HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM By Duane V. Maxey
CHAPTER 35
One of two things must always occur when sin comes into the presence of God's glory: either the glory must depart from that sin or that sin must depart from God's glory. At Christ's coming all sin and all who are unholy shall be forced to depart from His glory into everlasting fire. Indeed, the time is coming when the earth will be filled with the glory of God:
Num. 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Isa. 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Hab. 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
However, we must remember that God never fills an unclean vessel. At the time the 120 "were all filled with the Holy Ghost," their hearts were also purified. Acts 2:4; 15:9 Therefore, before the earth is filled with the glory of God it will first be purged of all evil and evil inhabitants.
Isa. 24:19-23 shows that the consumption will precede the time "when the Lord of hosts shall reign..before His ancients gloriously." First will come the consumption of this present earth, and then the regenerated earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, will be filled with Christ's glory. Also, in that new earth which is filled with His glory His "people also shall be all righteous" within and without.
Isa. 60:21
It is abundantly clear that it is only those who are holy and those who persevere in their righteousness that will enter Jesus' Messianic glory. Jesus said: "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
Matt. 16:27 Also, Paul wrote in Romans:
Rom. 2:7-10 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (10) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 tells us that we are called "to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ," and Paul said that he endured "all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Tim. 2:10 Those who are unrighteous, unholy, and who have neither done nor endured anything to obtain Christ's salvation and glory should not expect to enter His kingdom, and shall not. But when He shall appear, then shall come both "songs" of joy and eternal "glory to the righteous." Isa. 24:6
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In The Grace And Faith Of Christ
Ps. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory..
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Rom. 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
1 Pet. 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
The preceding scriptures make it plain that one must have the grace of Christ and a real faith in Him in order to enter His glory at His appearing. Eph. 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith."
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In Spiritual Oneness
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.
Philip. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The glory which God has given Christ, He has given only to "them" who are "one" with Him and
"one" with their brethren in the Lord. Those who are outside of that oneness will not be heirs of His Messianic glory. Also, Christ in us is our only hope of glory. Those who have not Christ in them have no real hope of entering into His glorious kingdom. Again, one must have a glorified body fashioned like unto His glorious body in order to live in His glory. This too, comes only through spiritual union with Christ, making it utterly impossible for any of the wicked to "appear with Him in glory".
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In The Sufferings Of The Cross
Rom. 8:17,18 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
1 Cor. 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Gal. 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1 Pet. 1:11 ..the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1 Pet. 4:13-14 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you..
1 Pet. 5:1 I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
"The Lord of glory" was crucified. 1 Cor. 2:8 "The servant is not greater than his Lord." John 13:16 Those who share His glory must first share His cross. First came His sufferings, and then came His glory. So also, we must first endure the cross He has given us before we may enter into His glory.
"I must needs go home by the way of the cross. There's no other way but this. I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light, if the way of the cross I miss." (J. B. Pounds, The Way Of The Cross Leads Home) It is only "if we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" with Him in His glory. But, so light is our present cross when weighed against the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" we can hereafter inherit, that it is unworthy of comparison with that reward.
None of the princes of this world knew what they were actually doing when they crucified Christ, and none of the impenitent wicked will actually know the joy of "the glory that shall be revealed"
to those who are crucified with Christ. Like the cloud which "came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel" as "a cloud and darkness" to the Egyptians, but as a "light by night" to Israel, so the wicked shall know only the dark and destructive side of God's glory, while at the same time spiritual Israel shall experience its blissful illumination and deliverance. Ex. 14:20
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In Christ's Church
Eph. 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.
Eph. 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church..
Ps. 45:13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Eph. 1:18 ..that ye may know what is.. riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
Heb. 2:10,12 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Rev. 21:9-11 ..Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (10) And he.. showed me..
the holy Jerusalem.. (11) Having the glory of God..
Whether we be Jew or Gentile, male or female, bond or free, all must enter Christ's kingdom glory as part of His Church, for "the glory of His inheritance" is "in the saints" who make up His Bride, the Church. In the Messianic kingdom, it will be the Church, not fleshly Israel, who has the glory of God. Those who fail to obtain "glory in the church by Christ Jesus" will find it in no other place.
Neither shall those who "glory in appearance, and not in heart" dwell in Christ's kingdom, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." 2 Cor. 5:12; 1 Sam.
16:7 He is repulsed by those "which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." Matt. 23:27 Therefore, Christ will only share His love with those who are "all glorious within." When He shall appear He will present His Bride to Himself, "a glorious church" within and without, and the Church will be His only Bride. Thus, all other aspirants to His love and glory will be forever banished from His kingdom.
Using a different figure, we see that as the great Captain of our salvation, Christ will bring "many sons to glory" who will sing His praise forever "in the midst of the church". Thus, it will be only those who are born again sons and daughters of God who will be brought to glory, and that glory will be in the midst of Christ's Church. They err, then, who picture any but those in Christ's Church as residents in Christ's kingdom glory.
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In Humility
1 Sam. 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill.. to make them inherit the throne of glory..
Mal. 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Prov. 25:27 ..for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Mark 9:33-34 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? (34) But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mark 10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory..
Heb. 5:5 ..Christ glorified not himself..
1 Cor. 1:29,31 ..no flesh should glory in his presence..he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Cor. 5:6,7 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven..
2 Cor. 11:18 ..many glory after the flesh..
Gal. 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
The preceding scriptures should make it very clear to all of us that none who seek their own glory shall enter into Christ's glory. That honour is reserved for only those who have humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God. Instead of entering into Christ's glory, where their presence would leaven the whole lump with their ugly pride, the proud shall all be eternally purged out of Christ's kingdom.
The Heirs Of Glory Are: In Readiness
Prov. 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Matt. 25:1-2,10 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
In the final analysis, it will not be those who are wise in their heads, nor wise in their theology or prophecy, but those who are wise in their hearts who shall enter Christ's eternal glory. Those who have the oil of His Spirit in abundant supply within the vessel of their heart, and whose witness to His sanctifying grace is burning bright, shall enter therein. To all the rest, the door shall be forever shut.
It will be the spiritual "heirs of the kingdom," and not the spotted aliens of this world who shall enter Jesus' Messianic kingdom glory. Those who are "alienated from the life of God" at His return, shall be cast into the lake of fire and forever banished from the presence of His glory. Eph. 4:18
HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM By Duane V. Maxey
CHAPTER 36