The New Jerusalem – The Bride, the wife of the Lamb
Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, 3:58 pm By
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*Note*  It is difficult to identify the bride of Christ because the Paul has stated that he desires to present the Church as a pure virgin bride to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2), the faithful “Spiritual born again” wife.  While Israel is seen as the unfaithful wife of Christ, the “natural sinful born” wife (Jeremiah 3:20,Ezekiel 16:30-34), who Jesus will redeem (Isaiah 61:10, Hosea 2:18-23).  These “two” types, the natural born and the Spiritual born, are seen through out scripture to teach us that Jesus came to “redeem” the natural by a Spiritual birth in Him. 

In addition to these two types of brides, Revelation 21:9 says the New Jerusalem “is the bride“, the wife of the Lamb.  Jesus told his disciples that He is going to prepare a place for them, “the New Jerusalem”, the Bride of Christ.  It has Gates for the 12 Tribes (those saved during the Jewish law) and Foundation Stones for the 12 Apostles (those saved during the Church of grace).  And the New Jerusalem is home to the OT Saints prior to the law because Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” – Hebrew 11:10.  

John the baptist rejoiced that he was the “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:39), not the bride and so from this scripture we see that God has ordained believers of different “Dispensations” to have a different purpose and relationship with Christ, while “all” believers will reside in the new Jerusalem. I have even considered that the Church is the bride of Christ, Israel is the bride of God and the New Jerusalem is the bride of the Holy Spirit. 

The best understanding is that the New Jerusalem is the “place” where all believers will reside and in a sense every believer is a “bride” of Christ in that we come from the redeeming blood that flowed from His side on the cross (click here for an article that supports this understanding).  I don’t pretend to understand how it all works or that I have correctly identified the Bride in this article.  God is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 9:21).  What God has pre-ordained, purposed and equipped each person for is for that person “the best in Jesus Christ”.  Amen.


Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be anydeath; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:  9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Wow, this is the final vision that is given to John of “the bride, the wife of the Lamb“, coming down from Heaven, the New Jerusalem, toward the “new” resurrected eternal earth, after the 1,000 year Millennium period.  There is a lot to discuss concerning this vision but before I discuss the New Jerusalem, I’d like to review what John has already seen.  Prior to this vision of the New Jerusalem John has been seen the vision of God’s “commendation and condemnation” for His seven Churches, during the Church age.  Then John has seen God’s judgment upon the earth during the seven years of Tribulation where the Antichrist reigned for the first 3 1/2 years, until he declared himself “god” in the temple in Jerusalem at the mid-way point at which time the Antichrist’s reign was ended and God’s wrath was poured out upon the earth for the last 3 1/2 years.  At the end of the seven years of Tribulation, Jesus comes to earth in a victory march with His Bride, who is clothed in fine linen,  to remove all those have taken the mark of the Beast and to remove all “goat” unbelievers from earth and to bind Satan for 1,000 years.

Revelation 19: 7“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 19: 11And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

As the scripture reveals, the Bride of Christ in Revelation 21:10 is the New Jerusalem city that comes down to earth “after” the Millennium period and the Bride of Christ in Revelation 19:7 is the Saints wearing white linen on white horses who come to earth “before” the Millennium period.  What is God trying to tell us?  Is this the same Bride or two different Brides?

“The Bride” in Revelation 19:7 is “The Army of Saints“ who are clothed in fine white linen coming down to earth with Jesus as He claims the final victory at the close of the seven year Tribulation period.  The Saints have received their resurrected bodies and robes of fine linen while they were in Heaven and they are riding on white horses as they come down to earth as the “bride of Christ”, to attend the marriage to the Lamb, Jesus, and “begin” the Millennium Kingdom, where they will rule and reign with Christ.

I believe the Bride of Revelation 19:7 who are in white linen on white horses are composed of the resurrected Church, the resurrected Tribulation Saints and the resurrected Old Testament Saints (which include the believing Jews).   I think the Church Age believers are resurrected and raptured to Heaven prior to the seven year Tribulation period and they enjoy a consummation of marriage with the Groom who is Christ for seven years, while Tribulation occurs on earth for seven years.  At the end of the seven years the resurrected Church Bride is joined by resurrected Tribulation Saints and the resurrected Old Testament Saints as they come to earth to proclaim their wedding vows on earth and celebrate the marriage supper which will last like a honeymoon for 1,000 years.

