The Assembly (Part 3/9) – The Bride

Church/Assembly

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

– Ephesians 5:25-27

9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

– Revelation 21:9
(NASB® © 2020)
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Main idea: Love and Submission

Essential characteristics:

  1. It is a relationship of the love of Christ (Ephesians 5:25).
  2. The bride is subject to Christ (Eph 5:24).
  3. The term “bride” shows us the purity and freshness of love (Rev 21,1-8).
  4. The expression “wife” shows us the depth and constancy of love (Rev 21,9).
  5. There is an earthly and a heavenly bride:
    1. The earthly bride is the people of Israel (Isa 62:5; 54:7, 8 and Hos 2:18- 22).
    1. The heavenly bride is the assembly (Mt 13:46 and Acts 20:28).
  6. The Assembly – precious pearl – was so precious to Him that He gave everything for it (Mt 13:46; Eph 5:25) -> indication of love.
  7. The pearl is the symbol of flawless beauty in unity, as is the bride (Eph 5:27).
  8. There are three areas of Christ’s love for his bride:
    1. Past: He has loved her (Eph 5:25).
    1. Present: He is now purifying her for Himself (Eph 5:26). He nourishes (inwardly) and cares for (outwardly) her (Eph 5:29).
    1. Future: He presents them glorified to himself (Eph 5:27).
  9. At the marriage of the Lamb, the bride is given to Christ to share His glory for eternity (Rev 19,6-9).
  10. At the wedding, the bride will wear a dress characterized by the works of the saints (Rev 19,8). One garment – one bride; righteousness of the saints – every single act of faith.

Timeline (in part) until the marriage of the Lamb:

  1. Rapture (1 Thes 4:13-18)
  2. judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:10; Rev 19:7)
  3. introduction into the Father’s house (Jn 14:2,3)
  4. judgment of the false church (Rev 19:1.2)
  5. marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7)

Participants in the wedding:

  1. the Lamb = the Lord Jesus himself
  2. the Bride = all the truly redeemed of the time of grace
  3. the invited = all Old Testament believers (and probably also all children who have not died capable of making a decision, as well as believers who have never heard of Christ)

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