Marriage - Divorce - Repentance - Remarriage
by: R. Brock

The Bible is all about the human race. It begins with Adam and Eve (before and after their fall into sin), and all of the human race that comes after them God has divided the human race into Gentiles and the one Nation of Israel (who are not Gentiles). The first eleven chapters of Genesis deal only with Gentiles. When Abram came on the scene in Genesis 12, things begin to change, with God promising Abram that he would be the father of a great nation, a nation separate from all other nations. This new nation came to be know as Israel, taken from the new name of Jacob (Gen. 32:28). The first two times the phrase 'the children of Israel' is used in the Old Testament is in Genesis 32:32 and in 36:31.

The first three words in the title of this article marriage, divorce, repentance-sum up the history of Israel up to the present time.

The bringing in of a new nation of people separate from the Gentiles has caused many difficulties among theologians. They realize that most of the Bible is taken up with this Nation-all the rest of the Old Testament, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. There seems to be so little left for the Gentiles, they say, not realizing that Paul's writings are the richest part of the Bible.

At the time of the birth of the Son of God, Israel was in a very bad way. God had not spoken to His earthly people for 400 long years, 400 Silent years.

The last book of our Old Testament, the book of Malachi the prophet, is dated around 400 BC. The Nation at the time of the birth of its Messiah was out of the will of God. They would not repent and return to Jehovah God under the ministry of its prophets.

How did Israel get into such a condition that demanded repentance or judgment? We need to go back to the beginning of Israel's history after the people left Egypt. There is one special relationship that Jehovah God had with the Nation of Israel that was unique in His dealings with His people back then. This relationship will show why repentance on the part of Israel was so necessary and important in His plans for that particular Nation.

Let's begin with the giving of the law to Moses, as recorded in Exodus 20. The Jewish people had told Jehovah that they would keep the Law that He was about to give them. They would DO what He told them to DO (Ex 19:8; and 24:3,7). God believed what they said.

The fist part of the Law that Jehovah gave to Moses was what we call the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first commandment, that they were not to have any other gods before Me (verse 3), and the second commandment, which dealt with the making of carved images of any living creature which they could worship (verses 4-6), are both against idolatry. The Nation was surrounded by idolatrous nations that could lure them away from Jehovah God, the only living God of the universe.

When Moses came down from being on the mountain with God for 40 days (Ex. 4:18), the LORD told him what the people were doing during his absence. The events are told in Exodus 32, about the making of the golden calf under the leadership of Aaron. If Moses hadn't intervened on behalf of the people, God would have killed all of them and started over (Ex.32:10). This breaking of the first two commandments by the children of Israel really angered Jehovah God.

And this attitude on the part of Israel continued all though its history, especially by the different rulers of the Nation. Israel's main sin against God was the worship of other gods, false gods of the heathen peoples around them. This sin was a recurring factor in Israel's relationship with God during its existence in the Old Testament. They constantly disobeyed their merciful and gracious God.

Many of Israel's rulers were good men, but many rulers were also bad men for the country. Idolatry was the main problem, and the Gentiles included sexual favors as a part of their religious practices.

MARRIAGE

The special relationship of Jehovah with Israel is that of marriage. Jehovah God married the Nation of Israel. This is taught in several verses of the prophets, for this was part of their message to a backsliding and adulterous people.

The description of this marriage is found in Ezekiel 16:8, "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness.

Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, says the Lord GOD." This is addressed to Jerusalem, which represented the Nation of Israel, much as Washington DC, today, represents the United States.

Jeremiah 3:14 clearly states that Jehovah is married to Israel: "Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD, "for I am married to you..."

When did this marriage take place? It took place at the time of the giving of the Law of Moses to Israel, in Exodus 20. This is seen by what Jeremiah says in Jer. 31:31-32. Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, (32) not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD." There is a contrast between the future New Covenant and the old covenant of the pass, which is better known as the Mosaic Covenant (Heb. 8:13). Verse 32 shows that Jehovah was a 'husband ' to Israel at that time.

So then, the giving of the Law to Israel through Moses was also time of marriage for God (husband) to Israel (wife-Hosea 2:2). Of course, this is in a spiritual sense rather than in a physical sense when God instituted marriage for the human race, beginning with Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:23-24. Even though God's marriage to Israel was on a spiritual level it is still important and plays a vital role in God's Kingdom program for Israel. Christians should know his truth and realize the significance it holds in God's plans for His earthly people.

