The Bride of Christ: Could it Be the Church?

Some people say that the Bride of Christ is only the church. So that the verse that states:

Rev. 22:17 "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

is supposed to be referring to the Holy Spirit and the church. However, I heard a rebuttle to such a claim recently:

The writer of Revelation is the Apostle John. Apostle John saw in this Revelation the Spirit and the Bride appearing IN THE LAST DAYS. If people continue to argue that even this verse is referring to the church, they say that the Apostle John saw the Holy Spirit and the church appear in the Last Days. Then what church did the Apostle John and the others attend 2000 years ago?