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Who Is Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Bride?
Or, Who is the “Bride of Christ” Really?
In case you just surfed into Addendum #5, it belongs to Who Is Yeshua’s Bride. It is supplemental Bible verses identifying who she is. It should be readily apparent who she is—yet few people know! You have probably been taught that the marriage supper is between Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah and His “Church” (or Assembly). Could Revelation 21 simply be elaborating on the same marriage that was prophesied about by the prophets of old? Are there two marriages? Is there a connection between this jubilant time and the restoration of Israel?
In case you still aren’t sure who the prophesied woman is—take A LOOK AT THESE prophecies having to do with “Jerusalem”, “Zion” and “her”. There are virtually no gender relevant words from the Bible that help in translating into English. One interesting gender specific word in Aramaic is that the 'special' spirit is feminine. I think that should tell us something. There are very few of the hundreds of Bible verses mentioning “her” that are not in reference to things literally pertaining to actual women; making all of the references to Jerusalem and “her” all the more noteworthy. The proverbs do personify “wisdom” and “virtue” as women, as is done almost universally in prose. The sun, moon and earth are occasionally referred to as “her”, especially in reference to the prophetic restoration of Israel. Other city-states and nations, almost exclusively those who have tried to destroy Israel, are personified as women—the Babylon, Moab, Egypt and Tyre in particular. And yes, there are two references describing a ship as “her”.
Isaiah 4:4 once Yehovah has washed away the filth of the maidens of Zion, and rinsed the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of justice and a spirit that sets ablaze!—The Gabriel Bible
Isaiah 10:11 so shouldn’t I deal with Jerusalem and her images the way I dealt with Samaria and her idols?
Isaiah 37:22 this is the 'message' that Yehovah has spoken against him: “The virgin maiden of Zion despises you and scorns you. The maiden Jerusalem wags her head at your back sides as you flee [U]!
Isaiah 40:2 Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her warfare is over, that her injustice has been pardoned and that she has received from Yehovah’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 44:26 confirming the 'words' of His servants, and carrying out the 'predictions' of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She’ll be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They’ll be rebuilt,’ and I’ll restore all your ruins!’
Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I won’t remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t remain quiet until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her deliverance like a burning torch.
Isaiah 65:18 Be glad and rejoice forever in what I’m going to create, because I’m creating [a New] Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people a joy. [2]
[2] In verses: 17-19: A common misconception is that somehow, without notice or reason, the timeline jumps to a time after the millennium! Yet there is no justification in postponing the crowning events in this eight chapter long finale of human and satanic rule that began in chapter 59!Isaiah 65:19 I [Yehovah] will celebrate in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. Screaming and crying will never again be heard in the city.
Isaiah 66:10 Celebrate with Jerusalem and be happy for her. Everyone who mourns over her should be extremely delighted.
Jeremiah 5:1 oam up and down thru every street in Jerusalem. Search its broad places and see if you can find even one just and honest person, and I’ll pardon her.
Jeremiah 6:6 This is what Commander Yehovah says: “Cut down trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city will be punished. There is nothing but oppression there.
Jeremiah 14:2 Judah mourns, and its marketplaces have collapsed, they sit in mourning on the ground. The cry of Jerusalem has ascended.
Jeremiah 23:14 Among the prophets of Jerusalem I’ve seen a horrible thing, they commit adultery and live a lie, they empower evil people, so that no one turns away from their evil ways. They have all become like Sodom to Me, and its [Jerusalem’s] inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 44:17 But we’ll certainly do everything we 'said' we would do by burning incense to the Queen of Heaven, and pouring drink offerings to her as we’ve always done, we and our ancestors, our kings and our leaders in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, since we had plenty of food there and were well off and 'had' no problems.
Lamentations 1:7 During the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all the good things from the old days. But her people fell into the grasp of the adversary, and there is no one to help her. The adversaries saw her and laughed at her downfall.
Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem has sinned so much that she has become an unclean thing. Everyone who used to honor her despises her, because they’ve seen her nakedness. Even she herself groans and turns away.
Lamentations 1:17 Zion reaches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. Yehovah has said in regard to Jacob that his neighbors should be his adversaries. Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.
Ezekiel 5:5 The Sovereign Yehovah says: This is Jerusalem. I’ve set her in the center of the nations with countries all around her.
Ezekiel 12:19 Tell the people of the land what the Sovereign Yehovah says about the residents of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: ‘They’ll be worried as they eat their bread and drink their water in despair because everyone who lives there is violent.
Ezekiel 13:16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy about Jerusalem [See: Should We Move to Israel Now?] and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ declares the Sovereign Yehovah.
Ezekiel 16:2 Human son, confront Jerusalem about her highly detestable practices.
Ezekiel 23:4 Oholah was the name of the older one and Oholibah the name of her sister. I 'married' them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria [Israel’s ancient capital] and Oholibah represents Jerusalem
Joel 3:17 Then you’ll realize that I am Yehovah your Elohim, living in Zion, My 'special' mountain. Then Jerusalem will be 'special', and no foreigners will ever invade her again.
Micah 1:9 Her wounds are incurable and have reached all the way to Judah and to the gates of My people in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:6 When that day comes I’ll make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a burning torch among sheaves. They’ll burn up all the surrounding nations right and left, while the people of Jerusalem will once again be secure.
Zechariah 14:10 All the land from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will have become like the Arabah (barren), but Jerusalem will be elevated, from Benjamin’s gateway to the site of the first gate, to the Corner gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who murder the prophets and stone those who have been sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your children like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you refused!
