1st Pentecost (Mt Sinai) & 1st post resurrection Pentecost (Temple Mt) were a betrothal/marriage contract.

1st Pentecost (Mt Sinai) & 1st post resurrection Pentecost (Temple Mt) were a betrothal/marriage contract.

1st Pentecost/Mt Sinai:
Moses gives the Torah/Commandments at Mt Sinai & the Nation of Israel is born (Ex 19:1-22,23)

This covenant between Israel & the Lord was a betrothal & the Torah/Commandments were the marriage contract.

Lord is husband reference:
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
(MY NOTE: The LORD proclaims to be their HUSBAND & REDEEMER. Also see Jer 31:21)

Eze 16:8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
(MY NOTE: The LORD say's He 'SPREAD HIS SKIRT" over them, when entering into a marriage covenant & they became His)

BOOK OF RUTH
Every Pentecost feast for 3500 yrs, the Nation of Israel read the Book of Ruth. The story of Boaz a Kinsman Redeemer. A foreshadow of Christ & his redeemed Bride/Church. Boaz a wealthy landowner of the tribe of Judah, takes Ruth, a gentile, for his wife.

Ruth 3:9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: ""spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid"" for thou art a near kinsman.
(NOTE: Spread therefore thy skirt (TALITH) over thine hand maid: This verse is a marriage proposal. When a Jewish man married a woman, he threw the end of his SHIRT (Tallit/prayer shawl) over her head, covering her, to signify that she was now under his covering/protection. When we say yes to Christ, He eternally SEALS/covers us with his Holy Spirit of protection.)

1st post resurrection Pentecost:
Christ alone can send (Matt 3:11) & Jesus sends (Acts 2:4) His new covenant eternal seal/saving (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Tim 1:14.) indwelling Holy Spirit onto believers & the Christian Church is born!

The outpouring of Christ's Holy Spirit onto believers was the betrothal. The indwelling Spiritual sealing was the marriage contract.

We the REDEEMED become His betrothed/Bride to be. And so, the New covenant is also a marriage contract ae well.

Marriage of the Lamb
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come [at last] and His bride (the redeemed) has prepared herself.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19&version=AMP
(MY NOTE: Every REDEEMED/believer is invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.)

Matt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Also see Mk 12:25 & Lk 20:35)

Jesus taught there is, NO, marrying or giving in marriage traditions, in the heavenlies.

When the LORD marries His REDEEMED bride. He then has that promised cup of the blessing (Matt 26:29 & Lk 22:18) with her.

There is one heavenly wedding/marriage forthcoming. It's a one-time Everlasting Event! And so shall we ever be with the Lord! AMEN &Amen

So did I. I must need more sleep too.

Sinai brought a curse:

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

Under the Law, there was party number one (God) and party number two (Israel). Party number one kept His side of the covenant: He provided for Israel, protected her, gave her food and a place to live, gave her an organized government whereby issues could be administrated, etc. Party number two, however, did not keep her end of the covenant.

So what happened?

Within such a covenant, party number two was now completely beholden to party number one AND because everything party number two had been given was provided by part number one, there was nothing left to give party number one that party number two had.

Except their own lives.

But here's the rub: the Law was given for a certain purpose: "..until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred."

It was designed to protect the people (Israel) through whom the Seed (Christ) would come. This was the Seed in whom the promise given to Abraham would vest. So, under the Law, God could not demand that the people give up their lives for Him in order to fulfill the Law. Therefore, Israel fell under a curse: they owed God their very lives because they could not keep the Law, yet, God kept them alive to fulfill the promise given to Abraham. Most assuredly, the Jews became slaves under the Law.

But don't worry...

"..the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later (That's "later than the promise given to Abraham"), cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

So the promise given to Abraham was not done away with because the Law was given. Even a covenant between two men cannot be annulled with a different covenant. So, even though the Law was given 430 years after God's promise to Abraham, THAT promise could not be changed.

