What will happen to those who remain loyal to Christ? To them Jesus made a promise worth all the trials of the bride’s wait for her Bridegroom.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:1-3). M
Truly, God is “our Savior” and Christ Jesus is “our hope!”15 Here is the “one hope” to which we are called (Ephesians 4:4). The call is to be with Him! The hope is to be where He is! We who belong to Christ are His bride.16 She (we) can feel perfectly confident17 about her Bridegroom’s coming since she enjoys perfect spiritual beauty. Her Bridegroom gives her that gift of perfection, “sanctify her…so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27). Indeed, “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” will shine “with the glory of God”! (Revelation 21:9-11). She will see her divine Husband face to face, and become “like Him,” sharing His majestic splendor,18 His throne19 and His reign.20 This is the “inheritance” for which the Holy Spirit now keeps us sealed and safe (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).
… we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). M
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. …they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:4-5). M
Then nothing will threaten the Bride’s supreme happiness. She will live in the very presence of God, and He will make “everything new” for her.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:1-5).
16. Bride: John 3:29; Ephesians 5:25-27 cf. Revelation 21:2,9; 19:7; 22:17; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 2:2
17. Confident at Christ’s return: 1 John 2:28; 4:17; Revelation 22:20