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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Church Within the Churches, #6
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4—NIV)
We have been discussing the difference between the firstfruits of the Church and the remainder of God's elect. The firstfruits will be resurrected at the time of the Lord's return to earth and will rise to meet Him in the air. The members of God's Israel who do not attain the first resurrection will be dealt with in some other manner.
As we understand it, at the termination of the thousand-year Kingdom Age the entire new Jerusalem, the complete Wife of the Lamb, all true Israel, will be perfect and complete, ready to be sent from Heaven to the new earth as the Throne of God and of the Lamb.
So far we have spoken of the difference between the firstfruits of the Bride and the remainder of the Bride. There is a "Bride" within the larger Bride, the larger Bride being the entire Church of Christ.
It is important also to distinguish between the Church, which is the elect of God, and then the nations of the saved. As we stated previously, the elect are Israel, the house of God. Israel has been called out of the world so that through Israel, the Church, God's kingdom of priests, the nations of the earth may be blessed and taught of the Lord.
Isaiah reveals the difference between the Church, which is the Wife of the Lamb, and the nations of the earth. If the nations are to be saved they must accept the sovereignty of Israel over themselves; for Israel, the Kingdom of God, is destined to rule all the nations of the earth:
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. (Isaiah 60:12)
"Thee" is referring to the family of God, the Wife of the Lamb, the whole Church. "Those nations" are the peoples of the earth who are the inheritance of the Lamb and His Bride.
But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6)
The "Priests of the Lord" are the members of the Body of Christ. The "men," of the above verse, are the nations of saved peoples of the earth.
The New Testament portrays the identical concept:
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)
Those who are one in Christ in God are the members of the true Church. The "world" that believes consists of people who will be saved by believing in what they see to be true of the Bride.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)
The "tabernacle of God" is the New Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb, the entire Church of Christ. The "men" are the peoples of the earth among whom God will dwell in His holy Tabernacle, the Church.
To be continued.