The church is called the 'bride of Christ'. <ref>[[Re 21:9]] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.</ref>  :Theologians cannot agree if the church defines the bride or the bride defines the church. Are those in the visible church (however that is defined) 'saved'? Or are those who are 'saved' in the invisible church? For some, the 'saved' and the 'bride' are two different entities.  :The marriage of the Lamb of God comes on the heels of God divorcing Israel. Marriage is used as a metaphor for the relationship between God and his people. In the same way that 'Israel' is.