virgin to Christ."2 Corinthians 11:2. "So that if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17.