Furthermore, the covenant that produced heirs of the Seed was between God the Father and God the Son. This is what Hebrews says:

"For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."

The "two immutable things" is the word of God the Father and the word of God the Son, and it is impossible for them to lie.

There is more I can add but I'll close with this: The LAW was not a betrothal.

What WAS a betrothal was God calling the priests and men of Israel into His presence at Sinai:

"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

This "covenant" is not the Law which had yet to be given, it was to obey whatever God tells them, in faith, just like the promise given to Abraham 430 years earlier.

But they did not come into God's presence where they would have been changed. They sent Moses in their stead. So, instead of becoming a "kingdom of priests and a Holy nation" (in which all people hear the voice of God and obey) only one tribe of twelve (Moses' tribe: Levi) was made priests. Then, instead of God communicating with them spirit to Spirit, they were given the Law.

Had they come into the presence of God, they would have never been given the Law. It would not have been needed. But don't worry: God already made a covenant with God that the people of Faith would be to Him His own special people: a nation of Kings and priests. In Christ (the Seed promised) all believers are this nation.

This brings up the question of who is Christ's bride. It's commonly believed to be the church, but I think that's wrong. I can explain why, but it's long and detailed and most won't take the time to read and understand it. But if you're thinking that being part of the church automatically makes you part of His Bride, you're not getting the whole picture.

I like this thread. It is timely. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. I hope we can discuss these things in a friendly, kind, polite, edifying manner as loving Christians who seek to learn without getting offended if we don't readily accept another's opinion.

That being said I am leaning toward the main message of Acts 2 as that of the outpouring of the Spirit to enable them to be witnesses and carry out the Great Commission to preach the Gospel with signs and wonders throughout the world to all people.

This is the point being made. I don't see anything about covenants, marriage, or ideas about sealing or salvation. As a matter of fact I see these 120 as already saved. The Spirit was not given to save them but to empower them.

If we stick to the text Luke does not seem to be the least interested in making a connection to traditional views of Pentecost and covenant renewals or the giving of the Law. Nothing in the text either suggests it or hints at it. However the empowering to prophetically proclaim the Gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit confirmed by the sign of speaking in tongues is an unmistakable message that if we are not careful, questionable speculations about covenant renewals, the Law on Mt Sinai and other ideas can obfuscate. Even this idea that it is somehow a salvific event misses the point in my opinion.

Now here is what Craig Keener has written about some of the ideas you have suggested:

c. Covenant Renewal and the Pentecost Festival
... Others have found additional elements of Jewish interpretations of Sinai (e.g., Philo Decal. 33– 46) in the Pentecost narrative.[ 33] Thus some compare the gift of the Spirit (or other features of the narrative) with the theophany and gift of Torah at Sinai, though interpreters divide over whether Luke recognized it.[ 34] Such comparisons do not depend specifically on links between Sinai and the Jewish festival of Pentecost in Jewish tradition, but a number of scholars have also suggested such links.[ 35] Certainly, the book of Jubilees in the second century B.C.E. already links Pentecost with covenant renewal (Jub. 6: 17).[ 36]

In time, this theme developed more fully into a festival commemorating the giving of the law,[ 37] surely by the third century C.E.[ 38] God gave the Torah in the third month (Exod 19: 1);[ 39] with a bit of exegetical ingenuity, Pharisees seem to have adjusted the time to correspond with the Feast of Pentecost.[ 40]

Later Jewish Pentecost liturgy celebrated God’s gift of Torah to Israel.[ 41] Many scholars believe that Luke had this understanding of the giving of Torah, or at least of covenant renewal, in mind.[ 42]

