The Preparation and Presentation of the Bride
In Revelation 21:2 John says, “I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
This is the fulfillment of Ephesians 5:26-27. Christ loved the church and died for her “that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.”
What we fail to see today will be fully seen in that day [the day of Rev. 21:2]. Today we may say that God’s standard for the church is high and ask how the church will ever attain to such a condition. We may not know how God will do it, but we do know that the church will attain to that position at the time of the new heaven and new earth….At the time of the new heaven and new earth, there will not be just a group of saints who are perfected, but all the saints, the whole Body, from all the nations throughout all the ages. They will all be together before God and glorified in His presence.*
Several verses comfort us that our Lord will perfect us. These include John 17:23; Hebrews 13:21; and 1 Peter 5:10. But other verses indicate thaat we need to be involved, cooperating with the Lord’s operation, including Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1, 13:11; and 1 John 4:12.
Hebrews 12:1-2 presents both aspects—we put away every encumbrance and run the race, looking away to Jesus, who is the Perfecter of our faith. Let us take this exhortation and move onwards to New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2.
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/ and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Posted by Don on May 6, 2022