I will discuss the unfaithful wife of Israel later in this article but for now let’s consider the scriptures that declare that the Church is the faithful “virgin bride” of Christ.  It is not that the Church is perfect but the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer sanctifies the believer and makes the believer pure and righteous in God’s sight.  

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

Ephesians 5: 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Jesus, comes to rapture His virgin bride, the Church, to Heaven before the Tribulation period, just like He removed the “righteous” Lot and his family before destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and He removed the righteous Noah and his family before destroying the earth in the flood.  The seven years of Tribulation are to fulfill the time of the last week of Jewish discipline, Jacob’s trouble.  They are not for discipline or judgement of the Church.  The tradition of a Jewish wedding is that the groom would come unexpected at the voice of the best man and a trumpet and take his bride to the Father’s house to exchange vows.  This is what is the “rapture” event that Paul talks about.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Then the groom and bride would consummate the marriage for seven days, while at the same time a wedding party would feast for 7 days.  This is why many Christians see the rapture of the Church and the following seven years as fulfilling a marriage and marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven.

And while there may be a marriage in Heaven between Christ and His Church, there is also a marriage on earth that occurs at the end of the Tribulation period and start of the Millennium period.  One possibility is that the Church is not married in Heaven but only receives Her resurrected body and fine linen and adorned with her jewels that she will be receive for her faithfulness at the Beama seat of Christ.  Another possibility is that the bride of Christ is increased as bodies of believers are “resurrected” at various times.  I think it’s likely that “the resurrected Church” has a marriage ceremony and consummation in Heaven at the rapture and then vows are “renewed” on earth at the start of the Millennium, when the resurrected Old Testament Saints and resurrected Tribulation Saints receive their bodies and join the ceremony. 

Robert Breaker, in the below video, teaches that there are two brides … God the Father is married to Israel and God the Son, Jesus, is married to the Church. 

However, the Old Testament scripture indicates that it is “the Lord Jesus” that is betrothed to the “forsaken and unfaithful” wife Israel.   He has promised to redeem Her and marry Her when She recognizes Christ as the “One whom they pierced.”   This recognition by the Jews occurs at the close of the Tribulation period so it makes sense that the wedding day and wedding feast of the redeem Jews occurs occurs on earth at the start of the Millennium period.

Ezekiel  16: 30“How languishing is your heart,” declares the Lord GOD, “while you do all these things, the actions of a bold-faced harlot. 31“When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in disdaining money, you were not like a harlot. 32“You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33“Men give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries. 34“Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.”

Isaiah 62: 

           4It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,”
            Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
            But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”
            And your land, “Married”;
            For the LORD delights in you,
            And to Him your land will be married.

      5For as a young man marries a virgin,
            So your sons will marry you;
            And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
            So your God will rejoice over you.

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  – Isaiah 61:10

The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.  – Isaiah 25:6

Hosea 2

       18“In that day I will also make a covenant for them
            With the beasts of the field,
            The birds of the sky
            And the creeping things of the ground.
            And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land,
            And will make them lie down in safety.

      19“I will betroth you to Me forever;
            Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
            In lovingkindness and in compassion,

      20And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
            Then you will know the LORD.

      21“It will come about in that day that I will respond,” declares the LORD.
            “I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,

      22And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and to the oil,
            And they will respond to Jezreel.

      23“I will sow her for Myself in the land.
            I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion,
            And I will say to those who were not My people,
            ‘You are My people!’
            And they will say, ‘You are my God!’”

