Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)
There’s much preparation that goes into planning a wedding. Months and sometimes even years before the celebration, details are meticulously considered to ensure the day is encumbrance free. As the day quickly approaches, the bride and groom ready themselves to share the rest of their lives together.
One of the most important preparations for the ceremony is the rehearsal. The rehearsal is a ‘dry run’ of sorts that usually takes place the night before the wedding. During this practice time, each person in the wedding party gains a better understanding of their part in the ceremony.
Scripture often refers to the blessed marriage union between a man and woman as the dress rehearsal for what is to come when we meet Jesus in heaven. We are told in God’s Word that the church is the bride of Christ. Over and over, Scriptures contrast our relationship with Christ as a type of marriage.
“As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:5)
“Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.’” (Matthew 9:15)
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2)
“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 21:9)
Inspired by God, Paul explains God’s desire for earthly marriage. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22)
Submission takes an enormous amount of trust. We have to believe that the other person has our best interests at heart. Unfortunately (in our earthly relationships) this is not always the case, but I still believe that marriage is intended to help teach us this concept so we can better understand Christ’s desired relationship with us. He wants us to trust Him completely.
Likewise, Paul gives instructions to husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
How did Christ love the church?
To put it bluntly, He died for her. He gave His life so we could have eternal life with Him. The sacrificial love intended for marriage helps us better grasp the love Jesus has for His bride—the church. Marriage is the dress rehearsal, preparing us for the day when we see our Groom face to face.
“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9a)