7. The Manifestation of the Church with Christ.
The last time the world saw the Lord Jesus He
was alone - all alone in death. But when He returns to this earth He
will not be alone. His saints will accompany Him. He is the "Firstborn among
many brethren" (Rom. 8:29), and when He appears again they will be with Him.
"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless
come again, bringing His sheaves with Him" (Ps. 126:6). Yes, that
blessed One who humbled Himself to become the Sower shall return with "His
sheaves" - "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints" (Jude
1:14).
"The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of
God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may
also glorified together. 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"
(Rom. 8:16-18). Observe that "the glory" here mentioned is to be
revealed, and revealed in us; and further, that it is a glory
which we shall share with Christ `glorified together." When will this
glory be "revealed in us" together with Christ? The answer is at the time of
His return to this earth, for "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:4) - "in glory" for
before this, our present bodies will have been "fashioned like unto His
glorious body." It is in connection with this appearing of Christ with His
saints in glory that we read, "For the earnest expectation of the creation
waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Rom. 8:10). In that
day the sons of God - whose life is now "hid with Christ in God" - will
be manifested manifested with Christ in glory. Then will our Lord's
prayer be fully answered - "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as
Thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us:
that the world may believe that Thou has sent me. And the glory which Thou
gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one"
(John 17:20-22).
"Soon shall come that glorious day
When, seated on Thy throne,
Thou shalt to wondering world's display
That Thou with us art One."
These are the Results of the
Redeemer's Return as they affect the Church - results in part for the half hath
not been told. The Lord Himself descends from Heaven with a shout, awakening
the sleeping saints and translating them together with living believers, to
meet Him in the air. Then, all are conformed to the image of God's Son and
made "like Him." Next, the saints appear before the Bema that their works may
be examined and their service rewarded. Finally, as Christ prepares to return
to the earth, He sets the Church, now glorious within and without, alongside of
Himself, and as He appears before the eyes of the world the Church appears with
Him, to be the object of never-ending wonderment and admiration as it is seen
what great things the Lord hath wrought for those who were by nature children
of wrath and deserving of nought but eternal condemnation. In view of such a
prospect must we not long for God to hasten the glad day of our Lord's return,
and are we not compelled to cry "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus"!