This marriage to Israel on earth and the marriage supper that follows must be accomplished and that’s what happens during the Millennium period.  The “Bride of Christ” at the start of the Millennium will be composed of all Resurrected believers, from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, both Gentile and Jew.   And those those who attend the wedding on earth are the believing Sheep people who survive the Tribulation period and enter into the Millennium in moral bodies.  Then eventually, at the close of the 7,000 year Age for earth, “all” the believers who have accept Jesus as Savior will be the “wife of the Lamb”, living in the New Jerusalem and coming down from Heaven to the New eternal Earth.  Click on this link for more information about this interpretation:

     http://www.ifca.org/home/140001498/140001500/VOICE97-JanFeb.pdf

Scripture (Revelation 19:8) reveals that the fine linen is the “righteous acts of the saints” and therefore some commentators think only believers who have done great righteous acts of faith for the Lord will be rewarded with a fine linen garment and accompany Christ on the ride with Christ to earth.  Although it is true that believers will receive “rewards” at the Judgment Seat of Christ based on their acts of faith and service on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10), there are certain privileges that “all” believers will share simply because they have done the most important “righteous act of faith“, which is to identify with the Lord of Righteousness, Jesus Christ.

We see from scripture that each “believer” is clothed by Christ (Galatians 3:27), made “perfect” in their position before God because of Christ (Hebrews 10:14), made free from condemnation because of Christ (Romans 8:1), guaranteed entry into Heaven because of their salvation in Christ (John 6:37) and given the title of “overcomer” in Christ (1 John 5:4-5).  As an overcomer in Christ, each believer can look forward to enjoying the privileges that are granted to “overcomers”, as revealed by John in the prophecy to the seven Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:21).  One of these privilege is to be clothed in a white garment, which covers the resurrected body of a believer.  The white garment is the outward appearance that reflects the inward Spiritual life of Christ in the resurrected believer.  Revelation 3:5  “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”   Click on the following link to read more about the privileges promised to each born-again believer in Christ.  http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/who-is-the-overcomer.html

Also, we know that the Tribulation Saints are given white robes. “I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. – Revelation 7:14”   So it makes sense that they join the Church Age Saints, riding on white horses as they come to earth for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-8).  From scripture, we know that the Tribulation Saints serve Christ in the Temple (Revelation 7:15), sit upon thrones and reign with Christ for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4), while the Church reigns with Christ on earth with a rod of iron for 1,000 years (Revelation 2:26-27).  But how about the dead bones of Israel, according to Ezekiel 27:1-28, they are resurrected to life prior to the Millennium and enjoy Christ’s reign on earth.  Are they part of the Bride of Christ at this time?

To reiterate the events in chronological order, the the Bride of Christ, the Church is raptured to Heaven by the groom, Jesus, “prior” to the seven year Tribulation period.  The Bride of Christ, Church age believers receive their resurrected bodies, clothed in white linen garment will return with Jesus on white horses to remove all those who have taken the mark of the Beast and all “Goat” nations.  Then Satan is cast into the abyss for 1,000 years.  The all the Sheep nation people who survived the Tribulation period (Jews and Gentiles) will begin an existence on the earth for 1,000 year.  With Christ ruling on the earth, the nature of animals will be changed to where they live at peace with man and one another, plus there will be no more bad weather either.  This union with believing Israel on earth is a marriage and the 1,000 years of peace is like a marriage supper for them and Honeymoon period for the Church who reigns with Christ.  Then after 1,000 years are complete and after a brief war to remove unbelievers from earth who are born during the Millennium Age, the bride of Christ, which includes “all” believers for all eternity, will come down to a “new earth”, from within a New Jerusalem city, to be with Christ for eternity!

Let’s examine the who is the Groom and who is the Bride from scripture:

Mark 2:19-20 – And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

John 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

Ephesians 5: 22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.  25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Yes, Christ is the Groom and the Church is the “bride of Christ” but the above passage does not say that other believers that came before the Church and after the Church aren’t also part of the bride of Christ.  This is what Jesus tells Nicodemus, I have not come with a new teaching about salvation and since you are a ruler/teacher of the Jews you should know that you must be “born again” of the Spirit of God to be saved.  John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?  5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.   And Paul reiterates that the body of Christ includes “any” person who has been Spiritually born in Christ, regardless of their physically born identity. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.“  And Paul further clarifies that believers who came before the Church age “lived by faith” and were looking for a city prepared by God … the New Jerusalem.  Hebrews 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

