The doctrine of the manifestation of the bride

1. The body of Christ is formed on earth during the Church Age — Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:16; 4:4,5; 5:23; Colossians 1:18,24; 2:19.

2. When the body of Christ is completed the Rapture occurs — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. By comparing Colossians 2:15 with Revelation 19:6-8; Zechariah 13:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 it is concluded that the number of believers in the body of Christ will equal the number of demons operating under Satan’s command at this stage of the angelic conflict.

3. During the Tribulation on earth the bride is prepared in heaven in three ways. a) Resurrection body exactly like that of the Son of God — 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:1,2; b) The bride no longer has an old sin nature; c) The bride is cleansed from all human good.

4. The bride returns with Christ at the second advent. This is the manifestation of the bride.

5. Operation footstool which immediately follows — Psalm 110:1. In operation footstool we have a picture of the triumphal procession in which all demons are disarmed and publicly displayed in the triumphal procession — Colossians 2:15. Satan is imprisoned for 1000 years — Revelation 20:1-3. Church Age believers cast demons into prison — Zechariah 13:2; Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:24,25.

6. The coronation of the groom — Revelation 19:6.

7. The wedding supper of the Lamb — Revelation 19:6-9. There are four categories involved: the groom, the Lord Jesus Christ; the friends of the groom, the Old Testament saints and the tribulational martyrs who receive their resurrection bodies at the second advent. They are the friends of the groom. John the Baptist (John 3:29) is called friend of the groom; the friends of the bride, the Tribulational believers alive at the second advent who go into the Millennium. They will not receive their resurrection bodies until the end of the Millennium. The friends of the groom have their resurrection bodies, the bride has her resurrection bodies.