Reply To: Ecclesiology Discussion Board

[Wechie]

You are right Pastor Paul, whatever position we take doesn’t affect our Salvation in any way.

I’d like to add that throughout scriptures we see the use of different types of pictures :types, shadows, parables, metaphors/symbols and allegories to communicate scriptural truths.

A symbol is an object or signal that stands for something else.It is a visible reference for an invisible thing.

The purpose of a symbol is to illuminate one particular side of the truth and not to provide the foundation of any doctrine.

We see believers referred to as Sons . The imagery of “Sonship” is used in Galatians to drive home a biblical truth. Sons here refers to both male and female believers. We do not see the imagery of “daughter-ship”.

Here a masculine term is used in referring to believers.

The Church; The Bride of Christ.

This refers to the church in a feminine term.

The Bride is somewhat a futuristic symbol of the church.

The new testament contains numerous allusions to the church as the bride. The most complete of these is Ephesians 5:23-31.

The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age. Her responsibility during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24). At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2).

Attending the wedding feast will be not only the Church as the Bride of Christ, but others as well. The “others” include the Old Testament saints—they will not have been resurrected yet, but their souls/spirits will be in heaven with us. As the angel told John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).

A bride and a groom are not invited to their own wedding so obviously, there are attendees at the marriage supper who are neither the bride or the groom.

In John 3, John the Baptist called himself a friend of the Bridegroom. This may give us an idea of who the guests at the Marriage Supper in Heaven are. The Old Testament saints will be guests at the Marriage Supper in heaven. That should reinforce the special privilege we have in being the Blood-bought holy nation that is the Church of Jesus Christ, His Bride. The marriage supper of the Lamb is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ!

In summary ,the church is not only referred to using feminine terms. Each metaphor is teaching a specific spiritual truth that cannot be explained any other way. They are not inclusive, cumulative, or exclusive. They stand independent of each other, yet all work together to help the believers understand who we are, what we have ,what we are to do / be in this world and what the future holds for us.

The Old Testament saints will be guests/witnesses at the Marriage Supper in heaven. The Bride do not not include the Old Testament saints. The Church is the Bride.