So we have established that believers in Christ, past, present and future are the “faithful bride of Christ” but how about Israel? … she is also known as a bride of Christ. Jeremiah 3:20 “Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.  You see, Israel, is the “unfaithful bride of Christ”.  Yes, Israel is God’s chosen people, that God used to witness His purpose and power to the world.  Also God fulfilled His promise to bring a Messiah into the world through the linage of a Jewish family, from the Tribe of Judah.  So being born a Jew, brings with it a guarantee of God’s supernatural “physical” protection but being born a Jew does not guarantee a person entry into Heaven.  This must be done by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  Those Jews who made animal sacrifices, had to offer their sacrifice by grace through faith in the “Messiah to come”, otherwise, their offering was seen as worthless works of man.

The two types of wives, expand upon the teaching of the “two types” that are seen throughout scripture.  Christ “first” marries the unfaithful wife, Israel, who represents man’s sinful unbelieving state that we are born with, while the “the bride of Christ” is the “second” faithful wife and represents all believers who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.   Similarly, the first type of man is “Adam” who is the natural born, sinful and unfaithful.  The second or last type of man is “Jesus” who is the Spiritually born, perfect and faithful man.  The first born “Cain” is the unfaithful man who brings an offering of his works, the second born “Able” brings a pleasing blood offering to the Lord.  The first child “Ismael” is born to the handmaiden of Abraham and is out case from the family (note, the offspring of Ismael becomes a rival nation to Israel, even perpetuated today under the demonic influence of Islam) , while the second child “Isaac” is born as promised by God to Abraham wife Sarah and thus becomes the chosen people of God.  Esau, the first born twin loses his birthright to Jacob, the second born.  The first king “Saul” is unfaithful to God while the second king “David” is a man after God’s own heart.  Thus it makes sense that the first wife represents all unbelievers while the second wife, the bride of Christ, represents all believers.

A clue that leads to the understanding that the “bride of Christ” includes more than just Church age believers is that when we read about the “the armies in heaven” riding with Jesus, we see that they are wearing “white linen” (Revelation 9:14), and we know that the Tribulation saints are clothed in “white linen” (Revelation 7:14) so it makes sense that they are part of this army and they are part of the bride of Christ.  Moreover, I think all believers from the Old Testament, including the Jews, will receive their resurrected body at the end of the Tribulation period and they will either “ride to victory with Jesus” or they will “join the Bride on the earth” to enjoy the marriage supper of the lamb.  They will also enjoy the 1,000 year honeymoon where the Bride will reign and rule with Christ for 1,000 years on earth.  After the 1,000 year honeymoon is over, Christ’s bride is seen coming down in her “new home” that Christ has prepared for Her … the New Jerusalem.

Remember what Jesus said to his disciples shortly before he went to the cross in John 14:  1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

The place that Jesus has been preparing for His believing children is the New Jerusalem!  And what a place it is.  A giant city that is 1,500 miles wide in all four directions, like a square.  But is is also 1,500 miles high, which some think John saw a cube or a pyramid but he probably saw a mountain that was 1,500 miles high, like God’s holy Mt Zion.  The city has a giant wall all around it of crystal-clear jasper and 12 gates, 3 to a side, made of pearl, that are always open.  Over each gate is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12).  

Revelation 21:15The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The wall has 12 foundation stones that are adorned with every kind of precious stone and written on each stone is the name of one of the twelve apostles.  Note, this is another clue that proves that “the bride of Christ” includes both the Jews (the 12 gates) and the Church age believers (the 12 foundation stones).    The 12 foundation stones are perhaps underneath each gate and they are similar to the 12 gem stones found in the priest breastplate.  It’s not clear which stone is associated to which apostle but this web site matches up the gem stones to the tribe or gate.  http://ichthys.com/New_Jerusalem.htm  also consider this link  http://crystalstheirmeanings.com/the-12-foundation-stones-in-new-jerusalem-crystals-and-the-bible

