Who is the Messiah’s Bride (Really)?

(Would Yeshua {Jesus} Really Marry His Own Body?)

Chapter 28, Part 1 Preview: I have only met a couple of people in my life who seriously analyzed who the Messiah’s bride is. When, historically speaking could someone become part of this collective bride? What exacttly does it take to be part of this bride? And should we even want that?

Why don’t people ask basic questions? I have heard Bride theology my entire life. For ten years I heard it mentioned perhaps every time I set foot in a Messianic Assembly. You have probably been taught that the marriage supper is between “Christ and His Church”. But could the marriage of the lamb simply be elaborating on the same marriage that was prophesied by almost every Biblical prophet of old—the restoration of ancient Israel? Are there two marriages? Is there a direct connection between this jubilant marriage and the restoration of Israel?

Isaiah 4:3-6 Then anyone left alive in Zion, anyone who is left behind in Jerusalem [1] will be called 'special', everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, 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! 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]. 6 It will be a sukkah [tabernacle] to provide 'shade' in the daytime from the heat and for a refuge and shelter from storms and rain.—Gabriel Bible

[1] The Hebrew name Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) is plural! An “im” ending like on seraphim or cherubim or Elohim makes it plural, just like an “s” ending in English. The age old question is: “Why is Jerusalem plural?” The age old answer is that there are two! As above, so below. It’s not really a secret, it’s just that Christians don’t seem to know about it yet (even with that big clue in Revelation 21)! [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”!

Actually the full uncut story of Yeshua’s Bride begins about 4,000 years ago. Spoiler: The story ends in the classic happily ever after approach. The entire story—start to finish—is detailed in Ezekiel 16. It is stranger than fiction and utterly shocking! But the “upcoming movie version” of the story is based on the entire book of Hosea!

What part of “wrath poured out” have you not heard:

Ezekiel 20:33-35 As surely as I live,” declares the Sovereign Yehovah, “I’ll rule you with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I will be your King! 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people [Isaiah 1, Hosea 2:14], and I’ll judge you there face to face...

His Assembly is actually “the Body of the Messiah” (male), “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15)!

“This fixes the meaning of the term [bride] as applying only to Israel, and not to the Church, which is “the Body of Christ” part of “Christ mystical”; in other words, part of the Bridegroom. We are thus pointed to the fact that Israel is the Bride.—E.W. Bullinger. Compare Isaiah 61:10 and 62:5.” .

It’s far better to be a part of the bridegroom!

“The first occurrence of the word “bride,” (Kalah), as applied to the Bride of Yehovah, is in Isaiah 49:18. This unquestionably fixes the connection of the term as applying to the Messiah and Israel, and not Messiah and “the Church”. Isaiah 49 is all about the Messiah personally restoring all twelve tribes of Israel—but not as a secular Jewish state:

Isaiah 49:5-8,15-18 Yehovah formed Me in the womb to be His Servant to bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel could be regathered to Him. Yehovah will honor Me and I am honored in Yehovah’s sight, and My Elohim is My strength. 6 He is saying: “It is not enough for You to [just] be My Servant [Yeshua] to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back the Israelites who were 'spared.' I will also make You a light to the nations, so that You can bring My message of deliverance to the 'remotest parts' of the earth!” 7 This is what Yehovah the Redeemer of Israel, and its 'special' One, says to the despised One, the One the nation abhors, the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and leaders will bow down, because of Yehovah who is faithful, the 'special' One of 8 This is what Yehovah says: “In a favorable time I have answered You, and in a day of deliverance I have helped You. I’ll protect You [the Messiah: Barnes] and give You to the people as a covenant [the covenantee], to restore the land and to repossess its desolate heritage... 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the child she gave birth to? Well they may forget, but I won’t forget you! 16 I’ve inscribed you [12 tribes of Israel] on the palms of My hands [by the nail prints: Gill’s], your walls Revelation 21:12,14,15,17,18,19] are continually before Me! 17 Your children will hurry back. Those who overthrew you and devastated you will flee from You. 18 'Look' around and see all Zion’s children gathering together and returning to You. ‘Yehovah says, As surely as I [the Husband, Isaiah 54:5] live, You [Zion/New Jerusalem] will adorn yourself with them all like jewelry, and put them on you like a bride does [Revelation 21:2].

Compare this with a sister chapter:

Revelation 21:1-3 I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, because the first heaven and the first earth were gone [1], and there was no more sea [2]. 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]. 3 I heard a loud voice from the sky say, ‘Look, Yehovah’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [Gr. anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and Yehovah will be with them, yes Yehovah Himself will be with them.”

