One thing is clear. Revelation 19:9 states that `Blessed are they which are called (or invited) unto the marriage

supper of the Lamb'. These are guests and cannot be the Bride or the Body of Christ.

STUART ALLEN

Genesis 12 to 15 reveals that to Abraham and to his seed was granted, unconditionally, the earthly sphere of

blessing. To Abraham, however, was opened up the further possibility of rising higher and of becoming a partaker

of the heavenly calling. This is shown in Hebrews 3:1; 11:8-10,13-16; 12:22. During early days Gentile believers

were associated with Israel's hope under the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3; Rom. 15:12,13). As Galatians 4:26 shows,

however, they were not to be partakers of the earthly, but of the heavenly, sphere of the kingdom.

Israel, as a nation, became `the wife', when they entered into covenant relationship at Sinai.

`... the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the

land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD' (Jer.

By the great love and mercy of the Lord, Israel, though thus `put away', shall yet be brought back again.

`They say, 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).

`Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of

Israel, saith the LORD ... Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings' (Jer. 3:20-22).

This blessed restoration is the theme of Isaiah's prophecies:

`Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be

called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married' (Isa. 62:4).

The restoration of a divorced woman and the betrothal and marriage of `the chaste virgin' which Paul speaks of

in 2 Corinthians 11:2; and which John speaks of as the `bride', must not be confused. Israel, as a nation, is the

restored wife, but a remnant out of Israel, together with some believing Gentiles, constitute the new company, `the

bride, the Lamb's wife'. During the Acts, Gentile believers were, equally with Jewish believers, Abraham's seed and

heirs, and to this company belongs Jerusalem which is above (Gal. 3:29, 4:26).

The distinction between these two companies is suggested in the two parables of Matthew 13:44-46. The

treasure hid in a field, which, after discovery, was hidden again, represents the nation of Israel, God's peculiar

`For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people

(segullah) unto Himself' (Deut. 14:2).

`For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure (segullah)' (Psa. 135:4).

While `all Israel' was a treasure, the Lord noted with special approbation those `of Israel' who walked by faith,

and these, such as Abraham, were granted the heavenly prospect, associated with the heavenly city, and are

represented in the parable as the `one pearl'. The reader will remember that `one pearl' is noted in the description of

the gates of the New Jerusalem. While the pearl is a part of the Lord's treasure, it is signally different from other

treasures in that it is organic, being produced by suffering and so typical of that remnant, according to the election of

grace, that walked by faith, while the bulk of their fellows fell into idolatry and unbelief.

`All Israel' shall be saved (Rom. 11:26); the erring wife shall be restored; but the marriage of the Lamb refers not

to this restoration but to the new company that inherits the heavenly sphere of the kingdom. It is to this marriage of

the Lamb that the parable of Matthew 22 looks forward, where particular emphasis is put upon the invitation which

was sent out to the `guests'. Not by any stretch of imagination can `guests' at a marriage be made to refer to `the