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Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus: All those connected with the”heavenly country’’ and “the city with the foundations’’ for which they looked Heb 11: 13-16. Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Heb11;16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath pepared for them a city; The “Jerusalem above’’ of… Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Hence the significance of the term “bride’’ (numphē) in… Rev 21:9. 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.’’ The Israel of Rev 19:7 is not spoken of as bride (numphē) because she has become wife (gunē). CP. The “married to you’’ = am become your husband (consumation), of Jer 3:14, and see the note there relating to the “restoration’’ time. Here (Rev21:9) the term “bride’’ indicates clearly that the betrothal has taken place and that the marriage will be consumated when the bride shall have come down out of heaven. John sees her coming down (pres. Part.), Rev21:10. The loose way in which we speak of a “bride’’ as not only a contracting party at the time of the marriage ceremony, but also of her after she has become wife (gunē), is responsible for much confusion as to the wife of Rev 19:7 and the bride-wife of Rev 21:9 Strictly speaking , “bride’’ is to be applied only to a betrothed virgin (Gr. Parthenos = Heb bethūlāh), when the marriage (legal) ceremony takes place. Directly after, she ceases to be “bride’’, and has become (legally) “wife’’, although from the forensic point of view consummation of the marriage may be delayed (Matt 1:25, and see the Note there). Matt 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name JESUS. According to the Mosaic lLaw, a betrothed maid (Heb bethūlāh) was legally a wife (‘ishshāh), Matt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matt 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream saying, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Deut 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Deut 22:24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbours wife: so thou shalt put away from among you. Hence this was the law in that day and the source of Joseph’s trouble and temptation (see Matt 1:20). A careful study of the terms in… Matt 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. |
