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The manifested "sons of Zion'' (Lam.4:2) shall be the first
partakers of
what is known as "that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Tit.2:13.
These ones
will be used in a "greater works" ministry to continue
carrying out the
ministry of total restoration and reconciliation to ultimately
fulfill the
word of God - 2Cor.5:18-20; Col.1:25; Psa.149:6-9. What a
tremendous and glorious future faithful Christians have to hope
for -
2Ptr.3:13, 14.
The apostle Paul writes to the church in 2Cor. chapter 3...''Ye
are our
epistle (letter) written in our hearts, known and read of all
men." He
explains that those who have Christ dwelling in their hearts are
even
now manifestly declared to be the living epistle or message of
Christ;
that the glory of the old letter of the law was written on
earthly tables
of stone and could not bring a lasting glory for "the letter
killeth'',
but the coming of a glorious new law, could bring this kind of
glory.
This new and better law is that "law of the Spirit of life
in Christ
Jesus" (Ro.8:2) presently being written in the fleshly
tables of the
believers heart. "Now the Lord Is that Spirit",
therefore "how shall
not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious", much
more
so than the limited glory found in the dying letter of the old
law.
Brethren, we may be under the ministration of the Spirit which
giveth
light and life, yet just as the children of Israel were blinded
by a vail,
so God's children today are yet blinded in part by a covering or
veil
"upon their heart", even that "mystery of
iniquity" which today
remains spread over all flesh (lsa.25:7,8), but this vail is done
away in
Christ.'' Yes, Christ was the first to rend the vail of the
temple
(Matt.27:51) coming through the death and darkness therein
(Heb.2:14) even of his own flesh temple, "that is to say his
flesh, by a
new and living way which he consecrated for us." Heb.10:20.
A portion of the light of his glory is now shining through the
rent
vail, even through the darkness of our own heart, ''for we (the
church)
are (many) members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.''
Eph.5:30. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular'' (1Cor.12:27) and His Spirit is dwelling in us as a
light to
give us "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face
of Jesus Christ.'' 2Cor.4:6. "Thou hast set our iniquities
before thee,
our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." Psa.90:8.
Yes. until
the fullness of His glorious light is come, the light shall
continue to
shine in darkness. and the darkness, even the carnal mind of man
will comprehend it not - Jn.1:5.
The darkness of sin and iniquity in the inward parts can only be
turned
to light as we continually allow His Spirit., even the new letter
of the
living word. to discern the evil thoughts and intents of the
heart
(Heb.4:12), discovering deep things out of darkness and bringing
out
into light the shadow of death - Jb:12:22; Lk.1:79. "For the
Lord
hath said that He would dwell in thick darkness" (2Chr.6:1;
Exod.20:21.), dwelling "as a light that shineth in a dark
place until
the day dawn and the day star (Christ) arise in your hearts.''
2Ptr.1:19.
Know that "unto the upright there ariseth light in the
darkness"
(Psa.112:3) for it is written, "Thou shalt shine forth, thou
shalt be as
the morning (star) arising to fullness in our hearts), which is
"the
hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into within the vail,
whither the fore runner is for us entered." Heb.6:18-20.
Jesus has entered into and become "a minister of the
sanctuary
(dwelling place) of the true tabernacle (even the new man in the
spirit-heart), which the Lord pitched, and not man."
Heb.8:2. God
will continue to move by His Spirit from "tent to tent"
(1Chr.17:5) in
earthly tabernacles building a truly glorious temple (body) upon
the
secure foundation of the "chief corner stone."
Eph.2:20. Behold the
tabernacle (dwelling place) of God is with (in) men."
Rev.21:3.
This temple He is cleansing, our new "house from
heaven" (2Cor.5:1),
will be the tabernacle "which is called the Holiest of
all" (Heb.9:3)
wherein God in Christ shall dwell forever (Rev.21:3),
administering His
glory by the "high priest" which "dwelleth in
"a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands." (Heb.9:11) This is
Christ's
church manifested in the fullness of His spiritual body
(Eph.1:22, 23
whom ye are) - 1Cor.12:27. "Therefore, let not iniquity and
wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles." Jb.11:4. Know ye not,
that even
now, ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
within you. (1Cor.3:16) even to write his glorious new spiritual
laws into the minds and hearts of his people.
"I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write
them" (Heb.10:16) for in the hidden part shall He make us to
know
wisdom (Psa.51:6)..."and I will give thee the treasures of
darkness
and hidden riches of secret places" (lsa.45.3). in order
"that He
might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory."Rom.9:23. Now. we
have
this written epistle of the knowledge of the glory of God. as a
hidden treasure in our earthen vessels. that the excellency of
the
power (and the Glory) may be of God and not of' us (2Cor.4:7);
for He
shall "quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that
dwelleth in you."
