The Harp of God Part 39

[527]Describing the conditions and events in connection with the general a.s.sembly of the church of the firstborn, St. Paul writes: "Ye are come ... to an innumerable company of angels". These must be pure, lovable, and beautiful in form and character. These have been the ones who have kept the record of each member of the body of Christ. (Malachi 3:16) It will be a real joy to become acquainted with these precious and beautiful creatures who have been helpers of the Christians along the way. It would be expected that they would render a.s.sistance to the one just appearing in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Therefore it is not unreasonable to antic.i.p.ate that the first one to be met beyond the vail is the Christian's guardian angel.

[528]Next in order the Apostle mentions "the church of the firstborn".

Jesus Christ is the head of this church, the great King of glory.

Certainly all the body members will be eager to see our wonderful Lord, who redeemed us to G.o.d with his precious blood. He is not only our Redeemer, Advocate, and Deliverer, but our dearest Friend; and now the relationship of bride and bridegroom is about to be fully consummated.

How thrilling will be that time! By long and patient continuance in well doing, their experiences, by the grace of the Lord and through his ministration, have perfected every one of the body for this happy time, making each member beautiful, "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him." Each member of the bride then will be permitted to see Jesus as he is and will then be like him. Happy will be that time. (1 John 3:2) Every one of these Christians has had some dear fellow Christian friend on earth. He will be looking for such a one, doubtless, when he arrives in heaven. Of course each one will look for the faithful apostles whom the Lord used to furnish the food to the household of faith. Then they will look for others whom the Lord specially used as teachers, instructors, and servants of the church, who were loving and kind and ministered to the wants of the various members and did it joyfully.

[529]We may be sure that of all those who are there every one will be perfected in love, because the Apostle says they must thus be.

(Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 3:14) We may expect to see some there whom we have loved and may be disappointed in not seeing them; but no Christian will ever see any one of his fellow-Christians in heaven except those who have loved their brethren with a pure heart, all of whom have pa.s.sed through the fiery trials and rejoiced in the experiences that the Lord brought to them. Each one of the members of the divine family will be beautiful, for all will be like the Lord. As star differs from star in glory, so shall the various members differ in that glorious realm. But what a marvelous gathering that will be: 144,000 glorious beings a.s.sembling with their glorious head Christ Jesus!

[530]All united together with the Lord Jesus, it seems, according to St.

Paul, that the next in order would be to grant unto the church the glory that is promised, by presenting the bride cla.s.s before the great divine throne of Jehovah. St. Jude informs us not only that our Lord keeps the members of the body from falling, but that he will present them faultless before the presence of Jehovah's glory with exceeding joy.--Jude 24.

[531]The day approaches for the presentation of the bride. In vision we behold an innumerable company of angels a.s.sembled before the throne of G.o.d, forming a guard of honor. The heralds of heaven with golden trumpets appear, announcing the approach of the Bridegroom with his bride. Music of surpa.s.sing sweetness fills the heavenly courts. All eyes are fixed upon the conquering Hero, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the great Bridegroom, who now approaches with his bride of 144,000 members. The hosts of heaven are singing, "Hallelujah: for the Lord G.o.d omnipotent reigneth! Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."--Revelation 19:6,7.

[532]It is well that we take note here of the apparel of the bride of Christ now entering glory. "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white." (Revelation 19:8) "The king's daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework."

(Psalm 45:13,14) Thus in symbolic phrase the Prophet describes her inherent beauty when she is presented faultless before the glorious presence of Jehovah. It will be impossible for human words to approximate the grandeur and the majesty of that scene. Before the great white throne of the heavenly Father, bride and Bridegroom will be made one, and the glory of the church will be complete. There, in the presence of Jehovah, she will have fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore.

"O that will be a union Such as earth has never known.

When bride and Bridegroom are made one Before the great white throne."

[533]The members of the body of Christ in glory will be a monument of the grace of G.o.d, because thus will be demonstrated the power, as well as the love, of Jehovah in taking insignificant creatures from amongst men and exalting them to the highest place in the universe, next to the Lord Jesus. Then she will be held forth in the power of Jehovah, exhibited as a crown of glory in his hand, and be used by him to accomplish that which he purposed from the foundation of the world. As the glorified bride of our heavenly Bridegroom, clothed with honor and immortality, she will possess life everlasting, inherent life; and with her Bridegroom she will minister life and blessing to others.

[534]St. John had a vision of this wonderful royal family of heaven, and in symbolic language he described it as "the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from G.o.d out of heaven". (Revelation 21:1-5) Thus he depicts the approaching kingdom of Messiah. In vision he saw the faithful followers of Jesus who are still on this side the vail, by faith beholding the approach of this happy time; and he describes them as those who had "gotten the victory over the beast [the devil's earthly organization], and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name [whose allegiance is wholly to the Lord, and who]

stand on the sea of gla.s.s, having the harps of G.o.d. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of G.o.d [the song taught by the law, which foreshadowed the better things to come], and the song of the Lamb [the song of the clear fulfillment of prophecy and the unfolding of G.o.d's plan, as set forth in the New Testament; they are playing upon their harps and praising Jehovah], saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord G.o.d Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

--Revelation 15:2,3.

Define the word "church". -- 468.

Of what does the church of Christ consist? -- 468.

What other name is given to those composing the church? -- 468.

What is a saint? -- 468.

How are those composing the body of Christ purified? -- 468.

What is meant by the terms "new creature" and "new creation"? -- 468.

How is nature determined? -- 468.

Who has preeminence in the divine plan? Give Scriptural proof. -- 468.

When did the new creation have its beginning? -- 469.

What occurred with reference to Jesus when he was thirty years of age?

-- 469.

How was he perfected as a new creature? -- 469.

Who opposed Jesus from the time of his baptism? -- 470.

Why this opposition? -- 470.

In the sentence by Jehovah, as set forth in Genesis 3:15, what is symbolized by the woman? -- 470.

Whom did Isaac typify? -- 470.

Of what does the seed of the serpent consist? Give some Scriptural proof. -- 470.

What is the disposition of the seed of the serpent? -- 470.

Where did Jesus go immediately following his baptism, and for what purpose? -- 471.

To what temptation was he subjected shortly thereafter? Give the Scriptural account. -- 471.

How long did he suffer at the hands of Satan and his representatives?

-- 471.

How did he gain the victory? -- 471.

How did Jehovah reward Jesus for his faithful devotion to the divine arrangement even unto death? -- 471.

What Scriptures indicate that the body members most follow in his steps? -- 471.

Did G.o.d predestinate or foreordain a new creation? Give Scriptural proof. -- 472.

What is meant by the word "world" as used in Ephesians 1:4-9? -- 473.

Did G.o.d foreordain or choose the individuals who would compose the church? Or what is meant by his foreknowledge? -- 473.

Should we expect the body members to have experiences similar to those of Jesus? -- 473.

When was the day of Pentecost? -- 474.

What call went forth to the Jews from that time? -- 474.

What is meant by the call? -- 474.

What did Jesus say about the number called and chosen? Give Scriptural proof. -- 474.

How long was this call confined to the Jews? -- 474.

Who was the first gentile to receive the gospel? Give the Scriptural account. -- 474.

Thereafter to whom did the call extend? -- 474.