This depends upon what we mean when we say church. The word church is the word ekklesia and means called out assembly. The word ekklesia is not unique to Christianity or even to the New Testament. In Acts 7:38 it reads “This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and who [with] our fathers received living oracles to give to us.” This verse in Acts speaks of Moses leading the Assembly, which is the word ekklesia, (ie. Church) So the concept of church is common to both the Old and New Testament. Note that Moses led the “called out assembly” (church) from Egypt to Sinai which is the place where Israel became consummated as a nation and also betrothed to Jehovah in marriage. So being the ekklesia (or church, called out assembly) is a transitory state that leads to marriage. As the church we are the called out assembly and like Moses led Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the Wilderness to Mount Sinai, so also Jesus leads out His ekklesia from captivity to betrothal. Being the church is the beginning of our journey, being the Bride is our destiny. So to answer our question is the church the Bride? We will always be the “called out assembly” and therefore we will always be His church, but we must also understand that we are a called out assembly (i.e. the church) to be the Bride. So the church cannot remain where she is, she must go beyond the threshold of church into the destiny of being the Bride. She must go deeper and not only relate to Jesus as the Saviour, but also as our Bridegroom. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to take us on that journey, then we may find that though we are the church, we may never be ready as the Bride.
The rapture and resurrection The debate surrounding the timing of the rapture has been both divisive and longstanding. Over the years, it seems that the church has remained polarized on this issue, with proponents of a pre-tribulation rapture, in my experience, often holding a particularly aggressive stance. It's understandable, really.…
"(16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because…
"(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I…
"(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I…
In the last Quick Bite (QB82), the Wedding at Cana, I brought attention to the first time the Lord’s glory was revealed. But what’s really interesting to note is that just before this occasion - Jesus had been in the wilderness. The Bible records immediately after His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), “Jesus…
The Wedding at Cana And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His…