Song of Solomon: The Heart of the Bride of Christ as Seen in the Book of Revelation

By Dr. Bonnie L. Westhoff

The Book of First Kings 4:32 says that Solomon wrote 1005 songs. A song is poetry like the Psalms that were sung to bring forth a message from God. God deemed this song important enough to keep it in His manual, the Bible. The Books of First and Second Samuel are the historical books of David, but His love and emotions for God were written in his Psalms. Likewise, the Book of Revelation is a historical book of the bride of Christ, but the Song of Solomon is the love and emotions of Christ and His bride. This book is being published at the same time as Revelation to be companion books with the same overview. God desired a people who would be adopted into His kingdom. Christ would redeem every person who would acknowledge the plan of God to become children of the Most High God. The Bible was inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16).

The Book of Song of Solomon shows the love of the Lord Jesus to His bride, the Church, who is called Shulamite. Shulamite in Hebrew is the feminine noun for Solomon. Solomon in Hebrew is shalom meaning peace unto wholeness. This wholeness comes from a relationship with the Lord which is offered to everyone, male or female, Jewish or Gentile (non-Jewish). Do not think of Solomon in this book as the king, for he too is a believer in the Lord, so therefore He too can be the Shulamite. This is not a picture of Solomons love for a woman, but instead the story of how Solomon came to love the Lord and grow spiritually throughout His life. Both Books (Revelation and Song of Solomon) are actually a symbolic picture of the Ancient Jewish Wedding. The bride is the Church, and therefore, seen as female, yet we know that God is identified as being present in both male and female. Therefore, Solomon is writing as a believer growing in his walk with the Lord.

Song of Solomon, like all books in the Old Testament, point to Jesus. It cant be about Solomon and his love for a woman; IT HAS TO BE ABOUT JESUS. Therefore, it shows how a believer grows in their relationship with Jesus. The Jewish wedding takes us from the first time we see Jesus in the spirit and are engaged (salvation) to the time we see Jesus face to face in marriage (our resurrection) to the time we return with Christ to rule and reign as His wife (Millennium) to the time we live in the new heaven and earth (eternity). The intention of this book is to experience in the spirit the life of the believer growing in our knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512740943

Dr. Bonnie L. Westhoff

Bonnie Westhoff and her husband, Ronnie, worked at the same international corporation while raising their son. In retirement, Bonnie attended Logos Christian College and Graduate School in Jacksonville, Florida, earning her Bachelor’s in Leadership/Administration, her Master’s in Christian Counseling, and her Doctorate in Ministry/Theology. She was ordained in 2003. Her husband went to be with the Lord in 2009. She feels she has been called to minister wholeness. Recently she moved to Palmer, Alaska with her son Ron, and his wife Jennifer. She has three grandchildren: Hollie, Stephanie and Amy. Her biggest regret in life is that she lived at the opposite ends of the United States and has missed living close to her family. But God has been so faithful to allow her to draw close to her family before her life is complete. She visions the last page in her life book to read, and she lived happily ever after. Visit her website www.BonnieWesthoff.com

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Copyright © 2016 Dr. Bonnie L. Westhoff.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Bible abbreviations are taken from Strong’s Concordance.

All definitions in Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary (of Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek) are taken as exact excerpts to protect the validity of the resource. Information in brackets [] is added to quoted text by the author. Words throughout the Song of Solomon will appear in bold font as the author comments on them.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-4095-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-4096-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-4094-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016907134

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/27/2016

Contents

Introduction

1. Song 1:1–7: Christ Seeks Shulamite, the Bride of Christ (Revelation 1–3)

2. Song 1:8–2:3: Marriage Contract is Signed (Rev 1–3)

3. Song 2:4–16: The Bridegroom Takes the Bride to the Room Prepared (Rev 4)

4. Song 2:17–3:5: The Bridegroom Brings Guests to the Wedding (Rev 5–17)

5. Song 3:6–10: Wedding Procession (Rev 18–19)

6. Song 3:11–4:5: Coronation of the Bridegroom (Rev 19)

7. Song 4:6–11: Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19)

8. Song 4:12–6:3: Millennial Rule (Rev 20)

9. Song 6:4–8:8: Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20)

10. Song 8:9–15: Transfer of the Vineyard (Rev 21–22)

Bibliography

Acknowledgment

I thank my good friends, Doug and Marcia Purcey, for their support since my husband’s passing in 2009. Doug has helped me in so many ways, from maintaining my computer to preparing my books for publishing. He is my electrician and all-around handyman. I can count on him to help me with anything. Marcia is in all my women’s groups at church. She supports Doug in every endeavor. I admire the way they are always together and have the same interests, especially following baseball. On Sunday afternoons, they are watching and taping games.

