The Daily Word of Righteousness

I Will Come to You, #13

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)

When shall the enemy "come in like a flood"? Certainly not after the Lord Jesus has returned but in the days attending His appearing.

It seems that in earth's darkest hour, when a flood of wickedness covers the earth, the power of Christ will come upon His people.

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 59:20)

Here is a coming of the Lord, not to the world but to Zion; to those who "turn from transgression in Jacob."

Paul speaks of this event taking place at the time that the full number of Gentiles has been grafted on Israel (Romans 11:25,26).

And in Hebrews:

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

Christ will appear to those who are looking for Him, without sin unto salvation.

But the earth-wide coming of the Lord is not restricted to those who are looking for Him!

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, . . . . (Revelation 1:7)

It appears possible that Hebrews 9:28 and Revelation 1:7 are referring to two different comings of the Lord. The first coming is "unto them that look for him." The second coming, that of Revelation 1:7, will be seen by "every eye."

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament do teach that there shall be a coming of Christ to those who are looking for Him, a coming that will not raise the dead bodies of those who sleep, or translate the believers up to Heaven in a literal sense, but will be for the salvation of the individual believer—as Jesus taught in John 14:18. The coming of which we are speaking will fill the saints with the Presence of the Father and the Son so they will know that Christ is in His Father, and we in Him, and He in us. Christ's Glory will fill us so we can stand in Him throughout the tribulation period.

Christ's appearing to the faithful will cleanse His Church of sin, preparing it for His visible appearing and the summoning of the bodies of His elect from the ground.

When Christ enters His temple, the Body of Christ, He will "drive out the moneychangers." He will cleanse the hearts of His saints. He then will dine with them and they with Him (Revelation 3:20).

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)

To be continued.