The Conversion of Israel
Modern theologians call the Church the Bride of Christ. This idea makes sense if you ignore the Old Testament and just read the New Testament. However, it does not agree with prophecies about the nation of Israel in the book of Hosea and the book of Isaiah.
The book of Hosea is the story of the prophet marrying an adulterous woman, having children by her, losing her to her acts of adultery, and buying her back to be united with him again, with the provision that she would not commit adultery again. In the illustration, Hosea is representative of God and Hosea’s wife, Gomer, is representative of Israel. “Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.” Hosea 3:1. The prophet Jeremiah also spoke about the adultery committed by Israel. “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.” Jeremiah 3:8. When God re-marries Israel he will be marrying a Christian Israel. “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” Hosea 1:10. Israel has to be converted and become Christian. They will turn to God in the coming time of trouble. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” Hosea 5:15.
The prophet Isaiah had more prophecies about the Bride of Christ (Israel). “Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.” Isaiah 54:4-8. In this passage the Bride of Christ is called a widow. That is because her husband, God, died on the cross. However, the day is coming quickly when Israel (the Anglo-Saxon and kindred people) will seek God because of the immense trouble they will be in, and will be accepted back by him and re-married to him. They will be the Bride of Christ.
Therefore, the next question is, “What is the Church?” The Church is part of the coming Kingdom of God, even those members who are not descended from Jacob. This is according to God’s laws which allowed for anyone to be part of the nation of Israel if their males would be circumcised, and the people would adhere to the laws of God and worship the Lord. Anyone coming under the blood of the Passover was considered a member of the nation of Israel. (Exodus 12: 48). Our Passover is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s wrath passes over us and does not touch us if we trust in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. The Church is under the blood of Christ and therefore part of Christian Israel. Also, the members of the Church are circumcised in a spiritual sense in putting off the sins of the flesh. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” Colossians 2: 10-11. Israel and the Church will be united with Christ in the coming Kingdom.
