Who is the Bride?

When tradition says one thing and the Bible says something different, we must side with the Bible. This article will challenge what has traditionally been called “the Bride of Christ.”

The designation “the Bride of Christ” is NOT in the Bible. The Scriptural phrase is “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Rev. 21:9). Notice where this terminology is found—The Revelation, which does not concern the New Testament local church. The doctrinal application of Revelation involves Israel and the Gentiles in the Tribulation period. The church will not be present at this time. Someone may be asking, “What about the seven churches addressed in Revelation chapters one, two, and three?” Those are churches in the Tribulation who must overcome in order to partake of the tree of life (Rev. 2:7). That cannot be said to any local church in this present age! When I trusted Christ as my Savior I received eternal life (John 5:24). Why do I need to partake of the tree of life? No member of a local New Testament church needs to fear the second death like the church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:11). No local church today has to concern itself with overcoming so it can eat hidden manna or obtain a white stone like the church of Pergamos (Rev. 2:17).

Secondly, Revelation 19:7 says, “the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife HATH MADE HERSELF READY.” If the local church is the bride, how does it make itself ready? Praise God, I don’t have to make myself ready! When Christ saved me, He made me ready! (More about this later.)

Finally, it should be pointed out, the Apostle Paul never used such language as, “the marriage supper of the lamb,” “the Lamb’s wife,” etc. Since Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles and was given the revelation of the mystery of the church (Eph. 3), it would behoove us to take notice of this fact (cf. 2 Tim. 2:7). Why didn’t Paul ever refer to the church as Christ’s bride? Why didn’t Paul ever call Jesus a lamb? Where does it say Christ is the husband of the church? The church is always referred to as being masculine (e.g. Eph. 2:15). Forget about quoting 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Ephesians 5. The terminology is not there. I’ll deal with those passages later.

Suffice it to say here, the church is NOT “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” I know many of my independent Baptist friends will take issue with this. That’s OK. A great thing about being an independent Baptist is I don’t have to answer to the brethren and they don’t have to answer to me! We must show ourselves approved unto God, not unto men (2 Tim. 2:15).

So, if the church isn’t “the bride,” who is? Let’s set the traditions of men aside and compare Scripture with Scripture instead of commentaries with commentaries.