EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST
FOREWORD
This volume of notes arose out of a Bible study class conducted by the Wilston ecclesia during 1979 and 1980 for which notes were produced and distributed at each class. Subsequently, the notes were distributed throughout Australia and overseas countries in their original format, but continuing demand resulted in a decision to reissue the notes in a new size and format. It is hoped that this booklet will prove to be a more convenient aid to the study and appreciation of this vital subject.
The work of Christ between his return and the beginning of the Millennium is a vast scriptural subject upon which many volumes could and have been written. The purpose of these notes has been to bring this subject within the reach of all, including young people who may be considering this wonderful subject for the first time.
In compiling these notes constant recourse has been made to the writings of our pioneers whose expositions of the prophetic scriptures have for a long season enabled Christadelphians to form a vivid mental picture of the world shattering events that are now on the horizon. The writings of Brother H.P. Mansfield have also been invaluable in treating of these matters and we acknowledge our indebtedness to his articles in the Logos Prophetic Supplement of 1970-71.
It is the hope of the Publishers that these notes may contribute something towards strengthening the vision of all who 'love Christ's appearing', that we may be found ready to share with him in the glories of the future Age and the events which will usher it in.
J.A. Cowie
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETURN OE CHRIST
The need for a clear vision of the future
The need for watchfulness
The vision of Abraham an example
The, aim of a clear vision — faith and hope
We should love Christ's appearing
Triumph through tribulation
The discipline of the Truth - Numbering our days
Constant readiness — A key to acceptance
THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES
THE JUBILEE PERIOD
Jubilee periods in the history of modern Israel
40 years of war to subdue the Nations
THE RETURN OF CHRIST
The order of events
How will we know Christ has returned to judge the Household?
The method of transportation to judgement
RESPONSIBILITY TO DIVINE JUDGEMENT
The Responsibility question
Saints and Sinners
Responsible or accountable?
THE RESURRECTION
A definition
Paul's discourse on Resurrection - 1 Cor. 15:35-54
'Sown' and 'Raised' as used in 1 Cor. 15:36-52
The condition or nature of the Resurrected Body
The three stages of Resurrection illustrated in Daniel's typical
death and resurrection — Dan. 10
THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
The locality of the Judgement Seat
Yahweh comes in from Sinai Deut. 33:2-3
From Sinai into the holy place - Psalm 68
Eloah shall come from the south Hab. 3:3-4
Sinai — The mountain of judgement
The Judgement Seat — A literal reality
The basis of Judgement — The Word
A verbal account - Romans 14:10-12
The place of the Angels at the Judgement
The Angels as ministers to the Saints
The books of judgement
A book of the life
The Book of Life
Reaping what we sow
Children at the Judgement Seat
The responsibility of parents and children
Children 'holy'
Why the period of judgement will be short
The fate of the rejected
The condition of the world at this time
THE GLORIFIED BEING
Instantaneous transformation - 1 Cor. 15:51-54
The immortal constitution
Retention of identity
Male or Female?
THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB
Joyous activity at Sinai
His wife hath made herself ready
Preparations for war
THE MARCH OF THE RAINBOWED ANGEL
The conquests of the Rainbowed Angel - Rev. 10
Synchronisation of events occuring at this time
THEGOGIAN INVASION
THE WORK OF ELIJAH
The scope of Elijah's work
'Israel' and 'Judah' in the prophetic Word
The timing of Elijah's mission
Elijah's associates - Matt. 24:30-31
THE SECOND EXODUS OF ISRAEL
Elijah's Message to scattered Israel
Returning Israel — Yahweh's weapons of war
The route of the Second Exodus
CHRIST'S MILITARY STRATEGY
Synchronisation of events
The deployment of the Saints
The Arabs subdued and disciplined
The purpose of this strategy
The conversion of the Arabs
The fate of Edom
The smiting and healing of Egypt
CHRIST AT JERUSALEM
The sacrifice in Bozrah - Isaiah 34
Edom and Bozrah typical names
Treading the winepress at Bozrah - Isa. 63:1-6
ARMAGEDDON AND ITS AFTERMATH
The great earthquake - Dramatic changes in the Land of Israel
THE REFINING OF JUDAH
THE LAND OF ISRAEL CLEANSED
The Tribal Cantons
THE SUBJUGATION OF THE NATIONS
Proclamation to the nations
The mid-heaven prophecy - Rev. 14:6-7
The response of the nations
The submission of Britain
THE LULL BEFORE THE FINAL STORM
RIVERS IN THE DESERT
THE TIME OF TROUBLE SUCH AS NEVER WAS
The destruction of Rome
A FINAL PLEA TO THE NATIONS
YAHWEH'S CONTROVERSY WITH THE NATIONS
THE DURATION OF NATIONAL JUDGEMENT
Random or selective judgement of individuals?
