The Coming of the Lord Jesus for his Saints!
“I JESUS have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. And the Spirit and the bride say, COME…He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:16–20).
The thought of the Lord’s coming should lift us outside the presence of men, whether great or small. It will if it is a living hope in our souls, and we shall labor only to be acceptable to HIM (2 Corinthians 5:9).
His coming will be the end, not only of a path of suffering, but of privilege, and service, and testimony. Already we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him (Ephesians 1), and that cannot be improved upon. These are tasted now by the Holy Spirit in an earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7); then we shall know them in an unspeakable fullness in a glorified body. (1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 3:21).
CHRISTIANITY IS UNIQUE. We wait for Him, to be with Him in His glory, but we are with Him now in His suffering. David’s followers shared his suffering and rejection, and afterwards his glorious reign, for David could not be suffering and reigning at the same moment. Our Lord is rejected here, and HERE we suffer with Him. He is accepted with the Father, and we are accepted THERE in Him, the Beloved.
He is “the Son,” we are sons (Galatians 4:6); one with Him in life and nature (John 14:20; Hebrews 2:11); His body and His bride (Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:25–27). We wait for Him; but even now He dwells within our hearts, the cause and object of bridal affection which go forth to Him in the Spirit’s power. He will come again, and that quickly, in answer to these affections (Revelation 22:17). It was so at His first coming (Luke 1:2).
The Creator and Incarnate Heir of all has been cut off and cast out of His inheritance, but at His coming He will put the church right, and afterwards the world also. He will unite heaven and earth under His glorious sway, and through the heavenly city, the holy Jerusalem, He will flood creation with the glory of God (Revelation 21:22–27).
