The Bridegroom and the Bride

The Bridegroom and the Bride, ahhhhhh - the love story of love stories! Perhaps the greatest mystery in the Bible surrounds this relationship. It has long been kept secret, guarded as it is a very, very, very valuable truth. Few have understood what you will read here. The Bible is plain enough for all to see that Y'shua is the Bridegroom. It is also plain that He will one day take certain righteous saints to Himself as a Bride. Who it is that shall compose the Bride and how particularly blessed she is, however, is hidden.

Who is the Bride and what are her qualifications? The truth of the matter, though I expound it here as plainly as I can, will yet remain veiled to those from whom the Bridegroom hides it. If your eyes are opened to such a matter as this, rejoice, friend, because you are a candidate, one who has been wooed by the Bridegroom and fallen in love. You have accepted His washing of water with the Word and have rejoiced in Him.

A Profound Mystery

I only understood the mysterious riddle presented in this passage after I had become very familiar with the Bride type and her relationship with Christ and the church. According to verse 32, this passage is less a text on the human marriage relationship than it is a profound mystery, a deep secret about Christ and the church. This is the perspective from which we must examine the passage. Some great truth is being presented about Christ and those with whom He will become united in marriage - His Bride. There are two keys herein that instruct us about the church whom the Bridegroom will present to Himself in all her glory.

• She is a separate entity, existing apart from the body. There is a church of the Body of Christ and a church of the Bride of Christ. Each are a church that is related to but independent of the other. Together, they can also be referred to as a church. As I will shortly exhibit in scriptural archetype, the Bride is actually taken out of the Body.
• It is her behavior that sets her apart. The determining factor as to whether someone will be accounted as Body or Bride will be made on the basis of subjection to the Lord. Just as not many wives are truly in subjection to their husbands in everything, so not many in the church truly submit to the Lord in everything. It is in the practice of submission that the Bride is washed with water by the word. (* side bar) She will become holy and blameless, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. It is not the unsubmissive but rather the completely submissive whom Y'shua will present to Himself as a radiant church.

The direct quote of another passage in the Scriptures points us to where keys may be found that unlock the riddle's solution. The reference in Ephesians 5:31 points us to Genesis 2:24.

The two passages compare in that Christ is identified as another Adam, the last Adam.

There are two pattern Adams; the first man Adam and the last Adam who is Christ. These Adams are shown in I Corinthians to each be an example after which many more would be brought forth in like kind. Both Adams have bodies of a particular nature - and have had or will have a bride of like nature! It is a glorious truth that there are also two Eves! The natural first woman Eve was for the first man Adam and was taken from his own natural body. The "last Eve" who is referred to as the Bride of Christ or the Bride of the Lamb is for the last Adam. Just as the natural Eve was taken from the first man Adam's body, so shall a woman/church/Bride be taken from the last Adam's Body. The last Adam did not have a bride while his body was an earthy body born of Mary in Bethlehem after the fashion of the first Adam. Now, however, he has a body which is the many membered church, spiritual and heavenly in nature, and it is from this Body that some members in particular will be taken out to be His Bride. The Bride is obviously not the whole or every member of the Body but rather a remnant taken out of it to become a distinct and separate entity, just as the first woman Eve was distinct and separate from Adam's body. compare the columns in the table above. Observe how Ephesians 5:28-29 makes reference to the church consisting of we ourselves as members of the body of Christ. The Bride that will be taken out of the many membered Body will be heavenly bone of His heavenly bones and heavenly flesh of his heavenly flesh. The Bridegroom exhibited this heavenly flesh and bones for all the disciples to see and feel following His resurrection, and recorded this testimony for our sakes.

The Bride will be taken out of the Body in resurrection when the heavenly last Adam Bridegroom comes to receive her to Himself, and then she will be flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones, bearing the image of the heavenly! When, in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:31, it is declared that the two will become one flesh, it is a certain promise that the Bride's body will be of the same kind as His body!

