6. The presentation of the Church by Christ to Himself.
When every saint of God shall have been made
like Christ, made "like Him" physically, mentally, morally and spiritually, and
after each individual's life and works have been examined before the Bema, then
is the Church publicly presented and Eph. 5:25-27 is fulfilled - "Christ also
love the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a
glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that
it should be holy and without blemish." The word "present" here means "to set
alongside of." Christ is yet going to set the Church alongside of Himself.
The Church will share His glory and reign with Him throughout the Millennium.
As saith the Scriptures - "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
Me in My throne" ªRev. 3:21). The Church will then have been fitted
for this exalted position, for observe that Christ presents the Church to
Himself "a glorious Church." In that day none of the defiling "spots" of sin
shall be found in the Church, and not a "wrinkle" - the mark of age and
corruption - shall mar its beauty, but with youth eternally renewed the Church
shall then perfectly reflect the glory of Christ. Then shall He be able to
say, "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee" (Song of
Solomon 4:7).
Another Scripture which tells of the presentation
of the Church is to be found in Jude 24 - "Now unto Him that is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His
glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and
majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." We believe the
reference here to the "exceeding joy" is that of Christ Himself. This was "the
joy" that was set before Him when He endured the Cross and despised the shame
(Heb. 12:2).
Closely connected with the public Presentation of
the Church is,