My Wedding Dress

TO READ: Revelation 19:1-16

Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear. For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

Revelation 19:7-8

Among the graphic imagery in the book of Revelation is a picture of the church as the bride of Christ. This imagery is spread throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, Israel is often depicted as God’s bride (Ezekiel 16:8-14; Hosea 2:1-23). The symbol of marriage is in the Gospels, too (Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 2:19; John 3:29). Paul made use of the picture of the church as Christ’s bride in Ephesians 5:25-27. So it is not surprising that Revelation uses the imagery of marriage.

The picture here is of a bride invited to her own wedding. She is given fine linen to wear as her wedding dress. The bride has not purchased this special dress for herself; instead, the heavenly bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, has already paid for it! The price of that white dress was Christ’s blood —his death on the cross. By his death alone believers can have their sins forgiven. Christ then fills their lives by his Spirit.

The bridegroom purchased the wedding dress and invited his bride to the wedding feast. Each one of us has to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ’s invitation to our heavenly wedding. When Christ clothes us in the linen of his own righteousness, we are ready for the great day! And oh, what a day that will be! Have you responded to his gracious invitation? Don’t forget to RSVP. This is a party you don’t want to miss!