GUIDING PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLE 1. WHEN MEASURING A CHURCH, we can only evaluate a local, visible body of believers. The universal church is a wonderful reality. At this moment, it exists in all parts of the world and all believers everywhere are members. However, as the bride of Christ (another name for the universal church), all believers (of all time) are being made ready—by God—for that great moment when we will be presented to the Lord at the wedding supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:7–8).
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