What are we to say about this verse? How about the remainder of the believers in Sardis? Are they doomed to the Lake of Fire? Are they of God's elect? Shall they be ministered to throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age until they are ready to be part of the holy Jerusalem? Is the purpose of the thousand years to perfect the Body of Christ?

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)

"I shall be perfected."

Compare:

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)

Are there levels of maturity in the Bride?

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 great difference between the two brides is that the first bride has made herself ready while the second bride must be made ready by others.

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)

"Hath made herself ready."

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)

"Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." She did not prepare herself, she was prepared by others. Notice in Song of Solomon 8:8,9 above: "What shall we do"; "we will build"; "we will enclose." Our point of view is that the stronger saints will help prepare the weaker in the ages to come.

There are those today, as there have been throughout the centuries of the Christian Era, who are making themselves ready. They are washing their robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Every time the Spirit of judgment reveals a sin or rebellion in them they take that darkness to the Lord. The blood of the Lamb forgives the sin and cleanses them from all unrighteousness.

The key expression is as follows:

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous deeds] of saints. (Revelation 19:8)

The fine linen in which the first bride is clothed is that of her own righteous works—righteous works that she has performed because of the Life of the body and blood of the Lamb dwelling in her and by which she lives and moves and has her being.

We see no such comment concerning the second bride.

The washing of the robes of the firstfruits of the Bride is going on today and will increase as we approach the great tribulation. The purpose of the great tribulation is to separate the firstfruits of the Church from Babylon (man-centered religion) and to help her purify herself from all worldliness, lust, and self-seeking.

To be continued.