She Said Yes! (Christ and the Bride of Revelation)
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
READ Revelation 19:1-9
God likens the beginning of heaven to a moment that is etched into the mind of many; one moment that changes you forever - the wedding day. How fitting that this couple's devotional ends and reminds us of our beginning. Every date that led to this moment. Every phone call and stolen kiss. Every text message or love letter. The way he first looked at you. How she clasped your hand and interlocked her fingers between yours. It was then that you never wanted to let go. That moment you thought, “heaven must be like this!”
Revelation does its best to describe that moment, but this bride wasn’t the typical girlfriend. This bride-to-be was a cheater! She was consistently unfaithful. She committed multiple affairs with numerous lovers and even successfully murdered her fiance. Yet He still loved her with a crazy love. He sent gifts to woo her. He constantly showered her with tokens of His love. Each time she begged for His forgiveness, every time she longed for a second chance, He gave it to her - no questions asked. He never reminded her of her past. He never kept a record of wrongdoing. He forgave her - Every. Single. Time! He was willing to empty heaven of its most precious Gift just to redeem her - and she finally said Yes!
Of all the things you and your significant other can do together, this is one that must be done individually. This decision impacts your eternity. The decision to accept Jesus as your personal Savior is celebrated in Revelation because it depicts a group of people that say yes to Jesus. They serve Him and overcome the enemy by merely trusting in the sacrifice Christ made for them. The bride’s filthy garment is replaced by the one only Christ can give. Are you willing to say yes today?
Thought Questions
- How are you and your spouse preparing to meet Jesus in peace?
- What activities can you do to ensure your family has a relationship with Jesus?
Life Lessons
- All throughout the Bible, God takes extraordinary measures to be with his children. In Genesis, He walks in the garden looking for Adam and Eve. In Exodus, He dwells in a tabernacle so He can be in the midst of the wilderness-traveling Israelites. In Matthew, God takes on flesh to be Emmanuel - God with us. The beauty in Revelation 19 is God’s people giving God an eternal “I do.” Take time to make the little decisions that will lead to the eternal yes.
Further Study
Compare Isaiah 64:6 and Revelation 19:8. Why is it so important to receive a “new set of clothes?”
