As most of us know, the church is the bride of Christ. If we consider church as a body, then Jesus Christ is the head of the body and the individuals are the members. Paul wrote this as a mystery. Ephesians 5:31 and 32 says "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.". Why he calls church a mystery? Again, we can find the answer from Ephesians 3:3-6 calls this mystery and explains this as "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:".
So, it is understood, that God, the Father, kept this as a secret until Jesus was revealed and glorified. It was not revealed in old testament where the complete focus was on the nation of Israel and Jews. Many prophecies in Isaiah and other prophetical books refer that all the gentiles will come to God and the key base promise for this is based on Abrahamic covenant where God promised to Abraham "and in thee all families of the earth be blessed" Gen 12:3. But, how exactly this will be fulfilled through death and resurrection of our Lord is revealed gradually in prophecies and the entire old testament though dedicated to Israel entirely focuses on the future messiah (Jesus Christ) who will come and redeem His people at certain point of time in History. But, no one could see this complete picture until the Holy Spirit descended to reveal this through apostles like Paul and other prophets of his time. Exalt God who is true to His promises, He had sent the Savior when time was fulfilled. Gal 4:4
Though it was not completely revealed, God gave foreshadows of what is to come through incidents throughout the old testament. Following is a small list, where you could see the shadow of things which happened or yet to come.
1. God made Eve from the rib of Adam. Jesus suffered his last wound in his ribs which opens and gave out the blood and water. Through the blood of Jesus, a person is cleansed of his sins. Through the water, he takes baptism which signs he is dying to sins and the world and while raising up from water, he is raising to life with resurrected Jesus. Thus, we can say church was formed from the rib of Jesus.
2. Abraham (symbolize Father) commands his servant to bring wife for his son Isaac (symbolize Jesus) from a distant place. Distance refers the church (the bride) is just not going to be from Israel but from all corners of the earth. Ephesians 2:13 and 17 says, we were far off (distant).
3. Boaz who was a foretype of Jesus marries Ruth, a gentile bride at his matured age. That means when church age got matured, Jesus will take back His bride. Note Ruth is very specific to Naomi and said "Your God is my God". If a believer who came from gentile background has that much zeal for Christ and maintains his virginity (holiness, faithfulness and sincerity) towards the Lord, definitely he/she will make the part of Christ's bride. No matter where he comes from, what kind of sin he was in.
4. David and Abigail. Abigail was a wise wife of arrogant Naabal (symbolizes the world) and once Naabal was dead Abigail became wife of David (type of Jesus). If one's self is dead to the world for the sake of Christ, he is part of the bride.
5. In the Book of Esther, Ahasereus foreshadows Jesus Christ, Esther foreshadows the Church, Mordechaus symbolizes Holy Spirit and Haman, the AntiChrist.
6. In Song of Songs, the love between Shulamite bride (Church) and the anonymous Shepherd (Jesus) is shown.
Though there were no specific verses in old testament prophecies that explains the Church, God gave these many incidents as pictures that foreshadows the things that were yet to come. Praise God for His wisdom and strength and unfathomable. Paul says it all in his epistle to Romans, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36
All Praise, Honour and Glory to God through our raisen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through out eternity. Amen.
So, it is understood, that God, the Father, kept this as a secret until Jesus was revealed and glorified. It was not revealed in old testament where the complete focus was on the nation of Israel and Jews. Many prophecies in Isaiah and other prophetical books refer that all the gentiles will come to God and the key base promise for this is based on Abrahamic covenant where God promised to Abraham "and in thee all families of the earth be blessed" Gen 12:3. But, how exactly this will be fulfilled through death and resurrection of our Lord is revealed gradually in prophecies and the entire old testament though dedicated to Israel entirely focuses on the future messiah (Jesus Christ) who will come and redeem His people at certain point of time in History. But, no one could see this complete picture until the Holy Spirit descended to reveal this through apostles like Paul and other prophets of his time. Exalt God who is true to His promises, He had sent the Savior when time was fulfilled. Gal 4:4
Though it was not completely revealed, God gave foreshadows of what is to come through incidents throughout the old testament. Following is a small list, where you could see the shadow of things which happened or yet to come.
1. God made Eve from the rib of Adam. Jesus suffered his last wound in his ribs which opens and gave out the blood and water. Through the blood of Jesus, a person is cleansed of his sins. Through the water, he takes baptism which signs he is dying to sins and the world and while raising up from water, he is raising to life with resurrected Jesus. Thus, we can say church was formed from the rib of Jesus.
2. Abraham (symbolize Father) commands his servant to bring wife for his son Isaac (symbolize Jesus) from a distant place. Distance refers the church (the bride) is just not going to be from Israel but from all corners of the earth. Ephesians 2:13 and 17 says, we were far off (distant).
3. Boaz who was a foretype of Jesus marries Ruth, a gentile bride at his matured age. That means when church age got matured, Jesus will take back His bride. Note Ruth is very specific to Naomi and said "Your God is my God". If a believer who came from gentile background has that much zeal for Christ and maintains his virginity (holiness, faithfulness and sincerity) towards the Lord, definitely he/she will make the part of Christ's bride. No matter where he comes from, what kind of sin he was in.
4. David and Abigail. Abigail was a wise wife of arrogant Naabal (symbolizes the world) and once Naabal was dead Abigail became wife of David (type of Jesus). If one's self is dead to the world for the sake of Christ, he is part of the bride.
5. In the Book of Esther, Ahasereus foreshadows Jesus Christ, Esther foreshadows the Church, Mordechaus symbolizes Holy Spirit and Haman, the AntiChrist.
6. In Song of Songs, the love between Shulamite bride (Church) and the anonymous Shepherd (Jesus) is shown.
Though there were no specific verses in old testament prophecies that explains the Church, God gave these many incidents as pictures that foreshadows the things that were yet to come. Praise God for His wisdom and strength and unfathomable. Paul says it all in his epistle to Romans, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36
All Praise, Honour and Glory to God through our raisen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through out eternity. Amen.
