Topical Bible: Church: Lamb's Wife

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Lamb's Wife" is a symbolic reference to the Church, depicted as the bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. This imagery is primarily drawn from the Book of Revelation, where the relationship between Christ and His Church is portrayed in the context of a divine marriage. The concept underscores the intimate and covenantal relationship between Jesus Christ and His followers, emphasizing purity, devotion, and eternal union.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the Church as the Lamb's Wife is found in Revelation 19:7-9, where the marriage of the Lamb is announced: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure." This passage highlights the readiness and purity of the Church, symbolized by fine linen, which represents "the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8).

Further elaboration is found in Revelation 21:9-10, where one of the seven angels says, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." The subsequent vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven is a metaphor for the glorified Church, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Theological Significance

The imagery of the Church as the Lamb's Wife conveys several theological themes:

1. Covenantal Relationship: The marriage metaphor signifies a covenantal bond, reflecting the Old Testament covenant between God and Israel. In the New Testament, this covenant is fulfilled and expanded through Christ's sacrificial love for the Church, as described in Ephesians 5:25-27: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless."

2. Purity and Holiness: The Church, as the bride, is called to a life of holiness and purity, reflecting the character of Christ. The fine linen of the bride's attire symbolizes the righteous deeds and sanctified life of believers, made possible through the redemptive work of Christ.

3. Eschatological Hope: The marriage of the Lamb points to the eschatological hope of the Church, anticipating the ultimate union with Christ at His return. This future event is a source of encouragement and motivation for believers to remain faithful and steadfast in their walk with God.

4. Unity and Diversity: The Church, composed of diverse members from every nation, tribe, and tongue, is united as one bride for Christ. This unity in diversity reflects the universal scope of the Gospel and the inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan.

Practical Implications

The identity of the Church as the Lamb's Wife has practical implications for Christian living:

· Commitment to Christ: Believers are called to a deep, personal commitment to Christ, mirroring the devotion of a bride to her husband.
· Pursuit of Holiness: The Church is encouraged to pursue holiness and righteousness, living in a manner worthy of the calling as the bride of Christ.
· Anticipation of Christ's Return: The Church lives in anticipation of the return of Christ, the Bridegroom, maintaining a posture of readiness and expectation.

In summary, the Church as the Lamb's Wife is a profound biblical metaphor that encapsulates the love, commitment, and eternal destiny of believers in their relationship with Jesus Christ. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the Church's identity and mission in the world.

Nave's Topical Index

Revelation 19:7-9
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.
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Revelation 21:9
And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
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Library

That Christ is the Bridegroom, Having the Church as his Bride ...
... a fast, and call a healing; assemble the people, sanctify the Church, gather the ...
in the Apocalypse: "Come, I will show thee the new bride, the Lamb's wife. ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/19 that christ is the.htm

The Unity of the Church.
... The Holy Church throughout the world, "the Bride, the Lamb's wife," is one, not
many, and the elect souls are all elected in her, not in isolation. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xvii the unity of.htm

The Marriage of the Lamb.
... These constitute the bride, the Lamb's wife; for as "the husband is the head of
the wife," even so "Christ is the head of the church," Eph.5:23. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the marriage of the lamb.htm

The Church of God.
... to the church of God at Corinth.2 Cor.1:1. He presents this church as a ... was bid to
"come hither," and he would be shown the bride the Lamb's wife; and behold ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter vii the church of.htm

He is Lovely in his Relations.
... for it. 4. No one bears with weaknesses and provocations as Christ does;
the church is called "the Lamb's wife," Rev.21:9. 5. No ...
/.../flavel/christ altogether lovely/he is lovely in his 3.htm

Conclusion
... so that the whole body of the faithful, each one having been taken into God's Covenant,
and enabled to abide by it,"the Church, as the Lamb's wife, may be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/conclusion.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... 19 and 21 there are a number of things which show clearly (to any unprejudiced mind)
that the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, is redeemed Israel, and not the Church. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

Elements of Prophetic Interpretation.
... New Jerusalem"The redeemed Church, or the Bride, the Lamb's wife."Rev.21:9, 10.
Revivification of dry bones"Resurrection of the dead."Ezek.37:11, 12. ...
/.../a brief commentary on the apocalypse/elements of prophetic interpretation.htm

The Cleansing of the Earth.
... many extracts which might be made, showing the faith of the church in past ... air"
(1:Thess.4:17), where, constituting "the bride," "the Lamb's wife," they were ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the cleansing of the earth.htm

In the Holy of Holies.
... angel to John, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." "He carried ...
virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /24 in the holy of.htm