Day of Christ

The Day of Christ begins with the appearing (the epiphaneia) and kingdom (basileia ) of Jesus Christ (2 Tim.4:1) and the blazing forth of the glory of the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This is when the hope of the calling of the Mystery is realized. This is when our faith gives way to sight. This is the next event on God's prophetic clock. This is when Christ Jesus, in His role as the Head of the high calling, convenes [calls into session] His Ecclesia (Church) which is His Body. As the Great Convoker, He, alone, calls His Ecclesia into session. This marks His assumption of sovereignty over the nations. Those who have been memberd into “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” will either be raised out from among the dead, or will be changed from mortal to immortal, and will take their place, or station, in His Government. Concurrently with the many events taking place when Christ Jesus assumes sovereignty over mankind and the nations, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) will actively and aggressively restrain evil (John 16:7-13). People who sin will die for their own sin (Jer. 31:30). The Spirit will hinder transgressions because man’s conscience will have been quickened (made alive). The Day of Christ is synonymous with all of the above, including the Kingdom of God, and comes before the tribulation and the second coming (Parousia) of Christ. During the Day of Christ, heaven and earth will be governed by Christ Jesus from His heavenly Throne. This dispensation is set in contrast to the Millennium or the Day of the Lord. To say the two are the same is to say that “one-plus-one equals one.” Most all Christians realize that the Day of the Lord (i.e. the Tribulation and the Millennium) begins with revolution, bloodshed and violence which will be an unprecedented event in all of human history. The Old Testament has a lot to say about this Day—the Day of the LORD. Isaiah speaks about the Lord's imposition upon the world of His Millennial Rule; “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with wrath, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord will be many” (Isa. 66:15-16). Psalm 50:3 says; "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." Psalm 97:3; “A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about.” These verses relate to Jesus Christ Personally returning to earth to put an end to the nation’s revolt against His Rule from heaven (2 Thess. 2:1-12). When the Kingdom of God comes to Israel, it comes silently, “without observation” (Lu.17:22). It will not come suddenly or dramatically. Its’ coming is likened; “as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mk. 4:26-28). When the Kingdom comes, it comes without calamity with no harm being done to anyone. Notice a much overlooked passage; “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory” (Matt.12:19-20). Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-4 which informs us that the Kingdom (i.e God’s Government) begins with the Gentile nations. Israel will not be a nation at this time. They will still be scattered, or dispersed, among the nations. While ruling over the nations, the Lord begins His work of re-gathering the Jews. Over time, He leads them back to the Promised Land ─as believers. No unbelieving Jew will be brought back to Palestine; no, not one! The unbelieving will remain scattered among the nations. [This brings up the question; ‘What about the Israel that now is?’ All we’ll say for now is; the present Israel is not of God’s doing. When He brings them back, there will be no disputes regarding borders or whose land it is]. “And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezk.20:38). If words have any meaning, then we must conclude that something begins silently, mysteriously, without observation, without strife, without Christ being heard, and without damage being inflicted. On the other hand, something else begins (i.e. the Lord’s Day) with a colossal display of vengeance, wrath, and cataclysmic punishment which will be openly displayed. It is a contradiction to insist that the two descriptions relate to the beginning of the same event. In plainer words, the Prophetic Word informs us that there is coming the Day of Christ which is another term for the coming Kingdom of God. We are met with a non-Scriptural term, The Millennium, which relates to the 1000 year reign of Christ upon the earth. The Biblical term for this is the Day of the Lord. It is essential to distinguish between the two. The Holy Spirit does. We should do so, also. If we force all truths connected to the Day of Christ into the Day of the Lord, the result is utter confusion. Not only that, but we rob the Lord Jesus Christ of His Day of Exaltation. During the Day of Christ, He will draw, or compel, all men unto Himself. He will be exalted from the earth as every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. His Day begins with His “appearing and Kingdom,” and He begins to judge the quick and the dead. (2 Tim.4:1). This is when the glory of the great God, even Jesus Christ our Savior, blazes forth (Titus 2:13). Isaiah speaks of this event in 40:5; “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” and at the same time. What is seen is the glory of the LORD, not the LORD descending from Heaven; to this, Numbers 14:21 agrees; “But truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” When the Kingdom comes, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters covers the sea” (Hab.2:14). The Psalmist says; “And blessed be His glorious Name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory” (72:19). The world will experience the revealing of His Glory without Christ Jesus leaving His Heavenly Throne. The shining forth of the glory of God takes place before the Day of the LORD. It is noted in Isaiah's vision that the seraphim see Christ's Day and say; “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Hosts: the earth is full of His glory.” During the Day of Christ, the “times of refreshing comes from the presence of the LORD.” All things are rejuvenated while the Heavens retain Christ (Acts 3:19-21). The pristine, pre-Noah flood conditions will be re-created (Isa. 65:17; 66:22). When the Day of Christ begins, all of mankind will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and realize that Jesus Christ is LORD! Christ will begin His benevolent rule of the world. Then, He will begin converting His ancient people, Israel. Read Ezekiel 20:23-33, and notice how the Lord begins a work in their hearts and will lead them back into the Holy Land as a Christ-believing people. As the Day of Christ draws to a close, the restraints of the Spirit are gradually withdrawn.

