The Harp of God Part 38

[488]While thus undergoing development, the new creature finds that he has to war against the downward tendencies of his own fleshly disposition, against the spirit of the world, and against Satan's machinations through various instruments. But this warfare is what makes him strong. It is not a warfare with carnal weapons. It is the power of G.o.d working in him to war against these enemies, and it is mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of wrong. (2 Corinthians 10:4) It is the great hope of an entrance into the kingdom that enables him, by the Lord's grace, to battle steadfastly for the right. St. John states: "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure". (1 John 3:3) These fiery trials through which the Christian pa.s.ses have the same effect upon him that a fire has upon metal. It burns up the dross and refines the gold. It has a cleansing effect; and also for this reason the Lord permits it.

[489]G.o.d foreordained that all the members of the new creation should be made in the likeness of his beloved Son. (Romans 8:29) This does not take place by meditating upon wrongful things, but by resisting these and keeping the mind upon heavenly things. The Christian now has his face unveiled; that is, he is enabled by his mental vision to understand the things of G.o.d's Word, and when he looks into the Word, the Bible, he sees reflected from that Word the character-likeness of the Lord; and having the Lord's spirit in him, he is being transformed from one degree of glory to another. The apostle Paul puts it thus: "We all, with open face beholding as in a gla.s.s the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord".

(2 Corinthians 3:18) The pathway of the Christian is not strewn with flowers or ease or comfort, but as Jesus said, it is a narrow way and few there be that walk in it.--Matthew 7:14.

[490]St. James says: "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience". (James 5:10) The prophets of old suffered much and they will not be privileged to be a part of this heavenly kingdom cla.s.s; but their suffering was for a two-fold purpose: (1) to develop them, which will result to their benefit when they are resurrected as perfect men; and (2) to serve as examples for the church, the followers of Jesus.

[491]Jesus said: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force".

(Matthew 11:12) Here he showed that the kingdom-of-heaven cla.s.s, meaning the royal family, suffers violence at the hands of the adversary's instruments, and the violent ones take these by force. It was so of him; it has been so of his followers, as St. Paul writes: "Our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation".--2 Corinthians 1:7.

[492]But why should the Christian suffer? you may ask. And the Apostles answer: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of G.o.d resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.... Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify G.o.d on this behalf." (1 Peter 4:12-14,16) "It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren."--Hebrews 2:10,11.

[493]Again the apostle Paul shows that the Christian does not complain because of persecution and suffering; neither does he murmur against G.o.d. But the true sentiment of his heart is expressed in the words of the Apostle: "We glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of G.o.d is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit which is given unto us". (Romans 6:3-5) Again says the Apostle: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us".--Romans 8:18.

[494]No true Christian would expect to be without suffering or chastis.e.m.e.nts from the Lord, because these are evidences that he is a follower of Jesus and a son of G.o.d. It is one of the ways in which the spirit of the Lord testifies to us that we are his. (Hebrews 12:2-11; Romans 8:16,17) These sufferings of the Christian come from various agencies. The Christian suffers by being misunderstood. His motives are presumed to be wrong. He is sometimes charged with sedition because he does not desire to join with peoples of the world in engaging in war to destroy human lives; sometimes persecuted by false brethren, and sometimes by those who are ignorant. But all these afflictions he patiently endures, gladly.

[495]St. Paul probably suffered as much or more than any follower of Christ. He suffered shipwreck, imprisonment, his back was flogged on three occasions at least, he was stoned and dragged out by the wayside and left for dead; and notwithstanding all these afflictions he wrote: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen".

(2 Corinthians 4:17,18) He was looking forward to the glory that shall follow, as should all Christians--not only _some_ glory, but a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The Christian delights to meditate upon the promises given in G.o.d's Word concerning this glory.

PROMISES

[496]The great promise set before the church is that of eternal life--being for ever with the Lord. Addressing these, St. Paul wrote: "G.o.d will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life". (Romans 2:6,7) It is to be noticed that those who are looking for that great reward patiently continue in doing well; that is to say, they cheerfully endure whatsoever experiences come, while they continue to walk in the Master's footsteps. Let us, then, examine some of the texts setting forth G.o.d's precious promises relative to the glory and honor that shall be the portion of the church in his great arrangement.