East:

1. Judah: Sardius: Hebrew: אדם /`odhem; Greek: sardion / σάρδιον (Gen.49:8-12; Deut.33:7).

2. Issachar: Sardonyx: Hebrew: פטדה / pitedhah; Greek: sardonyx / σαρδόνυξ (Gen.49:14-15; Deut.33:18-19).

3. Zebulun: Emerald: Hebrew: ברקת / bareqeth; Greek: smaragdos / σμάραγδος (Gen.49:13; Deut.33:18-19).

South:

1. Reuben: Carnelian: Hebrew: נפך / nophekh; Greek: chalcedon / χαλκηδών (Gen.49:3-4; Deut.33:6).

2. Simeon: Sapphire: Hebrew: ספיר / sappir; Greek: sapphiros / σάπφιρος (Gen.49:5-7; cf. Deut.33:8-11).

3. Gad: Jasper: Hebrew: יהלם / yahalom; Greek: iaspis / ἴασπις (Gen.49:19; Deut.33:20-21).

West:

1. Benjamin: Amethyst: Hebrew: אחלמה / `achalamah; Greek: amethystos / ἀμέθυστος (Gen.49:27; Deut.33:12).

2. Manasseh: Chrysoprase: Hebrew: שבו / shebho; Greek: chrysoprasos / χρυσόπρασος (Gen.49:22-26; Deut.33:13-17).

3. Ephraim: Jacinth: Hebrew: לשם / leshem; Greek: hyakinthos / ὑάκινθος (Gen.49:22-26; Deut.33:13-17).

North:

1. Naphtali: Peridot: Hebrew: ישפה / yashepheh; Greek: topazion / τοπάζιον (Gen.49:21; Deut.33:23).

2. Asher: Aquamarine-Beryl: Hebrew: שהם / shoham; Greek: beryllos / βήρυλλος (Gen.49:20; Deut.33:24-25).

3. Dan: Chrysolite: Hebrew: תרשיש / tarshish; Greek: chrysolithos / χρυσόλιθος (Gen.49:16-18; Deut.33:22).

At at the very top of the mountain resides the the throne of God and the Lamb and coming forth from the throne is clear living water (Revelation 22:1), which I think will make an ever increasing stream and river as it comes down the mountain.  And on either side of the stream of living water are the trees that bear 12 different kinds of fruit for the healing of the nations.  And on either side the of trees is a gold highway … the real yellow brick road!

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  – Psalm 46:4

So is the New Jerusalem in the Spiritual realm or the Physical realm?  And will the Bride of Christ live in the New Jerusalem after the Rapture and during the Millennium?  Well, I don’t know for sure but since God is Spirit, then His throne must be in the Spiritual Realm.  I therefore think the New Jerusalem is in the Spiritual Realm of Heaven, while the new earth is in the Physical Realm.  My pastor thinks the separating wall between the Physical Realm and the Spiritual realm will be torn away when God makes the New Heaven and New Earth, like the veil was torn open revealing the Holy of Holies in the temple when Christ was crucified.  But I think it is more the case that the veil over our eyes will be torn away and we will be able to see both the Spiritual Realm and the Physical Realm when we have our new resurrected body.  And I think we will be able to traverse and exist in either the Physical or Spiritual Realm (like Jesus was able to do after His resurrection).   I also think our capability in what we can do and experience will be different depending on which Realm “we choose or are called by assignment” to be in, this way we can enjoy the pleasure of either Realm to it’s fullest extent.

Currently, the New Jerusalem is in the Spiritual realm and the living water is God’s Spiritual drink and the fruit from the trees is God’s Spiritual food.  I think as we traverse between the New Jerusalem an the New earth this will fulfill the vision that Jacob saw, where angles where ascending and descending from heaven to earth (Genesis 28:12).   Believers in Jesus Christ are the living stones that make up the New Jerusalem, with Christ being the chief corner stone or “cap stone”.   For a believer Jesus is the corner stone of your life … He the rock of your sure foundation but for a unbeliever is the “stumbling block” that trips you as you think you are in charge of your life.

