The Trinity Doctrine in Scripture by Terrence J. Hatch - HTML preview

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CHAPTER 17

Titles of Jesus Christ proclaim his divinity

The Lord God is a Bridegroom to his people: And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

[Isaiah 62:5b]

God is married to his people:

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth. [Isaiah 54:5]

As the Bridegoom’s friend, John the Baptist announced that Jesus was the Bridegroom: You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom.

But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:28-30]

The disciples didn’t fast when Jesus was with them.

But when the Bridegroom returns to heaven, then the disciples will fast:

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. [Mark 2:18-20]

Also, this same account from Luke: Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

[Luke 5:33-35]

John the Baptist announced that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God:

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples, and looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

[John 1:35-36]

The Lamb of God is the Bridegroom: 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.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write:

‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”

[Revelation 19:7-9]

The Lamb will be the Bridegroom when New Jerusalem is the bride of the Lamb: Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.

[Revelation 21:9-11a]

The Lord of Hosts is a rock of offense:

The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow, let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.

He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble. They shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.”

[Isaiah 8:13-15]

Jesus Christ is the stone that the builders rejected: This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. [Acts 4:11, RSV]

The title “Branch” for the coming Messiah suggests he would be an extension of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness. A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR

RIGHTEOUSNESS. [ Jeremiah 23:5-6]

Other titles in previous chapters that proclaim Christ’s divinity include God with us and Son of God.

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