Q: Is the bride the church?
A: While the term “bride” is sometimes associated with the church in certain Bible verses (Eph 5:22–25, 2 Cor 11:2), many times a word in the Bible can have multiple meanings. Depending on the context, we must discern the correct meaning.
“There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering ...”
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Similarly, the verses referencing the bride in Ephesians and 2 Corinthians indicate the body of believers. However, looking at the context of the bride in the last days, is she also the body of believers?
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
Throughout the entire Bible, only God can be the source of the water of life (Jer 2:13, Jn 4:14). In this context, the bride cannot be the body of believers or the church, which thirsts for eternal life. The bride has the power to give salvation to the thirsty, and she is equal to God the Father. Apostle John called her Jerusalem (Rev 21:9–10), whom the early church members recognized as God the Mother (Gal 4:26), the source of the water of life (Zech 14:8).