Friday, October 19, 2012

God's Highest Calling For Today


Truth For Today

The Epistle to the Ephesians was written from a Roman prison by the Apostle Paul around 64 A.D. It was written to the saints at Ephesus and to “the faithful in Christ Jesus” anywhere. The truth contained in this epistle is the most profound truth in all the Word of God. It is the loftiest truth in the Scripture where there is no room for anything but PRAISE and PEACE from God the Father, even our Lord Jesus Christ. The “Mystery” is, here, revealed. It had been kept secret since the world began; not made known to the sons of men (Eph. 3:5); it had been hidden in God (Eph. 3:9); never revealed in the Scriptures until it was made known to the Apostle Paul by means of a special revelation (Eph. 3:3).
The great “Secret” of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is that God gave Christ to be the Head over all things to the Ecclesia which is His Body, the complement of the One (Jesus) completing the all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23).  The “all in all” I believe to be that time in the far future when God is illuminating and dwelling among men (Rev. 21:3 and 22:5).  This “Secret” concerns the “one new man” (Eph. 2: 15); “a perfect and mature man” (Eph. 4:13). Jesus Christ, as the Head of the Church, has been raised and highly exalted among the heavenly oligarchy (Eph. 1:20-21), and seats us together with Christ among the heavenlies (Eph. 1:20; 2:6).  This was not the hope or calling of previous dispensations but now, after Acts 28, it is made known that God has an election out of the earth that was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), to whom God will’s to make know (Eph. 1:27), which Secret was concealed from the eons and generations (Col. 1:26), “yet now was made manifest” (Eph. 1:26). This calling is predestined to have authority to “head up all BOTH that which is in the HEAVENS AND THE EARTH” (Eph. 1:10), over all the heavenly rulers (Eph. 4:10). It is for those who He “in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will” (Eph. l:5). The ecclesia of His Body will one day, be manifested with Christ in glory (Col 3:4.  The truths of  God’s administration of the Secret  was untraceable until revealed to Paul (Eph. 1:8-9). The epistle to the Ephesians and Colossians are immeasurably higher in dignity, and nobler in character than the glorious positions the Twelve Apostles will enjoy, as rulers, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel during Christ’s reign throughout the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God.
This company of believers called in the administration of the “Secret” have already been blessed with “all spiritual blessings among the heavenly rulers [principalities and powers]” (Eph. 1:3). This calling is viewed as having been vivified, raised, and exalted together with Christ. The Church, which is His Body is the only company and calling of God’s redeemed which is said to be ” for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ.”” (Eph. 1:12).  The “pre-expectant” Paul is referring to here are those who were believing during the Acts period into the new dispensation of God’s grace for you, the nations (Eph. 3:1).
Paul is given a revelation of such a nature that man and all his religion find no place for forms and ceremonies. We learn in the Ephesians Epistle that God is concerned with His own purpose. His Own will, His Own Son, and His Own inheritance, to wit, the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head.
Ephesians is for those who have enlightened eyes that they may see the revelation of the “Secret.” This epistle is considered as “strong meat” of the Word. It is, certainly, for those who have grown in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written for those who are faithful (i.e., full of faith). It is impossible for those who still hold to rituals, rites, forms, and ceremonies to grasp the truth recorded here. It is for those who have passed on from types and shadows and symbols. It concerns the realm of the spirit where full-grown men of God are to live, even while they are tabernacling in the flesh. As the Lord Jesus Christ grants wisdom and revelation in the Word of Truth, full-grown, mature men of God are to grow accustomed to seeing the things that are invisible, as they begin to move in mind, heart, and spirit among the invisible and eternal things.
The Epistle to the Ephesians was written after the landmark of Acts 28:28 was reached. The dispensational boundary line was crossed when Acts ended, and Israel’s hope was left behind, unfilled and set aside. The churches which had been established during the Book of Acts found that the miraculous had ceased. Signs, wonders, and miracles were no longer the order of the day, but rather, SILENCE. Perhaps, the most awesome and far-reaching pronouncement made, since the angels heralded the birth of Christ, was made in a Roman prison by the Apostle Paul when he solemnly pronounced Israel’s blindness in Acts 28. For, with his pronouncement in Acts 28:28, the “at hand” Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God Truth ended abruptly. Ephesians explains God’s purpose and silence during this present era.  God’s present purpose in his administration of grace is to write into the history of His long dealings with mankind, a complete record of the grace and demonstration of His character.  By contrast we can say that He is not, at this time, demonstrating His power, majesty, justice or judgment. He is demonstrating His grace. This is one of His present purposes in “man’s day”.
Shortly after Paul made known to the Christians that the Lord is no longer dealing on the grounds of “Israel’s hope,” but rather, on the basis of the “Secret,” they turned away from him and the new revelation. Before Paul was martyred, he testified that;
“All they that are in Asia be turned away from him (2 Tim. l :15), and all have forsaken him (2 Tim. 4:16).
Most evidently, the majority of Christians in Paul’s own day failed to acknowledge the landmark of Acts 28, as they do today. They took truth made known after Israel was set aside and read it back into the epistles Paul wrote before the “Secret” was revealed to him.