DIVORCE

This marriage lasted for a long time, from the giving of the Law of Moses to Israel around 1491 BC to the time of divorce around 722BC, having lasted for 700-800 years. But, finally, after many years of enduring the sinfulness of His people, the LORD decided to write a bill of divorcement and break the marriage relationship. This is stated quite clearly in Jeremiah 3:8, "Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also." This is based on Deut. 24:1 of the Law of Moses. Jeremiah was referring to the time when the ten northern tribes of Israel were carried away to Babylon as judgment for their disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:6-23, verse 23a, "until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets..."). A few years later, around 608BC. the other two tribes were also taken to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:1-21).

But God was not finished with His people. A small remnant of each of the twelve tribes came back from Babylon after being there for 70 years, and settled in their land again. The LORD still spoke to them through the prophets for another 200 years, pleading with His people to return to Him (Joel 2:12-14), for example). When we come to the last book of our Old Testament, Malachi, written about 400 BC, God told His people that He hated divorce (Malachi 2:16), and that His desire all along was that His people would repent of their sins and come back to Him (Malachi 3:7). Malachi contains the last words of Jehovah God to His people Israel in our Old Testament. He let them continue in their sinful ways and with their stiff-necked attitude for another 400 silent years.

REPENTANCE

When the Lord Jesus comes on the scene as a babe in Bethlehem, the unrepentant attitude of the Nation was still there. The Nation was still divorced from Jehovah God. The only way the Nation could get back into fellowship with Jehovah was through repentance.

For more than three years, the Gospel of the Kingdom with its very strong emphasis on repentance was preached all over Palestine. John the Baptist was the first one to come to the Nation, telling the people 'to repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matt.3:2). This was a national message of salvation from Jehovah God to His earthly people. The 400 silent years were over, and the LORD was now giving His people another chance to repent and come back to their loving God. (Jer. 31:3).

Repentance, along with water baptism for the forgiveness of sins, was the heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom. The Gospel of the Kingdom is set forth in Mark 1:4, "John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." See also Luke 3:3; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38. Even the Apostle Paul knew what John the Baptist preached to Israel (Acts 13:24; 19:4).

Many of the common people responded to the Gospel proclaimed by John, But those who ruled the country -the Sandedrin-refused to believe what John said and did, "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him" (Luke 7:30). We must not forget that Israel was still in the condition of being the ex-wife of Jehovah, that is, divorced.

Jesus and his twelve Apostles worked very hard at making the Kingdom Gospel known around the country. The Lord performed may miracles, showing that He was indeed the Messiah of Israel. But we all know the final outcome so well-the unrepentant Jews eventually asked for His death on the cross (John 19:6, 12-15).

While on the cross, Jesus asked His Father 'to forgive them, for they do not know what they do' ( Luke 23:34). The Father heard His Son and answered His prayer by forgiving the Nation of murdering His Son, even though Israel was still in a divorced condition before God.

This answer to Jesus' prayer made it possible for Peter's two sermons on the Day of Pentecost. In his first sermon, he not only commanded Israel to repent (Acts 2:38) but also accused them of murdering their Messiah (verses 23 and 36). Peter preached the very same Gospel that John the Baptist preached and the 12 Apostles preached BEFORE the cross. The terms of salvation remain the same-Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 16:16). There was no change in God's program for Israel in the early chapters of Acts. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the 12 Apostles did not preach Christianity to the Nation of Israel. They proclaimed the Jews' religion known as Judaism (Gal. 1:13-14. The Law of Moses was still the Divine standard for the Nation of Israel.

In his second sermon on the Day of Pentecost, Peter offered the Millennial Kingdom to Israel IF the Nation would repent (Acts 3:19-21). This was a valid offer, the only offer of the Kingdom from God. The religious leaders were looking for the Kingdom to come, but they wanted it on their terms, not on God's terms.

Unfortunately, history repeated itself. Stephen also accused the leaders of Israel of murdering their Messiah (Acts.7: 52), and he ended up being stoned to death by the hateful Jews (Acts 7:58-60).

Stephen told them that they had resisted the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead; we know that Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead, was murdered by the same people and we know that the father, the first Person of the Godhead was rejected by His people in the Old Testament (Dan. 9:5-7). So the Nation of Israel had rejected the entire Godhead, indicating that she did not want anything to do with God's will for her.

Some years later, in 68-79 AD, Titus and his armies destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, as predicted by the Lord Himself, in Luke 21:20-24. From that time forward, Israel has been scattered all over the world, STILL IN A DIVORCED CONDITION BEFORE JEHOVAH GOD. This has lasted all during this present Dispensation of grace. When Israel became a nation in 1948, that event DID NOT fulfil prophecy. Israel is still unrepentant, still in a divorced condition. God is not dealing with His earthly people today as a nation. Because of this, the Gospel of the Kingdom (which is so poplar in Christendom today) is an invalid message for the Gentiles today. God is not honoring it, as can be seen by the lack of signs, miracles, and knowledge of God's Word that believers have today.

