We need all Scripture. All is given for our profit. One of our dangers is being taken up with certain parts of the sacred writings to the neglect of others. This has been apparent in the acceptance of our Lord’s coming for us as our hope without being exercised about the Lord’s reign and judgments at His appearing and kingdom. It is this latter line of things to which Peter refers when he says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn” (2 Peter 1:19). No doubt the light of unfulfilled prophecy, when received in faith, casts its light on the path we are now treading, and thus clear guidance and much blessing are vouchsafed to those who take heed unto it. The Apostle Paul, in writing to Titus, by the Spirit says, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Here the Lord’s coming and His appearing are connected, as being both looked for — not only “that blessed hope” of our Lord’s coming to receive us unto Himself, but also His “appearing” after that in manifested glory and taking His rightful place on earth as “Heir of all things” and “Lord of all.”
The Intelligence of Events
It is not that many believers are not intelligent as to the events which will follow the Lord’s coming for us and able clearly to distinguish between that blissful moment and our subsequent following Him out of heaven, when “every eye shall see Him.” But our hearts need to be in conscious sympathy with our loving Lord Jesus in His present rejection and to be therefore anticipating with joy, in deep fellowship with Himself, that glorious appearing, when He will have His rightful place of universal supremacy accorded to Him by all intelligent beings in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
The fact is that while some have been holding and rightly contending for the truth of “the church [or assembly] of God,” they seem to have let slip the truth of “the kingdom of God.” Paul was emphatically a minister of the assembly, but he tells us also that he testified “the gospel of the grace of God” and preached “the kingdom of God” (Col. 1:24-2524Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:24‑25); Acts 20:24-2524But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. (Acts 20:24‑25)). Such a prominent place in the Apostle’s public ministry had the reign of Christ and its kindred subjects that, though his visit to Thessalonica probably did not exceed three weeks, we are told that he suffered persecution for having preached “another King, one Jesus.” And in his second letter, when he referred to “the man of sin” and the Lord’s destruction of him “with the brightness of His coming,” he said, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” (2 Thess. 2:5,8).
It is a mistake, we believe, to suppose that we learn prophetic truth for soul profit by merely grouping events together as we would link together a series of political facts. It is easy for an active mind thus to occupy itself. But to have the heart and conscience so moved by the divinely-given “word of prophecy,” because it so sheds its light on our present path as to produce walk and conduct suited to it is a very different thing. For example, it is perfectly true that in a little while it will be said, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” If then the Lord’s interests are our interests and we believe He will yet be manifested as Lord of all, how can we have any relish for the political excitement and party struggles of today? Why not rather wait till “He come whose right it is” and who said, when nearing the cross, “Now is the judgment of this world”?
Sanctifying Truths
These truths are eminently sanctifying. How can they be otherwise? To suppose, therefore, that we can really hold them as divinely-given doctrines and go on in worldly and carnal associations is to do the greatest violence to them. If we really believe that it is possible the Lord may come for us before midnight, could we go on with anything today which we knew would be displeasing to Him? Should we not rather choose to suffer for His sake and do what we know would suit His mind? If we are truly waiting and watching for His return, could we spend a day without caring in some way or other for some of the members of His body? And is not caring for His household one of the special marks of a wise and faithful servant (Matt. 24:4545Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (Matthew 24:45))? Moreover, if we believe God’s Word that the world lies in the wicked one and is under judgment and the Judge is soon coming in flaming fire to carry it out and judge the quick and the dead, how can our hearts but rejoice at the thought of the once humbled Nazarene having His rightful place on this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords?
Do We Really Love
His Appearing?
Do our hearts burn within us at the thought that in a little while He will be publicly manifested as “Lord of all”? We doubt not that the comfort of accomplished redemption, the consciousness of His present ministry and care of us while He is hid in the glory, and heartfelt sympathy with Him as to His present rejection will accompany loving His appearing. How strange it must appear to the authorities and powers in heavenly places, who know by the church the manifold wisdom of God, that we are so little moved and acted on by the prospect of the Saviour’s appearing and reign! But when we are stirred in our inmost souls to be practically getting ready for His coming, then will the hope be known in brightness and power, and the more we ponder what He has told us about our reigning with Him, the more we shall realize His present rejection and love His appearing. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and of things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11)).
H. H. Snell,
The Christian Friend, 1887