The bride is distinguished from those blessed ones who are called to the marriage

supper of the Lamb in Rev. 19: 7, 9, as also in Matt. 22:, so that all we can say here

is, that while the bride herself may not be in process of formation during this present

period, the great company who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb are being

gathered out.

Light on the subject may be obtained from the parable of Matt. 22: We have first

of all the invitation to the wedding of those "who had been bidden". Following their

refusal the invitation is repeated, with the urgent addition, "All things are ready". This

they made light of. The word translated "made light" here is rendered "neglect" in

Heb. 2: 3. As a consequence these refusers are destroyed and their city burned. This

clearly refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70.

But after this date, and consequently after the ministry of Peter and Paul in the Acts, a

further invitation is sent out, this time into the highways, with the result that the wedding

is furnished with guests. This exactly corresponds with the subsequent ministry of John

in his Gospel, which extends the marriage feast invitation to believers now.

Again, the first of the eight signs of John's Gospel is that given at the marriage feast in

Cana of Galilee. There the water was turned into wine, and there the Lord manifested

forth His glory. At this feast Christ is not the bridegroom, both He and His disciples

being present as "guests". This first sign therefore suggests that those who came under

John's ministry here form the great company who shall be invited to the marriage supper

of the Lamb.

The other sheep.--The Lord's people are never called sheep in the epistles of the

mystery, neither is the Lord called their Shepherd. It is Israel who say: "We are His

people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psa. 100: 3). During our Lord's earthly ministry He

said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15: 24).

John's Gospel, however, contains a revelation concerning "other sheep" which the Lord

had and which He would gather:--

Who are those other sheep? The answer that comes most readily and acceptably is,

"Israel of the Dispersion", but is this the right answer? The other sheep are declared "not

out of (ek) this fold".

We must distinguish between the two words translated "fold" in the A.V. of verse 16.

Aule is "fold", while poimne is "flock". Aule is most probably derived from the Hebrew

ohel, tent or tabernacle. Primarily it means an open courtyard, and John himself uses the

word in 18: 15, where it is translated "palace". Originally sheepfolds were in the open

court of the house, and the word is so used in II Chron. 4: 9; Psa. 65: 4; 135: 1;

Isa. 1: 12, and many other passages. These other sheep were not "of this fold", were not

connected with those courts of the Lord into which it was the peculiar prerogative of

Israel to enter. The dispersion could hardly be so designated.