The Harp of God Part 37

Do the Scriptures indicate how many will be in the bride cla.s.s? If so, give the proof. -- 460.

What do the Scriptures show the Lord does for the faithful saints who died long ago when he first returns? Give the Scriptural proof. -- 461.

What is meant in the Scriptures by a great shout? -- 462.

State how this has been fulfilled. -- 462.

What is meant by the voice of the archangel? -- 462.

Should we expect the resurrection of the saints during this time? -- 463.

How is he gathering unto himself the saints who are still on earth during his presence? -- 463.

Give some Scriptural promises concerning the church being forever with the Lord. -- 463.

What is meant by the kingdom of G.o.d? -- 464.

Who const.i.tute the royal family of heaven? Quote the apostle Peter's words relating to this. -- 464.

What promise did Jesus make to this cla.s.s concerning a kingdom? -- 465.

Where will these be a.s.sociated with the Lord Jesus in his kingdom? -- 465.

For what kingdom did the Lord teach his disciples to pray? and is it the same spoken of by the prophets of old? -- 465.

Who have enjoyed and are enjoying the blessedness spoken of by Daniel the Prophet in Daniel 12:12? -- 466.

As these appreciate this string of the harp, what song is appropriate to them? -- 466.

While the saints thus rejoice, for what do they patiently wait? and to what do they look forward? -- 467.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER X

String 9: _Glorification of the Church_

The church means a called out cla.s.s, separate and distinct from all others. The church of Christ consists of Jesus Christ the head and the 144,000 members of his body. (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 7:4) Those composing this special cla.s.s are otherwise designated saints. A saint is one who is pure, holy, blameless. The followers of Christ Jesus are not holy or blameless within themselves, but their holiness is by virtue of his imputed merit. This same cla.s.s of Christians is otherwise designated in the Bible as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a purpose". (1 Peter 2:9) They are also designated new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17); therefore they const.i.tute the new creation. This new creation when completed will be of the divine nature.

(2 Peter 1:4) Nature is determined by organism. The nature of the church, then, will be like unto Jehovah G.o.d. It pleased G.o.d that Jesus Christ, his beloved Son, should have preeminence in his great plan; hence he is made the head of the new creation.--Colossians 1:18.

[469]This new creation had its beginning with Jesus Christ at the time of his baptism in Jordan when he was begotten to the divine nature and anointed with the holy spirit without limitation. As a man, he was pure, blameless, holy. At the age of thirty years, he was qualified under the law to be a priest, and there he consecrated himself and at that time was baptized and begotten to the divine nature; hence became a new creature there from the divine standpoint. As a new creature he was made perfect by the things which he suffered.--Hebrews 5:8.

[470]From the time of his baptism he was opposed by Satan the devil, who sought to destroy him. The reason for this opposition lay in the fact that when G.o.d sentenced Adam to death he had said unto Satan: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel". (Genesis 3:15) The woman here symbolized or typified the Abrahamic-Sarah covenant, from which the seed of promise springs. As Isaac was the son of promise, so the church was typified by Isaac. (Galatians 4:25-29) The seed of promise is therefore the new creation. The seed of the serpent consists of those agencies visible and invisible which are his offspring, and which are used by him for his wicked work. In Jesus' day the scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law were cla.s.sed as the offspring of Satan, his seed (John 8:44); and it has been true at all times that many who have pretended to be Christians are really the seed of Satan and engage in persecuting others who love the Lord.

[471]Immediately after the baptism of Jesus he went up into a mountain in the wilderness to study G.o.d's plan and to meditate upon it, that he might be instructed in the way that Jehovah would have him go; and when this season of forty days was ended and he came forth, he was subjected to a great temptation by the devil. Jesus resisted all of these efforts of Satan. (Luke 4:1-13) Jesus, the head of the seed of promise, was the target of Satan's instruments. For three and a half years he suffered daily at the hands of Satan and those who represented him, namely, those human beings who possessed the devilish spirit. During that period of three and a half years he was indeed a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; but all this suffering was necessary for his perfection as a new creature. (Hebrews 5:8,9) Because of his faithfulness, his fidelity and loyalty to G.o.d even unto death, he won the great victory, became an overcomer. Hence we read: "Wherefore G.o.d 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 things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of G.o.d the Father". (Philippians 2:9-11) The members of the body of Christ, the members of the church, must follow in his footsteps.--1 Peter 3:21.

