Those who are redeemed from among men, are called the “first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” They are not necessarily first fruits of the redeemed, to distinguish them from others of the redeemed, but are first fruits of the race: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of _first fruits_ of his creatures,” James 1:18. By his resurrection from the dead, Christ became “the first fruits of them that slept,” 1 Cor. 15:20. And at his coming there is to be a “first resurrection” (20:6), when the bodies of the saints will “be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21), and thus become the first fruits with their risen Head. Those who come up at the second resurrection will not attain to that beatific state. They are faultless, and without guile. They are not perfect by reason of any inherent goodness in themselves; for “all we like sheep have gone astray ... and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all,” Isa. 53:6. The redeemed church will be faultless, because its members will be sanctified and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Such will constitute “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing ... holy and without blemish,” Eph. 5:27. While “the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light” of the New Jerusalem, and shall “bring their glory and honor into it,” there “shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life,” 21:24-27. “There awaiteth at the end Such a home, and such a Friend, Such a crown, and such a throne, Such a harp of heavenly tone, Such companions, such employ, Such a world of hallowed joy!”—_Bunyan._ The Angel of the Everlasting Gospel. “And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting good news to preach to those dwelling on the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and fountains of water!”—Rev. 14:6, 7. The era symbolized by the flight of this angel, has been applied, by different writers to the epoch of the Reformation, to that of modern missions, &c. The view here taken, is that it synchronizes with the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. The angel flying through the midst of heaven, doubtless symbolizes a body of men conspicuous for their position, energetic in their movements, extensive in their operations, and urgent in their proclamation,—whose teachings correspond with this announcement of the angel.