We spoke of the firstfruits of the Church, and then of the remainder the Church. It is our point of view that the firstfruits will assist the remainder of the Church to rid themselves of all rebellion and sin against God.

Notice that the firstfruits makes herself ready.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)

But the balance of the Church is made ready by others.

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)

We see this pattern in the Song of Solomon.

There is the firstfruits:

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. (Song of Solomon 8:10)

Then there are relatives of the firstfruits who, we believe, are assisted by the firstfruits:

We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. (Song of Solomon 8:8,9)

The Church is filled with rebellion and sin in the present hour. But the Scriptures announce that the Church finally will be unblemished. The perfecting of the Church will take place on the third day, that is, during the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:32)

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (Isaiah 42:3)

This does not mean we can be careless today and be brought to perfection in the age to come. The New Testament speaks of the extremely serious consequence that will result from a careless Christian life, such as assignment to outer darkness and other forms of destruction. Whoever understands the Lord's will and does not do it will be beaten with many lashes. Make no mistake about this, the lukewarm Christians will be vomited from the Lord's mouth.

Rather it is those who made the best use of whatever was given to them that will be brought to perfection in the age to come.

To be continued.