[1] This is the equivalent of the new earth that appeared after Yehovah sent a great flood “to destroy the earth” in Genesis 9:11. [2] Which sea? Isaiah 11:14-16; Isaiah 51:10-11. The seas, plural, are well represented in the Everlasting Kingdom: Psalm 72:7-9; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 24:14-15; Isaiah 60:5; Jeremiah 31:35-36; Ezekiel 26:5 and 47:10,15; Habakkuk 2:14; Zephaniah 2:6-7 and Zechariah 14:8. Unfortunately many people believe that the New Heavens and New Earth don’t even arrive until after the thousand years! (See the time frame in Isaiah chapters 65 & 66.)

The next time the Messiah shows up the nations will bow to Him, but He’ll be protected. He’ll be the King His followers were hoping for 2,000 years ago!

[WARNING: Before saying anything else, let me make one thing clear: It could be deadly for Israelites to consider immigrating to Israel now, as some people are teaching! The physical descendants of Israel’s 12 tribes and non Israelites wise enough to join them (Ezekiel 47:12-23) will have an opportunity to inherit land in the coming 12 tribed nation of Israel. (But Should We Move To Israel Now?):

Ezekiel 47:22 You will divide the inheritance by lots among yourselves and among the foreigners who live with you. They will be like native-born Israelites, and they’ll be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

This will be at the end of the Great Tribulation—as a result of the Second Exodus!

Jeremiah 23:6-8 In His days Judah will be delivered and Israel will live in safely. This is the name that He’ll be given: ‘Yehovah Our Righteousness!’ 7 “That’s why the days are coming,” says Yehovah, “When people will no longer say, ‘As Yehovah lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.’ 8 Instead, they’ll say, ‘As surely as Yehovah lives, who brought about the 'exodus' of the descendants of the House of Israel from the North Country, and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ They’ll live in their own land!

However spiritual Israelites “from every tribe and language and people and nation” will either be resurrected or instantaneously changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) to spirit and rule over the nation of Israel as kings and priests. (Revelation 5:9-10), but they are definitely distinct from the people who will migrate to the land of Israel, build houses, plant gardens and raise generations of Israelites in the millennium! The resurrection of 1 Corinthians is THE ALTERNATIVE to being the bride!

Besides, aren’t there three accounts of Yeshua saying that there is no marriage among those of us who are resurrected? Matthew 22:23-32; Mark 12:18-24 and Luke 20:34-36. And you want to be a bride?]

* * *

Be Serving At The Wedding Supper!

While it may seem strange, I believe that it is more advantageous to introduce the “servants” before introducing the bride into this chapter!

I have heard people teach about the Bridegroom, the Bride, the Ten Virgins awaiting the wedding (Matthew 25, Revelation 21-22), those invited to the wedding, and even the guests who were brought in off of the streets for the supper (Matthew 22) all of my life, but I have never heard of anyone really crediting the SERVANTS who make the wedding and the wedding supper possible, with even an honorable mention. The SERVANTS are always in the background, seldom if ever really noticed. Yet when the relevant accounts are read, and we will, we see that the bride is half asleep, there is a shameful list of prospective guests who refuse to attend, some even murdering the SERVANTS who invite them. There are other guests being replaced with people, seemingly at random. And John the Immerser saying that he is the best man. This is no ordinary wedding!

Matthew 22:1-10 Once again, Yeshua spoke in parables, He said, 2 “The Kingdom of the Heavens can be compared to a king who prepared a supper [1] for his son. 3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

4 Then he sent more servants instructing them to tell the prospective guests, “I’ve prepared my dinner, my bulls and my cattle have been butchered and everything is ready. Come to the banquet.” 5 But they were contemptuous, and went away, some to their farms, and others to their businesses. 6 The rest grabbed his servants, abused them and killed them. 7 When the king heard about it he was furious, so he sent his military forces and destroyed those murderers and burned their town.

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were unworthy. 9 Now go to the main street intersections and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and brought in everyone they could find, both bad and good, and the banquet hall was filled with 'guests'.

[1] In this analogy, neither Etheridge or Murdock mentions a wedding in verses 2,8,10,11 or 12. The Aramaic’s “place of feasting” in verse 10, was filled with “recliners.” The Greek says “wedding banquet”, but there is no mention of a bride or groom. The Greek even indicates that they were 'lying at tables', so they may have just been there for a meal.

So the servants inviting people to the supper, or “the Kingdom of the Heavens” are prophets, teachers and martyrs.

In ancient Jewish weddings, the sources I checked say the wedding feast followed the actual wedding by a week. The bride and groom were to spend a week together before the wedding supper in a bridal chamber before returning to the bridegroom’s father’s house.

