This is kinda hard, because there are several points to address, but they're all intermingled, making it impossible to respond to single statements. Since we're dealing with types & symbolism, i don't claim to be 100% correct, but here's my best shot. Also, my intent is to focus mainly on "Who's Who", and not so much on the requirements & processes involved.cindy wrote:Chuck wroteYes, YHWH wants his bride to return, but she cannot unless she is Born Again thru the blood of Moschiach.Another point about YAHWEH's 'divorce' from Israel is that it would only be finalized IF & when Israel 'married' another -- Deut.24:1-4, which never happened. Israel ONLY 'played the harlot' (as if that wasn't bad enough); and all of her 'lovers' rejected her (see Hos.5:7 + context). So, in Jer.3:8, even though YAHWEH says that He 'put her away and gave her a bill of divorce', just a few verses later in 3:14, He can legally say that He is still 'married' to her, and plead with her to return.
The only way for the bride to re-marry YHWH is if She Dies and becomes a New Creature.
2 Corinthians 5 [16]
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known [the Messiah] according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in [the Messiah], he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of [YHWH], who has reconciled us to Himself through [Yahshua the Messiah], and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that [YHWH] was in [the Messiah] reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for [the Messiah], as though [YHWH] were pleading through us: we implore you on [the Messiah]'s behalf, be reconciled to [YHWH].
Is Paul talking to Pagans who never knew YHWH. How can someone be "reconciled" if they never knew YHWH in the first place? Paul is talking to descendants of the Northern Kingdom who according to the promise to Abraham have become so numerous (like the stars in the sky) and spread out all over the "world".
This is all part of the future Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
The Two Houses come together under Moschiach and become One.
Not Jew or Greek nor female or male, but eventually ALL in All.
The first marriage covenant was broken and Northern Israel was divorced, Judah was severely punished, but not divorced. The New Covenant is a New Marriage contract sealed in Messiah's blood and we will celebrate the feast at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Notice i underlined "reconcile". An "estranged" couple don't have to repeat their marriage ceremony; they simply "reconcile". Likewise YHWH doesn't have to "re-marry" Israel; He simply "reconciles" them. I believe this happens at the beginning of the Millenium at the Ezekiel 37 resurrection, when the "whole House of Israel" (including Judah) will be resurrected and be given YHWH's Spirit (spiritually "conceived", but not yet "born again").
I believe that Judah was also "divorced". TWICE in fact - partially in 604-585 BC, and finally in 70 AD. This isn't mentioned in the context of Jer.3, because it hadn't happened yet. YHWH said even though "Israel played the harlot, Let not Judah offend" (Hos.4:15). But Judah sinned anyway, even moreso than Israel, and was put away TWICE.
Another major item is that many, like WCG & Co, believe that Yahshua was the "YHWH" who 'married' Israel at Mt. Sinai, but i don't believe that anymore. The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, mentioned in Ex.3:15, is mentioned in Acts 3:13 as having a Son - Yahshua. The "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" is NOT the same as the Father's reconciliation with Israel.
So it was the FATHER, Who married the NATION of Israel (the "Woman" of Rev.12), and it is the SON, Who will marry the "Virgin daughters of Zion" (Rev.7 & 14) - not the whole "church", but the 144,000 most faithful of the church (also being of 12 of the Tribes of Israel), who "follow the Lamb wherever He goes". This is the YAHWEH Family in a nutshell:
1st generation = YAHWEH + Israel = the Father + Mother (already & still married, and soon
to be reconciled.
2nd generation = Yahshua + 144,000 = Son + Daughters.
3rd generation = the Great Multitude = the [Grand]-Children.
Any comments?