The Bride of Christ

I always thought of the bride of Christ as the church.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
- Ephesians 5:23 (KJV)

Here we see that there is a strong parallel between the husband/wife, and Christ/church. It therefore makes sense that the bride (like the wife) is also the church.

But then someone pointed out this verse.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Revelation 21:2 (KJV)

So from that we can see that the bride of Christ is actually "New Jerusalem".

But will Jesus really marry a city?!?

No I don't think so. That would make no sense.

In the same way that church refers to people (not a building), I think that "New Jerusalem" refers to the Holy City with God's people in it.

In this way, both explanations as to who the bride of Christ is work.