The Church Is ... (Part 3)

The Church is the Bride of Christ. Seldom is the groom as interested in the wedding as the bride, but Christ is one groom who is vitally interested in both the wedding and His bride.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak of the relationship that God has with His followers like that of a bride and groom. Note especially Ephesians chapter five and the prophet Isaiah. The book of Revelation speaks of the marriage supper of the Lamb as being like the reception after the wedding ceremony. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 22:1-14 that depicts what this wedding in heaven will be like.

Here are some points to ponder about Heaven’s wedding:

1) Heaven is preparing the wedding banquet for the bride.
“A King who prepared a wedding banquet”

2) The bride needs to be preparing for the wedding banquet.
“His bride has made herself ready” – Rev. 19:7

3) There is an open invitation to the wedding banquet.
“Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find”

4) Many who are invited will have excuses not to attend.
“They paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business”

5) Anyone who rejects the invitation will reap the consequences.
“Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside into the darkness”

There is one last thing to remember about Christ and His bride. Like most grooms, Jesus doesn’t appreciate people criticizing and complaining about His bride. So, we need to be very careful what we say and how we say it when we are talking about His church.