The Bride of Christ – Part 2
Can He Remarry the Ex?
We saw that God was joined to Israel by covenant as in a marriage. However, because of her unfaithfulness to God, He gave her a Certificate of Divorce. According to Jesus, if a man divorced his wife and marries another woman, He will be an adulterer. God cannot dismiss Israel and be in covenant with another or He will be an adulterer. So the question which forces itself upon this situation is:
Can He remarry the Ex?
He does not need our permission. It is His own word which has bound Him to being unable to violate His law.
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:...(1Cor 7:11)
In the New Testament, Paul says that a woman who has left the marriage should be reconciled to her husband, if possible. Of course, if “her husband” is another man, then it is impossible. Entering into another covenant with another man makes returning to the first husband impossible.
But can God remarry the ex? Can Israel be reconciled to her husband?
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: ...(Jer 3:14 KJV)
Or
Return, faithless people, declares the Lord, ‘for I am your husband...
God invites His faithless people to return unto Him. Even though they have broken the covenant He made with them and even though God has given a certificate of divorce, He pleads with them to return (repent).
So, Israel can be reconciled to God? It is not exactly that simple. They could be, but there is one problem.
... If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. (Jer 3:1)
Following the metaphor of a marriage, if the estranged wife (Israel) goes to bed with other lovers, it is really, really, really bad. Yet, God permits her to return to Him, even after this abomination. This is almost beyond what the Mosaic Law allows. However, there is a line which once crossed, the love of God will not allow any possibility of restoration. (None of this is designed to put perpetual guilt on someone who has experienced bad marriages. God is telling us something else important here.)
According to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, if the divorced woman enters into another marriage covenant with another man, there is no possibility of returning to the original husband. Apparently, Israel cannot be reconciled to God if there is an OFFICIAL covenant to another.
The prophet Daniel says that seventy weeks (7s) are decreed for his people (Israel). From a certain starting point there will be 69 weeks (483 years) until the time of the Messiah comes (to be crucified). Israel has officially refused their Messiah (Jesus). God pauses His dealings with Israel, leaving 1 week (7 years) to finish His dealings with the nation of Israel. A huge interval has been placed here as God deals with the Gentiles (2,000 years).
As God prepares to deal with His first covenant people (the Jews) for a final time (7 years), the Antichrist makes a covenant with God's people (Dan 9:27). Jesus said to the Jews,
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)
This is that “another” that comes in his own name. He makes a covenant with Israel. This is super bad. It is walking as close to the edge of a cliff as possible. The false covenant or marriage will have been made with Israel. Even so, there is one more step remaining. Many Jews will get up to this point and then seal their doom or their safety forever.
It is one thing to say, “I do” in a church. It is another thing entirely that happens later that night. It is one thing to make a covenant. It is something else to cut a covenant. If you follow my drift.
16 And he causeth all,...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Rev 13)
The Antichrist, or man of sin, forces all to receive his mark or his name under penalty of starvation or death. This is the line, over which, if a man steps, his fate is sealed forever. The covenant with Antichrist is a marriage. Those persons who “cut” the false covenant by taking the Antichrist's name cannot be reconciled to God.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (v. 18)
The Antichrist can be recognized because his name in the Greek alphabet, or maybe Hebrew, totals six hundred sixty six. That is not three sixes (6-6-6) but rather 666. His identity cannot be predicted with this. It is only after he appears that any of this can confirm who he is.
Remember, Jesus said that He came in His Father's name. What happens to those who follow after the beast and receive the mark of his name?
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Rev 14)
What does forever mean? In the bible, the word forever indicates an indefinite period of time. When the bible uses forever and ever it is referring to something completely different. It means forever in the absolute sense. In the three verses above, the language used is like over-kill to try to describe the absolutely unending duration of unimaginable torment.
The mark of the Abrahamic covenant is circumcision. The mark of the New Covenant is the nail and spear holes in the body of Jesus. The mark of the false covenant is the name of beast. (The mark of a present day marriage covenant is the ring.)
Not only is the two thirds of Israel who take the mark of the False Messiah not a part of the wife of the Lamb, they have no hope of redemption in any sense.
However, the one third of Israel living at the time of the Antichrist does qualify to be reconciled to Christ. Can we fine-tune this even a little more? We will look at that in another part.
Oct 23, 2023