PREDESTINATED

[472]While the selection of the new creation began with the baptism of Jesus, G.o.d had foreordained long in advance that there should be a church, of which Jesus Christ is the head. St. Paul wrote: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."--Ephesians 1:4-9.

[473]The world referred to here means the social and political order existing from the time of the flood until the coming of the Lord's kingdom, and is designated in the Scriptures as the present evil world.

St. Paul therefore says that before the foundation of this world G.o.d made provision for the choosing of the members of the church. He did not choose the individuals, but he predestinated or foreordained that there should be such a church or new creation, and that these should be adopted as his children through his beloved Son Jesus Christ, and should become the members of his household, and that these should be made in the image and likeness of Christ Jesus the head. (Romans 8:29) As we view the experiences through which Jesus pa.s.sed, we may expect to find that the body members would have similar experiences; and this we do find.

[474]Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus was the day of Pentecost. There went forth the call to the remnant of the Jews to come unto the Lord, accept Jesus as their head and be transferred from Moses into Christ and become the members of the 144,000, const.i.tuting the church. A call means an announcement or an invitation. The call here signified an announcement of G.o.d's purpose of electing the members of the church and an invitation to those of the right heart condition to accept that invitation. Many were called, but only a few responded to that call and were chosen. (Matthew 22:14) For three and a half years this call was confined to the Jews, at the end of which time Cornelius, the first gentile, was granted the gospel. He heard, believed on the Lord and fully consecrated himself to do G.o.d's will, and was accepted.

(Acts 10) From that time forward the call has been general to any one who might desire to respond to the terms and follow in the Master's footsteps.

[475]For this purpose the gospel has been preached, that men might know of the plan of G.o.d and understand that he is selecting the church. Men of worldly wisdom have given no heed to the gospel. To them it has been foolishness. And so St. Paul wrote: "For after that in the wisdom of G.o.d the world by wisdom knew not G.o.d, it pleased G.o.d by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of G.o.d, and the wisdom of G.o.d. Because the foolishness of G.o.d is wiser than men; and the weakness of G.o.d is stronger than men,"--1 Corinthians 1:21-25.

[476]This message of Christ Jesus, the crucified one, the selection of the church and the setting up of his kingdom, was a stumblingblock to the Jews; they could not understand; they would not believe. And to most of the gentiles it seemed foolishness. It was not foolishness, however.

It was the greatest wisdom. A few have responded to this divine wisdom.

The man, however, who thought himself wise would not become a follower of Jesus. It was not a popular thing. And so it has ever been throughout the gospel age that those who have really come to the Lord, made a consecration and followed in his footsteps, have been the meek and lowly of heart who are anxious to know the Lord and his great plan. Hence St.

Paul writes: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many n.o.ble, are called; but G.o.d hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and G.o.d hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath G.o.d chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence".--1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

[477]The thought here is that ultimately no creature will ever be standing in Jehovah's presence boasting of what he did. But all those who compose the church will realize that all they have came to them as a gracious gift from Jehovah. To those who have really had the desire to know and serve the Lord the call has been and is beautiful indeed. Such have been thrilled with the gracious words of Jehovah spoken through his prophet, inviting them to become members of the royal family of heaven.

The Psalmist wrote: "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and wors.h.i.+p thou him".--Psalm 45:10,11.

[478]As Jesus is the Son of G.o.d, so the church, the bride of Christ, is the daughter of G.o.d. Hence the Psalmist speaks to her here, inviting those who are to become the daughter to forget their own people and their earthly father's house and earnestly and willingly follow in the Master's footsteps. These are invited to wors.h.i.+p the Lord and grow in his likeness and thereby become beautiful; and it is that beauty, the character-likeness of the Lord, that he desires.

DEVELOPMENT

[479]The development of the church is not an instantaneous matter. It is a gradual process. Some have erroneously thought and taught that a man might be wicked all his life and then on his deathbed confess his sins, accept Christ, become a Christian and die and go immediately to heaven.

There is no Scripture that warrants such a conclusion. Time is required for the development of the Christian. He must first repent; that is to say, become displeased with the wrongful course of the world, change his own course and seek the Lord. He must become converted, turn away from a wrongful course and turn to the Lord. He must be drawn to the Lord Jesus, make a full consecration, be accepted of the Lord, presented to the Father, justified, and begotten of the holy spirit, before he becomes a new creature; and from that time forward he must develop. He must have the opportunity to pa.s.s through, and must pa.s.s through, many experiences and by these experiences learn the lessons that G.o.d desires the members of the new creation to learn.

