Posted on 04/10/2020 7:22:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
There is one reference to "bride" in chapter 21, but it is referring to the new Jerusalem, which is not "the Church".
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
It is a simile, using "like" or "as". Whatever attributes the new Jerusalem possesses, it is adorned in a similar fashion. It doesn't say new Jerusalem is a bride. No where does it mention the "Church".
The male bishop, or the female bishop, or the lgbdt(whatever) bishop?
I guess we have a difference of opinion. Have a blessed day.
And those graduates took it to their local churches.
Indeed. This is was/is called the long march through the institutions. We slept and they crept.
Wesleyan and Nazarene a couple of the non-apostate denominations left.
I was mistaken about the number of references. There are two (2). Whereas the 1st does not explicitly state that new Jerusalem is the bride, the 2nd reference leaves nothing in doubt:
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
(Revelation 21:9-10)
This city consists of a high wall with 12 gates, with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. The wall has a foundation consisting of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. Only those are saved may enter:
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
(Revelation 21:27)
The word "church" (gk. ἐκκλησία) does not appear in any of these passages.
Have a blessed Easter.
For me I grew up catholic but other half of the family lutheran, seems clear reading the Bible it is faith not religion - per James 1:27 “the only true religion is one that takes care of widows and orphans AND is not corrupted by this world.”
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