“Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen.” (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.) - Revelation 19:7-8
Among the graphic imagery in the book of Revelation is a picture of the church as the bride of Christ. This imagery is spread throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, Israel is often depicted as God’s bride (Ezekiel 16:8-14; Hosea 2:1-23). The symbol of marriage is in the Gospels, too (Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 2:19; John 3:29). Paul made use of the picture of the church as Christ’s bride in Ephesians 5:25-27. So it is not surprising that Revelation uses the imagery of marriage.
The picture here is of a bride invited to her own wedding. She is given fine linen to wear as her wedding dress. The bride has not purchased this special dress for herself; instead, the heavenly bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, has already paid for it! The price of that white dress was Christ’s blood—his death on the cross. By his death alone believers can have their sins forgiven. Christ then fills their lives by his Spirit.
The bridegroom purchased the wedding dress and invited his bride to the wedding feast. Each one of us has to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ’s invitation to our heavenly wedding. When Christ clothes us in the linen of his own righteousness, we are ready for the great day! And oh, what a day that will be! Have you responded to his gracious invitation? Don’t forget to RSVP. This is a party you don’t want to miss!
For Further Study: Revelation 2:18-29
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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