The Bride of Christ: Remaining, Preparing, and Awaiting His Return

Understanding what it means to be the Bride of Christ is one of the most beautiful and transformative truths in Scripture. Many believers know the phrase, but we are going to look at the depth behind it.

In this blog, we’ll walk through key Scriptures that reveal our identity as the Bride, the importance of staying spiritually ready, and the great hope we have in the coming Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

The Bride of Christ

In Scripture, marriage imagery is used to describe the relationship between Jesus the Messiah and His people—the Church. The Church is made up of those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and received eternal life.

Jesus, in Ephesians, calls the Church His bride, saying:

“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.”

This leads us to ask: What does it mean for us, as children of God, to be the Bride of Christ?

Scripture says we will one day be united to our Messiah. Understanding this not only helps us experience His love more deeply, but also stirs us to love Him more.

The Betrothal Period

During biblical times, a betrothal period separated the bride and groom before their wedding. Similar to a modern engagement, this time allowed both the bride and the bridegroom to prepare. GotQuestions explains:

“This time was for the bride to prepare for her new role, to gather personal belongings, to adjust relationships with parents, siblings, and friends, and in some cases to become better acquainted with her fiancé. The groom used the engagement period for similar matters, including completing the house in which he would raise his family.”

In the same way, the Church is in a spiritual betrothal period. We are separated from our Bridegroom during the Church age, waiting for the day we will be reunited with Him.

Just as a bridegroom prepared a place for his bride, Jesus is preparing a place for us. He says in John 14:2-4,

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The Bride Has Made Herself Ready

The Church has been waiting for the second coming of Christ and in Revelation 19 it says,

“For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”

Our responsibility as the Bride is to remain faithful and prepare ourselves.

How do we make ourselves ready?

This answer can be found all throughout scripture by seeing the way which believers are called to live.

Jesus says in John 15,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:1-4).

Jesus says that if you remain in Him, then He will remain in you. In this way you will bear much fruit because apart from Him you can do nothing (John 15:5).

Remaining in Christ is not passive—it is a daily posture of dependence, love, and obedience. Apart from Him, we cannot produce real spiritual fruit. With Him, our lives become evidence of His transforming power.

Paul echoes this invitation throughout his letters. He continually calls believers to live in a way that reflects the salvation and grace they have received:

living lives worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians. 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12b).

And just like the parable in Matthew 25:1-13 of the ten virgins, we must always have ready oil—staying spiritually awake, attentive, and longing for Jesus’ second coming.

This readiness shapes how we live, how we hope, and how we endure. It reminds us that our Bridegroom is coming soon.

Married to Christ

After the betrothal period in Biblical times came the wedding celebration. As believers, right now during the Church age we are the bride of Christ, and one day we will be married to the Lamb who is Jesus. We will have a wedding celebration with Jesus Himself!

This is where Jesus said in Matthew 26:29,

”I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

We wait for this beautiful day as expectant brides with oil that is ready for Christ’s return.

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:6-9 gives us a beautiful glimpse of what awaits:

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:“Hallelujah!For our Lord God Almighty reigns.Let us rejoice and be gladand give him glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come,and his bride has made herself ready.Fine linen, bright and clean,was given her to wear.”(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

Wow! Praise God!

A Love Song From the Bridegroom

There is a song called Love Note from Upper Room, and its lyrics beautifully echo the heart of Jesus toward His bride:

“A dinner for two

Just me and you

Let's take some time

To sit down in dawn

I broke my bread

And poured out my wine

I did what it took

To make you my bride

I'm bringing you back to the garden

Back were it all started

All of your sins have been parted

Now we just get to be together”

This is the heartbeat of the gospel—Jesus did everything necessary to bring us back into intimacy with Him.

If you are a follower of Jesus, then you are the Bride of Christ.

He loves you deeply and intimately, and He is preparing a place for you. We get to look forward with joy to the wedding supper of the Lamb! Jesus came to redeem you so that you could be brought back into intimacy with Him.

You were made for Him.

May His love overwhelm your soul.

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