Complicating some of these connections (although, again, not necessarily Sinai allusions unrelated to the specific Jewish festival of Pentecost), scholars debate the date of the specifically law-giving connection with Pentecost.[ 43] Associations with the triennial cycle of readings, in which Exod 19 was read on the festival, may have influenced this interpretation of Pentecost[ 44] (though it is possible that they instead reflect it).[ 45] Probably later rabbis developed this specific connection, which was then recognized by fourth-century Christians (including Jerome and Augustine) as well.[ 46] Barrett points out that Qumran’s annual covenant renewal (1QS I, 8– II, 19) does not specifically mention Pentecost and that the annual renewal in Jub. 6: 17 connects Pentecost’s covenant renewal more with Noah than with Moses.[ 47] Given the connections between Qumran’s calendar and Jubilees,[ 48] however, it seems likelier than not that Qumran’s covenant renewal period coincides with Pentecost.[ 49] Yet even by itself, Jubilees is clear enough that some associated the feast with covenant renewal. Granted, that renewal is in Noah’s day; but it is not limited to Noah (Jub. 15: 1– 2, 11), the setting suggests more (1: 1), and Jubilees portrays the patriarchs as keeping Torah in advance (at least much more than Genesis does).[ 50]

Thus the tradition that the law was given at Sinai may well be later than Luke and his tradition; it does, however, provide external attestation for the much earlier (pre-Christian) and probably Essene tradition relating Pentecost to covenant renewal.[ 51]

Despite the probable antiquity of these traditions for covenant renewal on Pentecost in some circles, most of Second Temple Judaism probably celebrated the festival especially as “but a wheat-harvesting festival.”[ 52]

More important for our purposes, Luke provides few clear indications linking the day of Pentecost with Sinai, fewer than one would expect if Luke recognized and hence wished to make use of such a connection.[ 53] (The elements that could evoke Sinai in Acts 2: 2– 4 can evoke other associations— especially eschatological ones— no less easily, even cumulatively; see comments on these verses.) Indeed, Luke even omits obvious potential Pentecost allusions such as “firstfruits” (which Pauline churches could have applied to the three thousand initial converts; cf. Rom 16: 5; 1 Cor 16: 15).[ 54] To Luke, the particular festival mentioned may have had no more specific significance to his narrative than the crowds and short interval between it and Passover.[ 55] Luke’s source or sources may have been among the many who looked for deeper connections with Israel’s past. Thus some scholars reasonably attribute the new Sinai or other covenant renewal associations to the source rather than to Luke himself.[

Keener, Craig S.. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary : Volume 1 Baker Publishing Group

In other words there is more evidence that this was not what Luke was trying to convey and we should probably focus on the idea that God wants to empower believers with the Holy Spirit in these last days to fulfil what Joel Prophesied. You too can be full of the Holy Spirit and be used by God in the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel with as much power and anointing as necessary to reach the lost in every nation. That is the main thought and one that should make us respond and ask and receive this same gift.

I believe tomorrow people in my church will ask for and receive this gift and speak in tongues as a result.

The Bride is all who believe.

The Bride is Israel, The Church is depicted as His body, Christ as its head. Does not make sense to marry ones own body.
He married Israel at Mt Sinai, then divorced all but Judah. The other tribes got lost among the gentile nations. At the cross part of the reason Christ died and resurrected was that Israel could not remarry while the husband was still alive. At Pentecost he remarried Israel and they were given a new name, Christians. This is why in the marriage parable we have the bride and also the guests etc, as in the church and the prophets etc... at least this is what I was taught.

The 120 in the upper room waiting to be clothed with power from on high to receive power to be witnesses were already saved. They had been specifically told that they had eternal life. They had been told that their sins were forgiven. They had been told that they would reign with Christ in His Kingdom.

This baptism of the Holy Spirit was for power to carry out the Great Commission in the signs and wonders of prophetic Holy Spirit empowered ministry.

The very finger of the Lord wrote on the stone at Sinai. Do you really thing God was cursing you when God wrote these commandments?

I was studying the way the Hebrews arranged marriage as a picture of the marriage contract we make with the Lord. Thanks so much for the study you have done, it gives scripture backup my study doesn't have.

