What God Hath Said on the Second Coming of Christ and the End of the Present Age: Part 6

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When, then, will this glorious redemption of the body take place?
1 Corinthians 15:23-2523But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:23‑25). “But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end.” Most clearly, then, the Spirit of God teaches that the resurrection of the sons of God, they who are Christ’s will take place at His coming. And for this event all believers waited at Corinth, as well as at Rome. “Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:77So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Corinthians 1:7)). Mark, it does not say all shall rise together; but “every man in his own order.” Christ has risen – the first-fruits. Blessed pledge of certainty! Then “afterward.” Who would have thought 1800 years were in that word “afterward”? Now, if there have been 1800 years, at least, between the resurrection of Christ, the Head, and the body – they that are His, may there net, as assuredly there will be 1000 years between the resurrection of the saved, the first resurrect; on, and the rest of the dead, who live not, again until the 1000 years are fulfilled? (Rev. 20).
It may be asked, But how does the resurrection of the dead in Christ at His coming, affect the question of the redemption of our poor groaning bodies who are alive in them, seeing we are not vet fallen asleep? How can we and all believers be waiting for the redemption of the body at the coming of Christ? As to that, “Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eve,” (1 Cor. 15:51-5251Behold, 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. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52)). To this agree the words of the Spirit (1 Thess. 4), on which I hope to speak shortly. Now, as we go through the epistles, we shall find, it was for this very event that all believers, in all places, in the days of the apostles waited. Not for the unclothed state of the soul, blessed as that is. The apostle says, “Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life” (2 Cor. 5:44For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)).
The Epistle to the Galatians, being the defense of the blessed truth of justification, this subject is not dwelt upon. Also, as the Ephesians presents, that aspect of the church, as already raised and seated in Christ in heavenly places, of course, the subject of the church’s hope is not introduced. But in the Philippians, where the church is looked at more in the service of the gospel, and pressing forward through a weary world, then this blessed hope, and no other, is distinctly presented, “for our conversation (or citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)). Those who know the Greek tell us that this passage should be, “We look for the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.” O! what a contrast this blessed hope of primitive days. to the modern dread of Jesus as a terrible judge. How sweet it is to a mother’s heart, when she returns from a journey, to see her little child’s longed-for face at the window; it claps its little hands, and would fly through the window to meet her. Surely, no mother would have her child dread her return as a terrible tyrant. When Jesus left His chosen ones on Olivet, He lifted up His hands and blessed them, and as He blessed them He was parted from them. In like manner will He return; while to the rejecting world He comes as a terrible judge. Yet, O sinner, saved by grace, the first sight thou shalt have of Him who loved thee, and washed thee in His own blood, will be with uplifted hands of blessing. O! view Him coming as Savior, to claim thee as His prize, bought with His own blood. In one moment, thy body of humiliation, sorrow and sin, shall be fashioned like unto His glorious body. What a moment! Thy last tear shall be gone. Thou shalt grieve Him no more. Thou shalt sin no more. O, what will it be to see His very face – to hear His voice; that face once wrung with deepest anguish, bearing thy sins on the tree!
Surely the certainly of all this is very precious. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)).
Is it not strange that the church of God should have so sadly forgotten her blessed hope? While in the apostles’ days it was the immediate hope of the youngest converts, as we find in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10), “How ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead.” Thus we see these young converts (for the church of God at Thessalonica was not more than about a year old) were not waiting either for the conversion of the world, or death and departure to be with the Lord; but for the Son of God from heaven. Indeed, the apostles had no other hope. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? (1 Thess. 2:1010Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: (1 Thessalonians 2:10)). Great appearances on earth – swelling the numbers of a society on earth, raising funds, and building elegant (so-called) Christian temples; for these things the apostle had not a thought, much more a hope. His eye was fixed on the appearing of Christ. For this he labored night and day, that he might win souls to Christ; that they might be the crown of his rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet men say the coming of Christ is not a practical truth. The Lord give us more of this practical waiting for Christ.
(Continued from page 139). (To be Continued).
Thou art coming, loving Savior;
Coming first to claim Thine own.
Thou art coming, faithful Savior,
Thou couldst not abide alone.
In Thy Father’s house in glory,
Sinners saved shall dwell with
Thee; O, the sweetness of the story;
Love’s own record we shall be.