The Unique Union of Christ and His Church
“To love and to cherish, to honor and to respect; from this day forward until death do us part or the Lord takes us home,” stated Jack, gazing into the eyes of his beloved. Who could ever tire of being witness to the sacred occasion of a Christian marriage! What a thrill to peer through this little window to a future day when the glorious announcement will echo through the courts of heaven, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev 19:7).1
As we draw this series to a close, we cannot do so without giving some consideration to the unique association Christ will enjoy with His treasured Church. If we have seen that we will occupy the lofty position as kings, priests and rulers with Christ, we now desire to note the exclusive position as His bride.
It has been well stated that the New Testament is in the Old concealed and the Old in the New revealed, and this truth is none more manifest than when we consider the bride of Christ. Viewing the Garden of Eden, we could never have conceived Adam and Eve as a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church except it were revealed to us in Ephesians 5. Likewise, let us pause to consider the heartwarming narrative of Isaac and his bride, Rebekah, told out in Genesis 24.
Unarguably, Abraham is a clear picture of God the Father, with Isaac prefiguring Christ and the unnamed servant representing the Holy Spirit. After Isaac was miraculously conceived in chapter 21 (the incarnation of Christ) and taken up the mountain in chapter 22 (the sacrifice of Christ), we hear Abraham state, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and [both] come again to you” (22:5). Arriving at verse 19 we read, “So Abraham returned.” Where is Isaac? Strangely, he’s not mentioned at all in chapter 23 on the occasion of the death of his mother. If chapter 21 is a picture of the incarnation of Christ and chapter 22 the sacrifice of Christ, following the order, chapter 23 and the death of Sarah can be viewed as the setting aside of Israel (Abraham’s [Jehovah’s] wife). With Isaac now absent (Christ in heaven) and Sarah having died (Israel set aside), the unnamed servant (the Holy Spirit) is sent on a mission by Abraham (God the Father) to seek a bride for Isaac (Christ). How fascinating that Isaac only next emerges in 24:62, when he comes forth to meet his bride. He takes her exclusively into the tent and loves her. Surely a spiritual mind must see the parallel to Christ and His Church in the NT. As we turn to chapter 25, the picture is complete. Isaac has his bride (Christ and the Church), Abraham (Jehovah) remarries (Israel restored), the Holy Spirit stating in verse 5, “Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.” What a beautiful picture of the Millennium. How wonderful to observe everything in its correct order.
The Unveiled Union of Christ and His Church
Have you ever wondered why Paul, having touched marriage so briefly in Colossians (3:18-19), expands the teaching significantly in Ephesians (5:22-33)? I suggest the answer lies in the fact that the dominant theme of Ephesians is the Church. Ten times in the section on marriage (5:22-33) Paul explicitly references the Church, concluding with this famous statement, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” If we had only this Scripture, it would be impossible not to conclude that the Church is being revealed as the bride of Christ.
Turning back to Ephesians 1:20-23, Paul by the Holy Spirit informs us that, incredibly, Christ in Manhood is presently in heaven incomplete. He teaches that Christ’s completion will not occur by having saints from any other dispensation by His side. No! Paul is at pains to instruct us that it is the Church who complements Christ. The Church alone will “fill up” Him who, paradoxically, is already the source and sum-total of all things.
Not long ago, devout British monarchists were riveted to their screens, eagerly viewing the wedding of Prince William and Kate. How heartwarming to see a girl, having come from the home of a commoner, now elevated and joined in matrimony to the king-in-waiting. Media gathered with cameras poised, ready to showcase the festivities of the marvellous occasion, bringing to the world a sight of the dress, to capture the first kiss. Imagine the anticlimax if Prince William had emerged from the cathedral or appeared upon the royal balcony without his bride. It will be no less when Christ is revealed from heaven. What universal thrill as Christ unveils His bride, God Himself having waited patiently through dispensations of heartache and disappointment for this astonishing moment when we are presented “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:27). The world will gaze upon the magnificence of the wedding dress (righteous deeds of the saints) and witness the intimate association “when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (2Th 1:10). The kingdom of Christ will be established and the festivities of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will commence.
The Unending Union of Christ and His Church
It’s at this point that Old Testament saints rise from their graves singing (Isa 26:19-21). This, along with Daniel 12:1-2 and Revelation 20:4, makes it crystal clear that the resurrection of OT saints and tribulation saints only occurs after the tribulation, at the commencement of the Millennium. This shows the impossibility of their forming part of the bride, the marriage already having taken place in heaven (Rev 19:7). That’s why John the Baptist (who belonged to OT Saints) identified himself as a “friend of the bridegroom” (Joh 3:29), distinct and separate from the bride which is the Church.
As we close, we return to the faint picture of Christian marriage. If our marriages, in spite of the flesh, can (and should) experience the joy of reflecting Christ and the Church, what will be the true paradise of marital bliss with Christ? Revelation 21:2 informs us that following the millennial honeymoon, 1000 years after the nuptials take place in heaven, this bride is still described as one “adorned for her husband.” As the dispensations of time close and we step forth into the utopian bliss of eternity, this marriage will never grow dry, nor know death, disappointment or divorce. Every trace of sin, suffering and sorrow is forever gone, and the Lord Himself shall perpetually nourish and cherish His bride, the Church (Eph 5:29). “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