My study differs from yours, saying Sinai is a betrothal contract, not a marriage. The groom (The Lord) is knocking at the door, asking us to marry him. The bride to be may accept the groom or reject him at any time, but the groom cannot back out, it would take divorce papers.

I believe Baptism is the marriage contract.

In time, this theme developed more fully into a festival commemorating the giving of the law,[ 37] surely by the third century C.E.[ 38] God gave the Torah in the third month (Exod 19: 1);[ 39] with a bit of exegetical ingenuity, Pharisees seem to have adjusted the time to correspond with the Feast of Pentecost.[ 40]

Upon the Marriage, the two become One. This being true, there is no argument.

I am not sure what "adjusted the time" relates to, but the Pharisees have nothing to do with the time of year God gave for both Shavuot and Pentecost. They are the same, and celebrate the same thing. Shavuot gives the law in stone, Pentecost gives the law in our hearts.

Thank you saint for this post. When do you beleive the marriage takes place?

I see 2 assembles, two covenants:

1 physical/temporal/Mt Sinai/Ex 19:1-22,23,

1 spiritual/eternal/Temple Mt/Acts 2:4

The Lord divorces a faithless physical Israel:

Faithless Israel
6 Moreover, the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king [of Judah], “Have you seen what that faithless Israel has done—how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there she was a prostitute?

7 I thought, ‘After she has done all these things she will return to Me’; but she did not return, and her treacherous (faithless) sister Judah saw it.

8 And I saw [that even though Judah knew] that for all the acts of adultery (idolatry) of faithless Israel, I [the Lord] had [a]sent her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid; but she went and was a prostitute also [following after idols].

9 Because of the thoughtlessness of Israel’s prostitution [her immorality mattered little to her], she desecrated the land and committed adultery with [idols of] stones and trees.

10 Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but rather in [blatant] deception [she merely pretended obedience to King Josiah’s reforms],” declares the Lord.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+3&version=AMP

Eternal spiritual covenant:

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
(NOTE: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Also see Mat 3:11, Lk 3:16 & Jn 1:33)

2 Tim 1:14 Refers to the Holy Spirit as a Good Deposit.

2 Cor 5:5, Eph 1:14 & 2 Cor 1:22. Refer to the Holy Spirit as "the earnest" = Deposit or Pledge.

Eph 1:13, 2 Cor 1:22 & Eph 4:30 Refer to the Holy Spirit as a Seal.

2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Is God's good deposit given us until the day of redemption)

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(NOTE: God has placed His Holy Spirit in the believers heart. As a DEPOSIT/PLEDGE & SEAL, until the soon coming day of our final redemption)

2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(NOTE: God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the earnest. Earnest translated from the Greek word: arrabon. Also means a deposit/pledge. In modern Greek arrabona is an "engagement ring.")

This Spiritual covenant is ETERNAL:
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
(MY NOTE: The Comforter <{translators Capitalized showing deity}= Holy Spirit will abide with you FOREVER)

Pentecost (Fiftieth) is the Feast of Weeks, seven weeks between it and Passover. Also called the feast of Weeks.

Exodus 34:22“Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the agricultural year.

Num 28:26“On the day of firstfruits, you are to hold a sacred assembly when you present an offering of new grain to the Lord at your Festival of Weeks;

Deut 16:9“You are to count seven weeks, counting the weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain.a 10You are to celebrate the Festival of Weeksa to the Lord your God with a freewill offeringb that you give in proportion to how the Lord your God has blessed you. 16“All your males are to appear three times a yeara before the Lord your God in the place he chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters. (which is why so many Jews visited Jerusalem at Pentecost)

1 Chron 8:12At that timea Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the Lord’s altar he had made in front of the portico.b 13He followed the daily requirementa for offerings according to the commandment of Mosesb for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.

