The Bride of the Lamb: Which is it, The Church or God’s Holy City?

There are thousands of Christians who post on facebook and other Internet sites many theories that supposedly gives them the authority to preach and teach what they believe is the Word of God. Most of these folks actually repeat what they have heard or read from others what they believe is Gospel truth, never realizing they are merely promoting mythologies that are not included in the Bible.

Sadly, when they do this, they are only repeating what thousands of theorists have concluded because they trusted their insights above what God's word clearly state. Most theologians recognize that in order to prove orthodox theology, they have to provide other (more than just one) verses to validate their claims. If they can't provide scripture to prove their contentions, we can only assume their polemics are mere speculation based on other unproven theories.

For example, many Christians believe that the Bride of the Lamb is to be viewed as the Church of God, which is wedded to Christ in Heaven and then it accompanies Jesus upon His return to Earth. The steadfastly adherents of this theory believe in this notion and they use Revelation 19:7-14 as proof:

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, (Revelation 19:7-14).

Those who believe in this notion also claim that the Church of God (the Bride of the Lamb) comes with Jesus to earth to rule and reign for 1000 years.

The Bible tells us clearly in Revelation 21 who that Bride of the Lamb is (New Jerusalem), which according to theorists, obviously descends to earth along with Him when Christ returns at the 2nd Advent . They use Revelation 19:14 as proof of this, only now they see the Bride of the Lamb (who just got married to Christ in Heaven) should also be seen as an Army that follows Christ to earth:

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,(Revelation 19:14). Many theorists also claim that the Army mentioned above is the church, too! Which is the church, the Army or the Bride of the Lamb, New Jerusalem, which is clearly described as the Holy City of God?

Now, all of this (according to theorists) happens 1000 years before Christ creates a new heaven and a new earth! Therefore, the contention of theorists is that the Church of God, which is to be viewed as the Bride of the Lamb, has just been wed to Christ in Heaven, and returns with Christ to earth to begin a 1000 year reign.

Now we move to Revelations 21, which clearly shows us a scene where a new heaven and a new earth has been created, and immediately thereafter we see New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband. Now, according to theorists, this does not happen until after a supposed 1000 year reign of Christ on earth has ensued, according to their interpretation of Revelation 21:

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 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. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

Verses 9 through 27 describe in great detail what the Bride of the Lamb looks like, its composition, and the last verses clearly states who are they that can enter in and out of that Bride of the Lamb:

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, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 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 21:9-27)."

OK, who are "they?" Who is written in the Lamb's Book of Life if not the Christian? How do they enter into themselves if the Bride is supposed to be the church? Common sense alone tells us that the Holy City of God cannot be the church of God, yet people would rather believe theorists more than God's word!

let’s do the math here, If the Church of God is truly the Bride of the Lamb, who marries Christ in Heaven before He returns to rule and reign on earth for 1000 years, why is it that we see this same Bride of the Lamb descending to earth after new heavens and a new earth have been created ostensibly 1000 years after that same Bride of the Lamb, supposedly the Church of God, had (according to theorists) descended with Christ before He supposedly began a 1000 year reign on earth?

Now, mind you, as you attempt to figure out this conundrum, please provide us with scripture that shows that the Bride of the Lamb, New Jerusalem, supposedly the Church of God, went back up to Heaven only to be seen returning back to a newly created heaven and earth.

I wrote extensively about this in my book, The End Times Passover. I’m willing to send free, signed copies of my books to whomever can accurately and biblically resolve this conundrum.

[Those who have already have read my books cannot compete in this little quiz, because they already know the answer.

For more information concerning the author's two books, please click on The End Times Passover.

Independence Day Hypocrisy

     Hypocrisy! What a word that is! The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform to; pretension!  
     Many of my posts focus on both Christian hypocrisy and on American hypocrisy based not just on philosophical, doctrinal or cultural views but based on mere observation. What you see is what it is!

