The Sabbath Queen

I was discussing with a friend how we greet the Sabbath like a queen.

Rabbi Chanina said, Let us go out to greet the Sabbath Bride, Queen!

The Shulchan Aruch says, 

One should rejoice in the arrival of Shabbos as one who goes out toward the King and as one who goes out toward a bride and a groom.

I know the church at large has esteemed itself as the Bride of Messiah, but I was hung up on the terminology, AS a bride. Adding to my confusion was the clear vision of John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, where he sees the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. The angel said he would show John the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
No one believed the Church was the New Jerusalem! (Until now)

I also believe that the Church is the Body of Messiah, how could we be the groom and the bride?

Hence the Mystery of Oneness, but that is a future post!

In my previous post I showed that the new birth happens in heaven, in Zion/New Jerusalem. 

So now, back to the Sabbath Queen or bride. 

What is the Sabbath, but a day of rest? The Book of Hebrews says, He that has entered his rest has ceased from his own works as God did from His. 

We then Beloved, are living in the rest provided by Yeshua our Messiah.

We are the bride, the Sabbath Queen, a symbol of the Shabbat and the ultimate Sabbath, the Messianic Age, when we will reign with him from the New Jerusalem!
Therefore, let us prepare ourselves, ridding ourselves of uncleanness, so that we may be without spot or wrinkle, immersed in Him, ready!

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him!
For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready!