[528]Next in order the Apostle mentions “the church of the firstborn”.  Jesus Christ is the head of this church, the great King of glory.  Certainly all the body members will be eager to see our wonderful Lord, who redeemed us to God with his precious blood.  He is not only our Redeemer, Advocate, and Deliverer, but our dearest Friend; and now the relationship of bride and bridegroom is about to be fully consummated.  How thrilling will be that time!  By long and patient continuance in well doing, their experiences, by the grace of the Lord and through his ministration, have perfected every one of the body for this happy time, making each member beautiful, “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty:  for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.”  Each member of the bride then will be permitted to see Jesus as he is and will then be like him.  Happy will be that time. (1 John 3:2) Every one of these Christians has had some dear fellow Christian friend on earth.  He will be looking for such a one, doubtless, when he arrives in heaven.  Of course each one will look for the faithful apostles whom the Lord used to furnish the food to the household of faith.  Then they will look for others whom the Lord specially used as teachers, instructors, and servants of the church, who were loving and kind and ministered to the wants of the various members and did it joyfully.

[529]We may be sure that of all those who are there every one will be perfected in love, because the Apostle says they must thus be.  (Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 3:14) We may expect to see some there whom we have loved and may be disappointed in not seeing them; but no Christian will ever see any one of his fellow-Christians in heaven except those who have loved their brethren with a pure heart, all of whom have passed through the fiery trials and rejoiced in the experiences that the Lord brought to them.  Each one of the members of the divine family will be beautiful, for all will be like the Lord.  As star differs from star in glory, so shall the various members differ in that glorious realm.  But what a marvelous gathering that will be:  144,000 glorious beings assembling with their glorious head Christ Jesus!

[530]All united together with the Lord Jesus, it seems, according to St. Paul, that the next in order would be to grant unto the church the glory that is promised, by presenting the bride class before the great divine throne of Jehovah.  St. Jude informs us not only that our Lord keeps the members of the body from falling, but that he will present them faultless before the presence of Jehovah’s glory with exceeding joy.—­Jude 24.

[531]The day approaches for the presentation of the bride.  In vision we behold an innumerable company of angels assembled before the throne of God, forming a guard of honor.  The heralds of heaven with golden trumpets appear, announcing the approach of the Bridegroom with his bride.  Music of surpassing sweetness fills the heavenly courts.  All eyes are fixed upon the conquering Hero, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the great Bridegroom, who now approaches with his bride of 144,000 members.  The hosts of heaven are singing, “Hallelujah:  for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”—­Revelation 19:6,7.