The Bride of Christ

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2012.

I previously wrote, "Scrap of Paper:  Jesus Married?," which comes to the conclusion that Jesus didn't marry during his life on earth.  That article was at a blog I used to have.  

But you see, Jesus will marry, only not the earthly kind of marriage.

Some might say, but didn't he die?  Yes, he was crucified, and yielded up his spirit.  When spirit and soul leave the body, that body is dead.  But then, the third day, God raised his son Jesus from the dead.  Jesus now sits at the right hand of God in heaven.

Oh, so he's married now?  No, not yet.

Revelation 19:
Verse 6 And I heard like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, "Hallelujah, for the Lord God all powerful reigns.
Verse 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready."
Verse 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.
Verse 9 And he said to me, "Write, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb."  And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Notice in verse 7 "...the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready."

Jesus is the "Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."  OK, so if all sin has been removed, then everyone's going to heaven, right?  No, most people go to hell, Jesus said.  Jesus takes away the sin for those who accept him as Lord and Savior.  Most people don't get around to doing that.  Or, they become Christians but then don't "endure to the end;" are not "faithful until death."

So, who is the wife mentioned there?  The wife is the saints, the redeemed of the Lord, those who qualify with God to go to heaven.  Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John chapt. 3)  

And notice in verse 9 "...the marriage supper of the Lamb..."  

There is going to be a wedding.  There is going to be a wedding supper.  I'll be there, I hope you will be too.

Revelation 21:
Verse 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there were no more oceans.
Verse 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Verse 3 And I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "See, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will live with them, and they'll be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

So, everyone who ever lived?  No, the redeemed, the faithful, the washed in the blood of the Lamb people.

There's your Bride of Christ.  In heaven, not on this old earth.