117. 1. In the Word, the Lord is called a Bridegroom and Husband, and the church a bride and wife; and the conjunction of the Lord with the church and the reciprocal conjunction of the church with the Lord is called a marriage. It can be seen from the following passages that the Lord is called a Bridegroom and Husband in the Word, and the church a bride and wife:
He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom (is the one) who stands and hears Him, (who) rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice. (John 3:29)
(John the Baptist said this in reference to the Lord.)
...Jesus said..., "...As long as the Bridegroom is with them, the wedding guests cannot fast.... The days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them; ...then they will fast." (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19-20, Luke 5:34-35)
...I...saw the holy city, New Jerusalem..., prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. (Revelation 21:2)
(That the Lord's New Church is meant by the New Jerusalem, see The Apocalypse Revealed, nos. 880, 881.)
(An angel said to John,) "Come, and I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." (And he showed him) the city, the holy Jerusalem.... (Revelation 21:9-10)
(The time for) the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.... Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:7,9)
The bridegroom that the five ready virgins went out to meet, with whom they went in to the wedding (Matthew 25:1-10), means the Lord, as is plain from the thirteenth verse, where He says:
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man will come. (Matthew 25:13)
Further references may be found in many passages in the Prophets as well.
