[RnMomof7]

Steve are you reading things into Hosea ..more than God intended? That was about His patience and forgiveness to HIS people.. it was typology me thinks not literal..

[drstevej]

Ezekiel 16 underscores the same point and in greater detail. We may come to differing conclusions but you do need to consider the statement in Ezekiel that Israel entered into a marriage (not literally but a reality none the less) by a covenant. They are adulterous yet eventually return to honor their covenant.

Ephesians 5 describes a bride awaiting her marriage to her Groom. If this is Israel, then this bride (using logic similar to CCW's charge) is either a divorcee remarrying her first husband or this is not really a marriage but a reaffirmation of vows.

Dispensationalists see a future return of adulterous Israel to covenant faithfulness. They see the Church as a distinct entity being prepared for marriage to Christ. Call this multiple wives if you want. I do not because I think both the OT and NT use marriage images to describe a spiritual relationship.