THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CHURCH IN REGARDS TO 2nd COMING

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CHURCH

in regards to the Second Coming

• The world at present cannot identify and appraise the true "children of God."

1 John 3:1 "The world knoweth us not" - Blind to spiritual values. This does not mean that the world does not recognize a Christian.

 

• The manifestation of the members of the church will take place at the Second Coming of Christ

Col. 3:4 "When Christ who is our life shall appear (janerow phaneroo fan-er-o'-o)then shall we also appear with him in glory."

•  This manifestation "in glory" will include a fourfold Revelation

1. Rev. of Identity - 1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

2. Rev. of Appearance - 1 John 3:2b "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

3. Rev. of Character - Rev. 19:14 with 8 Plutarch - "Character is a long standing habit." "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

4. Rev. of Word - Rev. 20:6, Jude 14-15 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

• So important is this manifestation that all creation waits for it

Rom. 8:19 Wait with neck outstretched. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."

Rom. 8:20-22  All of nature has a minor note. "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now."

• This manifestation of the Church will bring glory to Christ

2 Thess. 1:7-10 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."

Cf. John 17:10 "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them."

• We should remember that already we are being prepared for the rooming day of manifestation

Col. 1:27-28 "Christ in you the hope of glory" If we expect to put on glory we must possess the inward glory.

 

• This coming Day of Manifestation should help us to endure our present disciplinary sufferings

Rom. 8:18 ff. "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."

• This hope should lead us to pray for one another and to strive to be counted worthy

2 Thess. 1:10-12 "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."