They were so instrumental in helping me with my husband’s funeral; they did everything. Doug created the program and video display of pictures on Ronnie’s life. Marcia came every day to show me the progress and to update changes. She even came one day with creamer for the coffee because so many people were coming in and out—she understood my every need.

I was so pleased when Doug was nominated for councilman in our church. It is definitely a position in which the integrity of both husband and wife is recognized. Doug not only helps with funerals, he also does the video casting for our cantatas and special programs at our church. They are both in my Bible studies and are examples of God’s love to their family. Their home is a gallery of generational photos from parents to children and grandchildren.

They have made a difference in my life. It is because of special friends such as Doug and Marcia that life doesn’t come crashing down on me. Instead, they are always there to give a hand. God is a God of grace to place special friends in our lives exactly when we need them. I am forever grateful.

Praise You, Jesus!

Introduction

Spurgeon³ said regarding the Song of Solomon, We see our Saviour’s face in almost every page of the Bible, but here we see His heart and feel His love to us … We cannot appreciate the spirituality of this book unless God’s Spirit shall help us.

The ancient Jews made the Song of Solomon a valuable part of their sacred writings and agreed it was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The original councils found that it was to be a part of the Holy Book and received it as canon. The ancient Jews called it the Holy of Holies, and when Spurgeon wrote on the Song of Solomon, he entitled his book The Most Holy Place.

As a pastor, Spurgeon taught on the Song of Solomon for a year to the thousands in his congregation, and his book contains 570 pages of fifty-two sermons all focused on the love of Christ for His bride, the church. Spurgeon³ wrote,

The whole is figurative and allegorical; expressing, in a variety of lively metaphors, the love, union, and communion, between Christ and His church; setting forth the several different frames, cases, and circumstances of believers in this life.

Henry² found the book an allegory, a parable, a nuptial song, and pastoral.

It is an allegory, the letter of which kills those who rest in that and look no further, but the spirit of which gives life (2 Cor 3:6; Jn 6:63). It is a parable which makes divine things more difficult to those who do not love them, but more plain and pleasant to those who do (Mt 13:14, 16). It is a nuptial song, wherein, by the expressions of love between a Bridegroom and His bride, are set forth and illustrated the mutual affections that pass between God and a distinguished remnant of mankind. It is pastoral; the bride and Bridegroom for the more lively representation of humility and innocence are brought in as a Shepherd and his shepherdess.

The intent of this commentary is to present the Song of Solomon as an allegory showing the relationship between Christ and the church. Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (1Ki 4:32). A song is poetry like the psalms sung to elicit a message from God. God deemed this song important enough to keep it in His manual, the Bible. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are the historical books of David, but his love and emotions for God were written in his psalms. Likewise, Revelation is a historical book of the bride of Christ, but the Song of Solomon is the love and emotions of Christ and His bride. God desired a people to adopt into His kingdom. Christ would redeem everyone who would acknowledge the plan of God to become children of the Most High. The Bible was inspired by God (2Ti 3:16). God certainly gave Solomon the gift of poetry in Proverbs inherited from his father David as seen in the psalms.

The Song of Solomon shows the love of the Lord Jesus for His bride, the church, who is called Shulamite. Shulamite in Hebrew is the feminine noun for Solomon. Solomon in Hebrew is salom, meaning peace unto wholeness, which includes completeness, welfare, and health. This wholeness comes from a relationship with the Lord, which is offered to everyone, male or female, Jewish or not. This peace comes when the human soul harmoniously lines up with the Holy Spirit within. In Isaiah 9:6, the Lord Messiah is called the Prince of Peace.