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:5

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1

At the end of the Millennium period, the current earth will be burnt and purged of corruption by fire (2 Peter 3:10) but the “new earth” will be very much like the current earth, only better since it will not experience death, corruption or decay.  It will be teaming with life, both of plant, fish, animal, bird, reptile and perhaps a few new species.  Not only will we be reunited with people we know (which actually that happens in Heaven after we die or after we are raptured to Heaven) but on the new earth we will be able to enjoy activities with our loved ones, like sports, dancing, romance?, eating, music, learning, arts, building, eating … or did I mention “eating” that again.  Well, when the rolls are passed up yonder I’ll be there.  Plus on the new earth I think we will be reunited with the pets we loved on the first earth.

God is going to give us a resurrected body the can fully enjoy the new earth in the Physical Realm and the New Jerusalem in the Spiritual Realm.  Perhaps adventure and going where no man has gone before into the Cosmos will be a favorite activity during the Eternal Age to come! 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

I can only image!   – Rogersings   +8^)   

I have depicted the New Jerusalem as a Mountain and some think it’s a cube but here is a discussion of why it might be a pyramid:

great pyramid      great pyramid chambers

http://christiandiscussionsmsn.yuku.com/topic/10675/Is-new-Jerusalem-a-cube-or-a-pyramid#.V1XPAOT0HzM

This discussion (above link) is interesting because it talks a little about the Great Gaza Pyramid, which I believe is a sign from God, with 144,000 polished lime stones covering it and chambers inside which depict the Dispensation Ages of man through the ages.  Plus the geometry of the pyramid is fascinating and includes the golden ratio that is found in beauty!  This image of the New Jerusalem at the top of the page and the first image of the Great Pyramid (above) are from Clarence Larkin’s book “Dispensational Truth”.  Clarence published this book in 1918 and a hundred years later the study of the Great Pyramid is still fascinating and revealing the secrets of God to men.  You can read the online PDF version of Clarence Larkin’s book free by clicking on this link:  http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Books_V/Dispensational-Truth.pdf

Note, the Egyptians copied the great pyramid design and polluted it’s Godly purpose just like the American founding fathers who were Freemasons put the pyramid symbol and the all seeing eye of Satan on the dollar bill, which is the god that the Masons worship.  Satan, the great deluder of man takes what God makes for His glory and deceives man into believing that he doesn’t need God but man can have peace and glory apart from God.  And the “New World Order” that the world so desperately desires and embraces are exactly the Latin words that are inscribed on the dollar bill “Novus Ordo Seclorum“

You must be born again and stay grounded in Jesus Christ to avoid being swept up by the lies of Satan.  And Satan pollutes the Heavenly signs of zodiac with fortune telling and birth horoscopes.  But God put the stars in place, in a Godly order, through the seasons to tell the story of Creation and and Redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ, “The Mazzaroth”.  And God built the Great Pyramid, perhaps by Job or Enoch with Angels muscle and know how to tell the story of man, his fall and his way to redemption by faith in Jesus Christ.

Chuck Missler does a good job revealing the wonderful mysteries of the Great Pyramid, including the meaning of the “Christ Angle” of  26 degrees 18 minutes 9.63 seconds.   Also see this web site has some good info: http://www.europa.com/~edge/giza.html

 

Comparing a Jewish Wedding to the Wedding of the Bride of Christ

Just like there are similarities between the Jewish systems of sacrifice and worship on earth compared to the sacrifice and worship in Heaven, there are similarities between the Jewish wedding on earth and the wedding of the bride of Christ in Heaven.  That which God has ordained on earth is a copy and “shadow” of that which is done in Heaven.  Eventually, though God will do away with the copy of Heavenly things on earth and reveal real Heavenly things on earth.  That is why we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”.  And that is what the New Jerusalem is a real Spiritual place where the throne of God resides and a real Spiritual place where His bride of all “human” believers reside.  It is the tabernacle of God that is among men (Revelation 21:3).  However, the good Angles, Cherubim and Seraphim are not part of bride of Christ because they are not redeemed from sin by the Lamb.  These Heavenly beings resided in Heaven while the earth and man was created and I think they will continue to reside in Heaven in their current location within the Spiritual Realm.  And the fallen Angles and Satan and the false prophet and the unbelieving humans will reside in the Lake of Fire where they will be tormented forever within the Spiritual Realm.

