This message, as the title implies, is the first on the counterfeit and the counterpart. We'll probably do this over three separate studies, each focusing on a different aspect of this theme.
As I have mentioned previously, probably on many occasions, this series is a 'big picture' series where we are examining some of the prominent themes of the Bible that have their introduction in the book of Genesis and find their fulfillment in the book of Revelation.
So what would be a big theme in scripture? Well the woman and the city of course. Of course! What city? What are you talking about? Now obviously there are lots of women and lots of cities out there. It is fair to say the Bible is probably not talking about your home town.
But the Bible is concerned with one specific woman and one city. That woman is the true bride of Christ. The city is her home, the New Jerusalem. We will look at both of these themes through scripture in the coming studies but for now we need to take a little time to explore their opposite.
You see, the enemy is a counterfeiter. He doesn't create, he imitates. Anything that is close to God's heart, he simply tries to mimic and bring forth for himself, for his own glory - but in a thoroughly corrupted way. So where the true Biblical story involves God bringing forth and separating a people, a bride fit for Himself, the enemy will imitate this and have his 'woman' - a corrupted false version of that which is true.
