The Things That Are To Come

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Category: General | Aug 1990

"When He, the Spirit of truth, is come... He shall declare unto you the things that are to come" (John 16:13).

It is evident that the Lord desires His disciples to know the things that are to come. Those things may not be known to the rulers of this world; they will be thankful if they have a measure of peace in their times. The swelling world population and the increasing violence seem to be beyond the power of rulers to contain. We who belong to Christ are exhorted to pray, first of all for all men, and for those in high place (I Tim. 2:1-3). Do we?

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for His own may be very near, and for this we should be in expectation. The world at large will not see Him, but the saints will be caught up to meet Him in the air. Many who have heard the gospel, and those who have known believers, may realize that the Lord has come and they are left. This may cause many to seek God and His righteousness. Though they seek God they will be left to pass through the time of the great tribulation.

In heaven all the saints will be gathered to meet the Lord at His judgement seat: There we must be made manifest: "that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). When we think of that day, "We make it our aim... to be well-pleasing unto Him". That is the Day to which we must look forward. It will be a wonderful experience to hear the Lord say to all who have been faithful, "Well done!".

At that time on the earth, sin will increase and the man of sin, the son of perdition, will appear with great power and signs and lying wonders. Those who did not love the truth nor seek salvation will follow after the man of sin, who will oppose all that is called God, or all that is worshipped (2 Thes. 2:4,9). He will have world power for a period. He will make a covenant with Israel for seven years (Dan. 9:27) and evidently Israel will be the last nation to be overcome.

A great multitude which no man can number will refuse to obey the edicts of the man of sin. They will come from every tribe and nation. In great suffering they will pass through that fearful time. Many will die, but they will have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"; having refused every lie, in reverence for God. "God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:9-17).

Later the man of sin will break his covenant with Israel, and his armies will break to pieces the power of Israel, the holy people (Dan. 12:7). The temple will have been rebuilt, and the man of sin will sit in it, setting himself forth as God (2 Thes. 2:4). That will be his zenith. His fall is sure.

In the conflict with the man of sin and his armies, two thirds of Israel will die. The Lord "will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried". They will call on the Name of the Lord, and He will hear them. He will say, "It is My people" and they will say, "the LORD is my God" (Zech. 13:8,9).

"Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven ... coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send forth His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Mat. 24:30-31). The man of sin will be slain by the breath of the Lord's mouth, "and brought to nought by the manifestation of His coming" (2 Thes. 2:8).

At last Israel will know their own Messiah, whom their fathers crucified. Then the Lord will pour upon them a spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look on Him whom they pierced, and they will mourn for Him (Zech. 12:10).

"And the LORD shall be King over all the earth ... and it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles" (Zech. 14:9,16).

The spiritual blindness which sin has caused, and which has affected the hearts and minds of men, will be removed as Scripture predicts.

The Lord "will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that is cast over all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations" (Is. 25:7). "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and confidence for ever" (Is. 32:17).

From the prophecy of Isaiah we can learn much concerning the earth in the reign of Immanuel. He will "judge between the nations, and ... reprove many peoples: ... nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Is. 2:4).

The animal creation will be changed. "The wolf shall dwell in the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the

young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (1s.

11:6).

The earth also will be changed "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose

they shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God" (Is. 35:1,2).

However, that wonderful millennial reign, though for a thousand years, will only be temporary. Satan will be loosed out of his prison, and he will come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. Men will prove again that sin has not been eliminate~ Satan will lead them against God, and against the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. But "fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them" (Rev. 20:7-9).

The Devil's evil work will be finished. From having been "the day star, son of the morning" ('s. 14:12) he finds his place in the lake of fire to be tormented for ever. Pride was his failing.

The last great judgement will be the Great White Throne, where the Lord Jesus will sit as Judge, for all judgement has been committed to Him (John 5:22). The books will be opened, and the dead judged out of the things written in them (Rev. 20:12).

Then will come the new heaven and the new earth. These will remain for ever (Is. 66:22). The first heaven and the first earth will have passed away for ever.

Death shall be no more ... nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. And He that sitteth on the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And He saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true (Rev. 21:4-5).

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will let him take the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17).

He which testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen:

come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

G. Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Aug 1990
General