The Bridegroom who is the sun of righteousness (Psalm 19:4-5, Malachi 4:2 ) will grant His Bride a sun kind of eternal glorified body! Oh, what grace and love! It seems a profound truth that Eve was taken from the first Adam's side while he was asleep, because as the Bride may note, the church of His body is falling even now into a deep sleep.

Here is another view of the wedding that will take place.

The one who has been set above his companions is the anointed one, HaMashiach, the Bridegroom Y'shua. His bride is seen here as beautiful and adorned with gold. Since the one addressed in verse 16 will make the sons princes throughout the land, this union of the Bridegroom and Bride will produce sons for Y'shua who will take the place of their fathers. A special message is given to the Bride: Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: and the instruction is given. The Bride will listen, and obey. She will forget her people and her Father's house, the body of Christ out from whom she came. Her focus will be solely upon her Groom! The virgins, her companions who follow her, those that will be brought to her are those virgins of Matthew 25 who are wise. They didn't "make the cut" when the Bride was taken, but do repent and wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb to make the "second cut."

There are many types of the Bride and Groom in the Bible to bring this most wonderful relationship into clearer view. Here are a few sketches.

Joseph and Asenath

In Genesis 41:45, Joseph, a widely recognized type of Christ, receives a significant name that signifies Christ. "Zaphenath-Paneah" means "revealer of secrets" or "treasury of the glorious rest." He receives a bride from Pharaoh, (God) sovereign ruler of Egypt. (Heaven)

Notice that this bride was Egyptian, chosen from outside the land of Canaan - a Gentile Bride type. She is the daughter of a priest (suggesting service to God) and the daughter of Potiphera, (he who worships [to the sun]) (* side bar) priest of On (light) (* side bar) Her name means "I shall be hated." This identifies her with her husband Y'shua, who was also hated. (* side bar)

In Psalm 45's scene depicting the Bridegroom and Bride, (see above) there are two features that recall the two sons born of the union between Joseph and Asenath.

Manasseh

Ephraim

Allusion is made in Genesis 41

Isaac and Rebecca

There is another lesson about the Bride found in Genesis. In chapter 22, we see the Patriarch Abraham as a type of the Heavenly Father, willing to sacrifice his son. Isaac is a type of Y'shua as the son willing to be sacrificed. The Bride type is found in chapter 24. An unnamed servant (the holy spirit) is sent by Abraham to get a bride for Isaac (Y'shua). The characteristic attitude of those who comprise the Bride is suggested by the gifts the servant presents to the beautiful virgin he finds. (v. 22) the ring is a nose ring, speaking to me of what is used to lead livestock. The large bracelets suggest manacles. These gifts are of gold, the finest quality adornment. The bride-to-be accepts these gifts, suggesting the bride's willingness to submit to the Bridegroom. Her name is Rebecca, which means "following." Make note that the holy-spirit type was carefully directed to search for the bride from outside Canaan but from among the Father's own people - suggestive of the Bride being chosen out from among the church.

Make note of what will be seen as a common thread in Bride-type accounts, the fact that the servant makes contact with the beautiful virgin as she comes to the well to draw water.

Moses and Zipporah

Name Meanings:

• Reuel: the shepherd or friend of God (Hitchcock) / associate ye with God, tend ye God (J.B.Jackson)
• Jethro: his excellence; his posterity (Hitchcock) / his remnant; excellence (J.B.Jackson)
• Midian: judgment; covering; habit (Hitchcock) / strife, contention (J.B.Jackson)
• Zipporah: beauty; trumpet; mourning (Hitchcock) / sparrow (J.B.Jackson)

As a general principle, I have noted that when you find a name appearing in a context where the meaning of the name can be observed in that context, you have a "red flag" being thrown on the field, in a sense, signalling that you have come upon a cryptic prophetic scenario. Moses' name means "drawing out."

In Exodus 2:17, Moses stood and watered their flock from the well he had come to sit by. The man named "drawing out" because he was drawn out of the water is shown drawing out water. See what I mean? So, we look for and find a cryptic prophetic scenario! It is a Bridegroom/Gentile Bride meeting.