Ro.8:11.
The fleshly mortal body or temple which is still a figure of the
"first
tabernacle" which is sown in dishonour and weakness. is now
well able
to be raised in glory and power (1Chr. 15:43) and immortality,
only
through the power of His resurrection (Phil.3:10). even the
indwelling power of Christ "who is made, not after the law
of a carnal
commandment. but after the power of an endless life'' (Heb.7:16)
for
He only, is "the resurrection and the life.'' Jn.11:25. In
Christ shall all
be made alive to eventually be a partaker of the glory that shall
be
revealed (1Ptr.5:1) in the ages to come.
The mystery presently being made manifest is Christ's life coming
to
be revealed in you. This is the immediate hope of glory
(Col.1:27).
the same Spirit "by whom also we have access by faith into
the grace
wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Ro.5:2.
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by
faith'' (Gal.5:5) only "by the faith of the Son of God''
which liveth in us
- Gal.2:20. Daily. we are to work out our own salvation
(Phil.2:12) in
faith. "looking for that blessed hope and the glorious
appearing
(revealing) of' the Great God." Tit.2:13. "And every
man that hath
this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He (Christ) is
pure.''
1Jn.3:3.
These are they "to whom God would make known what is the
riches
of the glory of this mystery'' (Col.1:27), ''the eyes of your
understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the
hope of His calling and what is the riches of the glory of His
inheritance IN the saints.'' Eph.1:18. Know ye "the wise
shall
inherit glory" (Prv. 3:35); and "when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed
from heaven (even from the heavenly houses - 2Cor.5:1,2 and
mansions now being prepared in his Father's great house -
Jn.14:2)...He shall come to be glorified in (and through) His
saints.'' 2Ths.1:7, 10. "Behold...the Lord whom ye seek,
shall
suddenly come to the revealed in and to) His temple'' (Mal.3:1)
"that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in
you and
ye in Him.'' 2Ths.2:12.
The time is nigh at hand when "the firstfruits" of his
harvest is to be
gathered (Matt.24:31) and God would count them worthy to receive
"the prize'' (Phil.3:14) of the hope of His calling
whereunto he called
them. "to obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory." 2Tim.2:10. Christ has given His glory of
immortality
and incorruption as an inheritance to those sons who first
qualify for
this high calling of glory. "The glory which Thou (the
Father) gavest
me I have given them; that they may be one'' (body and spirit)
with
Christ in the same love that He and the Father are manifested as
one -
Jn.17:21,22.
His final glory shall be revealed first in "many sons"
(Heb.2:10) who
have grown up (not gone up as in the "rapture" theory)
into
him...which is the head, even Christ - Eph.4:15. Then shall be
revealed the beginnings of his glorious church - Eph.5:27. The
Head (1Cor.11:3; Eph.5:23) shall be joined in oneness as in
marriage
(Rev.19:7), unto His body the church (Col.1:22,23), even that
part
which "hath made herself ready.'' Rev.19:7. "They two,
shall be one
flesh'' (Eph.5:31) and one Spirit - 1Cor.6:17. For there is only
one
body and one Spirit...one hope of your calling (Eph.4.4) in
Christ,
"one new man," Eph.2:15.
There remains no good reason for Christ yet to physically
manifest
Himself once again in a literal one-membered glorified body, for
''now
ye are the (one) body of Christ and members in particular.''
1Cor.12:27. As in the natural, one body has many members yet the
different parts still appear as one body, "so also is (the
body of) Christ"
to appear in, to and as His many-membered body - 1Cor.12:12. In
the same way as our physical bodies, the body of Christ "is
sown a
natural body: it is raised a spiritual body.'' 1Cor.15.44.
"As we have
borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of
the
heavenly." 1Cor.15:49; Ro.8:29..
"We are made partakers of Christ (''of His divine
nature" (1Ptr.1:4
and "of his holiness" - Heb.12:10 in spirit, and also
in soul and body) if
we hold the beginning of our confidence (faith. hope) steadfast
unto
the end.'' Heb.3:14; Ro.2:7. "Wherefore gird up the loins of
your
mind (arm yourself likewise with the same mind as Christ -
1Ptr.4:1),
be sober. and hope to the end for the completed grace that is to
be brought unto you (''to bring many sons unto glory") at
the
revelation (appearing) of Jesus Christ'' (1Ptr1:13) unto His
sons.
It is Christ coming to us, not our whisking away to join Him,
that
completes
His glorious grace within us.