“Mirth and gladness announced their approach to townspeople waiting in houses along the route to the bride’s house.” As soon as the moving torches were spotted, it signaled the groom’s approach, a cry went out, “The bridegroom is coming.” Upon hearing this shout, the bride would slip into her wedding dress and complete her final marriage preparations. The groom did not enter the bride’s home, the bride came out to meet him. Then the bridegroom with his bride accompanied by their wedding party returned to the bridegroom’s father’s house for the marriage ceremony.” —alwaysfollowthetruth (NOTE: Quotations are not endorsements of whole books or articles.)

In the Song of Songs (Solomon) account, said to be the ultimate account of Yeshua’s wedding, we have the Shulamite bride turning away her husband in her dream state!

Song of Songs 5:2-8 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my Elohim, because I pray to You. 3 Yehovah, in the morning You’ll hear my voice. In the morning I’ll lay my prayer before You and wait expectantly. 4 You aren’t an Elohim who enjoys wickedness. You won’t even tolerate wickedness. 5 The arrogant have no standing in Your sight. You hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who tell lies. Yehovah abhors people who are violent and dishonest. 7 But as for me, in the abundance of Your faithful love. I’ll enter Your 'Temple'. I’ll bow in Your 'special' 'Temple' in reverence to You. 8 Yehovah lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way clear to me.

This is commonly thought to represent Yeshua knocking on the door of the wedding chamber, and I would agree. Because the bride was asleep, and the Bridegroom apparently couldn’t even open the door, Yeshua left His bride. By the time the bride was ready to respond to Yeshua, He had left. We need to ask where He would have gone, and why the bride was beaten up by the watchmen!

We know from the account in Matthew 25 that all ten bridesmaids (virgins) fell asleep awaiting the surprise arrival of the bridegroom. The surprise arrival was traditional, but the bridesmaids sleeping with half of their lights going out certainly wasn’t. By contrast Yeshua’s servants are not indifferent hired help, they are in fact really His Friends!

John 15:14-16 You are My friends IF you obey everything I command you. 15 I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his Sovereign is doing, but I have called you My friends, because I’ve revealed everything to you that I’ve heard from My Father. 16 You haven’t selected Me, but I’ve selected you, and I’ve established you so that you can also go and yield fruit that will last, and He’ll give you whatever you ask for in My Father’s name.

Now let’s compare Yeshua’s servants/friends to the bridesmaids. By getting a contextual running head start, we see that those who are about to be addressed are compared to servants preparing for the great event that follows the wedding! Yeshua’s servants are dressed for action, and their lamps will still be burning. This appears to be a deliberate contrast to the “ten virgins”! They are the “little flock” who are to receive a Kingdom!

Luke 12:31-35 But strive for Yehovah’s Kingdom and all of these things will be given to you as well. 32 Don’t be afraid little flock, because your Father is delighted to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell your property and give to those in need. Make yourselves moneybags that will never wear out, and an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven where no thief can get near it or any moth can eat it. 34 Your treasure is in your mind! 35 Be dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.

Now here, continuing in the context, we come to THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. This tells you exactly who the servants/friends are!

Luke 12:36-40 Be like people who expect their master to return, so that when he returns from the wedding festivity [1], and he comes and knocks, they’ll open the door for him immediately. 37 The master’s servants will be blessed when he comes, and he finds them still awake. It’s certain he’ll dress himself for service, but have them lean back at the table, and ‘he’ll’ come over and serve them! 38 Whether in the second watch, or in the third, when he comes and finds them still awake, those servants will be blessed. 39 But be sure of this, if the owner of the house had known the exact watch when the thief was coming, he would have been awake and wouldn’t have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 So be ready, because the Human Son will return at a time when you’re not expecting Him.”

[1] Gamos is “A wedding or marriage festival, a wedding banquet, a wedding feast.” Contrast these wedding servants, awake and prepared with their lamps burning, to the ten sleeping virgins of Matthew 25!

This strongly suggests Yeshua’s wedding week; perhaps revealing what time of year the Wedding Supper will be. Yet the Aramaic and Greek are not definitive as to precisely what time during the customary wedding week is being spoken of. This would explain why Yeshua’s dear servants could still be busy making preparations for the Supper at the end of the week, I don’t believe that the servants miss out on any of the main events.

This is where I believe Yeshua would go when His bride had drifted off to sleep and He couldn’t open the door. He would go and hang out at His house, away from the sleepy bride.

Might it actually be better to be a servant of the Master, as He returns FROM the Wedding festivities, before the Wedding Supper, than to be the bride? Maybe ask one of these guys.

Titus 1:1 From Paul, a servant of Yehovah and an envoy of Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, 'advancing' the faith of Yehovah’s select, and their knowledge of the truth that leads toward Aloha,

James 1:1 From “James” [Yakub, “Jacob”], a servant of Yehovah and of our Sovereign Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion [Gr. diaspora] among the nations. Greetings [1].

[1] And you thought that Yehovah lost track of “The lost ten tribes!”

