Bride (the)

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This word is applied to the “church of God,” of whom it is the future, and heavenly title (Rev. 19; 21; 22. only, except in that remarkable passage, John 3:2929He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29)). The word “bride” implies “newly married,” and is not strictly applicable to the Jews, who have been married, but are divorced. Still it is evident, that just as there are two seeds, two Jerusalem’s, two peoples—heavenly and earthly, so are there two wives (see Rev. 19:77Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7); and Isa. 54:4, 8; 62:44Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. (Isaiah 54:4)
8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)
4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. (Isaiah 62:4); Jer. 3 &c.). The figure, as regards the church, is alluded to in Eph. 5, and we get numerous types of this union in the Old Testament (Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebecca, Joseph and Asenath, &c.). As seen by the world in the millennium, she will appear as the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21).