Hello
@Nancy,
I have only now seen this thread, and have only read the OP, so I do not know what replies you have received. You are right, the term, 'The Bride Of Christ', used so widely by believers, is not mentioned in Scripture. You refer to Revelation 21, and there we are told what constitutes the Bride of the Lamb. I don't believe God uses words without reason, and if He wanted to use the words, 'The Bride of Christ' in Revelation 21, He would have done so. No, He chose the words, 'The Bride of the Lamb'. So it important that we consider why?
* My first thought when I read your OP, especially Revelation 21 was to look at Isaiah 62, and I think you will see why when you read it. For it is Jerusalem (Zion) that is the subject of it, as in Revelation 21, and in verse 62:5 is said,
'For as a man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons rejoice over thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.' The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem, are those who constitute the Bride of the Lamb I believe, and they are the 'overcomers' of Revelation, who have gone through the tribulation and loved not their lives unto death, endured to the end and were faithful, along with such overcomers as those men and women of faith listed in Hebrews 11. For they are worthy. The overcomers will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
* There is so much that I do not understand, but I praise God for His Word. For we can, with the aid of a concordance trace through and read passages which have the words, '
Bridegroom',
'Lamb', and so on in them, so we can be free from man's opinions, and trust in His Word alone.
* We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is '
the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world'. In Revelation we see the Lamb spoken of on several occasions, and the context of each usage should be looked up and studied I feel.
* There is one such passage that I love to read, for it shows such tender love on the part of the Lamb of God, Who, having suffered so terribly Himself, can empathise with those who were faithful to His testimony, and gave their lives for the glory of His Name. The loving kindness He shows is so beautiful ( I believe it is Revelation 21:9+).
* I have to go now, but I hope you are able to follow through on this. I am not sure of the guests at the wedding, although I have studied it at one time. At present my mind will not apply itself, I think I must be tired.
Praise God! for His loving Kindness: and the joy it has been just thinking of it, that your OP has been.
With love to you, Nancy.
In Christ Jesus
Chris