2 Peter 1:1 From Simon Peter, a servant and envoy of Yeshua Messiah, to those who have received equally precious faith with us, thru the righteousness of Our Sovereign and Life Giver, Yeshua Messiah.

Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, and brother of James. To those who are invited and loved by Yehovah the Father, and kept safe by Yeshua Messiah.

Revelation 1:1...to His SERVANT John.

Now why was the bride in the Song of Songs beaten up by the watchmen? What do watchmen have to do with the wedding story?

To hear other people explain this wedding, the week in the wedding chamber represents the joyful stay of the bride with her groom, following a rapture and seven full years of Great Tribulation. I agree that there is a seven year period, explained in Daniel 9, and even that there is a seven year period associated with the wedding, traditionally alluded to in Genesis 29:27, but this is where I believe that the story has been twisted. Let’s revisit the account in Song of Solomon:

Song of Songs 5:7 The watchmen who 'patrol' the city found me and beat me. They bruised me. Those guardsmen of the walls stripped off my veil.

While the bridegroom was gone, the bride was abused by the watchmen. The watchmen are supposed to be our protectors, but in some prominent places in the Bible they are wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Isaiah 56:10-11 'Israel’s' watchmen are blind and ignorant. They’re all like silent watch dogs unable to bark. They lie around dreaming; they love to sleep. 11 These dogs have fierce appetites. They are never full. They are ignorant shepherds, each going their own way, every last one looking for dishonest gain.

Jeremiah 6:17-19 I posted watchmen over you and said, “Listen for the sound of the shofar,” but they said: ‘We won’t listen.’ 18 So listen, you nations. Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to them. 19 Listen, earth! I’m going to bring disaster on these people. It is the 'result' of their own schemes, because they haven’t listened to My words, and as for My Torah, they’ve rejected it too.

The bride’s watchmen will cause her to enter a seven year period, punctuated by Israel’s Great Tribulation! The collective bride (the 12 end time Israelite nations) and half of the collective bridesmaids (virgins) will accompany her into the Great Tribulation, but later into the Restored Israel, and the collective foolish half of the bridesmaids won’t yet be ready and will likely just go away not suffering the Tribulation destined for Israel. (Much of the rest of the world will suffer during the Day of Yehovah, immediately following the tribulation.)

Yeshua is knocking on His Bride’s door, as well as His Servants. Most of the seven Assemblies (“churches”) of Revelation 2-3 will also experience the Great Tribulation. Notice Laodicea’s closed door:

Revelation 3:14-20 To the messenger of the assembly in Laodicea, write: “The Aw-main', the Witness, the Faithful, the True, the Originator of Yehovah’s creation, says: 15 ‘I know your works, that you are neither hot or cold. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and aren’t either hot or cold, I’m about to vomit you from My mouth.’ 17 You say, ‘I’m rich and I don’t need anything’, not realizing that you are sick [Aramaic], miserable, destitute, blind and naked! 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so that you’ll actually become rich, and buy white clothing from Me so that you can clothe yourself, and the shame of your nakedness won’t appear, and eye salve for yours eyes, so that you can see. 19 I admonish and discipline everyone I love. So be zealous and make amends. 20 I have been standing at the door knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I’ll come in to them and eat with them, and they with Me.

Note Philadelphia’s open door:

Revelation 3:8-11 I know your works. See, I have placed an open door [2] in front of you that no one can shut, because you have a limited strength and you’ve obeyed My Word and haven’t denied My name! [3] 9 I have something for those of the cabal of Satan who claim to be Jews and aren’t, but lie, I’ll make them come and kneel [4] before your feet, and realize that I love you! 10 Since you’ve patiently obeyed My Word, I’ll protect you from the time of testing that is about to overtake the entire inhabited world, to test those who live on the earth [5]. 11 I AM COMING SUDDENLY! [6] Hold tightly onto what you have, so that no one takes your crown.

[2] What does the “open door” represent here? Now note the closed door to Laodicea in verse 20 that some may open. Now just two verses later (Revelation 4:1) we have “an open door in the sky” leading to 25 thrones, and John is being invited up! Is this New Jerusalem? [3] How many assemblies even know He has a name? [4] The 'chosen ones' [saints] will be made worthy of worship on Judgment Day. [5] It would appear that only Philadelphia, “My people”, will hear the warning from heaven (or from the sky above) to escape from Babylon (Revelation 18:4) OR, they will be the only assembly (possibly as isolated from others as Elijah was in 1 Kings 19:9-10) to heed the warning. The punishment in this chapter seems imminent. Why wait until the last moment to flee? [6] John’s statement is from the perspective that all seven end time assemblies are a present reality. After all seven branches of the minorah are present, the end will follow suddenly! Of the prototypical seven ancient cities, Philadelphia was established last.

