The Spirit and the Bride Say Come
In Revelation 22 the Lord Jesus says three times, “I come quickly” (verses 7, 12, 20). In 22:17 we read the response: “the Spirit and the bride say, Come!” This cry, Come, is in the present age; it is a cry for the visible coming of the Lord Jesus, which will end this age.
The bride here is New Jerusalem, as clearly stated in Revelation 21:2, 9-10. In verse 22:17 the Spirit and the bride speak together, showing that they are one. The Spirit has not only regenerated the members of this corporate bride (John 3:6) but has also transformed them (2 Cor. 3:18).
Now the members of the bride live in the reality of one spirit with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17). This oneness in living is demonstrated by the oneness in speaking with the Spirit.
In [Revelation] 2 and 3 it was the Spirit speaking to the churches; here, at the end of the book, it is the Spirit and the bride, the church, speaking together as one. This indicates that the church’s experience of the Spirit has improved to the extent that she has become one with the Spirit.*
Reaching such oneness with the Spirit is the completion of preparation of the bride for the marriage of the Lamb. This oneness will be a characteristic of New Jerusalem. To grow into this living oneness, we need the rich supply from our Head, Jesus Christ. This supply comes through our dropping all distracting involvements and holding Him as our reality, as in Colossians 2:16–3:4.
We can pray, Lord, I love You and I open to You. Save me from my outward formalities so that I may experience You as my reality and receive Your rich supply for me to live one with You. This is the preparation of the bride and the path to New Jerusalem.
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* Part of footnote 1 on Revelation 22:17, in The Holy Bible, Recovery Version, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim CA, 2003.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Posted by Don on February 11, 2026
https://newjerusalem12.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/the-spirit-and-the-bride-say-come-4/
