The Daily Word of Righteousness

I Will Come to You, #17

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)

The Lord God Almighty will shout for the battle from within the Church. The heavens will roll aside as a scroll and the sign of the Son of Man will appear for all nations to behold. The Lord Jesus will descend surrounded by His holy angels. The Lord's victorious saints will be caught up to meet Him in the air.

It is our understanding that numbers eight and nine above (previous essay), and perhaps some of the other items, will take place at the same time in all of the members of the Body of Christ, whether in Heaven or on the earth. Remember, "they without us should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:40).

Peter tells us that it is time to judge the living and the dead.

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick [living] and the dead. (I Peter 4:5)

It appears likely that those living on the earth and those living in the spirit realm will be judged in the same manner.

Think about Colossians 3:4, which we believe to be associated with the outpouring of glory described in Isaiah, Chapter 60:

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

Now, how shall we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord appear with Him in glory since we are living on the earth at the time of His appearing?

Perhaps it is true that the power of His coming will be revealed in the saints on the earth as well as in the saints who will return from above:

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11)

"As it was in the days of Noah."

"All the fountains of the great deep broken up."

The water came from beneath as well as from above.

It appears that the peoples of the earth will witness not only the Glory of Christ in the heavens, but also the transfiguration of the elect who have just been raised from the dead, as well as those who are alive on the earth at the time of Christ's coming. As the nations behold this transfiguring glory they will believe that God indeed has sent Christ, and loves the saints as He loves Christ (John 17:23 above).

No doubt whatever is happening to the elect on earth is happening at the same time to the spirits of the righteous who are in Heaven. The Body of Christ is one body. Our dying and going to Heaven does not affect our place in the Body of Christ.

It seems reasonable to us that John 17:21-23 and Isaiah, Chapter 60 are indicating the same event. It appears likely that the revealing of the Glory of God in the saints will take place just prior to and blending into the return of Christ in open manifestation to the world.

To be continued.