Galatians 4:25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to present day Jerusalem, and is serving in bondage, she and her children.
Revelation 21:2 I saw the 'cherished' city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from Yehovah, like a bride beautifully adorned for her husband [Isaiah 49:18].
Zion
Psalm 48:12 Walk all the way around Zion; count her towers.
Psalm 87:5 But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; and the Most Supreme Himself will establish her.
Psalm 102:13 You’ll arise and have compassion on Zion, because it’s time to have mercy on her. The specified time has come!
Isaiah 1:27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, and those who return will be pardoned by righteousness.
Isaiah 4:5 Yehovah will create ABOVE the entire site of Mount Zion and ABOVE her assemblies a cloud during the day and smoke, and a bright flaming fire during the night; because ABOVE all the splendor there will be a chuppah [marriage chamber/canopy. [2]
[2] A chuppah is a bride and bridegroom’s chamber—Brown-Driver-Briggs. This is elaborated on in Revelation 19:7-9, “and His bride has made herself ready.” So Yeshua’s bride is composed of survivors of the Great Tribulation who will soon have their “filth” “washed away”!.Isaiah 51:3 Yehovah will comfort Zion. He’ll have compassion on all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like Yehovah’s garden. Joy and happiness will be found there, thanksgiving and the sound of music.
Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I won’t remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t remain quiet until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her deliverance like a burning torch.
Isaiah 66:8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such a thing? Can a country be born in one day? Can a nation be born instantly? Yet as soon as Zion has labor pains, she’ll give birth to her children!
Jeremiah 4:31 I heard a cry like a woman in labor, the anguish of a woman giving birth to her first child, the cry of the maiden Zion gasping for breath, reaching out her hands and saying “'How tragic', my life is ebbing away in the presence of murderers!
Jeremiah 8:19 Listen to the cry of My 'beloved' people from a distant land: “Is Yehovah no longer in Zion? Is her King no longer there?”
Jeremiah 30:17 I’ll restore you to health, and I’ll heal all of your wounds,” Yehovah says. “They’ve called you an outcast, they say “No one cares about Zion.
Lamentations 1:4 The roads to Zion are in mourning because no one comes to the appointed feasts. All of her gates are 'deserted'; her priests are groaning. Her virgins are suffering, and she is in bitter anguish.
Lamentations 1:6 All the majesty has left the maiden Zion, her leaders have become like deer that can’t find pasture. They have fled exhausted ahead of the hunters.
Micah 4:11 Now many nations have banded against you. They say, “Let’s defile her, we want to see Zion destroyed.”
Zechariah 8:2 This is what Commander Yehovah says, ‘I’m extremely jealous for Zion; I’m jealous for her with great wrath.
There are other references to Jerusalem and Zion and “she”, in addition to the “her” list.
Who Are “His People”? Has This Really Changed?
Notice that almost all of these references concern the end time captivity of Israel or the future restored state of Israel!
Psalm 94:14 Yehovah won’t abandon His people; He won’t forsake His inheritance.
Psalm 14:7 O that Israel’s Rescuer would come to Zion! When Yehovah restores His people to their former state, Jacob will rejoice and Israel will celebrate!
Psalm 29:11 Yehovah gives strength to His people; Yehovah will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is Yehovah, the people He chose as His own.
Psalm 50:4 He summons the skies above and earth below to judge His people.
Psalm 53:6 O that Israel’s deliverance would come out of Zion! When Elohim brings His people back from captivity again [The Second Exodus], Jacob will celebrate and Israel will be glad.
Psalm 68:35 Elohim, You are awesome in Your 'Cherished' Place. The Elohim of Israel personally gives strength and power to His people. Elohim deserves praise!
Psalm 78:52 But He led His own people out like sheep and guided them thru the wilderness like a flock.
Psalm 78:62 He surrendered His people to 'warfare', He was furious with His heritage.
Psalm 78:71 from the care of ewes with their nursing lambs to being the shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His heritage.
Psalm 85:8 I’ll listen to what El Yehovah says, because He 'promises' peace to His people, His 'special' ones. But don’t allow them to return to their foolish ways.
Psalm 95:7 He is our Elohim and we are the people of His pasture, the flock He 'leads'. If only you would listen to 'Him' today!
Psalm 100:3 Realize that Yehovah is Elohim. He made us, we’re not self made. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 105:24 He increased His people’s 'population' greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies.
Psalm 105:43 He brought His people out rejoicing, the ones He chose with shouts of joy!
Psalm 106:40 So Yehovah burned with anger against His people. He abhorred His legacy.
Psalm 111:6 He has revealed to His people the power of His works by giving them the heritage of the nations.
Psalm 111:9 He has 'paid' the ransom for His people. He has guaranteed His covenant forever. His name is 'special', and wonderful!.
Psalm 116:18 I’ll keep my vows to Yehovah in front of all His people,
Psalm 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yehovah surrounds His people, both now and forever.
Psalm 135:4 Yah has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His treasured possession.
Psalm 135:12 He gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to His people Israel.
Psalm 135:14 Yehovah will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.
Psalm 136:16 To the One who led His people thru the wilderness, because His faithful love is everlasting.
Psalm 148:14 He has empowered the horn [Targum: splendor] of His people, the praise of all His 'special' ones, to the Israelites, the people who are close to Him.
Psalm 149:4 because Yehovah takes pleasure in His people. He crowns the oppressed with victory.
Deuteronomy 7:6 because you are a special people to Yehovah your Elohim. Yehovah your Elohim has chosen you to be His treasured possession out of all the nations on the face of the earth.