[497]_Glory_ is the term used to describe Jehovah's presence. It suggests the brightness of the divine person and character. Glory is a.s.sociated with G.o.d's holiness. (Isaiah 6:1-4) Our Lord Jesus is mentioned as the 'brightness of G.o.d's glory'. He is also spoken of as being 'the express image of the Father', and we are told that he is at the right hand of the Father. (Hebrews 1:3) The 144,000 members of his body are to be with him in his throne and in the Father's presence, thus in glory. (Revelation 3:21) This glory that they shall enjoy will be so transcendently more wonderful than all the things of earth that could be glorious, that St. Paul describes it as a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory". The members of the church while undergoing development bear the image of the earthly. Imperfect human beings they are, with imperfect bodies and minds. But the promise to them is: "As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly".--1 Corinthians 15:49.

[498]From the time of Pentecost until the coming of the Lord, those dear and faithful saints who died in Christ slept and waited for his coming; but as the Apostle says, these would be the first to be honored with an awakening from the dead. Hence we understand that shortly after the second appearing of the Lord Jesus, during the time of the shout of encouragement that was going on among the peoples of earth, these dead saints in Christ were resurrected and caught up with the Lord Jesus in the air, to be for ever with him, as stated by the Apostle.

--1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.

[499]Those remaining, who had not died up to the time of the Lord's appearing, but who since die as do other men, have their change instantaneously. Their resurrection is instantaneous, as St. Paul plainly says: "Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed". (1 Corinthians 15:51,52) These are the blessed ones of the Lord because they partic.i.p.ate in the first or chief resurrection and thereafter reign with Christ. (Revelation 20:6) These promises, then, are to the effect that they shall be forever with the Lord Jesus in the presence of Jehovah: therefore in glory. Jehovah for centuries has been preparing this cla.s.s, the new creation, "that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called".--Romans 9:23,24.

[500]It is customary for the royal family of a nation to have the choicest jewels of that nation in possession. These jewels are kept in the presence of the king, that they might be admired by him. Concerning those who shall const.i.tute the new creation, the church, the Prophet of G.o.d wrote: "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him". (Malachi 3:17) That these shall be admired by the Lord Jehovah as the zenith of his glorious creation is indicated by the Prophet who writes: "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy G.o.d".--Isaiah 62:3.

[501]Those who by patient continuance in well doing battle faithfully unto the end have the precious promise of being made a part of the temple of G.o.d; hence will be in his presence. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my G.o.d, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my G.o.d, and the name of the city of my G.o.d, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my G.o.d; and I will write upon him my new name."--Revelation 3:12.

[502]The brightness and glory of the earth is the sun, which illuminates and gives life to the things of earth. Scientists declare that this light is produced by explosive gas which ascends from the sun to a height of from 5,000 to 300,000 miles. It is the brightness of the firmament; and the glory in the presence of Jehovah is ill.u.s.trated by this brightness, as indicated by the Prophet: "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament". (Daniel 12:3) The wise ones are those who devote themselves to understanding and doing Jehovah's will. They are the righteous ones, who have been made so through the merit of Christ Jesus, and whom he gathers in during his presence. When these enter into the glorious presence of Jehovah, "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father".

--Matthew 13:43.

[503]It was Jesus who said to his disciples: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, ... that where I am, there ye may be also". (John 14:2,3) The promise here is, then, that a special habitation shall be prepared for the church, which habitation will be in the glorious presence of the Lord Jehovah. This holy or heavenly kingdom cla.s.s, the royal family, is spoken of as Zion, and of it the Prophet of the Lord wrote: "The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation". (Psalm 132:13) Of its beauty and glory the Psalmist wrote: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, G.o.d hath shined". (Psalm 50:2) Jehovah will shine forth through the new creation for the blessing of all the families of the earth. The glory to be experienced by the church in the presence of Jehovah will bring unspeakable joy; for 'in his presence is fullness of joy; at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore'.--Psalm 16:11.

[504]In the glorious presence of Jehovah, we may be sure that all will be his friends; and as an inducement to strive for that place his Prophet wrote: "He that loveth with a pure heart and hath grace upon his lips will have the king as his friend" (Proverbs 22:11, _Leeser_), and he will be sure of being loved for evermore.--Proverbs 17:17.

[505]_Honor_ applies more to a recognized station or position in G.o.d's arrangement. Always glorious, G.o.d is honored in the minds of his creatures who worship him. The position of the glorified church will be that of the bride of Christ, for ever with him; and he being at the right hand of the Father, their position will be one of great honor.

The special honor, therefore, of the church is that of being the glorious bride or a.s.sociate of the Lord Jesus, the King of glory. His recognition of her station as his own wife pictures the superlative degree of her honor and glory. Jesus said: "Father, I will ... that they be with me where I am".--John 17:24.

