Ques. 21. Is it proper to speak of the Church as being the wife of Christ? W. H.
Ans. it is only when the Church is displayed in glory that the scripture speaks of it as the wife, when the marriage time has come, (Rev. 19:7), and when she is the display of His glory during the reign of Christ on the earth. (Rev. 21:9.)
It is scriptural to speak of the Church as the Body and the Bride of Christ now. (1 Cor. 12:12. 13; Eph. 5:25-33; Rev. 22:17).
We are united to Christ by the Holy Spirit given to us, and are one Spirit with the Lord. (1 Cor. 6:17; 12:12, 13.)
In 2 Cor. 11:2, the apostle says, "I have espoused you unto one Man, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ." God looks upon such an espousal, and so should we as if already one, (Compare Matt. 1:20) one in purpose.
For all eternity the Church will never cease to be the Body and the Bride of Christ, and also the dwelling place of God. (Eph. 3:21.)
May this teach us how dear we are to Him now, and lead us into paths consistent with such a calling.
Ques. 22
Please explain Isa. 9:6. H. R.
Ans. This is a prophecy of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world, but it is His coming as the Messiah or King of Israel. It is the Virgin's child (Isa. 7:14, and Matt. 1:20-23) coming to be King. "The government shall be upon His shoulder." His name unfolds that He is God Himself.
Isa. 9:7, His Kingdom shall he without fail, it shall be established with judgment and justice. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts shall accomplish this.
He came, was rejected and is now seated on Jehovah's throne, (Psa. 110) till the time when He will come in power and glory and possess the Kingdom.
Mean time during His exaltation the Holy Spirit is gathering out the church-His body and His Bride. We know Him as our Savior, our Lord, our Head, our Bridegroom, our great High Priest, our Advocate. He will come for us when all His members are complete, so that when He comes to judge and reign, we will come with Him and reign with Him.
Ques. 23
Does Zech. 13:6 refer to Christ or to Antichrist? W. H. W.
Ans. Quoting from Synopsis Vol. 2, page 568, the following: “In Zech. 13:5 read, 'I am no prophet, but a husbandman; for man [Adam] has acquired me as a slave from my youth?' That is to say, Christ takes the humble position of One devoted to the service of man, in the circumstances into which Adam was brought by sin (that is, with respect to His position as a man living in this world.) Zech. 13:6 directs our attention to that which befell Him among the Jews, where He was wounded and treated as a malefactor. The true character of His Person, and of His sufferings is then revealed in Zech. 13:7. It is the sword of Jehovah, which awakes against the man who is His companion, His equal. This verse requires no comment. It is most interesting to see that, when Christ is looked at in His humiliation as man, He is treated by the Spirit as the equal of Jehovah in His rights; and when (Psa. 45:7) He is seen upon His throne of divine glory, and addressed as God, those that are His are acknowledged as His companions in glory, sharing His position.”
This clearly shows this prophecy refers to Christ.