Q - Who is the Bride of Christ the Jews or Christians?

A - Some teach that the Bride is Israel and not the Church, this is not true.

The truth is part of the Church will be the bride of Christ, however not the complete church will be the bride of Christ only the Philadelphia church will be the bride.

Why is this even important? Does it really matter who the Bride is? The simple answer to that is YES it is very important: it was important enough to God our Father to include it many times in the scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Why do some people think Israel is the bride? I believe it's because God the Father was the husband to Israel. And because of this, Jesus the Son would marry them later.

Isaiah 54:5
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel

Jeremiah 3:14
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

God later divorced them.

Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

The first reason why Israel cannot be the Bride of Christ is because Jesus is a High Priest.

Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

According to the law set forth in Leviticus, a high priest cannot marry a widow, or a divorced woman, or a harlot, but only a virgin.

Leviticus 21:13-14
And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

I really don't know why there is any confusion about who the Bride is, because we are given the answer. Paul tells us in more than one place that it is the TRUE CHURCH.

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Israel cannot be portrayed as a chaste virgin, since she is an adulterous nation. So, who can be presented "as a chaste virgin?" Paul tells us the answer to that when he is addressing the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 5:26-27
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.

Why did he say that? It is because we are betrothed to Jesus AS a virgin. Not that we are literally. The "virgin" part of that verse is a metaphor.

The meaning of metaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity

Paul is trying to explain just how pure and clean we are after we've been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul tells us that we should be married to "Him who is raised from the dead."

Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Paul also revealed the great mystery of the Church (not Israel).

Ephesians 5:30-32
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.

I don't know how much clearer it could be. But the argument that by some seems to be (the church) can't be the Bride because we are the body. We can see from the above verse that Paul is essentially saying that the only way to be a part of the body, that is to say, one flesh, is to first be the bride.

I might add that the following verse clearly depicts a moment in time when a certain group of people will be called ("Come up hither!") safely into their "chamber" while the Lord punishes the inhabitants of the earth. This group of people are the Philadelphia church and that just means they are true Christians that are 'overcomers" that are watching and praying for the return of Christ, not all saved people are "overcomers" only people who put Jesus Christ first in their lives.

Isaiah 26:20-21
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The fulfilling of the word of God includes the great wedding of the Lamb of God. It is going to be a celebration like no other! I am thankful that I will be among them that are forever joined to the Lamb, as His bride and His body. We will never be separated from Him. Halleluiah!

I want to make it clear that not all the body (the church) will be the bride only "overcomers" will be worthy to be the bride

Rev 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

God has promised a special “open door” to the faithful Christians of the Philadelphia church in Revelation. This open door is the promised Pretribulation Rapture that will keep these faithful Christians from the “hour of temptation.” aka the tribulation.

Rev 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

A few verses later in Revelation 4:1 the Apostle John looks up and sees this open door into heaven.

Rev 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

This is the Pretribulation Rapture of the church as seen by the great majority of Christians today, but most overlook that this open door was promised only to the faithful Philadelphia Christians. Other Christians such as those in the church of Thyatira are told that they will be cast “into great tribulation” if they do not repent. They do not receive the open door. So in other words the true "overcomers" of sin in their lives will be taken in the first fruits rapture the lukewarm and backslidden Christians will not be taken in this first rapture.

Make yourselves ready, for the bridegroom is coming soon!