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: 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)

Hosea: A Type for Christ or God’s Bride?

I was listening to my audio bible and heard a passage from Hosea 3:1-9 that sounded like a type for Christ:

The Lord said to me, “Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery.  Likewise, the Lord loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.” So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barley to purchase her.

Hosea means “help” or “salvation” and the prophet does appear to speak to God’s love for us by sending His Son to die for us on the cross in Hosea 6:1-3:

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Upon further study, however, I think that Hosea is a type for God’s relationship to His eventual wife: Israel. 

Looking at Hosea’s life, we learn that God instructed Hosea to marry a prostitute.  He chose Gomer, who was not faithful to him.  God chose Israel to be His bride, which has also been unfaithful in its covenant with the Lord.  So one could say that God also chose a harlot.

When we look at the names of Hosea and Gomer’s children, their firstborn was named Jezreel, which means God sows.  The second child was a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, which means no pity or no mercy.  Their third child, Lo-Ammi, means not my people.  That sounds an awful lot like God’s long-suffering relationship with Israel, which turned to worship Baal and not the Lord.

Hosea is such a beautiful story because despite God’s judgment, it also typifies God’s love for Israel.  Hosea speaks to the day when Israel will finally repent and be welcomed back into the arms of her long-awaiting Husband.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.  There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [my Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal].  For I will take away the names of Baalim [the Baals] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned or seriously remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:14-17, Amplified Bible).

Preparing Our Wedding Garments For The Bridegroom’s Return

There is a beautiful theme that delicately weaves throughout Scripture about a bride and her bridegroom, beginning in Genesis 2:22-23, when God forms a bride for man from the body of her bridegroom:

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Later Abraham (the father) sent his servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac, just as our Father has sent the Holy Spirit to find a bride for His son, Jesus Christ.

I have written about Jewish marriage customs and their significance in Scripture, but have been learning about other biblical marriage customs from a wonderful book by Henry John Van-Lennep, Bible Lands: Their Modern Customs and Manners Illustrative of Scripture, which can be downloaded for free from Google Books. 

Van-Lennep writes that once the family of the bridegroom meets the prospective bride, the women of the bridegroom’s family would meet her at a public bath.  This was to ensure that she had no physical defect.  Only then would a formal marriage proposal be made.

This led me to Ephesians 5:25-32, which speaks about the bride who will be taken from the body of the Church (the antitype to the type of Adam’s bride being taken out of his body) and how she must present herself:

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 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. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 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. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Once a couple became engaged, a marriage contract was signed.  The wedding, however, did not occur until much later.  During this time, the bride and bridegroom were not permitted to see each other.  Jesus alludes to this in John 14:2-3:

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

During this period of separation, the bride would usually send gifts to the bridegroom that she created with her hands, such as needlework.  Just as we should be focused on creating works for our bridegroom through faith in Him until that joyful day when He returns for us.

The bride’s wedding garment was also highly important, and often ornate or adorned with jewels, as described in several Scripture passages:

Isaiah 49:18:

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

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.

Jeremiah 2:32:

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Marriage festivities often occurred a week before the wedding ceremony, both at the homes of the bride and bridegroom.  While waiting for the bridegroom, the maids and matrons might become drowsy and fall asleep on their divans, save for those few who kept a watchful eye for the approaching torches of the bridegroom’s procession.  When the cry was made “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6), the girls and younger women would hastily light their lamps, candles, or lanterns and run out to meet the coming procession. 

Jesus describes this in His parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).  Van-Lennep writes that when the foolish virgins went out to buy their oil, the procession had already formed and had moved to the home of the bridegroom.  The reason the door was shut was to prevent the entrance of dangerous men or thieves who might rob jewelry, costly garments, or even the bride herself. 

Wealthy hosts often distributed garments to the wedding guests.  Usually this was just the outer garment (called the jibbeh) or a piece of cloth that was used to make one.  Jesus also speaks to this in His parable about the King and the wedding guest who is not properly clothed in Matthew 22:1-14.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.13 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 and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The wedding finally culminates in the Book of the Revelation:

Revelation 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.

