Hi ARisingSon,
I've tried researching this but get no where. Does Ray have specific teachings as to the identity of the Bride of Christ?
I found quite a few places where Ray touches on the "bride," so I will just put all those up, I think they will help.
http://bible-truths.com/email5.htm ------------------
I will be the first to admit that we "understand in part" as Paul has told us. We certainly do not understand all of the mechanics of God and how He is manifested toward man. But we can know as much as the Scriptures tell us.
First, God has predestined and called a group [Greek: ecclesia] commonly called church, out of the humanity of this world. This called out group is likened to virgins,
a bride, brothers, Christ's body, and sons of God. Christ will marry this virgin bride body of believers who are the manifest sons of God for whom the whole creation is groaning. It is this body of believers that will reign with Christ and bring salvation to the entirety of the universe.
http://bible-truths.com/lake13.html --------------
"And after these things I hear a GREAT voice of much people in heaven, saying ALLELUIA; SALVATION, and GLORY, and HONOR, and POWER, unto the Lord our God… for He has judged the great whore… ALLELUIA for the Lord God omnipotent REIGNS. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him: for the MARRIAGE of the Lamb is come… Write, BLESSED ARE THEY which are called unto the MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB" (Rev. 19:1, 2, 6, 7, 9)
Now it is pretty honorable to just be "called unto the marriage of Christ," but to ACTUALLY BE
THE BRIDE—Well, that’s something else!
http://bible-truths.com/lake11.html --------------------
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are in the Church. But if you are in Christ Jesus, then you are no longer in the physical carnal church, but in God’s spiritual Church—the very Body of Christ. Let me assure you on the authority of all the Sacred Scriptures that carnal [enmity filled hatred] minded Christians are not members of the spiritual body of Christ. Jesus Christ is preparing
a "bride"—a VIRGIN bride. Our Lord will not marry a whore or prostitute.
http://bible-truths.com/lake4.html -----------------
In Chapter 14:1 & 4 we are told specifically who these 144,000 are: "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand [notice that the innumerable multitudes from all nations is not mentioned here] ... These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins [as in
the Bride of Christ]. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, BEING THE FIRSTFRUITS unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev. 14:1 & 4). So every believer from the Apostles to the 144,000 just prior to the return of Jesus Christ to establish His reign on the earth, is called and likened to FIRSTFRUITS!
v
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY" (Rev. 21:6).
"And the Spirit and
the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the WATER OF LIFE FREELY" (Rev. 22:17).
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mercy, peace and love
Kat