REMARRIAGE

It is mentioned earlier that Israel was an ex-wife of Jehovah. The basis for this is fond in Rev. 19:7, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." the Greek word for "wife" is GUNE, meaning 'wife, woman.' The context determines the meaning. The word "wife' is used here because that was the proper way to refer to Israel for some 700-800-- years in the Old Testament. The Lamb of God is the Lord Jesus.

The Apostle John used the additional word " bride" in referring to this event, and said that Jesus was the 'bridegroom' in this same verse, John 3:29.

This marriage is an event that will take place at the Second Coming of Christ to earth, and it will be on earth. Revelation 19:7 looks back to Hosea 2:16-23, where the prophet spoke of this very thing (16) "And it shall be, in that day." says the LORD, "that you will call me 'My Husband," and no longer call Me 'My Master'...(19)) " I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; (20) I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD." Isaiah speaks of Israel as being born in one day (Isa. 66:7-9), indicating that repentance has taken place before the wedding day arrives. Bible teachers believe that the Jews who survive the Tribulation Period makeup the 'remnant' who will experience the marriage of the Lamb in Rev. 19:7.

In Psalm 45, a Messianic Psalm speaking of the Second Coming of the King of Israel, the bride is presented in verses 9-13. The language in these Old Testament passages is befitting of Israel's New Covenant.

Not all believers are in agreement on what constitutes the 'bride of Christ,' a term that is not found in the New Testament. The majority of dispensationalists believe that the church, the Body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. This is mainly the view of Acts 2 believers. Those in the Reformed camp who are premillennial in their eschatology, also favor this idea. This view has the wedding taking place in heaven, and then the Church will come back with Christ at the Second Coming and the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place on earth as a separate event but still a part of the marriage festivities (Rev. 19:9).

I used to believe this way but changed my mind when I realized that the Body of Christ has nothing to do with the book of Revelation. The Body of Christ is not in view in Rev. 19:7-9. We are already joined to Christ through salvation. (Romans 7:4). Do we have to be joined to Him a second time? Absolutely not!

But doesn't Paul refer to this subject in 2 Cor. 11:2? Not really, but if translators tend to believe this idea, they will translate accordingly;

KJV reads: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

The NKJV reads: "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

A literal translation reads: "For I am burning with zeal (over) you with a zeal of God, for I myself have joined you to one Man, to present a pure virgin to Christ."

"This verse does not teach that the Body of Christ is the Bride of Christ The facts teach otherwise. Please notice:

1. The word for 'espoused' in the KJV means 'to join, fit together.' It is used once in the New Testament. The idea here is that the believer was 'joined' to Christ at the time of salvation. He was 'fitted together' with others in the Body of Christ.

2. The word 'virgin' is masculine here, and agrees with the fact that the Body of Christ is 'one new man' (Eph. 2:15. "Virgin" is also masculine in Rev. 14:4.

3. The word for 'husband' in the KJV also means "man." 'Husband' is used when the subject matter demands it, and verse 2 does not demand it.

4. The word 'present' is also used in Eph. 5:27. This 'presentation' of the Body of Christ is not a wedding ceremony. There is no need of another joining to Christ, as a wedding ceremony implies " (The Unveiling of Christianity by the author on 2 Corinthians 11).

For those who are interested in pursuing this truth further, the book "The marriage Supper of the Lamb' by James C. Healan III is strongly recommended. the Author goes into all the viewpoints and fully documents what he says. This book can be obtained from Bible Doctrines Publications P.O. Box 2351, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49501.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS TEACHING

There are a number of Bible truths that are affected by the remarriage of Israel to its gracious God.

1. We see yet another reason why the Law of Moses as been abolished by the cross of Christ for this Dispensation of grace (Eph 2:15). The law as considered by the prophets as a marriage contract between Jehovah and His earthly people.

2. Israel' failure to repent caused the Nation to fall, according to Romans 11:11-15. This fall caused God to temporarily postpone His covenant program for them.

3. God's salvation is NOW sent to the Gentiles because of Israel's fall. This is a new principle that is not found in the Old Testament.

4. The Abrahamic Covenant is NOT being fulfilled today. This Covenant teaches that the Gentiles will be saved THROUGH Israel, a truth that has not happened and cannot happen until Israel repents as a Nation.

5. The New Covenant is not being fulfilled by God either. The Body of Christ is not related to any covenants found in the Scriptures.

6. The NEW Divine program given to Paul, called the Mystery, is how our Father God is operating today. The risen, ascended Lord, Christ Jesus, is to be proclaimed according to the Revelation of the Mystery (Romans 16:25). The Mystery is what constitutes Christianity. The Gospel we are to preach today is called the Gospel of the grace of God (Acts. 20:24) and is unique to this Dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 2:8,9; 3:2).