"The marriage of the Lamb has come and his Bride has made herself ready," Revelation 19:7.
Bride? We get that Jesus is the lamb. Every careful Bible reader gets that, no question. But the bride? Who's she? Let's start with who she's not. She's not the prostitute for whose services men paid. The prostitute who depicts the rule of men on the earth: Babylon. Man's world. What man hath wrought. The great enslaving city, persecutor of Jesus' people. The empire God judges and destroys in a day. So who is the bride? Jesus' people. God worshippers. Christ confessors. Righteous deed doers. The church. Of Christ.
With a brother or sister today we get dressed for the wedding. Clothed by doing righteous deeds: Food for children. Coat for needy. Visit for shut-ins. Shelter for homeless. Cup for thirsty. And, all together, we give thanks. Bride ready. Church triumphant.
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