The Daily Word of Righteousness

Two Appearances of the Bride, continued

(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5—NIV)

It is interesting that the volume of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Congregation was two thousand cubic cubits whereas the volume of the Holy of Holies was one thousand cubits. This is a strong type, suggesting that the Church Age will be approximately two thousand years in length to be followed by the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

What is the purpose of the thousand-year Kingdom Age if it is not to bring the "little sisters" to maturity? Why wait, after the Lord returns, for a thousand years to transpire before bringing into view the new heaven and earth? Why would God permit another long period of time to go by on the present earth knowing the rulership of the saints over the nations will be followed by another rebellion against God?

Perhaps the purpose of the Kingdom Age is to bring those saints who do appear with Him closer to Him that they may learn from Him about rulership, about how to govern and bless people as the royal priests of God. Perhaps especially to help the majority of the Church grow to maturity.

As we look about us we see that most Christian people are not prepared to rule with Christ or to help others come to maturity. They have been deceived by the false philosophy of Dispensationalism into believing God has received them by a magical grace that operates independently of their character transformation. They are suited only to sit in their mansion and look at their back yard full of diamonds. By no means are they prepared to appear with Christ and govern nations, or to come down through the sky and be established on a high mountain of the new earth to serve as the government of the redeemed world.

Some of today's believers are facing outer darkness because they have buried their talents.

Others will receive lashes because they have not obeyed God.

Then there may be those believers who stand in clear danger of being cast into the Lake of Fire.

And yet the pastors and teachers keep telling these that their salvation is assured and they will be rewarded lavishly at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

What a mess we are in!

The part of the Bride that will return with Christ and establish the Kingdom of God on the earth will be robed in their righteous acts. They have prepared themselves for the wedding. They will be raised from the dead when He appears, caught up to meet Him in the air, be assigned their place in the Lord's army, and then will descend with Him to destroy the wicked from the earth.

On such the second death has no authority because through Christ they have driven the worldliness, lust, and self-will from their personality.

The part of the Bride that will descend through the new sky have been dressed by others. Now Israel is complete. God's elect have been perfected and are able to appear on the earth as the holy city, the new Jerusalem.

To be continued.