Our conversation will take place right here, through the comment section of this post. I hope it will serve as a good source of information for the rest of our readers here. However, I respectfully request that the comments on this post be limited to just Cyrus. For anyone else who wishes to comment about this conversation, please visit the forum (examiningthewmscog.com/forum), or send me an email. Thank you!
First, some ground rules, Cyrus, for you and me:
- Each comment should be made in two parts, a response to the previous point and the raising of a question.
- Response -- We should respond to the question that was last put forth, keeping in mind the purpose of explaining and encouraging understanding and not simply fighting. Also, please avoid using phrases such as "You don't understand because you are not one of God's chosen" (more examples here). We can also respond to the previous response, as long as it doesn't include an additional question that needs an answer.
- Question -- We should ask a question, either to further pursue the issue, or raise a different point. For the ease of following the conversation, please limit the question to one point. Do not ask a question related to your response and ask a new question as well.
- If we think the other's response is incomplete, inadequate, or needs to be clarified, first we should answer their question (give our response), then our question should concern the previous response. In other words, don't avoid their question in order to focus on their response. In this way, we should never be talking about more than two topics at once.
- Timeliness is nice, but life is busy. A delay in answering should not be taken negatively or cause concern, unless there has been silence for more than two weeks.
"Let us make man in our image... Male and female He created them" Genesis 1:26-27. "the Spirit and the bride say come... Take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22. The bride of christ is His bride. Guests are invited to the wedding supper, not the bride. We are the guests. Right?My response:
The first part of what you wrote (Gen. 1:26-27) is about the word Elohim. I have written about that here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. I'm going to focus on your question about Revelation 22. I understand your question to be, "We are the guests at the wedding supper. Therefore, doesn't someone else have to be the bride of Christ?"
I have heard the WMSCOG say that the Church cannot be both the bride and the guests at the wedding. But please consider this...
God is called the father of the Israelites, but God is also called the husband of Israel. But how can the Israelites be both the children and the wife of God? It doesn't make sense, does it?
It does when you consider that individually, the people were counted as God's children. But corporately, together as the nation, they were considered as God's bride
In the same way, individually, we are each invited to become part of the Church, the body of believers. But corporately, together as the Church body, we are the bride of Christ.
God uses descriptive language to help us understand our relationship with Him.
I hope you are able to understand that this is a valid, alternate interpretation of the same verses.
My question for you:
The WMSCOG teaches that there are two distinct Gods. How do you reconcile that with verses such as these which declare there is only one God? (Note that all of these quotes use the singular word for God.)
"For I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22 and 46:9)
"Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is no other rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:8)
"Before Me there was no God formed; nor shall there be after Me." (Isaiah 43:10)
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God," (1 Timothy 1:17)
Ok, your turn. Please remember the two parts, response and question.