[480]A boy or a girl in school who is being trained for a special purpose is required to have some hard mental exercise in order to develop the mind. For this reason many mathematical problems are required of the pupil; and other lessons are required to develop the mental faculties. One who is training for a race or other physical contest is required to have some strenuous experiences. With stronger reasoning are these principles true relative to the members of the new creation. These are being trained for the high and exalted position of members.h.i.+p in the royal family of heaven. Hence we may not be surprised to find often that their training is quite severe. The understanding of this requirement enables one to appreciate why Christians have never been popular and why they have suffered so much during the past nineteen centuries.

[481]The Psalmist wrote concerning the new creation; "I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." (Psalm 69:8,9) Jesus became a stranger to the Jews in this, that they despised and rejected him.

Because of his zeal for the heavenly Father's great plan, his earthly life was consumed. Satan had reproached Jehovah from the time of Eden; and now these reproaches fell upon Jesus. We should expect the body members to have similar experiences. And so the Apostle quotes this text and applies it to those who are the followers of Jesus, saying, "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me".--Romans 15:3.

[482]G.o.d is a great economist. He makes the wrath of men and other creatures to result to his own praise. Satan and his seed have always persecuted and buffeted the Christians, and Jehovah has caused this persecution to result in the development of the members of the body of Christ. He could have prevented the church from suffering at Satan's hands had he desired so to do; but by being permitted to buffet them with trying experiences, Satan has demonstrated his own depraved character, and the resistance of the church has shown their love and devotion to the Lord and thus developed characters that are pleasing unto him.

[483]When one first becomes a Christian he does not usually suffer so much as later, when he is more developed. He is at first designated in the Scriptures as a babe in Christ. As we deal with babes, so our heavenly Father deals with his baby children. As earthly babies are fed upon milk and other light diets, so is one when he first becomes a Christian; and his experiences are in harmony therewith, as the apostle Peter says: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby".--1 Peter 2:2.

[484]The Apostle then ill.u.s.trates the growth of a Christian by likening the entire new creation to a building, with Jesus as the chief corner-stone and the other members of the body as built up in harmony with him. He says: "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

[Those who have been begotten of the holy spirit have tasted that the Lord is gracious.] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of G.o.d, and precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to G.o.d by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient."--1 Peter 2:3-8.

[485]Paraphrasing these words, the Apostle states that Jesus is the chief corner-stone. He is the Head of the elect; he is the precious One.

Those who believe on him, to such he is precious; and those who hold fast to that belief shall not be confounded. To believe means to act by fully consecrating oneself to do the Lord's will. This great One, the Lord Jesus, has been and is a stumbling-stone and a rock of offense to those who have not believed. Those who have not appreciated the fact that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and that it is a privilege to suffer with him, have been offended and turned away from him. It is a great privilege to suffer with Christ. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."--Philippians 1:29.

[486]The course of the world is directly opposite to the course of the Christian; hence the Christian finds that he must constantly put forth an effort to develop. For this reason the apostle Peter wrote: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue [that is, fort.i.tude, steadfastness, being determined to stand for the truth and on the side of right]; and to virtue knowledge [in order to do this one must study the Word of G.o.d, not only occasionally, but regularly, systematically]; and to knowledge temperance [which means self-control, learning to control oneself under provocation, being calm, gentle, self-possessed, trusting in the Lord]; and to temperance patience [which means cheerful endurance, no matter how fiery the trials are; to endure cheerfully because it is pleasing to the Lord and because it makes a strong character]; and to patience G.o.dliness [which means to grow in the likeness of the Lord, with piety, purity]; and to G.o.dliness brotherly kindness [which means that kind and loving disposition that exists and should exist between those who are really brothers]; and to brotherly kindness charity," or love which means an unselfish desire to do good and doing good to others even at a sacrifice to ourselves.--2 Peter 1:5-7.

[487]When we recognize that the course of the world is exactly opposite to this, we may know it requires a warfare, a constant vigilance, and the subjection to persecution because of misunderstanding. But if we do these things, we shall make our calling and election sure. The Apostle puts it thus: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".--2 Peter 1:10,11.