The Difference Between the Church and the Bride

Lk. 12: 35--38 "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will returnfrom the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Himimmediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shallfind watching; verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make themto sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if He shall comein the second watch, or come in the third watch and find them so, blessed arethose servants."

This Scripture indicates the Midnight hour -- between the second and the third watch.

Matt. 25: 6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him."

The Church is the Body

The Body of Christ (the Church) and the Bride of Christ are not the same. The Body of Christ (the Church) are those that have been BornAgain (Saved) and been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (theChurch).

I Cor. 12: 13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body."

Eph. 1: 22, 23 "And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church. Which is His body,the fullness of Him that filleth all in all."

Scripture is plain that the Bride of Christ is only a part of the Body of Christ. That is, the Bride of Christ will be taken out of theBody of Christ (the Church). These are Overcomers as was Christ Himself.

Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in MyThrone, even as I also overcame…"

As Eve was taken out of the body of Adam, so theBride will be taken out of the body of Christ (the Church).

Nowhere in the Bible, God's Holy Word, is the Church called the Bride of Christ. The Church is called the Body of Christ, of which Christ is always referred to as being the Head of the Church, which is His body. (Eph. 1: 22, 23)

Overcoming does not gain salvation, for salvation is a gift of God.

Eph. 2: 8, 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Salvation is not earned. It cannot be earned. It is given and received as a gift of grace, through faith. However, the Bride earns herholy position by attainment and overcoming. This is accomplished by appropriation of every redemptive right by faith.

Rev. 19: 8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in finelinen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (acquired righteousness, righteous acts) of saints."

The Overcomer is the Bride

The Bride of Christ is Called to an "High Calling"

This is gained by pressing "…toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Phil. 3: 11--14 "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

This Scripture expresses plainly that there is something Paul is striving for, that he had not yet attained. "Ifby any means… not as though I had already attained… I press toward the mark for the prize."

I Cor. 9: 24--27 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Paul is speaking about running a race to win a prize: I strive - I run - I fight to win a prize. This is a crown, an incorruptible crown.

The #39;Elders' in Rev. 4 are crowned with golden crowns.

Rev. 4: 4 "And round about the Throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment: and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

Crowns are earned, not presented as gifts.

The Bride of Christ is called to an "Holy Calling"

II Tim. 1: 9 "Who have saved us, and called us with an Holy Calling."

"Hagios" -- "Holy" -- Pure -- Blameless -- Consecrated

Believers are called to sanctify themselves from alldefilement, forsaking sin and living a holy life.

I Pet. 1: 15 "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;"

"Anastrophe" -- "Conversation" -- Behaviour

This clarifies the meaning of the word conversation, thusthe Scripture is easily understood to be saying, "Be ye holy in all manner ofliving."

The Bride of Christ is called to an "Heavenly Calling"

Heb. 3: 1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakersof the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle andHigh Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

The Bride of Christ will be a "Chaste Virgin"

II Cor. 11: 2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I haveespoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin toChrist."

II Tim. 2: 21 "…A vessel unto honour, sanctified… prepared unto every goodwork."

"Hagnos" -- "Chaste" -- clean -- pure -- perfect -- free from amixture of evil -- pure from every fault -- pure from carnality

However, there are many in the "Body of Christ" (the Church)that are still "babes." They are "yet carnal."

I Cor. 3: 1--4 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as untospiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed youwith milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neitheryet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among youenvying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Forwhile one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye notcarnal?"

Heb. 4: 11--14 "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest anyman fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick, andpowerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividingasunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner ofthe thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that isnot manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Himwith Whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast ourprofession."

The Bride of Christ is Referred to as "Elders"

These are not babes sitting on thrones with the Lord. Theseare elders that are mature, fully grown. They gained this position by overcomingas He overcame.

Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in MyThrone, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne."

Rev. 4: 4 "And round about the Throne were four and twenty seats: and uponthe seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in whiteraiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

There are many unprofitable builders in the Body of Christ(the Church). They build on the foundation, "…wood, hay, stubble…" andthese "…shall suffer loss…"

I Cor. 3: 12--15 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest:for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and thefire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abidewhich he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's workshall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so asby fire.

