As we study the bible, we run cross things that seem to confuse us, as in some of the "symbols" used by the prophets and apostles of old. It is not confusing if you can understand what was meant by the symbols & metaphors. I'm going to explain the four most contradictory metaphors that I know of, namely, "husband", "wife", "marriage", and "mother". First let me explain that a metaphor is a "figure of speech" in which a "word" or "phrase" denoting one kind of "object" or "idea" is used in place of another to suggest a similarity between them. The dictionary defines "husband" as: f.r. o.n. husbondi,f.r. hus=house and bondi=householder, o.e. hubonda=master of a house. So you can see why they used "husband" as a metaphorical symbol. In this we can see that Jesus is the master (head) of the "household", or the master of his own "body", the Church which we are.(Col 1:27). He is not our "husband" in the since that we understand husband, for we can not be "married" to our own "body", for a body can not "marry" its own self. If we could "marry" the "Body of Christ", this would mean that we would be the "bride" of Christ(matt. 24:2-14), but we know that the "bride"of Christ is the Holy City, New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2,9), the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is within us (Lk. 17:21;Rom 14:17), we are not the Kingdom, but the "body" of Christ. But Christ and the Kingdom are one in us, as in "marriage". Marriage is only used metaphorically, to denote the union and oneness of Christ and his Church (Eph 5:23), Christ and his bride, and we, being joined to his body as one. It is a figure of speech in which one idea is used in the place of another, to suggest a similarity between them. A good example of the metaphorical symbols, "husband", "wife", and "marriage", is Romans 7:2,3. Although Paul was using "marriage" as a symbol, that was not the "thought" that he had. The spiritual thought was; the "woman" is symbolic for the soul. The "husband" was symbolic for the flesh. The "law" was symbolic for the law of the flesh, which is sin. "But if the husband (flesh) be dead, she (the soul) is loosed from the law(of sin) of her husband (flesh)". So then, if while the flesh liveth, the soul be married to another man(Christ), the soul is called an adulteress. But if the flesh be dead, the soul is free from the law of sin, so that she (the soul) is no adulteress, though she be married to another (Christ). The thought being that you (flesh) must die before you ( the soul) can become "one" with the Body of Christ, using marriage as a metaphor. Paul said, to crucify the old man, that the body of sin might be destroyed (Rom6:6). This is the only way that we can become "one"with the Body of Christ. In this you can see that although Paul was using the "symbol" of "marriage", he was in fact speaking of a deeper spiritual meaning, using "marriage" as a metaphorical symbol.

Marriage is also symbolic of the union and oneness with the spirit(Eph4:4). If the "husband" (Jesus Christ) is one with his "wife" (Rev 21:9,10)then we, as his Body are also one with his "wife". We are one with Christ, and he is one with us, and we being the Body, are one with the Kingdom , his "bride". Paul said, "I espouse (to make ones own; engaged) you to one "husband"(master) (2cor11:2). He is saying that he presented them to Christ, through his preaching, as a chaste virgin, pure and undefiled, holy and unblamable before God (Col 1:22). The rest was up to them, because no one can get saved for you. You must work out you own salvation with fear and trembling.(Phil2:12). As "marriage"is symbolic of our oneness with Christ; Mary, the "earthly" mother, is symbolic of the "spiritual" mother of Christ (the word), which is the "mother" of us all(Gal4:26). It goes without saying, that Jesus was of a natural birth, but he the "word" or the "spiritual man" was of a spiritual birth. The "first man" was of the earth(natural). The "second man" was of the spirit(the lord from heaven), which now dwelleth in Jesus(Jn. 6:56).

Jesus said, in John 3:3,5 " That we must be born again", using "born again" metaphorically, and that of the Spirit. Natural woman can not give birth to that which is spiritual, because flesh is enmity with the Spirit(Rom8:7). The "natural" had to come first, and then the "spiritual"(1cor15:46). If the earthly Jesus had a "earthly" mother, then the spiritual Christ had a "spiritual mother". Paul said, "that the Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all" (Gal4:26). Here, the metaphor "Mother" is used to denote that we are "born" of the Spirit. Christ himself being the "firstborn" among many brethren(Rom 8:29), who is the "image" of the invisible God, the "firstborn" of every creature(Col 1:15) In this you can see the way the writers used symbolic and metaphoric symbols to say what they meant, as they did not have the vocabulary that we have today. What was John trying to tell us in Rev 12:1-5? He was describing the "Mother" of the "word of God". Notice that the word of God (Christ) could not die. He came to earth and went back to god without dying(v5.). This is a revelation of the spiritual man, the Word of God. You can see that the "heavenly Jerusalem" was the metaphorical Mother of Christ and also of us all.

John also used the "Holy Jerusalem"as the metaphorical "wife" of the Lamb (Rev21:2,9) He was not saying that his "wife" and his "mother" were one and the same, but he did use the same metaphorical symbol to describe two different works of the one spirit. He was saying that he (Christ) came from the spirit (spiritual birth) and he went back to the spirit to become one with the spirit again(Jn. 16:28)., using "marriage" as a metaphorical symbol. In the bible you will find parables, metaphors, and mysteries that will boggle the natural mind. But the most important are the symbolical numbers used in the old and new testament. For example; if you read the book of Revelation, you will find it saturated with these symbolic numbers. You must understand these numbers if you are to understand the revelation of Jesus Christ. First of all, there is the constant repetition of the number seven. This number is the number of completeness, of perfection, and of dispensational fullness. The half of seven is used in the old testament to signify a time of tribulation. It appears in various forms, both in the old and new testaments. The famine in Elijahs time lasted three and one half years( 1 Kings 17:1; Lk 4:25;Ja5:17) the same period is the "time and times, and half a time"of the book of Daniel(Dan 7:25; 12:7) the half of the week referred to in Dan 9:27. This same period of time appears in the book of Revelation under the form of forty-two months (Rev11:2; 13:5) or 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6) The two witnesses also lay dead three days and a half(Rev 12:9,11). The broken number is therefore a symbol of great significance , and has been taken to be the "signature" of the broken covenant(as in the number "six"; one half of twelve) or of suffering and disaster.

Ten is the symbolic representation of absolute perfection and complete development, whether referred to God or the world. It is the "signature" of a complete and perfect whole. Twelve is the number referring to the Kingdom of God, the "signature" of God(three) multiplied by the signature of man(four). I believe that while seven is the sacred number of the scripture, twelve is the number of the covenant people in whose midst God dwells, and with whom he has entered into covenant relations(Rev 12:1; 21:12,14; 22:2). In this you can see that God (three) joined with man (four) is why the twelve is a symbolic number. To understand the symbolical "three" and "four" is to understand why Lazarus laid in the grave for "four" days(Jn.11:17) and Jesus laid in the grave for "three" days. Why did Jesus delay going to Lazarus for two days after he heard that his friend was sick(Jn. 11:6)?

If you will study the bible, old and new testaments, you will find that it is saturated with symbols and metaphorical truths. Understand the "TRUTHS" and with the first light of knowledge will come the "Revelation of Jesus Christ", which was kept secret since the world began, but has now been made manifest to us(Rom 16:25,26).