From “Feast of Tabernacles,” Chapter 14- Tabernacles – The Feast of His Appearing, continued
THE COMING OF THE LORD
There has been a general misunderstanding of the Word of God throughout Christendom concerning the truth of the coming of the Lord; for it is clear as we consider all the Scriptures on the subject, that the Lord’s coming is a spiritual visitation in the midst of His people, as well as a literal and bodily visitation. James therefore associates the bestowal of the latter rain with the “coming” of the Lord: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he (it) receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” (Jas. 5:7,8.) Notice in this passage how the truth concerning the latter rain is sandwiched between these two statements concerning the “coming of the Lord.”
The word commonly translated “coming” in the New Testament is “parousia,” which signifies “presence,” or “a being alongside.” It is therefore used of the coming of men in the flesh, as well as of the coming of Christ. That the word signifies “presence” more than the act of one’s arrival, is evident from 2 Pet. 1:16.17. In this passage Peter describes the glorious visitation of God on the mount of transfiguration as the “coming,” the “parousia,” the “presence” of Christ. Now Christ had already come in the flesh; the four men had walked together up the mountain; but here was a “coming” of the Lord not previously known. And so he says, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Notice how the apostle associates the power and coming of Christ with the glory of God that appeared in the hour of Christ’s transfiguration. In fact, the Lord Himself explains that this visitation of the Glory was in reality, the very Kingdom of God. In each of the three accounts where the scene is recorded the story is preceded with the remark: “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:27.) Matthew describes it as “the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matt. 16:28.) Mark refers to it as “the kingdom of God come with power.” (Mk. 9:1.) and Peter combines the two statements in the words, “The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” GHW
From my wife, Jan. The seed of Christ will grow into all the earth and fill it up with God’s righteousness because she will never be plucked out or removed. When Jesus fell into the ground as the seed and died, it fertilized the earth with spiritual righteousness. When a seed dies it springs forth to life again. This is the law of the natural seed in the earth and it is the law of the spirit seed in the earth. It cannot be plucked up. It grows, and grows, and grows like a mustard seed. Jesus used parables to describe His kingdom in the earth and never once did He say His kingdom shall be removed from the earth. Saints, His kingdom is here to stay and her roots cannot and will not ever be taken out of the earth. Satan never has and never will be able to pluck out the kingdom of God. Satan and his kingdom will instead be taken out of this earth.
Jesus said as it was in the days of Noah shall it be again. When the earth was overrun with sin, only a world wide judgment could bring Satan’s plans to a complete stop. So, who was taken out of the earth and who was kept in the earth during God’s judgment? We clearly see God removing the wicked from His earth and we see God preserving eight people, the number of new beginnings, in the middle of His harsh action against the wicked. He keeps eight people alive right here. He clearly did not need to remove them from the world. He kept His people safe during the weeding out of the wicked. And Jesus said its going to happen this way again.
No there will not be another worldwide flood, but there will be another worldwide judgment upon the wicked. Even as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be again. Those who are God’s will behold the reward of the wicked, not from the heavens, but from right here on the earth. This is how Noah and his family also witnessed judgment upon the wicked, from right here on the earth. Jesus knew many would make the connection with what He was saying concerning another massive worldwide judgment. We don’t need to be taken out of here any more than Noah and his family needed to be taken out of the earth. God could have done it that way if He wanted to but He did not want to do it that way. Why? After the judgment, Noah and his family inherited a new earth. After a second judgment on a massive scale, the Bride of Christ will also inherit a new earth during a 1000 year millennial reign with Christ. Jesus made it clear that as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be again. Not a worldwide flood this time around ….but fire….the fire of the living God will take out the wicked.
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