This Bridegroom/Bride meeting by the well is one of three similar scenarios I've noted. In Genesis 22, Rebecca is the Bride type who is encountered at a well as she came to draw water. She married Isaac, the Bridegroom type. In John 4, the Samaritan woman who came to draw water met The Bridegroom himself at Jacob's well. That Zipporah is the daughter of a Gentile priest compares to the Bride type Asenath, the bride given to the patriarch Joseph by Pharaoh who was the daughter of the priest of On. Zipporah also compares to the Bride type Shulamite woman of the book of Solomon in that her skin was dark. (Song of Songs 1:6) Zipporah and the sons she would bear Moses were very dark complexioned. This speaks to me of long exposure to the Sun of Righteousness, basking in the light of His presence. (Malachi 4:2) The character of Zipporah is described in the book of Jasher. Jasher 78:8: ''And Zipporah walked in the ways of the daughters of Jacob, she was nothing short of the righteousness of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.'' Her character will be seen as such in an act of intercession for Moses I'll present shortly. The meanings of her name are appropriate for a Bride type. Beauty, as described by in the Song of Songs and as seen in Psalm 45:11. She is a trumpet as the instrument of praise, and the voice proclaiming the attributes of and coming of the Bridegroom. Mourning as one who has accepted the burden and reproach shared by the Bridegroom. She is like a sparrow which is perhaps the most humble of birds.

The Priest of Midian, father of the Bride type, is called by two names, Reuel and Jethro. He is then a shepherd and a friend of God, and the remnant representing His excellence. He plays an interesting role. He is in Jasher 77 shown to be the agent by whom the sapphire stick of God is returned back to the line of Jacob. This stick and how Moses acquires it is shown to be the impetus for Reuel the Midianite to give his daughter to Moses for a Bride.

In Zipporah we see the bride coming from out of the church modeled in that her father Reuel has seven daughters. Churches are symbolically represented as women, and these seven represent the seven churches as presented in Revelation 1:4.

Notice that the shepherds came and drove them away when they came to the well. Bride, you know how that feels, because this is what the shepherds appointed over the Lord's flock do to the truly thirsty - until The Deliverer comes and helps!

Finally, about Moses, the Bridegroom type came to the land of Midian, which according to the meaning of the name of the land was to the land of strife or contention. This is the environment in which a Bride may be found. Amen? As He the Bridegroom is, so are we who are His in this world.

The Woman at the Well

Y'shua met a woman at Jacob's well one day as she came to draw water. She, too, is a Bride-type. Please Read John 4 in its entirety before you continue. This woman was a Samaritan, considered to be a Gentile outside of the fold of Judaism.(* side bar) An interesting scenario develops that points out how the Bride is distinguished from the disciples. At the point where Y'shua begins a conversation with her, the narrative immediately mentions that the disciples had gone into town to buy food. (verse 8) And, at the exact point where Y'shua's conversation concludes, the disciples return. As verse 27 records:

A puzzling statement, is it not? Let me suggest that the puzzle is resolved when the Bride-type is understood. The food that the disciples went to buy is an important element in the context. From verses 31-34, we learn that food signifies doing the will of the one who sent Jesus and to finish his work. In verses 35-38, Y'shua reveals the nature of this work. The Bride has been faithfully doing this work, and therefore has food. Those disciples who are not the Bride do not have this food and must go buy it. Those disciples do not share the Bride's special relationship with the Bridegroom and all associated benefits so they are excluded in what transpires in 4:9-26. (* side bar) As the Bride departs, the disciples return to the scene. Having bought food, they don't need to ask what Y'shua wanted or why he talks with her, they now understand about the Bride.

In the course of the conversation between the Y'shua and the Bride-type, some wonderful truths are brought forth. Comparing with the servant's coming to the well seeking someone special for Isaac's bride, we read in John 4:23:

Such are those who comprise the Bride. The Samaritan woman wants to know about matters of eternal life, true worship and the Messiah. The Bride comes to the well to draw water, desiring to drink of the waters about which our Lord spoke in verse 14, "that will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The people of the town came to believe because of this woman's testimony and then because they made a direct investigation. (* side bar) I find it interesting that reference is made to property that was given as a gift to Joseph in verse 5's preface to the account. Wasn't that how he got a bride too? A final note: the two days are two thousand years.

