Two Wives

In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was figuratively called God’s wife. God was committed to his “wife” and cared for her and provided for her and she became prominent among the nations of the world. But there came a time when his wife wouldn’t listen to him and she started following after “false” Gods. She committed adultery. God was patient and urged her to return to faithfulness to him but she rejected him. So God empowered a foreign nation to almost completely destroy her as punishment for her infidelity.

In the New Testament we see that Jesus Christ has a wife and his wife is the church. He cares for her and cherishes her and provides amply for her. However we read in the Book of Revelation (Chapters 1-3) that Jesus found fault with his wife. Among other things she had “left her first love”, “followed after false teachings”, and had become complacent in performing good works. Jesus warned her to make correction and if they did not he personally would “make war with them with the sword…”

God’s bride Israel (of past times) and Christ’s bride the church are beautiful brides as long as they remain faithful to their husbands. It can be a beautiful and satisfying relationship. Jesus Christ will always be faithful as a husband to the church. As a church let’s remember to be faithful to him in our good works and correct teaching of his Word.