In our daily meditations over the past few days, we have reflected on the idea that true biblical Christianity represents a union between Christ and all who enter a covenant relationship with Him. We, the people of God, have been brought into an organic connection with Christ. Jesus said, "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). The phrase "In Christ" appears 160 times in the New Testament. The relationship between a man and his wife serves as a picture of the divine union that Christ has established with His bride, those who are born again of the Spirit (John 3:3).
Many of our wedding traditions illustrate a heavenly marriage, such as the bride adopting the last name of the bridegroom. 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? Perhaps the ring signifies the gift of eternal life granted to the believer because of its circular and never-ending nature. In a marriage, everything the bridegroom possesses belongs to the bride. Similarly, the resources of heaven are bestowed upon the Church, the bride of Christ. All we need to do is ask Him, for He has promised, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13). He has withheld nothing from His bride. The Scriptures tell us that “He has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The bride also wears white, which represents purity, just as the bride of Christ on her wedding day will wear fine linen, bright and clean:
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).
The above passage of Scripture is a prophecy of what will happen when everything changes, and the now-prepared bride of Christ will enter into her marriage with the Son of God. If salvation and eternity are gifts (and they are), what does it mean when Scripture states that the bride has made herself ready? How do we prepare ourselves? All aspects of our old nature—things that do not please our Lord—must no longer be 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).
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? Imagine knowing that the fight of faith is over and that you will soon enter the wedding celebration of the Lamb! How can anyone not desire such a relationship with God? The sound of all those voices mingling was so loud that it resembled "many waters;" similarly, so great will be the joy of the redeemed of the Lord. What a wonderful day that will be! Don't you think the joy on the face of the Lord will be immense as we look upon Him on that day? He will gaze at you as He contemplates the results of the work He accomplished on the cross for His people. Keith Thomas
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Taken from the series Insights into Eternity, found in the All Studies box. Click on the study The Wedding of the Lamb.
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