Author: Derek McCammon
Date: 1/24/2002 6:35 pm CDT
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Randy:
Bridechamber - anywhere the attendants to the wedding party have gathered.
Literally - In Luke 5:29 it is Matthew's house.
Figuratively - No telling.
I may be missing something, but I don't think "what is the meaning of bridechamber" is:
1) answerable since it can change from location to location or
2) of any significance. Again, I may be missing something.
Children to the Bridechamber - those who are members to the wedding party. More particularly those who are attendants to the two honorees. Here (Matt. 9:14) disciples which includes the 12. But not all disciples remain (John 6:66). So I would expect that the "children of the bridechamber" are the ones who remain.
Which brings us to "the Bride, the Lamb's wife". All those who expect this hope are "faithful" or "overcomers". Abraham and the other heroes of faith had this inheritance before them (Heb. 11:6,16,40 - note the use of the word "better" and then Rev. 3:12 "new Jerusalem").
This inheritance, "holy Jerusalem", in contrast to the earthly inheritance also promised (Gen. 15:18), has a particular characteristic that brings us back to the 12. New Jerusalem has 12 foundations (Rev. 21:14) "and in then the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
All of this can be found in the articles referred to previously. I quote:
In the Patmos visions we read of 'The Bride, the Lamb's wife,' but 'the Bride of Christ' is unknown to Scripture . . . With the close of the Baptist's ministry, both the Bride and the Lamb disappear from the New Testament until we reach the Patmos visions. In Revelation 21, the angel summoning the Seer to behold 'the Bride' the Lamb's wife, and he showed him 'the Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.' The twelve gates of the city bear the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and on the twelve foundations are 'the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb' . . . it is the city for which Abraham looked . . . These apostles of the Bride are not the apostles who were given after the Ascension for the building up of the Body of Christ--the Apostles of this Christian dispensation, chief among whom was Paul. They are the twelve apostles of the Lord's earthly ministry to Israel, who shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28)."
The wife is also discussed in the referenced articles. I quote:
The Bride of the Lamb must be distinguished from the national restoration of Israel, set forth in the symbol of a wife divorced, then taken back forgiven and blessed. The Revelation is particularly concerned with a believing, overcoming remnant, and it is this overcoming remnant out of Israel that is depicted under the figure of a Bride. While this distinction must be observed, some expositors have attempted to make a distinction between "wife" of Revelation 19 and the "bride" of Revelation 21 and 22. Restored Israel, as the wife once divorced and at last taken back again is not the subject of the book of the Revelation. Restored Israel as such, has no place in the heavenly city, that is reserved for the heavenly calling of the kingdom. Abraham had the land as an assured inheritance but as an overcomer, he looked higher, and waited for the heavenly city. In both Revelation 19 and 21 it is the "Lamb" who is the Bridegroom.
To answer the last question "Where are we the husband?" I would think we would be enjoying our inheritance in the heavenlies far above (Eph. 1:3 & 2:6).
Well, Randy, that's a stab at it. Maybe you see things differently. I hope this helps.
Derek McCammon
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