QUESTION: If the Church is the body of Christ, then how is the symbolism of Christ married to Israel fit in?
ANSWER: The fact is that God deals with a race as His wife, He identifies His race because “I am married to you, O Israel.” His race brings forth His many sons. Since the race brings forth many sons and daughters then He says He is married to Israel. Isaiah 54:5 “Thy maker is thine husband, YAHWEH of Hosts is His name; thy redeemer the Holy one of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall He be called.” So in this statement God rather precisely states that He who begat Israel is also the husband of Israel, for she begat’s His many children. Verse 13., “All thy children shall be taught of Yahweh and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Now; in the New Testament in II John 1., again identifies the House of Israel and the Church as one when He says: ‘The elder unto the Elect Lady.” The elect are of course those known unto Yahweh from the beginning. “Those He did foreknow, He did elect.” He knew them before the foundation of the world.