@2ndTimeIsTheCharm , do you think the "Bride / Wife" is an actual single/singular woman only, and no one else (as in, no men are saved)?? It's highly doubtful you think such.
I maintain that "the Bride/Wife [singular]" is whom the "MARRIAGE" pertains (and involves
both male and female members of the "ONE BODY" / "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" Eph1:20-23
WHEN [as to its existence]--
corporately referred to in 2Cor11:2 as
"A CHASTE VIRGIN [SINGULAR]" who is presently "betrothed" to Christ, but whom Paul says he will "
PRESENT [G3936]" to Christ);
The "
WITH" word "G4862 -
UNIONed-with [Him]" (used of US) pertains to the "MARRIAGE" itself;
... but the "FIVE [wise] virgin
S [plural]" are
NOT a picture / illustration of whom He will be
"MARRYING"...
INSTEAD, they (will) "went in
with [G3326 -
accompanying] Him TO THE WEDDING
FEAST / SUPPER / FESTIVITIES, i.e. the
earthly Millennial Kingdom age. (THAT is what THEY are a "picture / illustration" of! And it's not just
five single
women they represent either. No one is making such a point.
)
--"the kingdom OF THE heavenS" (see Mt25:
1, for one example)
IS the promised
and prophesied EARTHLY Millennial Kingdom age (which will commence
IN EARNEST at the time surrounding His Second Coming
to the earth; it likely involves also the period
immediately leading up to that point as well).
His/Jesus' illustrations themselves DISTINGUISH "the Bride / Wife [
SINGULAR]" from that of the "FIVE virginS [
PLURAL]" and the "guestS [
PLURAL]" (etc).
They are simple enough for a child to understand--My own five year olds have understood
the difference between the bride and the [plural] bridesmaid
s--it is a difference that should be fairly evident (the
PICTURE in scripture, Mt25:1-13, is
NOT meant
to illustrate Jesus' intention to "MARRY" 10 or even 5 virginS [PLURAL]--THAT is a
marring/skewing of the picture / illustration (
and many people DO teach it this incorrect way)--the PURPOSE of that illustration in Matt25:1-13 is
NOT about "the MARRIAGE" but about "the
wedding FEAST / SUPPER" i.e. the MK age, and who it is that will ENTER
IT)
[...but, note also, today our wedding celebrations are different,
time-wise, to that of the time and culture when these were written]
____________
John 2... we know was a "wedding FEAST / SUPPER" because there were many GUESTS [plural] present, as well as the "governor / ruler of the FEAST"