So let’s compare the Old Testament Jewish wedding and the wedding of the bride of Christ.

 

Step O.T. Jewish Wedding
Bride of Christ Wedding Scriptures
Marriage Covenant The father of the bride and the the groom would establish the marriage covenant and contract price that the groom would pay for the bride.  At this point the couple are not considered married and they can back out of the arranged marriage.  Often the couple could be very young and so it was years later before the groom would pay the contract price.  If the woman was unfaithful during this time or didn’t consent to the marriage, the wedding contract would not be enforced.  God the Father made a marriage covenant in the garden of Eden that one day a man from the seed of woman (Jesus) would conquer Satan and pay the price for the bride.  In a way, Satan is kind of like the father of the bride (man), since man is born in sin and a slave to Satan.  By shedding the blood of an innocent animal and clothing Adam and Eve, God symbolically demonstrates what is necessary for the forgiveness of sin.  Perfect obedience to the Father’s will even unto death is what is necessary for forgiveness of sin and this is the wedding price for redeemed man (the bride) that Jesus (the groom) agreed to pay. Man is born Spiritually disconnected from God unable to know God’s will and he must be Spiritually “born again” by grace through faith in Jesus to be eternally united with God, or else man will die in His sin, eternally separated from God.  Unbelievers are like the woman who doesn’t consent to be the bride of Jesus.  Unbelievers are married to the cares of this world and the their self indulgent nature (sin)!  But those who believe in Jesus and put their trust in Him will be married to Jesus forever and enjoy Him forever in Heaven and on the Millennium (honeymoon) earth and on the new eternal earth.  Genesis 3:15
Betrothal The groom would pay the price to the Father of the bride.  At this point it is a done deal, the couple were considered married but they could not be intimate with one another or be with one another until their place of residence was prepared.   Jesus paid the price for His bride (those who believe He is their Savior from sin) by living a perfect life on earth in obedience to the Father, even laying down His life for His bride upon the Cross.  Jesus paid it all!   Jesus paid the price of for all men but not all men choose to be His bride.  Jesus was resurrected on the third day and visited with his disciples (the bride) for several days but then He ascended to Heaven to prepare the New Jerusalem.  He did not stay with His bride but He left the person of the Holy Spirit to be with His bride until He came for her.
Bridal House Prepared The son returns to his father’s house and prepares the bridal house, which is usually an addition to the father’s house.  The father determines when the addition is “good enough” for the bride to live in and he tells the son when he can go “fetch” his bride and bring her home. Jesus has been building our mansions or rooms in Heaven for almost 2,000 years.  Jesus was a master carpenter on earth but His masterpiece will be the New Jerusalem where He will live with His bride over the earth.  When Jesus said that “no one knows the day of the hour of His return but only the Father”, He was referring to this Jewish wedding custom, not the fact that He didn’t know.  No man knows when Jesus will come for His bride but Jesus said that when He returns it will be like the days of Noah, when people will not only be lost in sin but they will be celebrating their life of sin and forcing others to join them,  This sounds like what is going on in the world today, so I think the time for Jesus to come get His bride could be very soon. John 14:2; Acts 1:9-11
Fetched When the Father determines that the bridal house is ready the father tells the groom to go fetch the bride to bring her to his father’s house. Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the time of his coming. As a result, the groom’s arrival was preceded by a shout, which forewarned the bride to be prepared for his coming. This is my favorite part when Jesus comes in the clouds to call His bride to Heaven, with a shout, with the sound of a Trump, in the twinkling of an eye!  This snatching away of the bride to Heaven is known as the “the rapture”.  It will be sudden and unexpected.  People will be conducting business as usual on earth when the Jesus suddenly appears in the air and snatches up His bride (all believers from the earth).  This is why He says watch and be ready, like the 5 wise virgins who were the bridesmaids waiting for the groom.  Keep your lamps burning with the Holy Spirit oil.  I think the 5 foolish virgins were not really saved because they had no oil in the lamps.   As soon as we are raptured we will receive our resurrected body and robes of white linen.  If you study the Jewish feasts days, you will see how there was a New Testament time fulfillment of the Old Testament feast, such as the slaying of Jesus on the cross occurred on the same day the “Passover Lamb” was sacrificed, which began the Feast of Unleavened bread.  While the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost matches the feast of Weeks (the beginning of the Harvest of believers) occurred 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits (Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection).  The next feast is the feast of Trumpets and many believe that is the day the Rapture will occur.  God’s word is so intricately and beautifully woven together, and God is pleased to reveal His word to those who take the time to know Him.  Mat. 24:36) John John 14:3; 1Th. 1Th. 4:13-18
Private Wedding Ceremony and Consummation In the privacy of the bridal chamber (the huppah) the bride and groom confess their love for one another and consummate their marriage for seven day. We will enjoy intimacy with Jesus in Heaven for seven years, while the seven year Tribulation is occurring on earth.  At this time we will get to know Jesus fully as we will be fully known to our self.  This is time we will appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive rewards for good works done on earth in Jesus name.  We will be adorned with crowns and jewels given to us by our Husband and Lord. Rev. Rev. 19:7+
Marriage Feast Celebration