[506]Of Jesus it is written that he is the 'express image of the Father'

(Hebrews 1:3); and that he is the beloved Bridegroom and Friend of the body members of the church. (Canticles 5:16) Now it does not appear what the church shall be, but, says St. John, "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is". (1 John 3:2) G.o.d "hath appointed [him] heir of all things". (Hebrews 1:2) These children of G.o.d, members of the body of Christ, are "heirs of G.o.d, and joint-heirs with Christ" in all the glory and honor of his position.--Romans 8:17.

[507]When Jehovah took away from Israel the right to rule, he promised to give it to him whose right it is, the great Messiah, when he should come. (Ezekiel 21:27) Of him the Prophet of G.o.d wrote: "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pa.s.s away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Daniel 7:14,27) To his disciples Jesus promised that they should share his kingdom, saying, "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel".--Luke 22:29,30.

[508]As Jesus the bridegroom will be the great King of glory to rule over the nations, so the members of the body, the bride, the overcomers, are promised that they with him shall have "power over the nations".

--Revelation 2:26.

[509]Throughout the Millennial age not only will the position of the bride be that of a.s.sociate with Christ Jesus in the kingdom, but her position in all the ages to come will be one of honor. St. Paul writes that G.o.d "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus".--Ephesians 2:6,7.

[510]When Jesus was in the earth he was despised and rejected of men. He was dishonored of men, and has since been dishonored of all except those who have come to a knowledge of the truth. The time will come, however, as the Apostle declares, when 'every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of G.o.d the Father'.

(Philippians 2:7-11) The members of his body, the truly consecrated children of G.o.d, following in the footsteps of their Master have been despised of men, have been counted as the offscourings of the earth, have been persecuted and imprisoned, and many of them killed; and the world has known them not, even as it knew him not. But in due time all those born in the glorious kingdom of our Lord will be honored among men, because mankind will know of their position, as it is written: "Of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there." (Psalm 87:5,6) Then shall the people rejoice that it has pleased the heavenly Father to select out from amongst poor, imperfect men the 144,000, and to make them perfect through Christ Jesus. He will cause the peoples of earth to honor them, as he has promised: "I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever".--Psalm 45:17.

[511]The Apostle says also that these are seeking _immortality_. That word here means incorruptibility; a condition not subject to death. The Messianic cla.s.s, head and body, will not be subject to decay, sickness, or death. Even a perfect human being requires nourishment to sustain his organism; but the exalted church, the Messiah, the Christ, will need nothing in the way of food to replenish any powers, because their powers will not be exhausted. These will have life in themselves in such an abundant measure that they can give it out, and will give it out, and still need no replenishing. Of himself Jesus declared: "As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given the Son to have life in himself".

--John 5:26; 4:14.

[512]This same promise is made to those who partic.i.p.ate in his sacrificial death. (John 6:53,54) These have the promise that they shall be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and thus shall have power to give life unto others. The great prize that is here to be given is eternal life; and immortality is that quality of eternal life that is indestructible. To those who have entered into relationship with the Lord through Christ, he says: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life". (Revelation 2:10) And again says St. James: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [trial]; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him".--James 1:12.

[513]When one is begotten to membership in the body of Christ, he has new hopes, new ambitions, and new aspirations. He looks forward, not to the glorious things of the earth, but to the glory and honor of being with the Lord and serving in the capacity in which the Lord places him.

He has in mind the words of St. Paul: "Your life is hid with Christ in G.o.d. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."--Colossians 3:3,4

[514]David, being a type of the church, prophetically wrote concerning the church, and his words apply in a broader sense to the church. He expressed the heart's desire of the members of the body of Christ: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple". (Psalm 27:4) Here he has hope of the glory of dwelling in the house of the Lord, in his presence, beholding his beauty and acquiring knowledge concerning his great plan.

[515]Again David represents the church as in the presence of Jehovah, enjoying the glory and honor that will be granted to those who partic.i.p.ate in the first resurrection. Of this in beautiful poetic phrase he writes: "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation; honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever; thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."--Psalm 21:1-6.

[516]What a contrast in the eyes of the people between the man Christ Jesus who suffered ignominy at the hands of the Jews and the Christ Jesus glorified, the brightness of whose glory shines above that of the brightness at noonday! Great will be the honor and dignity in the minds of the people of the position of Jesus Christ when all have come to know the Lord. What a great contrast between the body of humiliation and the body of glory! These members of the body, as the Prophet beautifully expresses it, were 'digged from the pit and hewn from the rock'. (Isaiah 51:1) They have trudged along the narrow way, suffering at the hands of Satan and his seed. But all the way they have had these precious promises of what would be the result, amongst which is this promise: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles".--Isaiah 42:1.

