While on earth those anointed ones are counted as ‘promised in marriage’ to Christ, as chaste virgins. (2 Cor. 11:2, 3) The few remaining ones of this class of persons on earth now are “invited to the evening meal of the Lamb’s marriage.” (Rev. 19:9) The actual marriage takes place in heaven. They have not yet attained to the heavenly inheritance. The “bride” class is selected from among the “ten virgins.” As the parable shows, not all prove to be discreet. Some are foolish. The term “bride” is applied to Christ’s joint heirs as a congregation and as a heavenly body of persons eventually numbering 144,000. As individuals, whether they are male or female, they are variously called “children of God,” “brothers” of Christ and “virgins.”​—1 John 3:2; Matt. 25:40; Rev. 14:1, 4; Gal. 3:28.

Thus, they are like the engaged virgin girl in Israel, desirous of keeping herself clean and undefiled. They submit now while on earth to the headship of the One to whom they are promised in marriage, with a view to being glorified as his “bride” in heaven. (Col. 1:18) In ancient Israel an engaged virgin who committed fornication with another man was counted as an adulteress and was put to death. (Deut. 22:23, 24) Likewise, unfaithful ones would forfeit the hope of heavenly life for these betrothed “virgins.”​—Rev. 21:7, 8.