The Bride of Christ: Understanding Our Divine Union and the Wedding of the Lamb

What is the true Bride of Christ meaning in the Bible? In our recent daily meditations, we have contemplated that authentic biblical Christianity is more than a religion; it is a sacred union between Jesus and everyone who enters into a covenant with Him. This spiritual marriage signifies that we, as God’s people, are organically connected to Christ in a bond that mirrors the intimacy of a husband and wife.

Connected to the Source: The Vine and the Branches

Jesus beautifully explained this connection through the metaphor of nature: "I am the Vine, you are the branches...⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me" (John 15:1; 4). This union with Christ is a foundational truth of the New Testament, as the phrase "In Christ" appears 160 times. To understand our identity, we must look at the relationship between a man and his wife, which illustrates the divine union Christ has formed with His bride—those born again by the Spirit (John 3:3).

Heavenly Symbolism in Earthly Wedding Traditions

Many of our wedding traditions reflect a heavenly marriage, such as the bride adopting the bridegroom’s last name. We, known as "Christians," have taken the name of our husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible states that we will bear His name on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4). The name of the Lord on our foreheads symbolizes our minds’ alignment with the character of our Bridegroom.

What does the giving of rings symbolize at a wedding? Possibly, the ring symbolizes the gift of eternal life granted to believers due to its circular, unending form. In marriage, the groom's possessions are also considered to belong to the bride. Similarly, heaven's resources are given to the Church, the bride of Christ. We only need to ask Him, as He promises, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13). He has held back nothing from His bride. The Bible tells us that “He has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The bride also wears white to symbolize purity, just as the bride of Christ will wear fine linen, bright and clean, on her wedding day.

⁶Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. ⁷Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. ⁸Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:6-8; emphasis added).

What Does it Mean to Make Yourself Ready?

The Scripture passage above foretells what will occur when everything transforms, and the bride of Christ, now ready, enters her marriage with the Son of God. Since salvation and eternal life are gifts (and indeed they are), what does Scripture imply when it says that the bride has made herself ready? How do we prepare ourselves? We must eliminate all parts of our old nature—those things that do not please our Lord—so they are no longer expressed.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires (Ephesians 4:22).

The Great Celebration: Entering the Marriage of the Lamb

Can you imagine what it will be like for those who know Christ to be in that moment, part of the vast multitude shouting hallelujah to God? Picture knowing that the fight of faith is over and that you will soon partake in the wedding celebration of the Lamb! How can anyone not long for such a relationship with God? The sound of all those voices blending together was so loud it resembled "many waters"; similarly, the joy of the redeemed of the Lord will be immense. What a glorious day that will be! Don't you think the joy on the Lord's face will be overwhelming as we gaze upon Him that day? He will look at you as He considers the results of His work on the cross for His people.

Continue Your Journey…

Taken from the series Insights into Eternity, found in the All Studies box. Click on the study, The Wedding You’ve Been Waiting For.

Prefer to watch and listen? > We’ve prepared a deep-dive video series titled Insights into Eternity that brings these scriptures to life. You can watch the teaching for this specific study right here on YouTube. While you're there, subscribe to the channel to journey with us through every new meditation!