Were we to go into the field of the New Testament scriptures in order to gather up fragments of the glories of coming days, we find them there, perhaps not in profusion, but certainly enough to enjoy.
Notices of coming glories shine out here and there when various subjects of present interest to the saints are under consideration.
We know that in the coming days of the kingdom there will be both the earthly and heavenly realms, with direct communication between them. Instances throughout the four gospels illustrate these two realms.
Thus, the Lord Jesus entered the city of the daughter of Zion as her King. All that was needed to set Him forth in that glory for a moment waited on Him. The ass and its owner, the palm branches and hosanna’s, the whole material and mind of the scene aided in giving us a preview of the days of the King of Israel. The Greeks are presented as coming up to see the King in His beauty, suggesting to us a further glimpse of His glories in that day.
Earthly
All this, however, was simply and entirely earthly. No glimpse of heaven appears. It is Messiah in His place on earth, King in Zion, accepting the homage of the nations.
But in Matt. 17, another place is seen: the earth in the persons of Peter, James and John, the higher heavens, or as it is called "the excellent glory" in the voice that breaks forth upon the scene.
This is something very fine, and very comprehensive. We have coming millennial days anticipated here. We have notices of the heavens and of the earth in their separate places. And then we have the connections and medium and communication which are to be established between them. While there will be a higher heaven, an excellent glory, a Father's house not revealed to sight, there will be also a people in flesh and blood on the earth. There will be a display of heavenly glory in the sight of the earthly people, and communication maintained between them and the translated saints. The throne and the footstool shall be but different parts of one great system.
The Excellent Glory
This is a fine anticipation of coming days. The Lord again intimates "the excellent glory" under the title of the "Father's house" in John 14. He lets us know that it is a wealthy place, a many-mansioned house, the dwelling of the family, the homestead in the realms of the highest glory. Thus we are gathering fragments.
These are distant scenes. There are nearer scenes also thrown open to our sight in these same scriptures of the New Testament. We have the spirit of the Lord Himself before resurrection taken to and by the Father (Luke 23). Then we have the glorified body of the Lord after resurrection, translated to heaven (Luke 24).
We have instructions as to ourselves in each of these things. We are taught to know that should we die, as Jesus died, before the day of resurrection, our spirits will be received by Him in paradise, or heaven.
Luke 23:43,43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43) Acts 7:59,59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59) 2 Cor. 5:8,8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) and Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23) teach us this. Should we live till the day of resurrection, we are taught to know that we shall then be glorified and translated in company with those saints who have already died and gone in spirit to Jesus. 1 Cor. 15:42-54,42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:42‑54) and 1 Thess. 4:14-1714For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:14‑17) teach us this.
The World to Come
After this translation, certain and divine scenes are disclosed to us. The heaven that is set for the execution of judgment on this present evil world, is opened to our sight (Rev. 4). Actions which take their course, while that heaven continues, are presented to us in the progress of the same book. But in turn judgment is all executed, and then succeeds the heavens set for the ministration of government of the "world to come," or the millennial earth. This is apparent in Rev. 20-22.
The world that is to be the scene of righteousness under the heavenly scepter of the glorified Lord and His saints will have its end. The heaven set for the ministration of government will have fulfilled its course, as well as the heaven set for the judgment. Then we get another scene of glory opened to our view. There is the great white throne trying everything. Then the new heaven and the new earth are introduced by the judgment of this great white throne, as the millennial heavens and earth had been introduced by the judgment executed under heaven from the throne of Rev. 4.
Here the series of glories ends. Various scenes and regions have thus unfolded themselves to us in their different characters throughout the New Testament scriptures. We are to glean in that fruitful field, to gather up fragments which lie there, left by the hand of Him who is preparing for the feast-days of eternity.
If we had a heart for the feast itself, we should occupy ourselves more diligently and joyfully in this kind of gleaning that goes before the harvest. But we fail in affection. We are wanting in desire. Present interests divert the heart and do not allow the eye, the thought, and the hope to tarry where notices of coming glories shine! May we apply ourselves now to gleaning, that our appetites may he whetted for the coming feast. Words of Truth