Re: Ephesians 5:25-27. May I ask you if the raptured Church (the bride) will have to meet the standards as stated by Paul in this passage? Because on the other hand we have the great multitude in Revelation 7 . Did they miss the rapture on account of poor qualifications, or is there another explanation?
Here’s Ephesians 5:25-27;
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Paul’s point in this passage was to say that because Jesus gave Himself up for us we already do meet these standards in His eyes. In Romans 3:21-24 he said we’ve been given a righteousness from God apart from the Law that comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. This righteousness is what enables us to meet the qualifications of Ephes. 5:25-27.
The great multitude from Rev. 7:9 will miss the rapture because they won’t become believers until after it takes place. They will be among the first to die during the end times judgments that begin in Rev. 6.