7. The Manifestation of the Church with Christ.

The last time the world saw the Lord Jesus He was alone—all alone in death. But when He returns to this earth He will not be alone. His saints will accompany Him. He is the “Firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29), and when He appears again they will be with Him. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, bringing His sheaves with Him” (Ps. 126:6). Yes, that blessed One who humbled Himself to become the Sower shall return with “His sheaves”—“Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints” (Jude 1:14).

“The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also glorified together. 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” (Rom. 8:16–18). Observe that “the glory” here mentioned is to be revealed, and revealed in us; and further, that it is a glory which we shall share with Christ ‘glorified together.” When will this glory be “revealed in us” together with Christ? The answer is at the time of His return to this earth, for “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4)—“in glory” for before this, our present bodies will have been “fashioned like unto His glorious body.” It is in connection with this appearing of Christ with His saints in glory that we read, “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:10). In that day the sons of God—whose life is now “hid with Christ in God”—will be manifested manifested with Christ in glory. Then will our Lord’s prayer be fully answered—“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou has sent me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:20–22).

These are the Results of the Redeemer’s Return as they affect the Church—results in part for the half hath not been told. The Lord Himself descends from Heaven with a shout, awakening the sleeping saints and translating them together with living believers, to meet Him in the air. Then, all are conformed to the image of God’s Son and made “like Him.” Next, the saints appear before the Bema that their works may be examined and their service rewarded. Finally, as Christ prepares to return to the earth, He sets the Church, now glorious within and without, alongside of Himself, and as He appears before the eyes of the world the Church appears with Him, to be the object of never-ending wonderment and admiration as it is seen what great things the Lord hath wrought for those who were by nature children of wrath and deserving of nought but eternal condemnation. In view of such a prospect must we not long for God to hasten the glad day of our Lord’s return, and are we not compelled to cry “Even so, Come, Lord Jesus”!