Gregory Wilson  (7 February 2016)

The Call to Assembly:

The Hope of Glory;

A Purifying Hope

 

Introduction:  Revival: A Word to Christ's Own

Spiritual revival happens when the reality of the Living God so overcomes you that you are consumed with the desire, the passion to know God more and more.

It originates in your heart when you truly, really, really BELIEVE.   I am not talking about an intellectual belief.  I am talking about treasure....the words of the Most High.

Do you see treasure in the Scriptures of Truth ?

 

The Call to Assembly:  The Resurrection

Let me ask an hypothetical question:  

"If you believed that the Rapture of Christ's Own was going to take place on Pentecost, the weekend of May 14/15, 2016, do you think that would change your view of God ?"

I am not talking about quitting jobs or cashing in 401k's, I mean would you "study and search" the Scriptures with PASSION ?   Would it change your prayer life ?   Would it change your worship?   Would you change relationships with people ?  Would you be transformed from a "lukewarm" believer to a passionate believer ?   Would the Scriptures become more REAL, more TRUE ?  Would they come to LIFE ?  Would the words jump off the page and fill you with the glory of God ?

The Lord is coming soon !  Get ready !

 

Date Setters: Run for the Hills

We have the testimony of an enemy who has for a long time chastised those who are set as prophetic watchman.   He is the great accuser.

The Apostle Paul left us with a message from Jesus.   He says: WATCH and LISTEN for the Lord.  (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:52)  Do we not watch for a DAY and listen for His VOICE ?  Was this an empty command ?  No.  We watch for a DAY and listen for His VOICE !

Now, especially, since we approach the 70-Year period since Israel's prophetic gathering into the land of Israel, watching is WISE.  It is obedient.  God has a pattern of acting on Israel after 70-Year periods.  The super sign of the end times was Israel's national birth, in a day, on May 14, 1948.  The years 2016 and  2017 are in the 70-Year prophetic window.

If someone wanted to spoil your passion and hope of glory, which will surely result from your active belief in the nearness of the Rapture, he would accuse you of Date Setting.   Let me be clear.  No man tells God what date He is to come.  No man sets dates.

God is the absolute date setter.  He tells you as much in Genesis 1:14 about His appointed times, signs and seasons.   His creation has timepieces set in the heavens.  They are for His "appointed times".  These dates are set, fixed, firm and dependable.   He expects us to WATCH for His appointed times.  Remember that Jesus scolded the Jewish teachers for not knowing the signs of the times, God's appointed time of Messiah.  Read Matthew 16:3 and Luke 12:56.  They should have known !  They should have recognized the day He rode into Jerusalem on Nisan 10, an appointed time, a fixed date, a disclosed date.  They should have recognized the healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead to life.   We too, should recognize the awesome significance of the signs of the times.   We are watching for a DAY certain and the voice of our LORD !  It is not going to be hidden from those who are sober and watching.  (1 Thessalonians 5:6.  Soberness is the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of God's word.

As we WATCH, that day, as it nears,  will come into focus.   This is not to say that we should not speculate based on searching out and studying the Scriptures and watching the signs.   Should we hope in silence ?  Should we hope in fear of being labeled "date setters" ?   For me, I hope.   I have the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)  

Now I know some readers will want to quote Matthew 24:42 which says "you know not what hour your Lord comes".  This verse is doctrinally applicable to the Time of Jacob's Trouble/Second Advent and not the rapture.  A spiritual application to the Rapture may be inferred.  At any one time on planet Earth there exists two distinct days and multiple hours.  International datelines and time zones guaranty the truth of this application.  If Jesus were to appear over the skies of Jerusalem on Sunday morning at 9 a.m., it would be Saturday night in the United States.

 

The Rapture:  A Blessed Hope of Glory

Christ is the blessed object and focus of our hope.   What is this hope ?  It is the hope of being like Him, when we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:1-2)   What is the effect of this hope ?  John tells us that it is a "purifying" hope.  (1 John 3:3)    You mean if I really, really believe the doctrine of the rapture, it will have a purifying effect on me ?  

I know someone who would like to make me impure.  His work is everywhere.  No!  I want that purifying hope !   I want to live a life pleasing to God, like Enoch (Hebrews 11:5).  God is holy, holy, holy, therefore, I too aspire.  This is the purifying hope that comes from watching, searching and studying the Scriptures of Truth.

My hope has substance and the evidence of my hope is drawing me nearer to God.

 

God Is the Date Setter: You Have No Need That I Write You

Paul told the Thessalonians that he had no need to teach them again about the times and seasons in the context of the rapture.  (1 Thessalonians 5:2) He had taught the Corinthians the rapture doctrine in the context of the three orders of the resurrection.  Why did he say this ?  He did not say they could not know.  He squarely implies that they knew, based on his prior teaching, the times and seasons.  God's prophetic plan for man is expressed in the Festivals of the Lord. (Leviticus 23)

Paul teaches that the three pilgrimage feasts are prophetic types of the three orders of resurrections of righteousness.   He does this in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.   Paul teaches that God has an ordered plan.  The king gives orders.   First order was Jesus at First Fruits, "Christ's own", the second order, at Pentecost and then the third order, at the end, of the Tribulation at Tabernacles.  The three pilgrimage feasts include First Fruits, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

Paul says if we WATCH, the Day of Christ, the rapture,  will not be a surprise to us.  It will not be as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6) 

If someone wanted to quash your enthusiasm for this incredible doctrine, which produces a "purifying hope", a reviving hope,  he would chastise you and dash your hope of glory, labeling you as some nut, a date setter.   I say this to him, my God is a date setter and He has set your day for the lake of fire !

The rapture is imminent because God has set a DATE certain.   It will be in accordance with the ORDERS of the KING of KINGS.  It will follow His established plans and appointed times. 

As for me, and my household, we will WATCH for the Lord and LISTEN for the blessed assembling  SHOUT and the gathering TRUMPET.

You can NEVER look to Christ too much.  

I will speculate as the day approaches.  I will speculate based on an active, intelligent, diligent searching and studying of the Scriptures.   By this I receive the purifying hope.  My faith and practice will be emboldened, supercharged with enthusiasm and I will endeavor to live a life which is altogether pleasing to God.

 

Amen.