Boaz and Ruth

Boaz (in him is strength) is a type of Christ as the kinsman-redeemer. The Book of Ruth shows us the Bride-type clearly as Ruth (satisfied, or, friend) becomes the bride of the Bridegroom-type Boaz. Ruth is descended from Moab (from Father) and thus follows the typical pattern of a Gentile bride. The relationship between Naomi, (my pleasantness) who represents Israel, and Ruth is very significant, as are the harvest activities. Notice that Ruth is made known to Boaz by the foreman of his harvesters, an unnamed servant - a type of the holy spirit. (Ruth 2:5-6) Consider how Ruth found favor with Boaz in Ruth 2:10-13: The Bride-type Ruth, as her name implies is a friend of Israel. What wonderful revelation is revealed in ruth 2:19-20 and following as Ruth helps bring Naomi to a special awareness of Boaz. Consider the following verse.

The maids are those of the church who were disqualified at the selection of the bride, the virgins of Matthew 25, and Psalm 45:14-15. Ruth has been among them in the fields. Winnowing barley on the threshing floor pictures the testing of the church at the selection of the Bride. I believe that the two kinds of grain barley and wheat represent the two divisions of the church whose reward will remain. The barley harvest occurs first because it ripens earlier. Y'shua himself is represented by barley. It appears that his Bride is also represented thusly. Why barley? Even to this day, a crop of barley is sometimes plowed under instead of being harvested because it conditions the soil, making it more productive for the next crop. It is a sacrificial crop! The firstfruits of the barley harvest is offered on Firstfruits, during Pesach, while the firstfruits of the wheat harvest is offered on Shavuot. notice that when we get to the threshing floor scenario, Ruth is found at the feet of Boaz.

Solomon and the Shulamite

Solomon (peaceableness) is a type of Christ as the prince of Peace, as the one to build God's house, and the one greatest in wisdom.

The above verse is a fantastic snapshot of the Bridegroom/Bride type in itself, but the whole of Song of Solomon appears to give us a broad portrayal. Though my understanding of it is certainly limited, I will share a few insights I think are valid.

The bride is not well liked, well, hated actually. The Bride is dark, suntanned from abiding in the light of the Sun of Righteousness as she works in the Vineyards.

As the Bride-type Rebecca had received a gold nose ring and manacle-like bracelets, this Bride-type is likened to a richly adorned mare harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh.

And so the Bride will arise and be taken to be with her Bridegroom in the spring of the year, as the early fruit is formed on the fig tree Israel. (See Romans 11:15)

Shulamite appears to be the feminine form of Solomon - representing "Mrs. Solomon," or, the Bride. As she is faithfully obedient to the command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, inquiring diligently as to the status of Jerusalem and their response to Y'shua's messiahship for signs of whether the vine or pomegranates had budded, she was escorted away upon the lead chariot of the princely people to be placed in the company of the sacred courts. Those who remained missed her greatly, being then very concerned about exactly what it was that distinguished her from them.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Though Daniel was a man and not a woman, (actually, he was a eunuch) I believe that he still fits the Bride type. Have you ever considered where shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were when Daniel alone was thrown into the lion's den in Daniel 6? Why weren't they included? And where was Daniel in chapter 3's test when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship nebuchadnezzar's image and were thrown into the fiery furnace? These riddles are solved when you view Daniel as a Bride-type and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as those who are left behind but wash their robes in the blood of the lamb. Although these four men are all of a kind, Daniel stands out as distinct in numerous ways. (See Daniel 1:7-21) while the other three were passing the test of refusal to worship the image-of-the-beast type and fiery furnace, (great-tribulation type) Daniel was in the King's palace. (LXX)(* side bar) The Bride-type was in an exalted royal position outside the influence of the great tribulation. (* side bar)

May you be found worthy, dear friend!

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