There was seven weeks (a week of weeks) between it and Passover. Pentecost means "fiftieth" and it was so called because on the fiftieth day after the waving of the sheaf of firstfruits, (Lev 23:15-16) they waved two loaves for firstfruits. (Lev 23:17)

15“You are to count seven complete weeks starting from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the presentation offering. 16You are to count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17Bring two loaves of bread from your settlements as a presentation offering, each of them made from four quarts of fine flour, baked with yeast, as firstfruits to the Lord

This idea about the Law and Covenant renewal? Where does it come from? Tradition or scripture?

When discussing Acts 2 concerning the out pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem Luke's focus is clearly on the instructions Jesus gave in Luke 24 and repeated in Acts 1 that they were to wait in the city until they clothed with power from on high to be witnesses to of His resurrection to all nations.

Acts 2 focuses on the meaning "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, both men and women, and that they would Prophesy"

This Prophetic supernatural anointing of the empowering of the Holy Spirit to be used by God for the proclaimation of the Gospel is what is being communicated on this day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

Not marraige, not covenant renewal (Covenant renewal was accomplished on the cross and death of Christ as mentioned in other scriptures)

There is nothing in Luke's writing about this day of Pentecost commemorating the giving of the Law. The giving of the Law has nothing to do with establishing of the feast of Pentecost in the scriptures I posted. Sounds like people are reading from historical accounts of tradition which I don't equate with scriptures.

But regardless of the meaning of Pentecost, as a feast of the Jews, none of this is highlighted in Acts 1-2 and the prophesy of Joel is.

We as New Testament Christians when talking about Pentecost Sunday should be talking about the meaning of the outpouring of the Spirit on that day in Acts 2, and when they asked "what does this mean?" The answer Peter gave was the prophesy of Joel.

That the time had come when the Holy Spirit was going to empower believers to be a witness of Jesus Christ. Let's make that our focus and better yet, let us all seek to be filled with His Spirit today and empowered with Power from on High to go and reach the lost in all nations. Ask for the gift of Prophesy. Ask for the gift of tongues. Ask for supernatural anointing to preach the Gospel Boldly.

not necessarily...

More significantly, Jesus reinterprets the Passover to signify the inauguration of a new covenant in his blood (Lk. 22:15-20; cf. Je. 31:31-34),

Where do you get the idea that Pentecost is a commemoration of the giving of the Law. It was a feast of weeks celebration commemorating Frist Fruits.

In Revelation an angel tells John "this is the bride of Christ". Does John see a church building or group of people? No, he sees the Holy City of New Jerusalem. So on the surface the Bride of Christ is very clearly specified - as the Holy City of New Jerusalem.

But then John sees something else - that there are people who live within New Jerusalem, while there are nations of others who live outside the Holy City. Now remember, this is on the new earth so these are ALL saved people. Yet there is a clear distinction between those who live in the City, and those who live outside of it.

Another distinction is presented by the Tree of Life. The people who live in the City eat from the tree of life, whereas we see that the leaves of the tree are for the nations that surround it.

One thing we see about those who live in the City is that they are God’s servants. Servants can take the form of tradesmen, who are paid a wage and work at will. Or servants can be slaves who are given neither consideration. In Old Testament times, if you had a Hebrew slave you had to offer him his freedom after a period of service. But if you were a good and loving master he might not have wanted to leave. So, you would pierce his ear as a symbol of his becoming your bondslave. In return for his agreeing to be your slave for life, you agreed to care for him and his family for life. Now the Bible talks about both kinds of servants, workers and slaves, but when God speaks about His end-time servants He speaks of His bondslaves, those who when offered freedom have chosen slavery.

The population of New Jerusalem also includes those who "overcome.” Overcome is a fighting term, meaning to gain victory against an adversary in combat. In Jesus’ letters to the churches He commends their good works, rebukes their wrongs, exhorts them to seek a special understanding, and makes a specific promise to "those who overcome.” They are promised to eat from the tree of life; to not be hurt by the second death; and to be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it, unknown to any others but themselves and God. They are also given power over the nations (keeping in mind this is the New Earth). They are also to be given the morning star, to be clothed in white, and to never have their names blotted out from the book of life but confessed before the Father and His angels. They are to be made pillars in the temple of God and to never go out from it, and to have written on them the name of the City of God.

