KC Tsai—Toronto, Canada

Editor's note: The Lamb's Bride is the true church, the household of God. Her characteristics have been distinctly described in the Bible: she is filled with the Holy Spirit and upholds the complete truth (Eph 2:19–22; 1 Tim 3:15). As members of the true church, our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev 21:27). In this article, we learn about the meaning behind the church's status as the Lamb's Bride, and God's glorious plan for her.

GOD PROVIDED THE LAMB: VICARIOUS DEATH

         [God said to Abraham], "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Gen 22:2)

God's command to Abraham was very precise: to offer Isaac, his only son from Sarah, and one born to him at the age of one hundred—the son dearer to him than his own life. Upon receiving God's instruction, Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and Isaac, his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering and went to the place which God had told him (Gen 22:3).

A Test Of Self-Knowledge and Growth

God told Abraham to offer his son on the altar, because He wanted to test him (Gen 22:1). Such a test was not for God to know Abraham's faith in Him, for He is omniscient (Ps 139:1–6), and searches the inner heart of men (1 Sam 16:7; Jn 2:24). God already knew the faith of Abraham would enable him to overcome this demanding test. Instead, the test was intended to guide Abraham to self-examine and measure his faith in God.

         [A]s Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ...So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Gal 3:6–7, 9)

This incident's record edifies all who are willing to learn to fear God. We can see the type of faith that God accounts as righteous. Abraham's belief and obedient action constitute the faith that pleases God. Through the faith demonstrated by Abraham, God teaches us justification by faith—man is weak and imperfect, but God is willing to account righteousness to man through his obedience to the word of God (Rom 4:3) and no longer imputes sin to him (Rom 4:8). Today, God is willing to bestow His righteousness upon those who believe in the salvation grace of the cross of Jesus Christ and are redeemed through Jesus' blood (Rom 3:20–26). This righteousness of God is not a New Testament concept of grace that the apostle Paul fabricated. In the Old Testament, God had already manifested the origin of salvation—justification by faith—through the life of Abraham. Subsequently, everyone with faith can become acceptable to God and be justified by God (Rom 1:17).

Another reason that God put Abraham, whom He loved, to such a test was to elevate his faith to the next level. Such faith is more precious than gold and will be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:7; Jas 1:2–3). His continual growth in faith glorified God, making Abraham truly deserving of the title "father of many nations"—the father of all who believe (Rom 4:11).

To man, God's instruction to Abraham to offer up his son would appear harsh and incomprehensible. Abraham received his promised son only at the age of one hundred. And then, God demanded this son as a burnt offering! Few would understand, let alone accept. But Abraham believed in God sincerely and completely; this test thus allowed him to understand God's promise and absolute power to much greater depth.

God had once told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in heaven (Gen 15:5; 17:2–8), and those promised descendants would come forth from Isaac (Gen 21:12). Holding on to this allowed Abraham to experience the flawless preparation of God. Today, when one holds on tightly to the essence of God's word, he will be able to triumph over the various trials of life.

On Mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood; he bound Isaac and laid him on the altar. Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son (Gen 22:9–10). At that moment, God stopped Abraham and praised his obedience—that he did not withhold his only son from Him (Gen 22:10–12). To the Almighty God who can see into the very heart of man, Abraham had already offered Isaac!

God could have allowed Abraham to kill his son and then raise Isaac from the dead, just as Abraham had believed He would do (Heb 11:19). However, God prepared a ram to die in place of Isaac. Abraham thus took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son (Gen 22:13). The test God gave to Abraham served as the archetype of the truth of vicarious death in the Old Testament. It foreshadowed what would take place in the New Testament: the Lord Jesus would bear the sins of the people of the world and die on their behalf so that they could be redeemed and receive life.

Jesus Is the Lamb of God

         The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn 1:29)

John the Baptist was sent to bear witness for the Lord Jesus (Jn 1:7, 15). John's most important declarations were of Jesus' roles. First, Jesus is the only Son of God who declares His invisible heavenly Father (Jn 1:18, 34). Second, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). In fact, John twice addressed Jesus as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29, 36). God prepared His Lamb to bear the sins of the world and—like the ram offered in place of Isaac—to die in place of humankind.  

In the Mosaic Law established by God, the person offering the sacrificial bull or lamb can bring it to the door of the tabernacle, lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting. After the priest sprinkles the animal's blood all around on the altar, sin is atoned (Lev 1:4; 3:2, 8, 13). In other words, the sacrificial animal has borne the sin.

         Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:4–6)

The atoning sacrifice of the Old Testament foreshadows how God will make atonement for the sins of men with His Lamb. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all—Jesus, Son of God, did nothing deserving of death; He died on behalf of those who should have died. This unprecedented act demonstrates God's compassion, mercy, and amazing preparation in His work of salvation. God prepared Jesus to be the Lamb of God. Because of His sacrificial, atoning death on the wooden cross, men can triumph over the power of sin and death (1 Cor 15:55–57).

