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It is important to understand that in end time events the Church is a body distinct from the Old Testament Saints and the Nation of Israel as well as from the Tribulation Saints. All three groups are treated differently prior to the rapture, during the tribulation period, and when Christ returns.

Let's get started with the following:

1. Read Matthew 16:18 – who is building the Church?
2. The term “Church” can mean two different things. There is “The Church”, meaning organized Christianity – Christendom, and there is that group of people who have accepted Christ as their Savior – those “born again” called “The Body of Christ”. Each is treated differently in end time prophecy and it will be important for us to keep the two distinctly separate in our study. Read Matthew Chapter 13. There are seven parables about “The Church” – organized Christianity contained in this chapter. Can you list the seven – and list what the key point is of each one beside it? (Remember, these are about the organized church.) For example, what does the mustard seed represent, or the pearl of greatest price?
3. If the Church (also known as the Bride of Christ) started on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts Chapter 2, (10days after Christ’s ascension into heaven) and this same church returns with him at his second coming as His Wife, then, are the Old Testament Saints, and those saved after the Rapture, included in the Church?
4. As we near the 2nd Coming a great apostasy, a falling away, teaching a lie for the truth, will occur within the Church. Read the following: 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Peter 2:1, and 2 Peter 3:3-4. List some of the false teaching, lies, and confusion that will be taught in the Church – note if any of these are being taught today.
5. In its final form the Church will be a one-world church – a worldwide church, and is described in Revelation chapter 17. Read Daniel 11:36-38. Do you think Daniel is writing about the Anti-Christ and the Anti-Christ becoming the eventual head of this worldwide church?
6. Read Daniel 11:39-45. What happens to this church and its leader?

It is useful for us to consider for a moment the Jewish traditional marriage custom: First the bride’s father would agree with the groom’s Father that the marriage should take place, this agreement would constitute betrothal. A period of courting would begin where eventually the groom leaves the Bride, returns to his father’s land and begins building a home for his new bride – many times in “his father’s house”, or at least attached to it. When the house was complete he would return, often times unannounced, to marry his bride and take her to be where he is and to the new home. While the groom was off doing the building the bride and her wedding party would prepare herself for the wedding, and set the party to watch and wait for the coming of the groom. They would have to keep plenty of oil in their lamps because if the groom came at night – which was often the case given that he would travel all day to get there – then the party would go out to meet him, the bride would be brought out all adorned in fine linen and jewels and the wedding would commence. Soon as the ceremony was over a great feast or banquet would be hosted by the father of the groom and a long period, often a week or more, would be set aside for the wedding feast where only friends and family of the bride and groom would be invited.

This perfectly matches our relationship to Christ as the groom with the Church as His bride. There are many parallels that can be observed, e.g., the groom goes off to “preparing a place” in his father’s land, watching for the rapture and call of the church, the virgins with and without oil in their lamps (oil symbolizing the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit) the ceremony, the white linen robes, party/banquet, new home, in the father’s place, etc etc.

Let's try to always keep in mind the true nature of the Church and its relationship to Christ as his bride, and let us resist the "infidelity" that is being preached by the word today in an attempt to redefine this relationship.

Yours in Christ

Wes