These promises are all identifiable to those described by John of the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. Except for one new promise, that of being given the morning star. Jesus called himself the Morning Star, and promised to give Himself as such to His Bride.

This should start to put together some kind of picture for you. Jesus’ bride is those who have sealed themselves to God as true bondslaves. They will be His Bride and live with Him in the City. Those who served Him as workers will live outside the City in the nations of the saved.

Perhaps His Bride could also be seen by looking at her prefiguration. God will physically dwell on the New Earth in New Jerusalem. On Old Earth (our Earth) God physically dwelt on earth in the Tabernacle and the Temple. The facilities both consisted of a central structure, surrounded by a walled courtyard. One tribe out of the 12 (the Levites) were called apart from the rest to serve inside the tabernacle/temple as God’s priests. The other tribes lived outside, but brought their sacrifices into the tabernacle/temple. This is what John saw with the New Earth and New Jerusalem - the only difference being nations instead of tribes, a city instead of a tent/building, and commerce instead of sacrifice.

Nowhere yet have we seen "the Church” in descriptions of His bride. This is unusual, because the Church is largely accepted as being the Bride of Christ. That connection comes from Ephesians 5:22-33, where Paul talks about husbands loving their wives as Christ loves the Church. In trying to explain what he calls a mystery, Paul quotes Genesis 2:23 where God declares that man and woman will become one flesh. In this setting God has just taken part of Adam’s body (his rib) to create his wife Eve. Paul specifically calls the church the body of Christ; Jesus is called the second Adam. To fit the pattern of Adam would it not follow that a part, and not all, of His body will be taken to create His bride?

In another place (2 Cor. 11) Paul explains further. He says he wishes to present us to the Lord as a chaste virgin. But then he fears that we will corrupt that purity. I think what Paul meant is that the Church, the aggregate body of all who believe in Christ, have been born-again virgin for betrothal to the Lord. But this virginal quality can be corrupted on an individual basis. Those of His people who don’t fall to this corruption and remain virginal will be taken from those who do, to become His bride. The rib from the body.

The Bible also talks about people entering into a wedding feast at Jesus’ coming. But in a Biblical wedding feast, the bride was not invited and did not attend. She was sequestered away someplace being prepared for the wedding night. After the feast, the groom would go to take his bride from that place. An example of this is Jacob’s marriage to Rachel (Gen. 29). If his bride to be had been at the wedding feast, Jacob would have known he was being given Leah instead. So again, there are two groups here… the general populace who feast, and the bride who is sequestered preparing for the groom.

So if a Biblical bride is not at the feast, where does she go? We see in Revelation 12 the prophecy of a woman who flees to a place prepared for her in the wilderness where she is cared for. Hosea 2 talks about the day of the Lord, as God speaks about Israel’s harlotry and His judgment upon her, after which He allures her into the wilderness and speaks comfort to her there. She is given vineyards as in the day she was called up out of Egypt, and she now calls Him Husband, not master. Jesus said that those in Judea should flee to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation. The Judeans were very close and loyal to Him. Again, there’s a repeating theme.

God has made it clear thru that repetition. Among mankind there are two kinds of people - those who accept salvation and those who don't. Then God further divides the saved, into those who are workers and those who are slaves. On the New Earth, those who are slaves will inhabit New Jerusalem as His Bride. Those who are workers will live in the nations of the saved around it.

God will have a pure and chaste bride - those who are committed to be His eternal bondservants. Not all of His Body will be a part of her, but each of us has a chance to be that rib. It all depends on how much we love our Creator, and whether we let our simple dependence upon Him be corrupted.