The Church is the real Queen of Heaven

by Matthew



Naturally, as fundamentalists we consider the marian veneration of the Roman Catholic church to be idolatry and abhorrent.

I do think the image of the Virgin is a striking one. The idea of worshipping Mary as goddess seems to me incredibly seductive. Sometimes I feel like converting to Roman Catholicism. However, I know that to do so would be a denial of the Gospel of grace and a denial of the authority of the Word of God. It would be apostasy from everything I believe in.



Much as the Roman Catholics apply the term 'Queen of Heaven' to the mother of our Lord, it seems to be far more appropriate to call the church the 'Queen of Heaven.'

We cannot go to far in emphasising the future glory of the church.

The church is the bride of Christ. The church was hidden in the eternal counsels of God. Christ loved the church before the foundation of the world and the formation of the church as the holy bride of Christ is the highest and greatest fruit of divine grace.

Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Just as a husband and wife become united in their flesh, in our mystic union with Christ, we are united to Him. The church is thus the body of Christ. This union will be realised in the resurrection, when our flesh is transfigured into the likeness of Christ. Our flesh will be deified in Him. Just as Christ's humanity is joined in inseperable union with His divine nature, our flesh will also be united to the godhead through union with Christ. It will come to share in that heavenly glory which our risen Lord posesses now. The union that we now know only spiritually will be realised physically.

Revelation 19
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

A queen is granted all the splendour and dignity of her royal husband. So will the church. In the eschaton, the glory and beauty of the church will be displayed before the entire cosmos.

A king does not necessarilly share his governmental authority with his queen. However, in the case of Christ and His church, there certainly is joint rule. The saints are called to reign with Christ, to share in His sovereign government.

Revelation 22
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Receiving the privilege of reigning with Christ is dependant upon faithful service. However, all believers are indwellt with the Holy Spirit. They are sanctified in Christ. Every believer has the power to overcome, to live a life of faithful service. The church is called to be a victorious people. The yoke of Christ is easy and His burden is light.

1 Corinthians 2
9 But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.