     This past 4th of July, I committed that great sin of hypocrisy. Last Sunday, as I looked around and saw that many of my neighbors had hoisted American flags on their property, I remembered my wife had bought one that she said she wanted to hang on the front of our house on the 4th of July. Now, my wife knows I'm not a "flag waving' type of guy, but I indulged her. In the back of my mind, I felt it would be best to do so to also avoid people looking down on or sneering at me for being unpatriotic if I didn't go along with all my neighbors. By the way, my wife is an immigrant from Mexico and still has her Green Card, even though she went to grammar and high schools and college in the US and has been a practicing Registered Nurse for over 35 years.
     I have to admit that (mostly these past four to five years), America's attitude towards immigrants has not made me feel very proud of my country, one that I have served throughout my entire life, in the military, always paying taxes on time, no criminal record, registered voter (once as a Republican), and basically conducting myself in what one would call a good old conservative American lifestyle.
     Nevertheless, I felt this queezyness deep inside my gut about hoisting the American flag. First of all, I don't believe in the displaying of any iconish symbols, especially any that folks may immediately identify as being loyal to anything other than to Jesus Christ. I am already instantly marginalized as being "one of those Latinos" by virtue of the color of my skin and my last name and therefore have learned to accept the fact that people already have a fixed concept of Mexican people.
     Regardless, the American flag is still on display on the front of my house and I don't know how soon I will take it down and pack it away until the next 4th of July. Most of my neighbors have it on display 365 days a year. As I looked at the flag this morning, I still had that queezyiness in my gut and I kept wondering why. It wasn't until I sat down in front of my computer and noticed an item on the Internet, with the title "Independence Day Hypocrisy."
     

By Stephen Lendman

    





    "All US federal holidays wreak of hypocrisy, representing notions and events other than what they commemorate. Besides Christmas, none perhaps is more celebrated than when America became independent from Britain on July 4, 1776.
    Coming in the summer, parades, outings, barbecues, other celebratory events, and baseball highlight the day for many - relaxing, not reflecting on the same independence we deny nations globally, waging imperial wars and other ways to prevent it.
     July 4 also commemorates America's history, liberation and traditions most people don't know, never learned, or forgot. Instead - in school to the highest levels and through media managed news - they've been force fed distortions, half truths and illusions to believe what, in fact, isn't true now and never was, a sanitized rewritten history, what historian Howard Zinn corrected in his "People's History of the United States."
     First published in 1980, it became an extraordinary non-fiction best seller with over two million copies sold and counting, followed (in 2004) by "Voices of a People's History of the United States," presenting words and thoughts of labor and anti-war activists, anti-racists, feminists, socialists, and others rarely heard.
     Zinn himself called his signature work "a biased account, one that leans in a certain direction. I am not troubled by that, because the mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction - so tremblingly respectful of state and statesmen and so disrespectful, by inattention, to people's movements - that we need some counterforce to avoid being crushed into submission."
     His exhaustive, informative, and gloriously original work includes material on America's Declaration of Independence and war waged for it not taught the way he did it.
    In the July 2009 edition of The Progressive, he headlined an article, "Untold Truths About the American Revolution," saying:

Was waging war then really worth it, taking perhaps 25,000 - 50,000 American lives, the "equivalent today to two and a half million (at the lower estimate) to get England off our backs."