[517]In the eyes of the world these die like ordinary men; yet they really fall like Prince Jesus. (Psalm 82:7) St. Paul, discussing the humiliation of the church this side the vail, and contrasting it with the glory on the other side, said: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in _weakness_; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."--1 Corinthians 15:41-44.

[518]We have now come to the time in which these members of the body have their change instantaneously. One moment they are sown in corruption; the next, raised in incorruption. One moment in dishonor; the next in glory. One moment in weakness; the next in power. When the church is finished and all of the 144,000 members are with the Lord, "then shall be brought to pa.s.s the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:54,55) Then it will be that all composing that cla.s.s will enjoy glory, honor, immortality, even eternal life.

APPROACHING THE KINGDOM

[519]It is certain that the time must come when all those composing the body of Christ will have finished their course on this side the vail and pa.s.sed into heavenly glory; and since the Lord promised that his second presence would be for the purpose of gathering unto himself those who would compose his bride, we should expect the glorification of the church to take place within a reasonably short time after the second presence of the Lord. The apostle Paul's mind was illuminated by the power of Jehovah, the holy spirit; and he wrote concerning the coming kingdom of Messiah, describing conditions that would immediately precede its inauguration.

[520]At Mount Sinai Jehovah made a covenant with the nation of Israel, and at the time of making this covenant G.o.d directed Moses to instruct the people, to prepare them for what was about to take place. When Moses came down out of the mountain to deliver G.o.d's message to Israel, it was amidst a great convulsion of nature. There were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud of smoke upon the mountain, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud, so that the people in the camp trembled with fear, and the whole earth quaked greatly. This was a picture foreshadowing the time of trouble in the earth, the great shaking of the nations just before the inauguration of Messiah's kingdom and the taking unto himself of his bride for the setting up of his kingdom. St. Paul, referring to that time, by way of comparison says: "Ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart; and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake)".--Hebrews 12:18-21.

[521]We should expect, then, an ant.i.typical fulfillment of these conditions. And so we do find it. The mountains (symbolically meaning kingdoms of the world) are on fire, and there is a great tempest, and trouble, and disturbance in the earth; and so terrible is the time that men's hearts are failing them for fear of what they see coming on the earth. Speaking of that time, and directing his words to the church, St.

Paul wrote: "Ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living G.o.d, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general a.s.sembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to G.o.d the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel".--Hebrews 12:22-24.

[522]Thus St. Paul pictures the gathering together of those who compose the spiritual phase of Messiah's kingdom, namely, the church, Head and body. He describes this as the heavenly Jerusalem.

[523]That the peoples of earth and the creatures of heaven might ever have in remembrance the importance of this great day in which we are now living G.o.d is manifesting his power and his justice through his dealings with the nations, and in due time the people will learn to appreciate the love of G.o.d.

[524]What a marvelously wonderful time now to be on the earth! Four thousand years ago holy men looked down to the time when G.o.d's kingdom might come, but they could not understand it. The angels of heaven were not permitted to know. Many of these faithful men were martyrs to the cause of righteousness. Moved by the spirit of Jehovah, they wrote concerning the kingdom. The Psalmist composed songs and sang of the coming blessed day. For nineteen hundred years Christians have been trudging along the narrow way. And now it can be truly said, The Lord is present; the Lord reigneth! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!

[525]Necessarily the members of the body this side the vail are looking forward with antic.i.p.ation to their change, when they may put off this mortal and be clothed upon with immortality, and be caught up to be forever with the Lord, and by him be presented to the great Jehovah.

When all the members of the body have pa.s.sed beyond the vail, then in G.o.d's due time they will be presented by the Lord Jesus before the presence of Jehovah. Since we are so close to that time, let us now a.s.sume in our minds that we are standing just beyond the vail and that we are getting the first glimpse of the glories of the kingdom.

[526]Whom would the true Christian first expect to meet in the kingdom?

Necessarily he would look for some one who had been a special friend to him during the time of his humiliation. If a person who expected to be presented to an earthly king or potentate had an acquaintance or friend at that court, he would first desire to consult his friend and receive some advice and suggestions before entering the presence of the n.o.ble one. Entering heaven, the Christian expects to see the Lord Jesus, and ultimately the heavenly Father, according to the promise. As the Christian looks over the precious promises given to the church, he finds many a.s.surances that he has had an unseen friend during his earthly pilgrimage, namely, his guardian angel. Of such the Psalmist wrote: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them". (Psalm 34:7; Hebrews 1:14) These angels are doubtless messengers for Jehovah, because of them Jesus said: 'In heaven they do always behold the face of my Father'.--Matthew 18:10.