"It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.
(Revelation 14:4)
Obviously, John is not denigrating marriage since “marriage is to be held in honor among all,” as (Hebrews 13:4) reminds us. Instead, he uses the Old Testament background to explain the need for fidelity to Christ. Quite often, in both the historical writings and the prophetic books, Israel’s wanderings away from the Lord to other gods was called “adultery” or “whoredom” or “harlotry” or another term that implied infidelity. But the church is Christ’s bride. Christ has sanctified and cleansed the church so “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:26-27). Paul used similar language to the Corinthians to rebuke them for their flirtation with the world. “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin” (2 Cor. 11:2). Added to John’s meaning is likely the common practice of ritual prostitution in the Asia Minor communities. The temptation to embrace the sensualities of other religions lay before them. But he reminds them that being a Christian is antithetical to the adulterous ways of the world. Christians must remain chaste, remembering that we are the bride of Christ and not the consorts of the world. We must not try to find favor with the world in unfaithfulness to Christ.
(Phil A. Newton)
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