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The disciples asked Jesus when He would return because they were anticipating the establishing of His earthly kingdom, but Jesus told them that for a time his Kingdom is to be within every believer. "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21.
Those Christ will return with will be his Church who will rule and reign with Him from the earthly city of Jerusalem. However, scripture is clear that the Lord will not return with a willful and self-absorbed Bride. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-9
The wife, the Bride - the Church of Jesus Christ is to make HERSELF ready before the marriage supper. I believe we are living in the days just before the second coming of Christ so it follows that one of our most critical responsibilities is to make ourselves ready and in light of His last command, teach others to do the same.
I also believe scripture clearly teaches that the purpose of the church is to carry out the purpose of God. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. Romans 8:29
The only command Jesus gave His disciples before he left was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
We learn from the word of God that it is not knowledge or truth alone that produces spiritual growth. It is a yielding or death to self will that is the applying of the truth. We can add to our knowledge and not allow God’s truth to change our hearts and actions. How will God bring the last-days Church into a desire for her own death? How will He cause the Church to suddenly turn from their ways and yield His ways? The answer is found in Habakkuk 2:14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Scripture tells us that the process of sanctification has an important key: entering God's physical nature or "glory." Remember, Moses asked to know God and His ways and then prayed, "show me your glory" (Ex. 33)
The Shekinah Glory, the physical manifestation of God's nature and character produces a passion and desire for God. This new passion to forsake self and pursue God through His word and through His glory will produce tremendous maturity and growth as the Bride makes herself ready very quickly.
God’s promise in Hab. 2:14 has not yet been fulfilled. I believe that is about to change in an astounding way.
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