 

 The couple would join the celebratory marriage feast to which many are invited.  This feasts lasts for several days. We ride on white horses (the Bride) with Jesus (the Groom) from Heaven to earth.  Jesus removes all unbelievers from the earth and we reign and rule with Christ for 1,000 years.  This is the marriage feast of the Lamb and the Honeymoon period for the bride and groom.  The guests to the feast will be those believers who physically survive the seven year Tribulation period. Mtt. Mat. 22:1-14; Mat. 25:1-13; Luke Luke 12:36
Live Happily Ever After Well, this doesn’t actually happen for an earthly couple because they are not always happy and they don’t live forever on earth.  But those who put their faith in Christ can have joy in the midst of sadness, knowing that one day Jesus will wipe away every tear. After 1,000 years, God creates a new Heaven and New Earth and then Jesus’ bride, is seen as the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven to reside over the earth.  We, the bride of Christ, will be in the eternal Spiritual city with our groom Jesus.  We will be able to come and go in and out of the city to the new earth and to other places both Physical and Spiritual.  

 

This ancient ritual is seen from the time of Abraham, right down to the first century (the following information is taken from this link):

http://www.bible.ca/marriage/ancient-jewish-three-stage-weddings-and-marriage-customs-ceremony-in-the-bible.htm

    1. Rebekah contract: “But when food was set before him to eat, he said, “I will not eat until I have told my business.” And he said, “Speak on.”” (Genesis 24:33)
    2. Rebekah contract: ““Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord. The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.” (Genesis 24:51–53)
    3. Rebekah consented: “And they said, “We will call the girl and consult her wishes.” Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”” (Genesis 24:57–58)
    4. Rebekah consummation: “Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel. She said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” Then she took her veil and covered herself. The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” (Genesis 24:64–67)
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One thought on “The New Jerusalem – The Bride, the wife of the Lamb”

  1. Very informative. I have always thought the city would be a cube because the 3 gatess on each side. Making 3×4.=12. But I do agree that maybe God resides on a mountain. I also agree . the New Jerusalem is in the Spiritual Realm of Heaven, while the new earth is in the Physical Realm.

    This is very well written and a lot of very good information. I listened to it and think your having diffwrent translations excellent. Very few websites have this. A thought came to mind that your site will be a great source of information possibly during the great tribulation as many different people can hear it in their language.
    I found it funny how the narrator speaks everything literally. breaking down everything e.g. a full stop is dot. When she quoted scripture passages she would say five minus 2 which meant 5-2…Lol.
    You have put a great amount of time and effort into your site and I pray God will miraculously get it out there somehow.

    Reply

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