I have a question pertaining to the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:4. I read some thoughts from a well-known Pastor who says that the 144,000 are Israelites of pure racial strain and will be the ones that go into the world to convert a “Great Multitude” of believers. Then he goes on to say that the church is not the Bride of Christ. The 144,000 are the only ones to be the Bride. The born again believers (us) are the “Great Multitude” and therefore the wedding guests. I am trying to figure out the scriptures to check for myself. I am fine with being a wedding guest if that’s the case, but is this true?
The 144,000 will be selected after the rapture so they are not part of the Church. As for the Church being the Bride, in 2 Cor. 11:2 Paul spoke of espousing (promising) the Church to one husband, to Christ. The Greek word for espousing means he has betrothed us to Jesus. The Church is the intended Bride of Christ.
You should not be fine with having someone relegate the Church to the status of wedding guest because it’s an incorrect interpretation of our role in the coming age that cannot be supported by Scripture.