The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Appearing of Christ, #3

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (I Thessalonians 5:3)

As in the days of Lot (who knew in advance of the coming destruction), the moment we leave "Sodom"—in that very moment—the wrath of God will fall on the world. It will not fall seven years after we leave. This is not scriptural.

The saints will not be judged after they are glorified. When Jesus appears we shall be like Him. We shall see Him as He is. His Glory will fill us. We shall be changed, immortalized, glorified—all in an instant. The brightness that glorifies the saints will destroy Antichrist and his followers.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (II Thessalonians 2:8)

We then shall be alive forever, being with the Lord as His Bride and royal priesthood.

There is no period of seven years after His coming during which we will be judged. We must be ready beforehand, as we note in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew, Chapter 25).

There is no scriptural evidence, and it is not logical, that resurrected saints will be filled with the Glory of God, and after that stand and be judged, receiving the good and the evil they have practiced in their bodies (II Corinthians 5:10).

Adam and Eve were driven from the garden because they had sinned. The tree of life is not available to those who are filled with sin and rebellion. Before we are eligible to eat of the tree of life, to participate in the resurrection to eternal life, we first, through the grace of God, must overcome Satan, the world, and our own evil personality (Revelation 2:7). We first must obey God's commandments (Revelation 22:14).

The saints who are glorified in the resurrection that occurs when Jesus is revealed, who are like Him and who see Him as He is, will not be judged after their glorification. They already have attained everlasting life, the resurrection from among the dead (Philippians 3:11). They are alive forever with the Lord, being an integral part of Christ's appearing. The second death no longer possesses any authority over them.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

The order of events for the members of Christ's Body, the holy remnant of believers, as we understand it, is as follows:

Christ's judgment of all our sin and self-seeking, and the transformation of our personality by His body and blood and by the Holy Spirit of God.

The entrance of the Fullness of God into us while we yet are on the earth—just prior to the Lord's return.

The return of our spiritual form from Heaven with Christ.

The resurrection of our flesh and bones.

The clothing of our resurrected flesh and bones with our spiritual body of glory. Our spiritual body of glory, our "house from heaven," has been created in Heaven as the consequence and counterpart of the sowing of our physical body to the death of the cross, to the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.

To be continued.