The Bride and the Bridegroom

One of the great scriptural allegories employs the symbols of a bride and a bridegroom. The bridegroom is the Lord; the bride is Israel, the Lords church and covenant people. They are bound together by a covenant of love that cannot be broken. In Hosea 2, the husband (Jehovah) expresses his love for the wife (Israel), even though she has been unfaithful to him (gone after false gods). The husband promises to allure her, andspeak comfortably unto her (2:14) and to betroth [her] unto [him] foreverin righteousness (2:19), a prophetic reference to the latter-day gathering of Israel. In Matthew 25 the bridesmaids (members of the Church) are exhorted to have extra oil on hand (take the Holy Spirit for their guide) in preparation for the arrival of the bridegroom and his wedding party (the Second Coming). In Revelation 21, John sees the celestial earth and the promises of Hosea and Matthew fulfilled when the holy city, new Jerusalem, [comes] down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (21:2). Primary references: Hosea 2:123. Matthew 25:113 (cf. D&C 33:17; 45:5657). Revelation 21:14, 910 (also 19:69). Secondary references: Isaiah 54:48. Isaiah 62:35. Ezekiel 16. Matthew 9:1415 (= Mark 2:1820 & Luke 5:3335). John 3:2529. Ephesians 5:2133. D&C 65:36. D&C 88:92. D&C 109:7374. D&C 133:1019. See also: Isaiah 49:18 (= 1 Nephi 21:18). Isaiah 61:10. Jeremiah 2:32. Matthew 22:114. 2 Corinthians 11:2.

The Bride and the Bridegroom

One of the great scriptural allegories employs the symbols of a bride and a bridegroom. The bridegroom is the Lord; the bride is Israel, the Lords church and covenant people. They are bound together by a covenant of love that cannot be broken. In Hosea 2, the husband (Jehovah) expresses his love for the wife (Israel), even though she has been unfaithful to him (gone after false gods). The husband promises to allure her, andspeak comfortably unto her (2:14) and to betroth [her] unto [him] foreverin righteousness (2:19), a prophetic reference to the latter-day gathering of Israel. In Matthew 25 the bridesmaids (members of the Church) are exhorted to have extra oil on hand (take the Holy Spirit for their guide) in preparation for the arrival of the bridegroom and his wedding party (the Second Coming). In Revelation 21, John sees the celestial earth and the promises of Hosea and Matthew fulfilled when the holy city, new Jerusalem, [comes] down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (21:2). Primary references: Hosea 2:123. Matthew 25:113 (cf. D&C 33:17; 45:5657). Revelation 21:14, 910 (also 19:69). Secondary references: Isaiah 54:48. Isaiah 62:35. Ezekiel 16. Matthew 9:1415 (= Mark 2:1820 & Luke 5:3335). John 3:2529. Ephesians 5:2133. D&C 65:36. D&C 88:92. D&C 109:7374. D&C 133:1019. See also: Isaiah 49:18 (= 1 Nephi 21:18). Isaiah 61:10. Jeremiah 2:32. Matthew 22:114. 2 Corinthians 11:2.