Streets of Gold? Part 1

I hear a lot of talk about "streets of gold" when we get to Heaven. Preachers proclaim it from the pulpits; choirs sing it from the loft; children of God speak of them on a daily basis with tear-filled eyes. Still, I often wonder where such theology comes from, considering I've yet to encountered it in the scriptures.

The closest I've come to finding anything in the Bible about it, is the 21st chapter of Revelation. It does describe a golden city with walls of jasper, gates of pearl and four-square. Yet, when reading earlier in the passsage, I find the reference from the angel is toward the "bride, the Lamb's wife." The "bride" is the "city," but the "city" is not Heaven. "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." Rev. 21:10 Many somehow construe that as a reference to Heaven. I think it's painfully obvious that it is a direct reference to the Church.

It might be taken as a harmless misconception, except that it is another example of misunderstanding the association between Christ and His Church. So many are so deluded and confused about that relationship, it's no wonder they're confused about their own relationship with the Son.

I suppose we've all been guilty of using streets of gold, mansions on a hilltop, etc., as metaphors for Glory Land. Although metaphors are normally edifying, as long as they are understood to be only that, we must be careful that we don't take them literally when they are meant to be taken spiritually.