Do not think of Solomon in this book as the king, for he too is a believer in the Lord, so therefore, he too can be Shulamite. This is not a picture of Solomon’s love for a woman but instead the story of how Solomon came to love the Lord and grow spiritually throughout his life. Revelation and Song of Solomon are symbolic pictures of the ancient Jewish wedding. The bride is the church, and therefore seen as female, yet we know God is identified as present in male and female. Therefore, Solomon is writing as a believer growing in his walk with the Lord.

God was a husband to Israel (Isa 54:5). Jesus is betrothed to the church (2Co 11:2). Because of the fall of Israel, salvation came to the Gentiles (Ro 11:11); however, after the times of the Gentiles is over, Israel will be saved (Ro 11:26). Revelation is the story of the end of the age after the times of the Gentiles is over (not the end of times, for we will live for eternity). The church—all who were redeemed by the blood of Jesus—will be raptured to heaven as well as the Old Testament saints, all who were redeemed by the atonement of blood for sin.

During the seven-year tribulation, God will turn to save His nation, Israel, even though it will have to go through the tribulation. Of course, Jesus comes for Israel just as He does for the church when it realizes Christ truly is its Lord Messiah. King Jesus returns to earth and is victorious in the Battle of Armageddon to put Satan away. Throughout the Song of Solomon and Revelation, the adversary is Satan. After the tribulation, when King Jesus comes back to earth, He brings His bride, the church, to be His kings and priests to rule and reign with Him for His thousand-year millennial rule (Rev 20:6). When this time is over, the last two chapters in Revelation show how God restores everything Satan corrupted: heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and so on, to purity.

Many refer to Revelation as the book of the tribulation, but in reality, it is the time of King Jesus’ coronation. Many people ask why God keeps Satan on earth but are afraid to read Revelation, which is an account of when Jesus finally removes him from earth. Revelation is the only book in which God ensures blessings to those who read it.

These are the chronological steps to the ancient Jewish wedding as seen in Song of Solomon and Revelation.

1. Bride Is Chosen

The Jewish son finds his match, or his father could have arranged a match with the proper Jewish family even from childhood.

The couple does not spent time together such as dating as physical contact is for after the wedding ceremony. This ensures that the choice is not based on physical desire alone but also on a spiritual connection.

• Jn 15:16: Jesus said, ‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you.’

2. Bride Price

The bride price (dowry) is made at the groom’s father’s table. The value reflects his love. Jesus gave His life for His bride, the church.

• 1Co 6:20: For you were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

3. Marriage Contract (Ketubah)

Still at the father’s table, the ketubah is presented; it sets out the terms of the covenant relationship. Jesus shed His blood of the new covenant. The Holy Scriptures are our wedding contract. Our ketubah tells what the Bridegroom, Jesus, has done and will do for His bride.

• Heb 8:7–10: "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— ⁹ not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

• Mt 1:18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

A marriage contract, a legally binding agreement was made with two witnesses and the couple was considered married. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, legally married, when Mary became with child.

4. Bride’s Acceptance (Covenant)

Still at the father’s table, a glass of wine is poured out for the bride-to-be. She has to accept this union. This cup of wine represents the blood covenant with God. If she accepts, she lifts the cup in her right hand, the place of authority, and the couple is betrothed and legally married.

Each time we partake of Holy Communion, we share this cup and are reaffirming our marriage covenant with Christ. This time is used to examine our life and prepare for His return.

• Mt 26:28–29: For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.

They are one after they drink of the cup. This cup was given to the disciples at the Last Supper, and they all drank from it, accepting this contract. When we confess to Jesus Christ that we want Him to be our Savior, we are accepting His marriage proposal and are under a joint promise to spiritually abide together eternally.

• Ro 10:9: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

5. Bride Is Gifted

The groom gives gifts to the bride to reflect his love and value he places on her as well as his wealth and generosity. Jesus left His bride in the hands of the Comforter, who would give her the gifts of the Holy Spirit, one at a time, until His return (1Co 12).

• Jn 14:16: Jesus said, ‘I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper [Comforter] that He may abide with you forever.’

6. Baptism (Mikveh)

John the Baptist called the people to repent and be baptized that they might receive remission of sins.

• Jn 1:29–34: John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He