Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.

Revelation 19:7

What is a marriage?

Fundamentally, it’s a contract. We get lots of ideas entangled in it beyond that because of the ways that things have progressed over the years but at the root, a marriage is an agreement between two people to be joined together.

In our personal relationships with God, this is often described as a will, a promise that was fulfilled on death, the death of Jesus. In our relationship with God as a Church worldwide, we are described as a bride of Jesus.

So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are parts of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:28-32

The individual relationship is built on one-sided, unearned grace and sacrifice. The relationship to all His people is built on mutual trust and an unending bond.

When we harm the Church or her groom, the Messiah, God’s Anointed, we can’t be part of that agreement. We transgress against it.

Let’s make ourselves ready, Church, together. Let’s prepare for the wedding.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published June 5, 2020