Premarital Beautification
John’s vision in Revelation 12 bibrefrevelation12 saw Israel as a woman who brought forth the Messiah. It is a great picture of the relationship and the heritage from which Christ came.
In the New Testament, including later in Revelation, there is another corporate analogy, another great picture of our relationship and our future with Christ. The Church is His Bride.
We are in an ongoing state of premarital sanctification, of premarital beautification. Queen Vashti’s potential replacements (Esther 2:12 bibrefesther2 bibrefesther2v12) had nothing compared to what Jesus is doing for His Bride. He is washing us by the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26-27 bibrefephesians5 bibrefephesians5v26 bibrefephesians5v27). He sent His Spirit to make us blameless. There is coming a glorious marriage day.
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God almighty reigns!
Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready.
(Revelation 19:6-7 bibrefrevelation19 bibrefrevelation19v6 bibrefrevelation19v7)
So “blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9 bibrefrevelation19 bibrefrevelation19v9).
All of this has been paid for by the Groom. He chose us. He loved first. He sacrificed. He gave Himself (Ephesians 5:25 bibrefephesians5 bibrefephesians5v25), and we are His.
We eat and drink at the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him. It is not a rehearsal dinner, but it is getting us ready for that supper. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17 bibrefrevelation22 bibrefrevelation22v17)