     Canada ended British without war. So did Western Massachusetts farmers "driv(ing them out) without firing a single shot. They had assembled by the thousands and thousands around courthouses and colonial offices and they had just taken over (and) said goodbye to the British officials" nonviolently.
America's revolution was much different, but who "gained what?" Most Americans were poor. "(T)he Founding Fathers were rather rich" with much different interests from ordinary people. "Do you think the Indians cared about independence" or Blacks held involuntarily as slaves?
     "Slavery was there before (and) there after. Not only that, we wrote slavery into the Constitution. We legitimized it."
     "What about class divisions?" America was a racist class society then and remains one today to benefit elitist interests at the expense of working households, especially Black and Latino ones. "We try to pretend in this country that we're all one happy family. We're not."
     In fact, America's revolution wasn't "a simple affair of all of us against all of them," any more than today, sending young men and women abroad to "liberate" countries for capital, slaughtering people to save them, ruining the lives, welfare and futures of thousands of US forces at the same whose minds and bodies are irreparably harmed by the experience.
     As a result, Zinn said "(w)e've got to rethink this question of war and" decide it's unacceptable, no matter what the reasons given, or the excuse." In fact, they're no more valid now than rallying Americans against Britain's King George III, letting everything change but stay the same. The elite few always win against the ordinary many, but great pains are taken not to tell them.
     As a result, young minds are programmed to believe in America's exceptionalism, inherent goodness, and unique democratic values under governments of, by and for the people that never existed earlier or now.
     In "Democracy for the Few," Michael Parenti said "the Constitution was consciously designed as a conservative document" with provisions included or omitted to "resist the pressure of popular tides" and protect "a rising bourgeoisie('s)" freedom to "invest, speculate, trade, and accumulate wealth" the way things work for capital interests today.
     In fact, it codified in law what politician, founding father, jurist and nation's first Chief Supreme Court justice, John Jay, said the way things should be - that "The people who own the country ought to run it (for their benefit alone)."
     It's hardly reason to celebrate, especially today after decades of massive wealth transferred to America's super-rich already with too much, and a nation without enemies at war simultaneously with six nonbelligerent states, spending trillions of dollars unavailable for vital homeland needs.
     At America's birth, only adult white male property owners could vote. Blacks were commodities, not people, and women were childbearing, homemaking appendages of their husbands.
     Until 1810, religious prerequisites existed, and all adult white males couldn't vote until property and tax requirements were dropped in 1850. Moreover, states elected senators until the 1913 17th amendment enfranchised citizens, and Native Americans had no rights until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, in part, returning what no one had the right to take away in the first place. In addition, women's suffrage wasn't achieved until the 1920 19th Amendment after nearly a century of struggle for it.
     The 1865 13th Amendment freed Black slaves. The 1870 15th Amendment gave them what wasn't gained until passage of the landmark mid-1960s Civil and Voting Rights Acts, abolishing Southern Jim Crow laws now reappeared in new forms. Today, virtually all hard won gains are lost, hardly a reason for Blacks to celebrate, struggling in a repressive, uncaring America, wanting them mainly to fight imperial wars to enrich corporate predators globally.
     Native Americans perhaps have least to celebrate after centuries of extermination, persecution, denial, and isolation in poverty on reservations. Moreover, they're been mocked and demonized in films and society as drunks, beasts, primitives, savages, and lesser beings to be Americanized or warehoused and forgotten.
     As a result, their cultures are willfully denigrated. Their legacy includes betrayal, treaties made and broken, lands stolen, rights denied, and themselves criminally ignored to this day. For them, justice delayed was never gotten, giving them no reason to celebrate, nor America's growing impoverished millions on their own and out luck in an increasingly uncaring society, focused solely on serving privilege, not popular needs.
     So many others also are denied, persecuted, vilified, and gravely harmed in today's America, notably Latino immigrants and Muslims for their faith and ethnicity to give Washington convenient enemies to incite fear to wage wars for power, profit, and plunder at a time America's only enemies are manufactured, not real.
     Celebrants this holiday enjoying outings, picnics, barbecues, ballgames, outdoor concerts, parades, fireworks displays, visits to the shore on vacation, and other pleasures might reflect about growing millions of victimized/deprived Americans in need, besides billions more worldwide, hoping to survive another day.
     Imagine a future free from today's despair, depravation and perpetual wars. That indeed would be reason to celebrate and give thanks. It's also a goal everyone should support and dedicate themselves to achieve. It won't happen any other way for sure.
     Reflect about that on holiday Monday, as well as America's intolerable legacy of shame."

Excuse me folks, I'm feeling a little bit hypcritical at this precise moment, and have to go to the front of my house right now ~

     For information about the author's two books, pleace click on the titles of both The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access his web sites and blogs, pleasce click on Joe Ortiz.
     As an added bonus, we have attached a great radio interview by renown national radio talk show host Derek Gilbert, who intervies Joe Ortiz on a program Derek calls The Flag or The Cross?