Studies in Revelation: Marriage of the Lamb

There is some potential confusion created by the references to the Lord Jesus’ marriage, specifically in regard to who he is marrying.

⁶ Then 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. ⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. ⁸ Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) ⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9, NIV)

Here, after the coming of Jesus back to earth to do battle with the antichrist and secure his kingdom, a wedding takes place and a wedding supper. Jesus’ bride has made herself ready by her righteous acts and holiness. This seems to clearly be Jesus’ marriage to all believers, a metaphor made reality (Ephesians 5:22-33). We are considered Jesus’ wife, submissive partners with him for all eternity. That supper celebration is the plenteous banquet all believers have been taught to look forward to at the end of the ages (Matthew 22; 25; Luke 14). Believers are betrothed to Jesus now, but then will be consummately married as we enter the kingdom.

However, there seems to be another bride described after this, in the new heaven and earth.

² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband…⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:2,9,10, NIV)

The bride of Jesus, the wife of the Lamb, is the heavenly Jerusalem, the Holy City that has been God’s place in heaven but is now to be situated on the newly remodeled earth. Perhaps the confusion might be overcome if we realize that the city is made up of the redeemed of earth. This is the same bride who celebrated at the wedding supper. The city is the saved of all time. And so, even now, the betrothed of the Lord, along with the Holy Spirit, are eager for Jesus’ return.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17, NIV)