Paul told Timothy that as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, he must rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2: l 5). That is, he must differentiate between those epistles written during the age of the miraculous and those written afterward. This, we will do as we set forth, below, the two sets of epistles. Recognize that the Apostle Paul had two ministries ─ one, during the Acts period and the other, after the Acts period ended.
Ministry During the Acts Period ─ The Past Dispensation
Galatians-Hebrews
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2  Corinthians
Romans
Ministry During the Post-Acts Period ─ The Present Dispensation
Ephesians-Colossians
Philippians
Titus-Philemon
1 & 2 Timothy
Present Truth is found in these epistles written after Israel was set aside. When Paul ceased being BOUND FOR ISRAEL’S HOPE and became A PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE GENTILES, he received a new and fresh revelation.
The epistles written by Paul, after the Acts 28 crisis, are seven in number. Five are written from prison, and two are written between the Roman imprisonment, recorded in Acts 28, and the imprisonment that ended in his death.
PAUL’S SALUTATION
“PauI, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL in Christ Jesus: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).
The Apostle Paul is the writer of this epistle, and he says so in the salutation of the letter. Paul is writing this to the believing saints at Ephesus. AIl the saved are Saints; “saints” means set apart ones. You don’t wait until after you are dead for some church to make you a Saint. This epistle is, of necessity, addressed to the saved and not only that, it is addressed to the FAITHFUL. There is a big difference between being a Saint and being a FAITHFUL Saint. Remember that all the saved are “Saints,” but not all the Saints are “FAITHFUL.” The word, FAITHFUL, means “believing all that God has said.”
This letter is addressed to the Saints but, more in particular, to the ones who will believe the latest revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ. You have many people who are Saints but don’t believe the latest revelation that we have from God. The Lord would have us understand and believe the latest TRUTH we have from Him. A FAITHFUL Saint believes the latest report that he has heard from God. Now, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing (cometh) BY THE WORD OF GOD” (Rom. 10:17).
The Apostle Paul, as the “prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles,” has a special revelation that is connected with him as the Lord’s prisoner. This special revelation, given to Paul after Israel is set aside, is called Paul’s “prison ministry.” It is while he is in prison that the RISEN—ASCENDED– GLORIFIED Lord Jesus Christ gives the latest revelation to Paul the Apostle. He reveals to him a most carefully hidden secret.  As stated before, this Secret had been “hid in God.” God had kept a secret, and it had not been made known until He gave it to Paul the prisoner, by special revelation. Paul calls this special revelation to him, “the testimony of the Lord’s prisoner” in 2 Timothy 1:8. He tells Timothy not to be ashamed of this testimony. The testimony for PRESENT TRUTH is to be found in the epistles written BY PAUL, THE PRISONER, not Paul, the free man. However, don’t misunderstand:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof  for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
Present Truth for the Ecclesia or Church, which is “His Body, the complement of the One completing the all in all” is found in this peculiar cluster of epistles which we call the Prison Epistles. The FAITHFUL believe what is heard from God, not just what is written for other ages and dispensations, but to those who believe that which was written by the Lord’s prisoner. The PRISONER of the Lord is the chosen vessel to make known God’s secret purpose. It is in the Epistle to the Ephesians (and to the Colossians) that this secret is made known. The high truth concerning the Church of the One Body/His Body, is explained and revealed here. The FAITHFUL recognize Paul’s distinctive ministry as the great revelator of God’s secret purpose; that is, the purpose that God had planned before the world began, before any promises were made to any of the “fathers.” It is only the Faithful who will believe PRESENT TRUTH. That is why Paul addresses this to the Saints at Ephesus and the FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS.
As he always does, Paul bestows the blessings of “Grace and Peace” to the readers of this epistle. Grace is, of course, the main characteristic of Paul’s ministry. In Ephesians 3:2, Paul says that “the dispensation of the GRACE OF GOD is given me to you-ward.”  So, since God’s administration of GRACE was given to Paul to explain, it is natural that Paul opens his epistles with that famous salutation of his– GRACE BE TO YOU AND PEACE from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. You might notice that Grace and Peace has God the Father as the Originator and Source, and this GRACE and PEACE comes through and flows out from The Lord Jesus Christ. There is no grace or peace apart from being in Christ. The unsaved have no peace with God; they are at enmity with God, but after being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). Those that have peace with God can, also, have the peace of God(Phi1. 4:7).
If you have not made peace with God, your next move is to make Him your personal Savior.  If your heart stirred, consider this to be the work of God’s Holy Spirit.  Why not purposely decide that you will believe in God.  Confess that you will from this moment forward be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Let this be your confession of faith in Him, and let your first confession of faith be the most important one.  Your confession here and now is private and should be the one you make to God, and to Him alone. Public declarations can come later, and they should follow, but your private confession of faith in Jesus Christ should be your personal experience with God.  As you read and study God’s Word, ask Him to reaveal His knowledge to you.  As you do, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. 
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