When He comes, his glorious reward will be with Him. even as
those fully redeemed who shall be called the holy people
(Isa.62:11,
12), the life of Christ having then been made manifest in their
bodies
- 1Cor.4:10,11. "For when Christ who is our life shall
appear. then
shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col.3:4) for
"we know that.
when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him
as
He is" (1Jn.3:2); His glory radiating from his one
many-membered
body of sons. "We shall be changed." 1Cor.15:52. Even
as He now is
so will we be in this world in the day of judgment - 1Jn.4:17.
Yes,
Christ shall appear the second time without sin to bring full
salvation
(Heb.9:28) to the whole spirit, soul, and body (1Ths.5:23) in
"many
sons'' even ''many members" (1Cor.12:20); then to be
revealed as
one spirit, one flesh, one body, one new (covenant) man, their
"vile
body fashioned like unto his glorious body.'' Phil.3:21.
Christ is being formed (fashioned) in you (Gal.4:19). who, upon
beholding His glory are changed (fashioned) into the same image
from glory to glory by His Spirit - 1Cor.3:18. This is the same
Holy
Spirit which always was to be with you (Matt.28:20) in your
spirit, and
"worketh in you transforming your soul and mind) both to
will and to
do of His good pleasure" (Phil.2:13; Isa.26:12)) and by this
"it is your
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Lk.12:32) wherein
you might rule and reign in glorified flesh.
Oh, "that ye would walk worthy of God. who hath called you
to His
kingdom and glory.'' 1Ths.2:12. Oh that God would count us
worthy of the prize (that "exceeding great"
Gen.15:1...even "full
reward''- 2Jn.8) of His high calling, "that ye may be
counted worthy
of the kingdom of God. for which ye also suffer" (2Ths.1:5).
for only
"he that ovcrcometh'' shall be accounted worthy of the full
reward -
Rev.3:4,5. Paul states. speaking only of those that are led by
the
Spirit of God which dwelleth in them, "For I reckon that the
sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.'' Ro.8:18. "For our light
affliction.
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
and
eternal weight of glory." 2Cor.4:7.
Peter proclaims. ''Rejoice...when His glory shall be revealed
(bodily
manifested in saints), ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy"
(1Ptr.4:13)...wherefore Jesus had prayed "that they might
have my
joy fulfilled in themselves" (Jn.17:13)...not in spirit
only, but also in
body. This glory is first of all that full salvation ready to be
revealed (in us) in the last time, an inheritance incorruptible
and
undefiled (eternal and immortal), a lively hope (1Ptr.1:3-5)
"waiting
for the adoption (inheritance). namely the redemption of our
body. For we are saved by hope" (Ro.8:23,24) even the hope
of
Christ being formed in us as our hope of glory (Col.1:27), His
full
glory to be revealed in them who shall be heirs of His full
salvation -
Heb.1:14.
"When the Lord shall build up Zion (even "His
people" - Isa.51:16),
which spiritual and natural building He is now fitly framing
together (in
one) unto a holy temple (even one holy body) for the eternal
habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph.2:21,22), then shall He
appear IN His glory - Psa.102:16. For the Lord hath chosen Zion.
He hath desired it (them bodily) for His glorious habitation, and
"through the Spirit" will He rest and dwell in Zion -
Psa.132:13,14.
Yes. His full glory will first be made evident, appearing in
God's
servant Israel (Isa.49:3) they who are now God's glory -
Isa.46:13.
Who are these Israelites "to whom pertaineth the adoption,
and the
glory?" Ro.9:4. Surely they are not the body of Jews who
have
always remained rigidly joined unto the old covenant law! God had
promised He would not give His glory unto other than Israel
(Isa.48:11), so without breaking His promise. He gave Christ to
the
Gentile nations. who individually become the newly adopted
"Israel of
God" (Gal.6:16) through faith in Christ - Gal.3:7; 26-29.
In the ages to come, the knowledge of the glorious body of the
Lord
shall fill the earth, as the anointings of His Spirit shall cover
all
humanity (Habk.2:14) for "the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed
(even in flesh) and all flesh shall see it together."
Isa.40:5. "And the
heathen shall know that I am the Lord...when I shall be
sanctified
in you before their eyes.'' Ezk.36:23. Yea. God's glory (even His
reign and dominion) shall be set among the heathen and all the
heathen shall see his judgment; and so the heathen, as well as
the
whole house of Israel (body of Christ), shall acknowledge the
presence
of the Lord's glory in his people from that day forth -
Ezk.28:22;
39:21,22. Then "the heathen shall know that I do sanctify
Israel,
when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forever
more."
Ezk.37.28.
Therefore "sing. O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel...the.