There actually is a way to escape the great Tribulation for many of the servants, in of all places New Jerusalem! But some of the very servants of Yeshua will fail to be included at the wedding due to poor behavior (they won’t be included in the Kingdom):

Luke 12:45-48 But if the head servant thinks to himself, ‘My master is postponing his return’, and starts beating the men and women servants and starts wining and dining and getting drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day when he isn’t expecting him, and at a time of day when he doesn’t suspect, and will cut him in two, and make him share the lot of the unfaithful. 47 The servant who knew what his master wanted, but wouldn’t do what he was instructed will be beaten with many stripes, 48 while the person who did something deserving stripes in ignorance will be beaten with fewer stripes. Much is required of anyone who is given much, and much is expected from anyone who has been entrusted with much.

All symbolism aside, the wedding appears to be Israel’s agreement to reoccupy “marry” the land of Israel—the New Israel, not just the piece of it that the Jews have now:

Isaiah 62:2-5 The nations will see your righteousness, and every king your splendor. You’ll be called by a new name that Yehovah will announce. 3 You’ll be a beautiful crown in Yehovah’s hand, and a royal diadem in Elohim’s hand. 4 You’ll never again be called ‘Forsaken’, and your land will never be called ‘Desolate’ again, instead, you’ll be called ‘Hephzibah’ [Literally, “My delight is in her”], and your land ‘Beulah’ [Literally, to marry], because Yehovah delights in you, and your land will be married. 5 Just like a young man marrying a virgin, your sons will marry you [1], and like a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride, that’s how your Elohim will rejoice over you.

[1] In the Second Exodus, the surviving Israelites, having returned to the Promised Land will become the Bride again! As in English, a secondary definition of married is “2: united, joined”. Israelites will be re-united with their land for the rest of a thousand generations (maybe 50,000 years): Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 105:8 and 1 Chronicles 16:15. All three of these references specify that the 1,000 generations is a covenental oath!

This special wedding celebration ends with both good and bad news. Finally guests arrive; but some don’t belong:

Matthew 22:9-14 Now go to the main street intersections and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and brought in everyone they could find, both bad and good, and the banquet hall was filled with 'guests'.

11 When the king came in to see the guests he saw a man there who wasn’t wearing festive clothes. 12 He asked him, “friend, how did you get in here without festive clothes?” But he was speechless. 13 Then the king told his “deacons”, “Tie his hands and his feet and throw him into the outer darkness, there will be crying and clenching of teeth. 14 Many guests are invited [Gr. kletos], but few have chosen to participate.” [Gr. kletos] but few have chosen to participate.”

These servants will go on to become Kings and Priests in the Everlasting Kingdom, serving the bride for at least the next one thousand years!

Going a step further, the best man is also mentioned by name! He said it himself:

John 3:29 The man holding the bride’s hand is the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s best man stands by His side and listens to Him and celebrates when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. So my anticipated joy has been realized!

No, John won’t be “part of the bride”.

So Who is Really the Messiah’s Bride?

All of my life I have been told that we should strive to be a part of the Lamb’s Bride. After all, virtually everyone teaches that being the “Bride of Christ” is the fantastic blessing of blessings that all of Elohim’s (God’s) “chosen ones” (saints) should strive to become—an unsurpassable gift! But could Elohim have in mind, for His true Followers, a reward that even surpasses being His bride? Could it be that all of those Bible verses that the churches say are in reference to them, actually pertain to another group of people becoming the bride? After all, do the verses admonish the “chosen ones” to be a part of the “bride”, or are we to be a part of the very “body of Christ”—the body of the bridegroom? If the bride proves not to be the Assembly of Yehovah (“Church of God”), then who will be married? Read on to find answers from the Bible in this all encompassing study.

There are numerous Scriptures referring to Israel’s tenuous marriage proposal, where a reluctant bride-to-be will have a swift change of attitude and come dashing for her Betrothed. This marriage, pictured by the symbolism of the Jubilee, is a time when Elohim’s “chosen people” are blessed—at the restoration of Israel. Many of the verses that the churches say pertains to them actually pertain to the twelve tribes of Israel. A prime example is the 144,000 firstfruits of Revelation 7:1-12.

But let’s look at an assumption that is partially responsible for the “wife swapping” (replacement theology) situation.

Revelation 19—The Wedding Supper—In Context!:

This chapter starts with an extraordinary celebration in Heaven! There is no break in the context. It starts with a huge crowd in Heaven “cheering” because the Babylonian whore system that murdered so many of Yehovah’s people is about to go up in smoke!

