Types of the Bride of Christ: Zipporah

Zipporah was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Reuel, who was the priest of Midian.  She was one of Jethro’s seven daughters.  There is far less written about her than other bride types, yet there is still much to glean from Scripture.

After killing an Egyptian who struck a Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian.  There he helped Zipporah and her sisters who were being pushed away from a well as they were trying to get water for their flock.  This is reminiscint of Rebekah, another type of the bride of Christ, who also meets her bridegroom by the well. 

Reuel opens his home to Moses and gives him Zipporah as a wife — a Gentile bride.  We see a similar pattern with Asenath, the Gentile bride given to Joseph (another type for Christ) who was also the daughter of a priest.  Zipporah coming out of her family of seven sisters has been compared to the bride coming out from the church.  Zipporah was also given to Moses during the time of his rejection.

Zipporah and Moses had a son named Gershom, “for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:23)  Their second son was Eliezer, which means God is my help.  When Moses returns to Egypt, Scripture tells us that the Lord “met him and tried to kill him.” (Exodus 4:24)  The Hebrew verb for “kill” used here is also sometimes used to mean the death of wisdom.  Blumenthal writes: “At this moment what God expressed to Moses by threatening to “kill” him is the demand that the prophet dedicate himself totally and irrevocably to the people he is about to lead.”     

That may explains what happens next.  Zipporah takes a sharp stone and cuts off the foreskin of her son (which one we do not know, some suggest her firstborn) and casts it to touch Moses’ feet, saying, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me” (Exodus 4:24-26).  Extra sources tell us that Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons, because Zipporah was opposed to it.  As far as we can tell, however, she was the first woman of the Bible to circumcise her son. 

The NET Bible notes suggest that Zipporah was telling Moses, “I have delivered you from death, and your return to life makes you my bridegroom a second time, this time by blood bridegroom, a bridegroom acquired by blood.”  Christ is our bridegroom acquired by blood, but I need to dig deeper because I think there is more to this passage that is not yet clear. 

Later, Zipporah is secure at her father’s house during the time when God delivers His judgments on Egypt.  This is a type for the bride being raptured and spared during the tribulation period.   

Chitwood writes in “The Bride in Genesis,” “Zipporah did not accompany Moses to Egypt when he appeared to his brethren the second time and was not present during any of this dealings with his brethren in Egypt… she was separated from Moses during this time and reunited with him only after the Exodus.”  

I know this post is about Zipporah, but in reading Exodus 4, I had to chuckle as Moses tries his best (three times) to back out of what the Lord has asked him to do.  We all may have doubts at times, but I cannot imagine actually standing before the Lord, trying to convince Him to change His mind!   

Types of the Bride of Christ: Asenath

Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.  Her marriage to Joseph certainly allied him with one of the most powerful priestly families in Egypt.

Asenath’s name is of Egyptian origin and it may mean that she belongs to the goddess Neit.  She is only briefly mentioned in Scripture.  

From historical accounts, we know that she was a pagan.  Some Jewish writers believe that she was a proselyte (a convert).  These writers suggest that she was first spurned by Joseph and repented of her idolatry by wearing a sackcloth and ashes and disposing of her wealth.  Jewish legend goes on to say that she lost her beauty, until she washed her face in pure water and became marvelously beautiful.  Then she married Joseph. 

Another Jewish legend is that bees covered her and stung her lips to remove her false prayers.  Other non-Biblical stories are that she saved Joseph’s life when Potiphera was going to slay him, testifying that her mother lied about her accusations.  Or that she was really a member of Jacob’s family — the daughter of Joseph’s sister, Dinah — and conceived in her rape by Shechem.

Joseph is one of the strongest types for Christ in Scripture.  What we do know from the Bible is that Asenath becomes Joseph’s bride during the time of his rejection.  He also marries her before the seven years of famine. 

In fact, we do not hear of Asenath again until after the famine, which I believe is telling us that the bride will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation. 

Reference: Jewish Encyclopedia

Types of the Bride of Christ: Rachel

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob.  Jacob — a type for Christ — first meets her at the Haran well.  This is another type of the bride being taken from those who draw from the well, which is the Word of God.

One of two brides

Jacob served seven years to be able to marry Rachel, just as Christ has come first as a servant, prior to marrying His bride.  Laban deceived Jacob and gave him his other daughter, Leah, because it was the right of the firstborn.  Leah represents Israel (the firstborn, which will be dealt with first) and the bride of God the Father.  Rachel typifies the bride of Christ. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to serve two periods of seven years to claim his bride.  Jesus will also complete two periods of time before he claims His bride: first as prophet and second as our High Priest in Heaven. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel.  He preferred Rachel and God favored Leah by giving her children.  When Rachel could not conceive, she gave her handmade Bilhah to Jacob and she bore Dan and Naphtali.  Then Rachel became pregnant with Jacob. 

 A perplexing mystery

When Jacob and his family ran away from Laban, Rachel stole her father's household gods (teraphim) and concealed them when he searched her tent.  

Scripture does not explain why she stole them. Did she want to prevent her father from practicing idolatry?  Or is Scripture telling us that even a bride of Christ can be tempted by idols of this world?   

Types of the Bride of Christ: Rebekah

Scripture tells us that Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nabor, Abraham’s brother.

Abraham — a type of God the Father — instructed his servant (a type of the Holy Spirit) to find a bride for his son Isaac, who is a type for Christ.  Abraham insisted that the bride was not to come from the Canaanites, but from his country and his people. 