ISRAEL ESTABLISHED IN THE BONDS OF THE COVENANT
The return of scattered Israel
Israel enters the Land
Israel's deliverance complete
CHRIST'S REIGN ON EARTH
All nations subject to Zion's King
The Saints as king-priests
Tribute to David's son
Satan bound
A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
When and how the Temple will be built
The site of the Temple
The Holy Oblation
The Temple structure
Ground plan of the Temple
The entrance gates
The circular inner Temple
The Altar
THE FINAL CONSOLATION
INTRODUCTION
THE NEED FOR A CLEAR VISION OF THE FUTURE
A clear and vivid mental vision based upon an accurate understanding of the prophetic Scriptures is absolutely essential if saints are to maintain their integrity in their walk towards God's Kingdom in the 'midst of a crooked and perverse' generation.
After the example of Christ 'who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross'(Heb.l2:2), we need to understand and to fix our attention upon the events that will occur upon the earth after the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our privilege now to 'speak of the glory of God's Kingdom', for surely 'Yahweh will do nothing, but he revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets' (Amos 3:7). We have this assurance that if we make the things of the Kingdom 'all our salvation, and all our desire' (2 Sam.23:5) then Yahweh 'will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him'.
(Ps.l45:19).
The inevitable result of a poor or cloudy vision of the future is spiritual nakedness - i.e. the loss of our covering for sin and a return to our former unredeemed state.
Proverbs 29:18
“Where ther is no vision” - CHAZOWN – mental sight, from a root CHAZAH – to gaze at; mentally, to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specially to have a vision of.
"the people perish" – PARA – to loosen; to expose, dismiss. Note the margin of the A.V. : "naked". The word is translated 3 times as "naked,". (Note in particular Ex.32:25). Roth.- "a people is let loose" Youngs Lit. — “Without a vision is a people made named”.
THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS
In his final prophecy the Lord Jesus Christ warned his disciples that a failure to watch the signs that indicated his coming was near would result in ill-preparedness likened to nakedness.
Revelation 16:15
"Behold, I come as a thief" - The Lord bases his words upon the practises associated with the Temple guard. Every night 240 Levites and 30 priests were stationed in the precincts of the Temple to watch and guard the 24 gates of the Temple and its courts. Their duty was to remain awake and alert to prevent the entry of the unclean or forbidden. When these Levites and priests came on duty at sunset they put on a distinguishing garment of white linen. They had to stand watch until dawn without relief.
At any time during the night the chief of the Temple guards known as "the Temple captain" (Acts 4:1) could make his rounds of the Temple. On his approach the guards had to arise and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep while on duty was arraigned before his fellow guards at dawn and publicly stripped of his garment which was burnt while he was summarily dismissed from his Temple service. He departed naked and shamed before his brethren.
It is not difficult to see the parallels with our position. We, are all 'temple watchers' being charged with the responsibility of watching the doors of God’s spiritual house, to prevent the entrance of anything unclean, 2 Cor. 6:16-18. We have a linen garment' (Rev.l9:8) which we must keep ‘unspotted from the world' (Jude 25, James 1:27). We watch in the night 'until the day dawn, and the day star arise' to dispel all darkness (2 Pet.1:19, 2 Thess.5:2-7). Our head may come during any watch of the night (Matt.24:42-44) and will reject us if we are found asleep or unprepared (Matt.24:48-51). Our punishment and our shame will be known to all our brethren (1 Cor.4:5, Luke 12:2-3,1 Tim 5:24-25).
"Blessed is he that watcheth'' - GREGOREO - to keep awake, to watch. Used Matt.24:43, 1 Thess.5:6,10. In this context refers to spiritual alertness.
"keepeth" - TEREO — to watch over, take care of, keep an eye upon, observe attentively.
"garments" - Note use of garments as a symbol of a covering of imputed righteousness - Job 29:14, Rev. 19:8.
"lest he walk naked and they see his shame" - This is a return to the condition of Adam and Eve before Yahweh Elohim provided a skin of a lamb for a covering to hide their nakedness. By hiding their external shame a covering was also provided for their evil conscience and they could once
more walk in the fellowship of the Deity. This status we enjoy in Christ but it can be lost by a failure to realise that "this is the victory that over-cometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
A lively faith in the things "which God hath prepared for them that love him" is the key to our victory over the world and its carnal lusts. Failure to cultivate a clear vision of the future will soon lead to a state of spiritual slumber and then to spiritual nakedness and ultimately to a condition of
entanglement with the pollutions of the world — then "the latter end is worse than the beginning" (2 Pet.2:20-22).
THE VISION OF ABRAHAM AN EXAMPLE
The mental vision of Abraham and his response to it when he saw Christ's day is an example of the kind of vision and response which we must cultivate if we desire to be 'Abraham's children'.
