The Spirit and the bride
Who are the Spirit and the bride in Revelation 22:17?
Revelation 22:17 proclaims, “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (ESV). In this verse, both the Spirit and the Bride extend an invitation to “Come.” To understand their invitation, we will explore who the Spirit and the Bride are, their role in God’s redemptive plan, and the significance of their unified call.
The “Spirit” in Revelation 22:17 is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit has an important role in the individual lives of believers and the communal life of the church. In John 14:26 Jesus says, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (ESV). Here, the Spirit is described as a teacher who reminds believers of the teachings of Christ.
The mention of the Holy Spirit in Revelation 22:17 refers to His drawing people to Christ. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of individuals, convicting them of sin and leading them to repentance and faith: “When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8, ESV). This work of the Holy Spirit is essential for sinners to recognize their need for salvation in Christ and positively respond to the gospel call.
The Holy Spirit also empowers believers for gospel service. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (ESV). The Holy Spirit’s empowerment enables believers to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. In Revelation 22:17, the Spirit’s call to “come” is an extension of His empowering and guiding role. All those who are spiritually thirsty are invited to receive the life-giving water of salvation (cf. John 7:37).
The Bride in Revelation 22:17 represents the Church, the called-out saints of God. In the New Testament, the Church is described as the “Bride of Christ,” symbolizing a personal, intimate, and covenantal relationship with Christ. Ephesians 5:25–27 illustrates the relationship between Christ and His Church, saying, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot of wrinkle of any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (ESV).
As the Bride of Christ, believers are called to wholehearted devotion to Christ. Part of what it means to be devoted to Christ is proclaiming the gospel and inviting others to join the household of faith. The Bride’s role in Revelation 22:17, then, is to join the Spirit in saying, “Come.” The cooperative effort between the Holy Spirit and the Bride signifies the importance of our sharing the gospel with unbelievers.
The unified call of the Spirit and the Bride reflects the heart of God, who desires that all people come to repentance and find eternal life in Christ (2 Peter 3:9). Their invitation to “come” is a call to everyone who recognizes their need for spiritual renewal and is willing to accept the gift of eternal life. Both the Spirit and the Bride emphasize the necessity and accessibility of salvation through faith in Christ.
