The Question: Is the modern day Born Again Gentile Church and the Born Again Jews the Bride of Christ?
Webster definition for Bride and Bridegroom is this:
1. A woman new married, but the name is applied to a woman at the
marriage festival, before she is married, as well as after the ceremony.
2. A woman espoused, or contracted to be married.
[This is the true original sense of the word.]
BRI'DEGROOM, n. A man newly married; or a man about to be married.
Throughout the Word of God there are many references to "The Type of Relationship" God would have between Jews and Gentiles. It would be as a Bridegroom and a Bride.
Remember the word Bride means: A woman new married, but the name is applied to a woman at the marriage festival, before she is married, as well as after the ceremony. The definition of Bridgroom is also applied to a man newly married or about to get married.
It is not that the church is being referred to as female!
...it is the type of relationship between a Bridegroom and a Bride
that God would also have with the Jews and His Church.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:22-27)
We see in the above scripture a relationship between a husband and a wife - It is also in relation between Christ and the church. A Bride and a Bridegroom.
When the Word of God makes reference to mankind or between God and man.
Woman is included in mankind. But a woman is definitely not a man.
The prophet Isaiah tells us in Isaiah. 61:10:
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, (as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.)
If you will notice the prophet Isaiah says (as a bridegroom, as a bride) so it is the kind of relationship God would have with the Jews and the Church.
In this prophecy, Isaiah makes reference in Isaiah. 62:5:
For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Also the prophet Jeremiah makes reference to the
"Type Of Relationship" between God and the Bride.
Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, & from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate. (Jeremiah 7:34)
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, in your days, the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. (Jeremiah 16:9)
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. (Jeremiah 25:10)
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 33:11)
The Prophet Joel makes a declaration and calls the people together
but makes reference to the Bridegroom and the Bride.
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. (Joel 2:16)
"New Testament reference to the Bridegroom and the Bride"
1. Jesus made reference to himself being like the bridegroom
and his disciples and followers being like the bride.
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisee fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Matthew 9:14-15)
2. Jesus made reference to Ten Virgins meeting the Bridegroom
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarred, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13)
Webster defines Virgin as: "A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man."
Paul made reference to what a virgin is in 1Cor 7:28:
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
The Apostle John made reference to Jesus being the Bridegroom having ahold of the Bride and John being apart of that bride and also a friend to the bridegroom.
John rejoiced greatly over that.
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I [must] decrease. (Matthew 25:1-13)
"Jesus Attends a Wedding"
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them]. But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his other servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping & gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen. (Matthew 22:1-14)
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it]. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it]. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now. (John 2:1-10)
The Apostle Paul spoke about the Type of Relationship
of a Bridegroom "Husband" & Bride "Wife"
The Apostle Paul spoke about the type of relationship Jesus would have with the Church as being like a Husband and a wife or a Bridegroom and a Bride. The reference is made in the light of submission. Paul calls it a great mystery on how the relationship between a husband(Bridegroom) and wife(Bride) should also be as Christ and His Church.
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. (Ephesians 5:20-32)
“The Mystery is the type of relationship”
John, The Revalator, makes mention that the city "New Jerusalem"
would be prepared as a Bride before her Wedding.
Rev. 19:7-9: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Rev. 21:2: And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared (as a bride) adorned for her husband.
In Conclusion
God throughout the Old and New Testament makes Reference to the type of relationship
He would have with the Jews of the Old Testament & those Born Again in the New Testament.
Once a person is Born Again they are joined with Christ just like it is in the natural when a man and woman get married.
Most of the time Jesus spoke in parables or in comparisons; The Kingdom of God is like... etc.
So in comparison, it is safe to say that the New Testament Church is the Bride of Christ and soon we will be in the presence of the Bridgroom "Jesus" feasting at His wedding supper.