GOD SAVED THE FIRSTBORN OF ISRAEL: VICARIOUS ATONEMENT

The Israelites were once slaves in Egypt, serving the Pharaoh and the Egyptians. To enable His people to depart from the land of bondage, God brought ten plagues upon Egypt. Although Pharaoh had been defiant through the first nine plagues, the last plague left Pharaoh no choice but to drive Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt. The final plague was the death of every firstborn in Egypt, whether man or beast. Israel's firstborn were, however, spared through the vicarious atonement of lamb's blood.

         "Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Ex 12:13)

Before the tenth plague, God instructed His people to prepare a lamb for each household on the tenth of the first month. And at twilight of the fourteenth day of the same month, the whole assembly of the Israelite congregation were to kill the lamb, and smear some blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of their houses. That night, when God passed through the land of Egypt, He killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. The lamb's blood on the houses signaled grace and atonement; when God saw the blood, He passed over it so all the firstborn of Israel lived.

         Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine." (Ex 13:1–2)

The lives of the firstborn of Israel were redeemed because the lamb had been killed and its blood shed. Therefore, in the wilderness of Sinai, God commanded that all the firstborn in Israel be consecrated to Him. Subsequently, God commanded that the tribe of Levi be consecrated to Him in place of the firstborn of the children of Israel. They would belong to God (Num 3:45) and were to minister in the tabernacle. When Moses conducted a census of the people, the Levites were not numbered with the other tribes (Num 1:49–50).

The Church Is the Bride of the Lamb

         But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. (Heb 12:22–23)

The true church in the Bible comprises the firstborn whose lives have been redeemed. She is also known as the latter-day Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem refers to the Lamb's Bride (Rev 21:9–10). This heavenly city, manifested in the Spirit, is the true church whose saints were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Although they inherited the sin of Adam (Rom 5:12), these firstborn were redeemed from the world through the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they must be like the Levites, separated for service to God.

THE LAMB STANDING ON MOUNT ZION

         Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. (Rev 14:1)

         For the LORD has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His dwelling place:
"This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it." (Ps 132:13–14)

Zion refers to the true church, the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:22) where God will always be (1 Thess 4:17). The Lamb standing on Mount Zion signifies that the Lord Jesus abides with the true church, where the believers have been purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) and have His seal and the name of His Father (which is, His own name)  on their foreheads (Rev 7:4; 14:1). Although they encounter fiery trials, they refuse to worship the beast of the sea or receive its mark (Rev 13:8).

         He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Rom 8:32–34)

The Lord Jesus stands amongst those who belong to Him—the 144,000—to testify that they are His. He died for these believers, resurrected, and is now standing at the right hand of God, interceding for them. Therefore, no one can accuse or condemn the saints; this abidance of the Lord Jesus brings them great comfort, encouragement, and strength.

The number 144,000 indicates the perfection of the true church in the Spirit. She has attained the unity of faith, and the number of people who will be saved is complete. These saints follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev 14:4)—they will follow the Lord tirelessly till the end. Regardless of how dire their situation may be, they will not abandon their faith.

The Lord Jesus, the Lamb, purchased these 144,000 from the world with His blood; they are the firstfruits who belong to Him (Rev 14:4). Thus, He will protect them, give them courage and patience, and help them to discern heresies through His word, and thereby, remain faithful to Him. They keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus (Rev 14:12). Not only are these saints called, they are also chosen. What does this mean?

THE BRIDE MUST STRIVE FOR PERFECTION

In the parable of the dragnet, the Lord Jesus warned:

         "The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire." (Mt 13:47–50a)

Moreover, in the parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1–14), the Lord Jesus also declared, "For many are called, but few are chosen." In other words, those who have been called must walk worthy of the calling with which they were called (Eph 4:1), lest they be disqualified (1 Cor 9:27).

         Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12–14)

When Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, he was under house arrest in Rome. At that point, he did not consider himself to have been perfected. Although he knew that he had been called and had entered into grace, he still had room for improvement before he could lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus had also laid hold of him. This was why he was determined to forget the things that were behind him and reach forward to those that were ahead, to press toward the goal so as to receive the prize that God would bestow.

In contrast, towards the end of his life, even when he knew that he would be poured out as a drink offering and that his departure was at hand (2 Tim 4:6), there was calm and serenity within his heart. Reflecting on his life of service, he had no regrets, for he said:

         I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day. (2 Tim 4:7–8a)

He had put in his best to preserve himself, and he knew he could sing a new song within the true church in the Spirit!

         They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. (Rev 14:3)

Believers of the true church will sing a new song—a song that no one else could learn. This is a song of redemption only sung by those who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Those who are saved shall stand before the throne—i.e., within the true church—joyfully singing of the grace of redemption.

THE BRIDE IS ONE SPIRIT WITH THE LORD

In the beginning, God made man from dust and placed him in the Garden of Eden. And the Lord God said:

         "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." ...And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

         And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Gen 2:18–24)

Eve was created from Adam's rib to be his wife; she belongs to Adam. Similarly, the church comes from the side of the Lord Jesus; she is, thus, the wife of Christ, belonging to Him.

How Does the Church Originate from Jesus' Side?

When the Lord Jesus was nailed on the cross, "one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (Jn 19:34). Therefore, the apostle John said that the Lord Jesus came by water and blood (1 Jn 5:5–6), allowing man to overcome the world and become born of God.