Revelation 19:1-5 Afterward I heard the loud voices of a large crowd in Heaven shouting, “Hallelujah! Deliverance, strength, praise and honor to our Aloha. 2 His judgments are true and righteous, because He has judged the 'infamous' prostitute who was corrupting the entire earth with her immorality, and has avenged the blood of His servants whose murders she handled.” 3 Again they shouted, “Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever.” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped Yehovah, sitting on the throne saying, “Aw-main'! Hallelujah”! 5 A voice came from the throne that said, “Praise our Aloha, all of His servants, and everyone who fears Him, small and great.”

The bride at this unique Marriage supper are actually survivors of the Great Tribulation! They are about to witness a great slaughter, physical salvation! The wedding supper does not sound very appetizing either, unless you understand that at this time the nations of Israel have just been freed from their captors. The captors are being destroyed and Elohim’s renewed relationship with His ancient bride will now proceed. It’s the knight slaying the dragon and marrying the princess scenario again, leaving the dragon’s body (in this case, the Beast’s body!) for the buzzards.

Revelation 19:6-9 Then I heard what 'sounded like' a huge gathering of ordinary people, a 'sound' reminiscent of raging water and a voice like 'booming' thunder shouting, “Hallelujah! Our Sovereign Yehovah the Sovereign reigns. 7 Let’s rejoice and be exuberant and praise Him, because the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. 8 She was given fine linen clothing to wear, bright and pure, because fine linen represents the righteousness of the 'chosen ones'. 9 He told me, “Write this, ‘Those who are called to the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb are blessed.’” Then he told me, “These are the true words of Yehovah.”

John, a bit confused there conversing with a heavenly messenger (angel) is with this group of people and looking up he sees the Bridegroom riding on a white horse. The messenger assures John that he too, is a brother who adheres to the the Testimony of Yeshua (New Testament).

Revelation 19:10 I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said, “Don’t do that! I’m a fellow servant, I’m your brother who also holds to THE TESTIMONY OF YESHUA [His ‘written statements’]. Worship Yehovah, because THE TESTIMONY OF YESHUA is spirit inspired prophecy [1] [or ‘the spirit of prophecy’].”

[1] If you were to appear in court, everything you say would be your testimony. Everything that Yeshua inspired to be written is His testimony, and for the most part, little of what He said has been fulfilled yet, it is prophetic,and we will be judged by how we hold to His testimony.

The Bridegroom is returning from heaven to fight along with the armies of heaven, (that I hope to be a part of: John 18:36) also on horses, and procedes to strike down the armies in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (“Armageddon”). The rest of the chapter, in a nutshell, (adding to the sarcasm) describes the menu of the supper and noise from the kitchen!

Revelation 19:11-21 I saw the sky open up, and a white horse appeared, and its rider is named Faithful and True. He judges righteously and wages war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many gold coronets [crowns without arches] with names inscribed on them, but the name written on Him had been unknown in the past except to Him. 13 He was arrayed with a vest sprinkled with blood, and His name is called the Word of Aloha. 14 The armies of Heaven followed Him on white horses arrayed in fine linen, pure and shining white. 15 A sharp double edged sword came from His mouth, and with it He could strike down the nations. He’ll rule the nations with a royal scepter of iron, and He’ll tread the winepress of the fierce anger of Yehovah the Sovereign. 16 He has written on His robe and on His thigh the title: “KING OF KINGS AND SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS.” 17 I saw a messenger standing in front of the sun, and he shouted to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather for the great supper of Yehovah, 18 so that you can eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains of thousands, the flesh of valiant men, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of everyone both free and slave, those of little status and the highly esteemed.” 19 I saw the predatory beast and the kings of the earth and their warriors. They had gathered to wage war with the One who sat on the white horse and with His army. 20 The predatory beast was captured along with the false prophet who performed miraculous signs 'on his behalf'. By these signs he deceived those who had accepted the mark of the predatory beast and who worshiped his icon. They were both cast as still breathing mortals into the lake of fire ablaze with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed by the sword of the One riding on the horse, by the sword that came from His mouth, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

We see that the fine wedding linen represents “the righteousness of the chosen ones”. Here, if we were to look no further is the basis for the Church/Bride theory. But who are the “chosen ones”? Traditional teachings would have you believe that Christians, or only special Christians, are the “chosen ones”. Yet, if you look at the many Hebrew references to the “chosen ones” it becomes apparent that they are Elohim’s people Israel and grafted in Israelites. We can’t base a marriage on a single reference to the word “chosen ones”, especially when so many other Scriptures specify exactly who is to be married. Nor do the “righteous acts” preclude the “chosen ones” of old; in fact most of the references to the “righteous” are from the “old” Hebrew Scriptures, not to mention the faithful patriarchs listed in Hebrews 11, “the faith chapter”.

