783. The church belongs with the Lord. Because of the spiritual marriage between what is good and what is true, the Lord is called the Bridegroom and Husband and the church is called the bride and wife. Christians know this from the Word, especially from the following passages in it.

John said of the Lord, "The one who has the bride is the groom. The friend of the groom, though, who stands and hears him, rejoices at the voice of the groom. " (John 3:29)

Jesus said, "As long as the bridegroom is with them, the children of the wedding cannot fast. " (Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:35)

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

The angel said to John, "Come. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb," and from a mountain he showed him the holy city Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:9-10)

The time for the Lamb's wedding has come; his wife has prepared herself. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:7, 9)

"I am the Root and the Offspring of David, a shining morning star. " The spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And those who are thirsty, come. Those who wish to, take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16-17)