Lord hath
taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy (for the
light of his glory, the out-raying of light and power, will have
dispelled the thick darkness within, causing the iniquity to pass
from them [Zec.3:4], and all things that offend shall be gathered
out -
Matt.13:43)... the Lord is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not
see evil
anymore.'' Zep.3:14, 15.
Know that He is in the midst of the temple whom ye are, for
behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them
always, by tabernacling in them and walking in them - 2Cor.6:16;
Rev.21:3. This is how "He that sitteth on the throne shall
dwell
among them" (Rev.7:15), for when the Son of man shall come
in his
glory (even in spiritual Israel - Isa.49:3) which also is His
kingdom
(Matt.16:28) within your heart (Lk.17:21)...then shall He sit
(take
rest) upon the throne of his glory (Mat.2S:3 I), even in the
throne
of His glory - Matt.19:28.
"Glorious things are spoken of thee O city of God''
(Psa.87:3), for at
that time they shall call Jerusalem (God's perfected spiritual
city of
immortal holy people - Isa.60:14; 52:1-3) the throne of the Lord
(Jer.3:l 7) and "the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire
round about, and
will be the glory in the midst of her." Zec.2:5. Once again,
the
sight of the glory of the Lord shall be like a devouring fire on
the top
of the mount (upon Mt. Zion, his overcomers) in the eyes of the
children of Israel (Ex.24: 17)..."for all the earth shall be
devoured with
the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a
pure
language (the true life giving words of God - Psa.12:6;
Prv.22:21) that
they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one
consent.'' Zec.3:9.
"And the Lord shall be king over all the earth...and princes
shall rule in
judgment." Isa.32:1. "In that day there shall be one
Lord and his
name one'' (Zec.14:9), for this shall be the day when
"living waters
shall go out from Jerusalem'' (Zec.14:8), even from the glorified
house of the Lord (Jl.3:18), "and everything shall live
whither the
river (of His glorious life) cometh.'' Ezk.47:9. Restoring floods
(of
God's Spirit) shall come again upon the dry ground even the land
of
the soul (Isa.43 and 44), for the deeps of the rivers (of death)
shall
have dried up when the pride of man is brought down and the
scepter
(rule) of Egypt (former kingdoms of the inner and outer world)
shall
have departed away - Zec.10:1.
The glorious scepter of righteous judgment (Oba.1:21)of His
kingdom
shall be given to the overcoming people of the saints of the most
high
(Dan.7:18-27) when Shiloh (perfect rest) shall come (and be
manifested in them - Ro.8:18,19). And unto Him (His manifest
glory in the firstfruit people of God who have entered into that
glorious rest - Heb.4:9,10) shall the gathering of the people be
-
Gen.49:10. See also Isa.60:4,5; 56:8; 52:8; 43:9, 11,12;
Jer.31:12;
Psa.133:1; 122:3; 102:22; 50:5; Eph.1:10; 4:13; Phil.2:2;
1Cor.1:10;
2Ths. 2:1; Matt.24:30 etc. Then, "the burden of the word of
the Lord
shall be the rest thereof'' ...when the eyes of man as of all the
tribes of
Israel shall be toward the Lord - Zec.9:1. See Zec.8:2--23 then
Isa.45:14.
In that day, the full glory of the Lord shall be evident in His
sons
(Isa.60:l-3) because they shall be outwardly, manifestly
glorified -
lsa.60:9; Ro. 8:17-19. Then,''surely shall one say, in the Lord
have I
righteousness and strength; even to him (them - Vs. 14) shall men
come...in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and
shall
glory.'' lsa.45:24, 25. ''And I will strengthen them in the Lord:
and
they shall walk up and down in His name (glorious nature)"
(Zec.10:12) and the Lord will be the hope of his people and the
strength of the children of Israel (Jl.3:16), "for all
people will walk
every one in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of
the
Lord our God for ever and ever." Mic.4:5. "Blessed is
he (Mrk.11:10
says "they") that cometh in the name of the Lord.''
Matt.23:39.
Though it may seem an impossibility to enter into a glory such as
is
depicted in God's word, nevertheless, the Bible proclaims a true
and
glorious destiny awaiting the children of God. Even harder to
imagine
or hope for, is the fact that all of humanity is destined to
eventually
inherit and share in a part of the glory associated with the
divine
nature of Jesus Christ. In the next chapter ("With What Body
Do they
Come?") we will see that his glorious hope of new life in
the coming
resurrections, is God's only method of bringing his creatures to
their
final destined glory. There is a major counterfeit method which
is
totally unscriptural, yet adhered to by many. We will examine
this first
in the light of God's holy word.
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all
ye that
hope in the Lord.'' Psa.31:24.
"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
forever,
amen." Matt.6:13.
K. Ross McKay
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