As I mention in “I and My Father Are One”, Part 3, (that incidentally explains who the Bridegroom is), concerning this and Luke 12 below:

“This alludes to an earthly wedding—a wedding where there are wicked people present, who will be cast from the wedding into “outer darkness”! At this wedding “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). So the Marriage Supper is the same as the separation of the sheep from the goats—Judgment Day!

And as I mention in Jubilee 2032/2033:

“Not only does this say that “the Church” (Greek: Assembly) will not marry, in the Kingdom, but SPECIFICALLY, it is at the very resurrection associated with the “wedding supper”, that they do not marry! You have probably always heard that this marriage supper was for Yeshua and His “Church”. Could John’s quotation of Yeshua actually have been referring to a marriage that was alluded to at a much earlier time? Might the marriage actually be the jubilant time when His “chosen ones” are blessed; the time that I believe typifies what the Jubilee actually commemorates—the restoration of Israel? I believe that it is. A great many Bible verses that the churches say pertains to them actually pertain to the twelve tribes of Israel. A salient introduction to this topic is The Actual Message of Matthew 24.” (Note: Richard Fix now rejects the Bible!)

Hosea and “the Bride of Christ”

Hosea is an entire book identifying the “bride of Christ” before she is purged of her stains and wrinkles, but it personifies the very unconverted descendants of all 12 tribes of Israel, many of whom are in “the church”, but to no particular advantage since they don’t believe that the Commandments are still in force!

Hosea had to marry a harlot to illustrate Israel’s spiritual infidelity. Yet there is a glimmering ray of hope for national redemption mentioned. The very name Hosea means “delivered”. But the “husband”/“wife” relationship pictured in Hosea does not represent the distant past, it pictures the “bride of Christ” and the “marriage supper of the Lamb”!

The identity of the bride could never be plainer the way she is described by Hosea, except of course when “creative interpretation” is used. Like in Ephesians 5, which we’ll look as in part 2. Hosea never consummated his marriage with his harlot bride (to be). Hosea’s adulterous wife kept having illegitimate children (Hosea 5:7). Before their marriage could be consummated she had to abstain from prostitution for a period of time—to remove her stains and wrinkles. Prior to the ultimate wedding that the book of Hosea is portraying, there is a very long betrothal period. The Scripture is quite plain about the timing:

Hosea 2:19-20 I’ll be betrothed [4] to you forever. Yes, you’ll be betrothed to Me in righteousness and in justice, in faithful love and compassion. 20 I’ll be faithful to you, and you’ll finally know Yehovah.

[4] Betroth literally means: “a fine, literally pay the price, and gain the right of possession.” Yeshua paid the price. So when does He take possession? And Who is the Messiah’s Bride?

Instead of “a very long time” virtually every translation says “forever”, but a betrothal never lasts forever. Either 1) a marriage follows; or 2) a divorce takes place (their ‘engagement periods’ were legally binding, only broken by a legal divorce; or 3) one of the individuals dies. The re-marriage of the Lamb, after a tragic first marriage, following “a very long time” of ‘engagement’ (millennia) is soon to take place.

Hosea 2:13-20 I’ll come and punish her for the times when she burned incense to the Baals, when she adorned herself with her rings and jewelry, chased her lovers and forgot Me,” says Yehovah. 14 “But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35] and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there and the Valley of Achor [trouble] into a door of hope. She’ll respond there as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt.” 16 Yehovah says: “When That Day Comes* you’ll call Me ‘Husband’ [Ishi] and you’ll never again call Me ‘Lord’ [Baali]. 17 I’ll remove the names of the Baals from your mouths, and you will never mention them again. 18 When That Day Comes I’ll make a covenant with all the wild animals of the plains, the birds from the air and the animals that move around on the ground. I’ll abolish bows and swords and weapons of war from the “earth”? [eretz: land or region] so that everyone can live in peace. [3] 19 I’ll be betrothed [4] to you forever. Yes, you’ll be betrothed to Me in righteousness and in justice, in faithful love and compassion. 20 I’ll be faithful to you, and you’ll finally know Yehovah.

[3] After Israel, the bride, has returned to her greatly enlarged land (Ezekiel 47:14-23), she will be totally dependent on her Husband for defence, (no Iron Dome), but armies near (

Psalm 83) and shortly afterward far (Ezekiel 38 (special emphasis on verse 11) will learn hard and fast. [4] Betroth literally means: “a fine, literally pay the price, and gain the right of possession.” Yeshua paid the price. So when does He take possession? And Who is the Messiah’s Bride?

Hosea 3:4-5 I won’t love her children because they’re children conceived in prostitution. 5 Their mother is a whore. She became pregnant by her shameful behavior. She said, ‘I’ll chase after my lovers. They’ll give me bread and water, wool and flax, olive oil and drinks.’

Here is another factor that it would appear no one has taken the time to examine. Could Yeshua marry “the body of Christ”—His own body?

