Paul states in Ephesians that Christ and the church are a profound mystery. In the Old Testament, the church is the congregation gathering in the “tent of meeting” and the temple. The New Testament use analogies of the church as the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. In I Corinthians we are told that our bodies are His temple. In Revelation John talks about a wedding feast of the Lamb and the bride. In chapter 22 the Lamb and the bride issue an invitation to all those who are thirsty.

It is clear that God loves the church. Like us, when the body is sick and relationships are broken, it hurts. He must long for His body, His bride to be whole.