The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Kingdom of God Is at Hand, #22

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:26,27)

The sixth day, the day of image and union, the era we are approaching in the present hour, will be the greatest change mankind has had to undergo. It will be a giant step toward the rest of God—the seventh and last day. However, the age of image and union will not be the kind of change the churches are expecting.

The thousand-year Kingdom Age will be a continuation of the Church Age, in that the travail to form Christ in His creatures will continue. We believe this because of the following statement:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)

If the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers are to minister until every believer arrives at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God; if the "man" (Christ) is to be perfect composed of perfected members; then the work of the ministry must continue throughout the Kingdom Age, the age of image and union. Maturity and perfection have not been attained during the Church's pilgrimage on the earth.

The thousand-year period will not be the paradisiac age often suggested by the term "Millennium" but a prolonged battle against human nature. The victorious saints who return with Christ will participate with Him in the forming of the new creation. All the faith, hope, courage, patience, and love developed in them during their discipleship on the earth will prove to be necessary for the tasks of ruling, shepherding, and teaching assigned to them.

The two witnesses of the day of image and union will be a powerful light on the earth. They will perform the same works as Jesus, and the greater works the Lord prophesied to us (John 14:12). They will perform works of healing and of destruction, as did Elijah and Elisha.

As we have stated, the two witnesses of the day of image and union are described in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is the section of the New Testament that portrays the events leading up to the ushering in of the thousand-year Kingdom Age, followed by the new heaven and earth reign of Christ. The thousand-year period is the Day of the Lord, the day of image and union, the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, the period of the marriage of the Lamb, the era of bringing to birth God's eternal purpose in Christ.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)

To be continued.