The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Age of Reconciliation

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (Revelation 12:1,2)

Satan, who apparently was one of the most exalted of the heavenly rulers, decided to lift himself above the other stars of God, above the Father's will for him. The poison of discontent and rebellion against the Father began at the highest level of the heavens and spread throughout the universe, entering man the moment he was created. We now are approaching the age of reconciliation, the era when God will enable His creatures to be reconciled to Himself.

The events of the future will involve personages in the heavens and on the earth. We shall not understand the events of the future on the earth nor the plan of redemption until we are able to view all that is occurring in the heavens and on the earth as one arena of judgment, warfare, reconciliation, and eternal punishment.

We believe the events described in Revelation, Chapter 12 are beginning to take place today. The Christian Church, the Body of Christ (the "woman clothed with the sun") is entering the travail to bring forth Christ in the saints.

The Hebrew Prophets spoke of the time when Christ would be born through the travail of Zion (the Church).

Therefore will he give them up, until the time she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:3)

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (Isaiah 66:8)

"As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."

Revelation, Chapter Twelve speaks of "the man child." Isaiah 66:8 announces the bringing forth of "children." This is because the Christ (the male Son) to be born is the one Seed of Abraham, and yet includes a multitude of saints.

Many important activities are being pursued today by the Christian people, including bearing the witness of the Kingdom of God to every nation on earth. Gifts and ministries are being restored to the churches. The Holy Spirit has come as Eliezer, bringing gifts to exchange for a bride for the Son of the Father.

Something else is taking place. Those who are seeking the Lord diligently are experiencing sorrow, pain, frustration, confusion. The "woman" is "travailing in birth" and is crying out in pain. Christ is being formed in the saints. The tribulations the saints are experiencing are for the purpose of crucifying the old nature in order that the new man, Christ, may be born.

Why must we be crucified like this? Why is it so terribly important we be conformed to the death of the Lord and that Christ live in us?

In order to answer this question we will have to think for a moment about the original rebellion in the heavens, and the need for reconciliation to God on the part of all His creatures.

To be continued.