ACC ~ Revelation 19 v7 - 8

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL BE JOINED TO CHRIST. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: The fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. After thanksgiving has been given and after the voice of exhortation has been heard, the praise to God, as though the sound of claps of thunder, is loudly proclaimed by those who rejoice that the marriage feast of the Lamb has come. This will occur when, after the consummation of the world, “every rule and authority will have been destroyed and he will have delivered the kingdom to God the Father, so that God will be all in all.” This will occur, that is, when his wife, namely the catholic church, will be joined to him in the purity of faith. Concerning this the holy apostle said: “For I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure virgin to one husband.” And so, the fine linen which she [the church] wears does not represent the beauty of a vestment, but the righteousness of the saints. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.6-8.

THE CHURCH WILL BECOME ONE SPIRIT WITH CHRIST. OECUMENIUS: In the present age the marriage of the Lord with the church is still in the stage of courtship and is not yet a consummated marriage. The holy apostle indicates this when he writes his second letter to the Corinthians and says, “For I betrothed you as a pure bride to one husband to present you to Christ.” Therefore, the time of courtship remains. For “I betrothed” refers to courtship, and we receive the pledge of the Spirit as a sign of courtship. However, when the church becomes one spirit with Christ, as a husband becomes one body with his wife, then will the marriage be perfected. For indeed the wise apostle has spoken wisely concerning bodily marriage when he wrote, “The two shall become one flesh.” But then he continues, “This is a great mystery, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” For this reason the holy angels say, “The marriage of the Lamb has come,” signifying that the marriage, which now is in the stage of courtship, will then be consummated. And the Gospel also clearly gives this understanding to us. For on one occasion it introduces the wedding festivities of a son, prepared by his father who is a king. Although many have been invited to the banquet, some partake of the feasting while others excuse themselves from the supper, and one person is excluded because he is not dressed in a wedding garment.On another occasion the Gospel speaks of ten virgins, five of whom are wise and they enter with the bridegroom into the blessed bridal chamber. The other [virgins] are locked outside since they did not fill up their lamps with sufficient oil. It is not suitable to regard any of this as referring to the present time; it rather refers to that which is coming. Therefore, the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride, the church, is presented as ready to receive those ineffable gifts that come by union with Christ. [The church] is clothed, it says, with fine linen, that is, with a robe made of virtues. It is linen because it is bright and of fine texture, bright from her incomprehensible manner of life, and fine because of her teachings and convictions concerning God. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.6-9.

THE CHURCH WILL UNITE WITH CHRIST. BEDE: The marriage supper of the Lamb occurs when the church will be united with her Lord in the wedding chamber of the heavenly kingdom. “And his bride has made herself ready.” By always persisting in the works of righteousness, [the church] has shown herself worthy of the spiritual banquet and the eternal kingdom. One can also interpret this according to the parable of the Gospel, which speaks of the virgins who, when the bridegroom was coming, rose up to prepare their lamps, that is, among themselves to consider their deeds for which they hope to receive eternal blessedness. … It was granted to [the church] to be clothed with her own deeds. But it is not so with the wicked who, according to Isaiah, “weave a spider’s web and will not be covered by their works, for their works are without benefit.”EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 19.7-8.

Rev