John 8:56
"rejoiced" - AGALLIAO - to jump for joy, to dance. Abraham's vision of Christ's day was so vivid and his faith in it so strong that he was emotionally and physically moved in expression of his joy and expectation.
Heb. 11:13.
"see... saw" - EIDON - to see; implying not the mere act of seeing, but the actual perception of the object; refers to the mind and the thought of him who sees. Note the use of different word in verse 57 - HORAO – to perceive with the eyes, see something; used of bodily sight.
Eidon speaks of mental sight or visualisation while horao refers to actual sight. However Abraham's vision of Messiah's day was as vivid as the real thing, so complete was his faith.
Note - EIDON is translated 'seen' in Heb.11:13.
THE AIM OF A CLEAR VISION - FAITH AND HOPE
The aim of establishing a clear vision of the future is to develop an Abrahamic faith and hope.
Hebrews 11:1
"substance" - HUPOSTASIS - a setting under, support, foundation, confidence. Bro. Thomas translates - "Faith is the confident anticipation of things hoped for, a full persuasion of things not seen". R.V. - "giving of substance to things hoped for".
"evidence" - ELEGCHOS – logical proof, evidence, demonstration, convincing argument.
Romans 8:18-25
V.19 - "earnest expectation" - APOKARADOKIA - a looking away towards anything with the head bent forward. Roth. - "eager outlook".
"creature" - KTIZO - creation. The R.S.V. translates as "creation" in every place where the A.V. has "creature".
V.24 - "for we are saved by hope" - Diag. - "for we are saved by the hope". The hope referred to is ‘The Hope of Israel' Acts 28:20. "Hope" is the Greek word ELPIS - to expect, to hope for.
WE SHOULD LOVE CHRIST'S APPEARING
The exhortation for saints of all ages is to set their minds on things which are above and to love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:8
In this verse Paul reveals his confidence in the "hope of the glory of God" and his part in it — this is an example of faith and hope for us to emulate.
"love his appearing" - 'Love' is AGAPAO - a selfless and sacrificial love. Those who love Christ's appearing are those who for his sake have 'lost' their lives in this world - Matt.10:39, John 12:26. Unlike Demas who "loved" (AGAPE) this present age they have not forsaken their Lord but have dedicated their lives to his service. 2 Tim.4:10.
TRIUMPH THROUGH TRIBULATION
The inevitable result of a way of life centred upon the return of Christ as its ultimate objective is suffering (2 Tim.2:12), persecution (2 Tim.3:12), and tribulation (Acts 14:22). However, a lively faith and a clear vision balance out the suffering and make it "a light affliction" - 2 Cor.4:16-18.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
V.16 - "faint" - EKKAKEO - to turn out a coward, i.e. to lose one's courage.
"our outward man" - i.e. the physical man, the body.
"the inward man" - i.e. the spiritual man, the mind and character. We are apt to confuse these descriptions, but Paul's meaning is clear – compare chap. 5:1-10.
"renewed day by day" - ANAKAINOO - to renew, to daily acquire new strength which previously it had not. Spiritual growth should be a daily process by regular approach to the scriptures; anything less will inhibit the development of the inner man and stunt spiritual stature.
V.17 - "a far more exceeding" - Gr. Lit. - "according to a surpassing unto a surpassing". Diag.- "an excessively exceeding". Roth.- "yet more and more excelling".
V.18 - "while we look not" — SKOPEO - to look, inspect, reconnoitre, behold, regard. It is physically impossible to look at things which are 'not seen' because they lie in the future, but that is the point Paul is making. Faith gives reality to things which are yet to come to pass.
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE TRUTH - NUMBERING OUR DAYS
Saints who possess such a vision will be able to bring to bear upon their lives a discipline which will exclude fleshly lusts, earthly vanities and time wasting pursuits. The Psalmist put it succinctly in Ps.90:12 - "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom". Those
so motivated will be found "redeeming the time, because the days are evil" - Eph.5:16.
CONSTANT READINESS - A KEY TO ACCEPTANCE
Servants of God cultivating such a discipline are unlikely to be caught unawares by the stealthy, thief-like and sudden return of the Lord Jesus Christ but will be ready to open the door when he knocks with lamps trimmed and burning brightly, and a good supply of the oil of the Word
in hand. Matt.24:42-44.
Matthew 24:44
"Therefore be ye also ready" — Roth. — "Wherefore ye also be getting ready". This is an exhortation to constant preparedness.
"ye think not" - Roth. - "ye are not thinking". Like the sleeping man whose thoughts are somewhere else there is the very real danger that we might be found by our Lord in a state of unpreparedness, having lost our conception of the realities of the Kingdom and our vision of the glories which lie beyond.