Christ Appearing for the Body of Christ.
(The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)
`I will give him the morning star.` (Rev. 2: 28)
The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the `watchers,` or the early risers.
In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright and Morning Star.
`I am the bright and Morning Star.` (Rev. 22: 16)
He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to His `appearing.`
`Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord the righteous judge, will give to me on that day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.`
(2 Tim. 4: 8)
Appearing – Gk. `epiphaneia,` meaning – manifestation, brightness, to become visible, conspicuous.
We are encouraged to eagerly wait for the Lord to come again.
`To those who eagerly wait for him
He will appear a second time,
apart from sin, for salvation.`
(Heb. 9: 28)
And when Christ `appears,` we shall become like Him, changed and taken to glory.
`When Christ, who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.`
(Col. 3: 4)
Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations.
(Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)
The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the `Morning Star.` However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as `the Sun of Righteousness.`
`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts....
but to you who fear my name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise...”
(Mal. 4: 1 & 2)
Note the appearance of the morning star only intensifies the darkness of the night. So between the appearing of Christ as the Morning Star (for the Body of Christ) and His coming as the Sun of Righteousness (for Israel and the Nations.) there will be a period of great darkness, known as the Tribulation.
`Immediately after the tribulation of those days....
all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
with power and great glory.`
(Matt. 24: 29 & 30)
The tribes & nations of the world that go through into the Millennium are then ruled with a `rod of iron.` This designates that there will be immediate consequences for wrong actions. (Zech. 14: 16 – 19)
The overcomers seated with Christ in glory, will have `power over the nations,` ruling with Him as King Priests.
`And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end,
to him I will give power over the nations -
`He shall rule them with a rod of iron,
as a potter`s vessels shall be broken to pieces.`
(Rev. 26 & 27)
Christ the Judge. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)
`He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the book of life,
but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.`
(Rev. 3: 5)
Finally when the thousand years are completed and Satan is dealt with, then comes the time of the great Judgement. This is at the great white throne where all the books are opened.
Every person not in Christ will stand before the judge. They will be judged on their works.
`And the dead were judged according to his works.`
(Rev. 20: 12)
Many people had never heard of Christ and will be judged on how they lived their life according to their God-given conscience. If they tried to live righteously they will go on to the new earth. (Rev. 21: 24)
The overcomers seated with Christ in glory are not judged at this throne having been `washed in the blood of the Lamb.` Their names are written in the Book of Life which leads into an eternal reward in God`s great kingdom. Eternal life, Christ`s life forever manifested in them.
(The Morning Star. Rev. 2: 28)
`I will give him the morning star.` (Rev. 2: 28)
The morning star is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the `watchers,` or the early risers.
In the spiritual heavens, Christ is also the Bright and Morning Star.
`I am the bright and Morning Star.` (Rev. 22: 16)
He is the One whom we eagerly await. We look to His `appearing.`
`Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord the righteous judge, will give to me on that day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.`
(2 Tim. 4: 8)
Appearing – Gk. `epiphaneia,` meaning – manifestation, brightness, to become visible, conspicuous.
We are encouraged to eagerly wait for the Lord to come again.
`To those who eagerly wait for him
He will appear a second time,
apart from sin, for salvation.`
(Heb. 9: 28)
And when Christ `appears,` we shall become like Him, changed and taken to glory.
`When Christ, who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.`
(Col. 3: 4)
Christ Appearing for Israel and the Nations.
(Power over the Nations. Rev.2: 26 & 27)
The Lord`s coming for the Body of Christ is as the `Morning Star.` However when He comes to deliver Israel and bring judgment upon the nations He is described as `the Sun of Righteousness.`
`For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven,
and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts....
but to you who fear my name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise...”
(Mal. 4: 1 & 2)
Note the appearance of the morning star only intensifies the darkness of the night. So between the appearing of Christ as the Morning Star (for the Body of Christ) and His coming as the Sun of Righteousness (for Israel and the Nations.) there will be a period of great darkness, known as the Tribulation.
`Immediately after the tribulation of those days....
all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
with power and great glory.`
(Matt. 24: 29 & 30)
The tribes & nations of the world that go through into the Millennium are then ruled with a `rod of iron.` This designates that there will be immediate consequences for wrong actions. (Zech. 14: 16 – 19)
The overcomers seated with Christ in glory, will have `power over the nations,` ruling with Him as King Priests.
`And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end,
to him I will give power over the nations -
`He shall rule them with a rod of iron,
as a potter`s vessels shall be broken to pieces.`
(Rev. 26 & 27)
Christ the Judge. (Name in Book of Life. Rev.3: 5)
`He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the book of life,
but will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.`
(Rev. 3: 5)
Finally when the thousand years are completed and Satan is dealt with, then comes the time of the great Judgement. This is at the great white throne where all the books are opened.
Every person not in Christ will stand before the judge. They will be judged on their works.
`And the dead were judged according to his works.`
(Rev. 20: 12)
Many people had never heard of Christ and will be judged on how they lived their life according to their God-given conscience. If they tried to live righteously they will go on to the new earth. (Rev. 21: 24)
The overcomers seated with Christ in glory are not judged at this throne having been `washed in the blood of the Lamb.` Their names are written in the Book of Life which leads into an eternal reward in God`s great kingdom. Eternal life, Christ`s life forever manifested in them.