There are also profitable builders.

I Cor. 3: 12, 14 "…Gold, silver, precious stone… He shall receive areward."

Rewards are given for achievements. Many in the Church willbe saved, "as by fire." (I Cor. 3: 15)

The Bride, however, will have an abundant entrance. Therefore, all that are in the Church are not equal and shall not receive thesame reward.

II Pet. 1: 11 "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantlyinto the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Many in the Church have become friends with the world, andhave committed spiritual adultery.

Jas. 4: 4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendshipof the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of theworld is the enemy of God."

The Bride will be a "Chaste Virgin" having but one love, andthat for the Lord.

Mk. 12: 30 "And thou shall love the Lord thy God with allthy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thymind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

"All" means there is nothing left for anything else. TheLord Himself considers many in the Church to be "…wretched, and miserable,and poor, and blind, and naked:"

Rev. 3: 17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, andhave need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, andpoor, and blind and naked:"

The Bride of Christ is the "Fairest Among Women"

The Bride is considered by the Lord to be the fairest amongwomen.

S. of S. 1: 8 "…O thou fairest among women…"

She will "…be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: forthe fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

Rev. 19: 8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in finelinen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

"Ekklesia"-- "Church" -- A Glorious -- Called Out

Some in the Church will be called out to be the Bride. TheBride will be called out from the called out (the Church).

Eph. 5: 27 "…Not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that itshould be holy and without blemish."

This is not the condition of the Church as a whole. This isthe condition of the Bride that is "called out" of the Church. There is agreat difference between the condition of the whole Church that Jesus spokeabout in Rev. 3: 17 and the Bride that will come out of the Church and be holyas He is holy.

I Pet. 1: 16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

The unholy characteristics described in the Bible are inthe Church as a whole. These make the Church totally unfit to be the Bride ofChrist. All the elements of looseness and worldliness are found in theChurch. The majority of Bible interpreters claim this Church to be the Brideof Christ. However, the Lord Himself requires the Bride to be holy, withoutblemish, pure, clean and arrayed in white raiment. Therefore, it is necessaryto select some out of the Church that is fit to bethe Bride of Christ in this end-time. The Bride will prepare herself for thewedding.

Rev. 19: 7--8 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for themarriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to herwas granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for thefine linen is the righteousness of saints."

The Bride of Christ will "Prepare Herself"

The Bridegroom does not prepare the Bride. The Bridegroommakes provision for the Bride, but she herself must by faith, take advantage ofthat which has been prepared for her. Believers are called to sanctifythemselves consistent with their high, holy and heavenly calling, cleansingthemselves from all defilement, forsaking sin and living a holy life.

II Cor. 7: 1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let uscleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfectingholiness in the fear of God."

II Cor. 13: 5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove yourown selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,except ye be reprobates?"

The Bride will have to prepare herself. The Biblechallenges us to examine ourselves.

Gal. 2: 17 "If, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is thereforeChrist the minister of sin? God forbid."

II Tim. 2: 19 "The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every onethat nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Titus 1: 16 " They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

"Adokimos" -- "reprobate" -- unapproved -- rejected -- castaway-- not standing the test

The Bride, "…His wife hath made herself ready." TheChurch (the Body of Christ) will be forced by persecution, during the firstthree-and-a-half years of the Tribulation, to be made ready. The Bible saysthe Seed (the Word of God) that is sewn in good ground would produce differentdegrees of fruit.

The Born Again will produce 30 fold.

The Church, the Body of Christ will produce 60 fold.

The Overcomer, the Bride of Christ will produce 100 fold.

The Bride of Christ will "Return With The Lord"

The Bride will accompany the Lord when He returnsafter the wedding.

Lk. 12: 36 "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, whenHe will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately."

Matt. 25: 1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom."

Older translations read, "went forth to meet the Bridegroom and Bride." The Body of Christ (the Church) will be invited to the MarriageFeast.

Matt. 25: 10 "And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage (marriage feast): and the door was shut. Afterward, came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."

Lk. 12: 37, 38 "Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you that He shall grid Himself and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if He shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so, blessedare those servants."

Rev. 19: 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."