We believe further that all of us ought to help our brothers and sisters as much as we can today, but that the main work of transforming the Church will be accomplished during the thousand-year Kingdom Age and is one of the central purposes for the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

. . . I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:32)

Whatever immediate meaning the above verse may have, we believe it is speaking figuratively of the fact that the Church will cast out devils and heal the sick for two thousand years; but the Church itself will be brought to perfection during the third thousand-year period—the Kingdom Age. This would account for the startling change in the Bride by the end of the Kingdom Age.

Hosea agrees with this concept:

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)

The volume of the Holy Place was 2,000 cubic cubits (the 2,000 years of the Church Age), while the volume of the Most Holy Place was 1,000 cubic cubits (the 1,000 years of the Kingdom Age).

In the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon we see the Lord's firstfruits—majestic in dominion and fruitfulness:

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 the weaker sisters: a "sixtyfold" who, although not as strong and fruitful as the firstfruits company, are a "wall" against sin; and then a "thirtyfold" member of the elect who must be "inclosed" by stronger members of the Body of Christ.

The weaker ones are "little," they are less mature than the firstfruits. There is not as much of Christ in them. But they are sisters of the Bride. Therefore it is God's will that each be built up and enclosed. We think it is the stronger saints who will build up and enclose the weaker. It is always proper for the stronger saints to assist the weaker.

If we are correct, there will be a firstfruits of the Bride. These will be arrayed in the fine white linen of their righteous conduct at the time of the Lord's return to earth. They will work with the Lord throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age, building and perfecting the remainder of the Church, as well as the peoples of the nations of the saved.

Only the firstfruits will receive back their bodies when the Lord Jesus appears in the clouds. The rest of the dead will not be given back their bodies until the end of the thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6). The firstfruits are warriors. They will be raised at the coming of the Lord so they may fight with Him against the forces of wickedness in the earth.

To be continued.