Revelation 22:16-17:

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (emphasis mine).

Today the bride of Christ is busy preparing her garments, looking to the clouds, and waiting for the bridegroom's imminent return.  She often groans from the crushing weight of the sin in this world — and sometimes even her own.  

He promised her that He would come quickly, but some days, it does not feel quickly enough. 

The Return of the Bridegroom As Foretold In Genesis

After Abraham had typically offered up his son on Mount Moriah and typically received him from the dead on the third day the son for a number of chapters in the record disappears from view. 

Then Abraham the father sends his servant Eliezer into a far country to get a bride for this now invisible son. Eliezer meets the intended bride at a well from whence she is drawing water, goes with her into her brother's house, takes out a pack of precious things sent from the father in the name of the son, displays them to her and invites her to become the bride of the son. She consents. The servant leads her forth. On the way he talks to her of the promised bridegroom. Suddenly she beholds him coming to meet her. He receives her, takes her into his prepared tent and she becomes his wife.

On the same mount nearly two thousand yeare later God the Father offered up His only begotten Son. On the third day He raised Him from the dead. For two thousand years He has disappeared from view. The Father has sent forth the Spirit to obtain a bride for His Son. He meets her at the Gospel well from whence we draw the waters of salvation. He is calling her through individual selection that she may become the corporate bride. He has brought spiritual gifts which He seeks to display in all her assemblies. He is endeavouring to lead her along the highway of time and to speak to her in the heaven speech of the Coming Bridegroom. Suddenly the Lord will come to meet her and take her into the place prepared and keep her for the marriage hour. In this simple story the analogue finds its prophetic climax in the Second Coming of our Lord.

From Why I preach the second coming by Isaac Massey Haldeman.

Salvation of the Soul (Part 1)

I must start off by asking for your patience, dear reader, as I struggle to find the right words to summarize important truths that can be understood by anyone who has received salvation of the spirit and is devoted to studying God's Word.  If you are here because you are seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture I implore you to go back to your Bible after reading this, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide you, and you will find all your answers there. 

⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
(Matthew 7:7-8)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

On the heels of yesterday’s post, I want to discuss another Scripture verse that once perplexed me.

Hebrews 9:28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

I believe that this verse is referring to salvation of the soul, which is different from spirit salvation.^1-3  Man is made up of three parts: spirit, soul, and body.^1-4  There is a great deal that can be written about this, but in its simplest form, the part of us that is spirit cannot be seen and it is the part of us that God communicates with through His Word.  Our soul is the part of us that influences our emotions, our personalities, our will, and ultimately our choices.  Our body is the flesh, the outward part of us that can be seen.^1-4  

1 Thessalonians 5:23 leads me to believe that the full scope of salvation involves all three of these parts: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

When man fell in the Garden of Eden, he experienced spiritual death.  When we believe in Jesus, we receive salvation of the spirit.  Even as believers, however, there is often a battle that wages between our spirit and our soul.^1-3  Scripture talks about the saving of our soul in James 1:21:  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

While spirit salvation is present for believers, salvation of the soul appears to be a future salvation^1,2— the end of our faith that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 1:9.   

After the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), we know that we will appear before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ.   

Romans 14:10: But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
  
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Scripture tells us that the Lord will determine if our works as believers are gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, stubble. 
 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15: ¹⁰According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. ¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

If our works survive the fiery test, I believe we will then receive salvation of our soul and the reward that is spoken of above and in Matthew 16:27:   

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

Next time: What happens to those who shall suffer loss? 

References:  
1.  Chitwood A. Salvation of the Soul.

2.  Herbert J. "The Full Scope of Salvation."

3.  Powell R.  "Salvation of Spirit, Soul, and Body."

4.  Larkin C.  Dispensational Truth, or God’s Plan and Purpose in the Ages.  Originally published in 1918.