Who is the bride of Christ in Revelation?
The book of Revelation portrays the bride of Christ as a profound symbol for the people of God. Revelation 19:7 declares, “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.” This passage sets the stage for understanding the end of history as a wedding feast. The bride imagery is not new; it recalls Old Testament passages in which God was described as the husband of Israel (Isaiah 54:5–6, Hosea 2:19–20). Yet in Revelation, this marriage image reaches its climax, representing the union of Christ with His redeemed people.
This symbolic portrayal contrasts sharply with the harlot of Babylon, described earlier in Revelation 17–18. While the harlot represents unfaithfulness, corruption, and rebellion against God, the bride embodies purity, faithfulness, and righteousness. In this way, Revelation divides humanity into two groups: those who belong to the Lamb and those who belong to the world.
The Old Testament background of the bride
To understand Revelation’s use of the bride imagery, it is necessary to consider its Old Testament background. Throughout the prophets, God’s covenant relationship with Israel was described as a marriage. Ezekiel 16 recounts God’s tender love for Jerusalem as a bride, while Hosea highlights Israel’s unfaithfulness, portraying her as an adulterous wife. Yet despite betrayal, God promises renewal: “And I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy” (Hosea 2:19).
This promise finds fulfillment in Revelation, where the bride is presented as faithful, restored, and radiant. The image shifts from Israel alone to the people of God as a whole—Jew and Gentile together—brought into covenant union with Christ. The promises of the prophets converge in the vision of the New Jerusalem, a city described “as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).
The New Testament development of the metaphor
The New Testament carries forward this imagery, preparing the reader for Revelation’s grand vision. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” Similarly, Ephesians 5:25–27 teaches, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
Here, the metaphor of marriage illustrates the self-giving love of Christ, who purifies and prepares the church as His bride. The earthly pattern of marriage becomes a reflection of the eternal union between Christ and His people. When Revelation describes the bride clothed in “fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints” (Revelation 19:8), it builds on Paul’s teaching that Christ both redeems and sanctifies His people, clothing them in holiness.
The New Jerusalem as the bride
Revelation 21:9–10 makes the identification explicit: “Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”
The New Jerusalem is not merely a place but a people. The vision communicates that the final dwelling of God is with His people, who are pictured as a radiant city and as a prepared bride. Revelation 21:3 emphasizes, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
This union fulfills covenant promises, particularly the expectation voiced in Ezekiel 37:27: “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Revelation presents the climax of God’s plan of redemption—the marriage of Christ and His church as the eternal covenant relationship brought to completion.
The Gospel and the bride
The metaphor of the bride in Revelation points us directly to the heart of the Gospel. Christ does not only save individuals; He calls and prepares a people to be His bride. Just as Adam and Eve were united in Genesis 2 as “one flesh,” Paul sees the union of Christ and the church as the ultimate fulfillment of that design (Ephesians 5:31–32). The church is not an afterthought but the very goal of redemption—a people purified, made holy, and united to Christ forever.
This broader vision of the Gospel reminds us that salvation is not merely about personal forgiveness but about being joined to the people of God in Christ. In Revelation, the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) celebrates this union, echoing Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper when He spoke of drinking the cup anew in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29). The Lord’s Supper now anticipates the ultimate wedding banquet, when the bride will be fully united to her bridegroom.
The eschatological hope of the bride
The image of the bride of Christ also carries eschatological significance. Revelation presents a contrast between the present suffering of the church and the future glory she will share with Christ. Just as a bride prepares for her wedding day, the church is called to faithfulness, holiness, and perseverance. Revelation 22:17 concludes with an invitation: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
This final invitation shows the mission of the bride: to call the nations to come to Christ. The church, purified and prepared, bears witness to the world until the day when she is finally united with her bridegroom. The hope of the bride shapes Christian life now, calling believers to live in anticipation of the eternal marriage supper, where Christ and His people will dwell together forever.
Conclusion
In Revelation, the bride of Christ is revealed to be the church, the redeemed people of God, presented as the New Jerusalem. This imagery fulfills Old Testament promises of God’s covenant marriage to His people and expands it to include all who belong to Christ. The bride is adorned in righteousness, contrasted with the harlot of Babylon, and destined for eternal union with Christ. Far from being a mere metaphor, this vision captures the essence of the Gospel: Christ gave Himself to cleanse and sanctify His people, preparing them for eternal life with Him. The hope of the bride is therefore the hope of all believers—the day when God will dwell with His people, and the marriage of the Lamb will be celebrated forever.
Bible verses about the bride of Christ in Revelation
Revelation 19:7 – “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”
Revelation 19:8 – “It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
Revelation 21:2 – “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Revelation 21:9 – “Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.’”
Revelation 21:10 – “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”
Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Ephesians 5:25–27 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
2 Corinthians 11:2 – “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”
Hosea 2:19–20 – “And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.”
Isaiah 54:5 – “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”
