The Church Must Be Prepared
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The Church, the new Jerusalem, must be "prepared." One of the misunderstandings of today has to do with the definition of faith. Faith is assumed to be a belief that what the Scriptures promise has already taken place in those who profess belief in Christ, or will take place without any effort on their part.
It is as though the Israelite could sit in Egypt and "by faith" leave Egypt, "by faith" gain the lessons of the wilderness, and "by faith" enter the land of promise; "by faith" meaning maintaining a mental grasp on the statements of the Scriptures. Faith becomes a sort of magic carpet by which we sail away effortlessly from the bondages of Satan and arrive at the Paradise of God.
It is true, rather that we must make the effort to leave Egypt (the ways and spirit of the world); we must endure the rigors of the wilderness; and we must fight our way into Canaan.
When we first receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we are not fit to be the Wife of the Lamb. Even after many years of cross-carrying obedience we still are not fully prepared to be with the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit constantly is preparing us, preparing us, preparing us to walk with Jesus. Every element of our personality must experience the purifying virtue of Jesus if we would be ready to walk with Him who is glorious in holiness.
One of the main purposes of the thousand-year Kingdom Age, as we understand it, is the perfecting of the Wife of the Lamb. It is not until the thousand years have been completed that the new Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb without spot, wrinkle, or blemish is brought into view.
At the beginning of the thousand-year period a firstfruits of the Bride has made herself ready for the marriage. 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)
But it is not until the end of the Kingdom Age that the entire Wife of the Lamb is ready for her eternal destiny as the Tabernacle of God.
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)