1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27 Just as a body has many parts, and all of the many parts of the body still form a single body, so it is with the Messiah. 13 Similarly, all of us have been immersed into one body by one spirit, whether Jews or Arameans, whether slaves or free, and we were all allowed a drink into one spirit. 14 The body isn’t one part, but many.

We start our relationship with Yeshua as a servant, then we become friends—friends so close that figuratively we share the same body; much like Elohim and His Son.

For those people who believe that the bride is the “church”, here is an entire chapter that you must explain away! Is Elohim a polygamist? Is He to marry both mortal Israel AND an immortal Assembly of “chosen ones”? Look carefully at this prophecy about the wedding of Nation of Israel.

Isaiah 54:3-15 “You’ll spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the deserted cities. 4 “Don’t be afraid, because you won’t be ashamed or humiliated. You won’t be put to shame, and you’ll forget the shame of your youth. You won’t remember the stigmatism of widowhood. 5 Your MAKERS are your HUSBANDS [1], Commander Yehovah is His name, and the 'special' One of Israel is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of the entire earth. 6 Yehovah has called you like a deserted wife tormented by grief, like a wife rejected early in life,” says your Elohim. 7 “For a brief moment I let you alone, but with infinite compassion I’ll bring you back. 8 In a spurt of anger I hid My face from you momentarily, but with eternal love I’ll have compassion on you,” says Yehovah your Redeemer. 9 “To Me, this is like Noah’s floodwaters, when I swore that Noah’s floodwaters would never cover the earth again. And now I’ve sworn that I won’t be angry with you or reprimand you. 10 Tho the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, My kindness will never leave you and My covenant of peace won’t be shaken,” says Yehovah, who has mercy on you. 11 “You storm battered, afflicted and unconsoled 'city'! I’ll reset your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with lapis lazuli [“sapphire”]. 12 I’ll make your pinnacles [?] of jasper, your gates with crystal and your outer wall with beautiful stones. 13 All your children will be taught by Yehovah, and your children will experience unlimited peace. 14 You’ll be ethically reestablished. You’ll be far from oppression, and you won’t be afraid of anything because nothing frightening will come near you. 15 If anyone attacks you, it won’t be from Me. Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.

[1] Yes, both are plural, but not a trinity. This site source has plenty of plurality verses that I consider Binity. But to read historical statements confirming the fact that Yehovah was recognized as a Binity until Constantine forced a “reconsideration”, see this link. Also, when last I checked, Wikipedia’s article on Binitarianism was an equally informative article that is as persuasive as it can be, while still maintaining the necessary air of neutrality required of an encyclopedia.

The Husband Will Remarry His Bride Israel.

Jeremiah 3:14 Come back, you apostate people” Yehovah says, “Because “I’m your husband. I’ll take one of you from this city and two from that family, and I’ll bring you to Zion.

Under the Previous Covenant (Exodus 20:1-24:7), Elohim had been a “Husband” to Ancient Israel:

Jeremiah 31:31-32 Yehovah says: “The time is coming [1], when I’ll make a New [marriage] Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. 32 It won’t be like the [marriage] Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband,” says Yehovah.

[1] Jeremiah 30 and 31 are one long prophetic monologue about the events to occur at the time of the Second Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8), when all 12 tribes of Israel return to the land (not just the Jews!) AND The Time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—better known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:1-22). Not one verse of this 2 chapter prophecy has been fulfilled, including the Torah being written on anyone’s hearts. Why single verse 33 out of all this futuristic context?

As an aside, this woman is in deliberate contrast to the other woman of prophecy:

Revelation 18:16-18 and saying, ‘How terrible, how terrible it is for the great state! She wore fine linen, purple and scarlet stuff, and gilded with gold, gemstones and pearls, 17 and in one hour all of this wealth has been destroyed’ [2]. Every captain and every navigator sailing anywhere, mariners, anyone making their living from the sea stood in the distance. 18 When they saw the plumes of smoke rising from her flames, they cried, ‘What other state is like this great state?’

[2] Murdock either arbitrarily or accidentally put part of v.17 in v.16, against the traditional universal placement. Lamsa coincidentally did the same thing in 1933.

How did the idea that “the Church” is the focal point of Bible prophecy, rather than the instrument that Elohim created to teach, among other things, about the prophecies concerning Israel? This teaching, commonly called “Replacement Theology”, is clearly traced to Augustine’s (354-430 AD) “Sermon Against the Jews”. Doing a web search on “Replacement Theology” will uncover lots of leads. Within these articles you can specifically search for the name “Augustine”.

If the term “Replacement Theology” is new to you, I highly recommend that you read The Error of Replacement Theology.

Now for Part 2

Here is the ADDENDUM (or appendix)