“The Spirit and the Bride say, Come…”

(Revelation 22:17)

Who Is The Bride Of Christ?

When asked this question, almost everyone answers, “The Church,” or “The Body of Christ,” meaning all saved people. However, nowhere in the Bible is the Church called the Bride of Christ. The Church is called His Body in Ephesians 1:22-23 but the Body and the Bride are not synonymous as has been supposed.

Using the “rule of first mention,” and keeping in mind that the things written in the Old Testament are types and examples for our learning, (Romans15:4, I Corinthians10:11) we can see that the Bride is taken out of the Body. Two examples from the Old Testament illustrate this truth: The first bride Eve was not the body of Adam, but was taken out of his body. Adam is a type of Christ. Eve is a type for the Bride.

In Genesis 24 we have the story of Abraham who sent his servant to take a bride for his son, Isaac. Most people say this is a type for God the Father sending the Holy Spirit into the world for calling out the Church. However, this is not the true meaning of the story. While the Gospel is to go into all the world, in this story Abraham told the servant not to go to the Canaanites, but to go to his own people to take a bride for his son.

The correct interpretation is this: Abraham, a type of the Father, sent the servant, a type of the Holy Spirit, to his own people, a type of the Church, to take a bride for his son Isaac, a type of Christ. When the message of salvation goes forth, it goes to everyone; but when God calls for his Bride, He calls not the world, but His own people, or His family.

Our Lord used the term “family” because of its meaning to us in our physical life. We are born the first time into a physical family. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him who died in our place, we are born again, into the family of God. The word “Bride” is used in a similar sense. We know what the blessings of family life involve. We also know the bride and groom, while in the family, share a closeness and an intimacy, which is not shared by the other members of the family.

With these thoughts in mind, we can see how the Lord calls those who are His to come up closer. It is not to the world, but to His own that He says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. (Romans 12:1-2).

Not many Christians heed this direct command. Many who are saved continue to conform to this world and they never experience sweet communion and fellowship with the Lord Jesus; and like Esau, forfeit spiritual rewards in the future for gratification of the carnal nature in the present.

In writing to the carnal Corinthians Paul tells them they are espoused to one husband that is, they are promised in marriage or engaged. The word espoused is the same word used in Matthew 1:18, where Mary is espoused to Joseph. Before they came together he thought of putting her away since he thought she had been unfaithful. Many believers today are unfaithful, and there is a sense in which the Lord will “put them away.”

This does not mean the loss of their salvation, but in Revelation 16:15, we read, “Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” This refers not to His righteousness with which He clothes us for our own salvation (Isaiah 61:10), but to a garment of good works (deeds) which may be maintained with a profitable result, or which may be lost to our shame and loss of rewards when Jesus returns (see I John 2:28, Titus 3:8, and II John 1:8).

Revelation 19:7, shows us the Bride “makes herself ready” for Her soon marriage by providing a garment of good works. Many Christians do not work for Christ after they are saved and they are not preparing themselves to meet the Bridegroom.

These unprepared Christians will be “put away” as it were, into the darkness outside the wedding feast. Outer darkness is not representative of hell for there are unprofitable servants there. It is the darkness outside the feast where the unfaithful will be; while those who have been faithful will be enjoying a communion not shared by all.

In Matthew 25:14-30, the Lord deals with His own servants and we find the unprofitable servants cast into the darkness outside. We have a parallel passage in Matthew 22 where one without a wedding garment is also cast into outer darkness. Also, the foolish virgins in Matthew 25, are shut outside when the Bridegroom arrives. All of these are references to Christians. As Christians, we will give an account of the deeds we have done (II Corinthians 5:10). The unconcerned, unfaithful Christians will weep over their failures, for it is only after the Millennium is over that God will wipe away all the tears from their eyes (Revelation 21:4).

Revelation 3:18, tells us to buy white raiment that we may be clothed and that the shame of our nakedness not appear. The white raiment is “the righteous acts and deeds” of the Saints. The word “buy” is used to show that it will cost the child of God to be among those who make up the Bride of Christ. A separated and surrendered life is costly, but how great will be the reward of those who dare to pay the price.

Isaiah 55:1, speaks of buying without money. We do not speak of money; but the Christian who has purposed in his heart to live completely for the Lord Jesus Christ knows that it costs plenty. It may cost a person friends; for many do not walk the separated way witnessing about the soon return of the Lord: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come..” (Revelation 22:17) Many Christians are not doing this; and hence, not part of the Bride. We will all give an account of our lives and be rewarded according to the good and bad we have done (see II Corinthians 5:10). Some do not serve the Lord and will suffer the loss of rewards. Those who have not provided themselves with a wedding garment will be spiritually naked and ashamed when the Lord returns.

Salvation is a gift of God. It is eternal and cannot be lost. Crowns, rewards, and an inheritance into the Kingdom are based upon faithfulness to Him. To be part of the Bride of Christ is a great reward to those Christians who have paid the price. It is a figurative picture of those who have lived a clean, pure and holy life yielded to Him. They “made themselves ready” to be His Bride by their righteous deeds after they were saved.

The Apostle Paul referred to this in Philippians 3:11. He certainly had no fear of missing the resurrection, but he desired to be among those who are called out for the prize of the high calling of God. Salvation is not a prize, but a gift freely given to those who call upon Jesus Christ to be saved. Paul knew we are saved by grace through faith and works did not play any part. Yet he said he strives for the prize and was even concerned he might be disqualified for the prize by being a “Castaway” (I Corinthians 9:24-27).

The Church is one Body, made up of all believers in Christ. Some are spiritual and some are carnal (I Corinthians 3). Some are wise and some are foolish (Matt.25). Those foolish, carnal believers will be saved as through fire, but they will not be part of the Bride.

Who then is the Bride? Those who are providing themselves with a wedding garment and those who are preparing to meet the Bridegroom when He returns very soon. All Christians will not qualify to be the Bride. Will you? 

The main purpose of all of the books on this website is to help Christians prepare for their great Wedding Day.  To Help you prepare to meet the Bridegroom also view the following 30 minute video that was presented at the Internationl Prophecy Conference in Tampa, FL.