He who overcomes the world overcomes the power of Hades, which is what the true church that is saved has done (Mt 16:18). The true church is established through the vicarious atonement of the blood of Jesus Christ. Water and blood flowed from His side so that, in the future, those willing to come before Him to confess and repent shall receive the atonement of sins. Today, with the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the blood of the Lord is in the water during baptism, thus bestowing the power to forgive sins so that man can be cleansed, sanctified, and justified.

In the institution of marriage established by God, husband and wife shall become one. Similarly, Christ is the head, and the church—His wife—is the body.

         Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:25–27)

Christ sacrificed Himself out of His love for His wife, so that she will be cleansed and sanctified, and belong to Him. The washing of water by the word means that the church will be like the family of Noah, who entered the ark during the great flood and were saved through water (1 Pet 3:20). Water represents baptism (1 Pet 3:21); the baptism that comes from the word of God—the truth—enables man to be saved. Before the church adorns herself and is received in marriage, she must first be cleansed through the washing of water by the word. This sanctifies her to be offered before the Lord, to become one spirit with the Lord (1 Cor 6:17).

THE MYSTERY HIDDEN IN GOD

         [A]nd to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph 3:9–11)

The mystery of God is Christ (Col 2:2); this mystery had been hidden from ages and from generations (Col 1:25–26). During the apostolic era, God revealed this through the Holy Spirit: the mystery of Christ is the church (Eph 3:4–6). Through the church, the grace of salvation is revealed to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in the Lord, that they may become members of the household of God (Eph 2:19)—to become fellow heirs of Abraham, of the same body, and partakers of His promise.

The saved true church, which is the household of God, has two key characteristics. She is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. She is also the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15).

Dwelling Place of God

As the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit, the church is guided by His Spirit in her development and divine work. Individual believers can pray and receive the promised Holy Spirit. When a believer's body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), and he lives and walks in the Spirit (Gal 5:25), he will be guided by the Spirit to be gradually renewed in knowledge. He will become a new man, according to the image of the One who created him (Col 3:5–10).

Pillar and Ground of the Truth

First, the church must uphold the truth, like a pillar, to lift the Lord Jesus and His words. In this way, others can see the truth and see Him within the church. A church that is not the pillar of truth is not the church of the Lord.

The church must be built upon the truth as the foundation. Jesus is the cornerstone and the truth (Jn 1:14; 14:6). Only when the church is built upon the Lord Jesus will she be able to lead man to the heavenly Father.

But the church is also the foundation of the truth. During the end days, only those whom God has chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of His will, will be saved (Eph 1:4–7). This is the true church in the Spirit, the church that transcends space, and is the only church that is saved. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have all returned to this church in the Spirit: physically, they have died and have been buried, but the Lord Jesus said they are not dead but living (Mt 22:31–33). The only place that those who are saved will go is the one true church. Prior to his demise, Paul said the crown of righteousness had been laid up for him. He was certain that he would receive this prize and enter everlasting life. He, together with the many New Testament saints who upheld their faith till the end, is now within the one true church that is saved.

The true church that is saved in the Spirit—established by God before the foundation of the world—is the mystery of Christ (Eph 1:4, 3:4–6). He paved a way for man so that man can walk towards and enter this church. This is the path of truth, built upon the church as the foundation, bestowed upon man through Jesus Christ and His vicarious death.

CONCLUSION: THE LAMB'S WIFE IS ADORNED

         Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (Rev 21:9–10)

         Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev 21:2)

The holy city, New Jerusalem, is the Lamb's wife. She is the true church in the Spirit, the city with foundations that Abraham and the saints had looked forward to (Heb 11:10). Before the foundation of the world, God established this city for those who would believe in Him.

New Jerusalem is repeatedly described in Revelation as descending out of heaven from God. This great city must have been initially with God since she is coming from God. Descending from heaven means that she is manifested through the Spirit. She is prepared, as a bride adorned for her husband. This means that the true church in the last days will be perfect. Her believers will be united in faith, firm and unwavering in their submissiveness to the complete truth. In addition, as many as are appointed to eternal life will have believed (Acts 13:48). Those who are unable to remain steadfast, like Demas (2 Tim 4:10), as well as those who hinder the truth like Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:20), will have departed.

When God calls man, He enables him to experience His omnipotence and attributes through His creation (Rom 1:19–20), so that they know how to seek, worship, and serve Him (Rom 1:25). Through the events a person encounters (including dreams and visions), through the guidance of relatives and friends, or even through sickness and accidents, God invites man to experience His grace (Rom 5:2). They stand to escape the bondage of corruption in the flesh, to enjoy the glorious liberty of God's children (Rom 8:18-21; 2 Cor 4:17). However, those who have been called ought to work out their salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). This means relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, to constantly spiritually nurture and transform oneself according to God's word, to become a new creation with the image and likeness of Christ (2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:29). We must also uphold the truth till the end of our lives to remain part of God's household, the glorious true church who is the Lamb's Bride. May our names remain written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev 21:27). Amen!