Brakelite
Well-Known Member
What is the climax of human history? Is it the egocentric motivated fear of hell or hope of reward... Or is it the Christ centered higher motivation of the Bride being ready for her Husband?God can. and can't do a lot of things, what often determines what is viable, is the purpose behind the alleged act. So, you offered one, 'the world will witness the righteousness of God - the very thing that denied and defies for so long'. ...personally, I think that occurred already with Christ - the 250% human who fulfilled God's Holy Law to the letter. That was sufficient, and all are bound to accept his Lordship due to this fact. Therefore, I don't believe that a repetition of this principle is necessary, for as the parable/allegory goes - '...even if I send someone from the dead, they still will not believe, for the evidence has already been displayed before them...' (paraphrase)
The climax is the marriage of the Lamb. And the bride is not ready. The "making ready" of the bride surely is the experience of righteousness by faith which culminates in the righteousness of saints. Imputed righteousness at last lived out in imparted righteousness. All by faith. This glorious triumph is the parallel to the final sealing of the saints which lies in contradistinction to the mark. Both in the forehead and both a revelation of the character within.
When Jesus comes, it is to take His people unto Himself. It is to present to Himself His glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that is holy and without blemish. His people must be in that condition before He comes. We must be brought to that state of perfection in the complete image of Jesus. This image of Christ, this state of perfection, is the finishing of the mystery of godliness, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
And the beauty of the whole thing is that all we need do is believe. It's all by faith. We trust Him to accomplish that which He has promised. To finish the work He has begun, to bring us to full maturity.
KJV Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-13
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
KJV Ephesians 5:25-27, 32
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Christ comes only when the harvest is ripe. When His bride is ready. Christ is waiting, longing for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ is reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.
KJV Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
KJV Ephesians 1:15-23
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
KJV Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.