Her deeds qualified her 

Rebekah, a virgin, kindly provides Abraham’s servant with water from the well, which was the sign the servant was looking for.  It is also a type for the bride filling herself up with the living water that the Lord lovingly provides every time we go to His Word.  Rebekah fills her pitcher, not once, but twice, which tells us that she had a double portion.

The servant gives her a golden earring of half a shekel weight and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, which was the bride price.  The golden earring represents that she was hearing and obeying God’s Word (Royce Powell).  He also gives her jewels of silver and gold and her raiment, which points to the bride being qualified at judgment seat of Christ.

When the servant asks if there is room in her father’s house, she says there is both enough straw and provender.  Isaiah 11:7 tells us that when Christ reigns, the lion will eat straw. 

She came out of her world

The servant asks: “Wilt though go with this man?” Rebekah says yes, which requires leaving her home and family behind, a type of what the Holy Spirit will do after He removes the bride from this fallen world.  It is also instruct us that we should not follow the ways and the sways of the world and steadfastly follow Christ Jesus, our Bridegroom.   

She had faith in that which was unseen

Scripture tells us that Rebekah arose to go and meet Isaac — who was coming to claim her — just as the bride (among other believers) will arise at the rapture to meet her Bridegroom for the first time in the clouds.  Rebekah had never met Isaac before, but she goes to him having faith in that which is unseen.  She is a beautiful type of a bride who willingly gave up everything to be with her bridegroom.  

References: Complete Word Study Bible, Jewish Encyclopedia

Types of the Bride of Christ: Eve

This is the first of a series that looks at the types of the bride of Christ in the order that they appear in Scripture.

Eve (Genesis 2) was created as Adam’s “help meet” when God took a rib out of Adam’s body, which is a type of the bride being taken out of the body of believers.  Adam was put to sleep and his side was opened when the Lord created Eve. Our bridegroom was also put to sleep at Calvary and his side was opened.  And just as the Lord wanted Adam to have a bride, He has been longing to find a bride (another suitable help meet) for His son Christ Jesus.

I was initially taught that all believers are the bride of Christ.  But when you study Scripture deeply, and pay attention to all of the types that the Lord has lovingly orchestrated for those who have eyes to see, you realize that this just does not line up with Scripture. 

The parable of the ten virgins is a perfect example

Many erroneously preach that five of the virgins were unbelievers.  If that were true, they would never have addressed Jesus as “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 25:11).  All the virgins are saved — and will all have eternal life — yet the door (entrance to the Millennial Kingdom) is shut to the five who were unwise (see my previous post on this). I believe they may only be able to see the Kingdom from the outer darkness, which explains why there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The serpent only deceived Eve

Adam willingly partook of the fruit, taking on the sin of his bride so that she would not be alone. It was also the only way that he could bring about Eve’s redemption (Chitwood, "The Bride in Genesis"). 

It is such a beautiful type of the terrible sacrifice that Jesus made for us at Calvary.  He was pure and innocent when He took upon the sin of the world.  While Adam likely suffered great emotional pain after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, I can’t imagine it comes close to the horrendous physical pain that our Lord experienced on the cross.

A timely warning 

2 Corinthians 11:3 tells us:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

This is a warning for all preparing brides today — not only for themselves, but also so that they can warn other believers who are at this very moment being deceived by false doctrines and false Christs, new age mysticism, and contemplative practices that are being ushered into many churches with open arms.

And now, little children, abide in Him: that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 

(1 John 2:28)

The Little Children

I was reading 1 John (KJV) and noticed that the author addresses multiple audiences:

• My little children (my dear children in the NIV)
• Brethren and my brethren (dear friends in the NIV)
• Fathers, young men, and children (The IVP Bible Background says this represents different stages of faith; fathers held positions of honor and authority; young men had strength and vigor, but were still vulnerable to temptation; children were still learning)
• Beloved (Rabbi Meir says beloved is Israel) 

I created a table so I could look at the passages side-by-side and noticed that the Greek word for little children was different in just one verse.

1 John 2:1	Tekníon
1 John 2:12	Tekníon
1 John 2:18	Paidíon
1 John 2:28	Tekníon
1 John 3:7	Tekníon
1 John 3:18	Tekníon
1 John 4:4	Tekníon
1 John 5:21	Tekníon

1 John 2:18: Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come even now are there many antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. (KJV)

I looked up the Greek words using the Complete Word Study Bible:

• Tekníon: Child, a little child.  Used only figuratively and always in the plural.  A term of affection by a teacher to his disciples

• Paidíon: Child, a little child, either male or female. A child recently born, a baby, an infant.  Metaphorically in 1 Cor 14:20, “be not children in understanding,” meaning weak, ignorant, childish.  As an endearing appellation for the followers in Christ

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says: Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children [paidíon] ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (KJV, notation added)

The late pastor John White preached that it is the little children [paidíon] who are entering the kingdom. They are submissive to the Lord.  He also refers to little children as "a body of believers taken out of the body” who will be great in the kingdom.  

Little children are also the sons and the brethren or brothers of Christ, who are those who are seeking to enter the kingdom by doing the will of the Father (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21; 18:3; 19:23-24, Mark 9:47; 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25; John 3:5; Acts 14:22). 

Scripture tells us that some will only see the kingdom and not everyone will enter the kingdom:

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

If we are striving to be little children and enter the kingdom, how do we know what the will of the Father is? White says we discover it by studying the Bible.