Hope in the Midst of Chaos

Hope in the Midst of Chaos – Promises to all who belong to Jesus – The Hope of Glory

D.P. Weary

June 2009

When we look around at the current events occurring all around the world, it is not a pretty picture. What does the future hold for citizen of planet earth? Things in the natural do not look good and they are getting worse daily. In the midst of the chaos is there message of hope? There is such a great need for hope in this hour and true Christians have that message. It is a message that needs to be proclaimed “from the housetops”! The message is found in Jesus and the promises He gave to all who believe and trust in Him.

First of all we need to recognize that true, born again believers in Jesus are citizens of Eternity, not of this earth. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). Jesus himself will come for us to take us to be with Him (John 14:1-3), so we are not to let our hearts be troubled. He comes not to earth, but "IN THE AIR" to snatch us up to meet Him in the clouds. He comes suddenly and secretly for all of us who believe in Him, and in an instant, we are caught up with Him and will return with Him to His Father's House where He has prepared a place for us (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

To natural man, all history - all existence - is just a grand mystery. Philosophers and historians alike can only speculate as to the meaning of life. Many scientists claim it is only a grand cosmic accident. “Eat and be merry for tomorrow you die” (Isaiah 22:13; 1 Corinthians 15:32) is the philosophy of the natural man, at best. Often it is more the despair expressed in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2: “all is vanity, all is futility”.

To the Christian, the center of all history is Calvary and the man called the Messiah, Jesus. He is the staring point of all history. He made all things (Col 1:17; John 1:3), and He regulates the universe (Heb 1:1-3). But the eternal question is why? Was there a purpose for the creation of mankind?

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 tells us that all things belong to the Church and are for her benefit. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things (the cosmos) are for the good of them that love God (the Church), who are called according to His purpose. The universe was created solely for the human race, mankind, created in the image of God, to ultimately provide an eternal companion for God the Son. Romance is the heart of the universe; God providing His Son an eternal companion, a Bride, the Lamb's wife (Revelation 21:9), one to share His Throne (Revelation 3:21). All things serve and are for the Church, the climatic goal of all history, and the purpose of existence. The finished product of the ages is the Bride of Christ, the Church, the key and explanation of all history (Revelation 19:6,9; 21:7,9,10; Acts 17:26).

The Church is also the beginning of God's eternal enterprise.

It is His pleasure (purpose) to give you the Kingdom (to be made a king), (Luke 12:32).

The Church is to sit with Him upon His throne, to be invested with His authority (Revelation 3:21).

It is to judge the world and angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). It is to share His Glory (John 17:22).

The Church is to be a joint heir of all things (Romans 8:17).

The beginning of God's ultimate and supreme enterprise for all eternity is the Marriage of the Lamb. All history, the entire universe, was created, and is being manipulated and controlled by God for one purpose, to prepare and train the Bride. When she is on the throne with her divine Lover and Lord, then begins a new and ultimate journey where first she will rule and reign with Him upon the earth for a thousand years, then rule with Him over the new heavens and a new earth for all eternity; a new adventure, the ultimate and supreme enterprise (Revelation 21:1).

God’s Purpose for the Church - Supreme Rank

Man: created in the image of God; separated from God by disobedience; redeemed by means of a divinely conceived genetic process (the new birth); legally enabled by God who took on Himself the seed of Abraham (Heb 2:16) by becoming a man called Jesus, the Messiah, the savior, the redeemer.

God could not have become incarnate in angels in that they are created, not generated, and are not in the "image" of God (i.e. not of His kind). Only the death of a real man, and a sinless man who owed no debt due to sin, could atone for - or pay - the legal debt all the rest of mankind owe. We are guilty and legally bound to pay the penalty for our sins that is death. Satan's legal right to accuse you and me of sin and demand our death as the just and legal penalty was broken when, by taking Jesus' life "illegally", he allowed Jesus to pay our penalty for us: Thus Jesus forever broke the power of sin and death over our lives, if we will just believe.

So, just what are we? What is redeemed regenerated mankind?

Redeemed, regenerated mankind:

· The sons of God (Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1).

· We shall be like Him (1 John 3: 2).

· Of one origin with Him (Hebrews 2:11).

· His brothers and sisters and mother (Matthew 12:48-50).

· One with the Son and with the Father (John 17:21-23).

· His Body (Ephesians 1:22-23).

· Flesh of His Flesh (Ephesians 5:30).

· Joined to the Lord in one spirit, an organic relationship of personalities (1 Corinthians 6:17).

· Members of the original cosmic family (Eph 3:15).

· Generated sons of God (1 John 3:2).

· Partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

· The "seed" of God, next of kin to the Godhead (1 John 5:1, 18; 1 Pet 1:3, 23).

· Destined to rule, judge and govern the world, and judge and reward angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

· God's own family; a genetic family, incorporating His own seed or genes, or heredity. Born not of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).

· His very own (Ephesians 1:4-5; 5:25-27, 32).

· Creation plus redemption, a divine plan to bring "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10).

· The Son first, with many brothers (Romans 8:29).

· Power given to become the sons of God, born of the will of God (John 1:12-13).

· Princes of the Realm of God, sharing His glory, blood brothers of the Son (John 17:22; 1 John 3:2).

· The New Man (Eph 2:15): A new, unique, exclusive order of beings. The aristocracy of the universe, a new royalty of kings and priests (1 Pet 2:9). The Bride of the Son, the Lamb's Wife, co-ruler, co-sovereign, co-administrator, a judicially equal partner to the throne by virtue of redemption and wedlock to The King of Kings, Jesus.

· Declared to be only a little lower than God (Psalm 8:4-5).

· Accepted into the bosom of the Father (John 1:18; 17:23; Ephesians 1:6).

And even knowing these things, eye has not seen, ear heard, nor has man ever imagined the things God has prepared for them that love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

What is this current age, this earthly life all about? It is the gathering and training of The Bride of Christ, The Church! It is learning to love, please and serve our Lord. It is learning to "overcome", to "rule and reign" with Christ, practical, on-the-job training for our ultimate destiny. It is developing God's character in us.

Promises to the Church:

• We will eat of the fruit of the tree of life, in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
• We will not be injured by the second death (Revelation 2:11).
• We will eat of the manna that is hidden, and He will give us a new name (Revelation 2:17).
• He will give authority and power over the nations; we shall rule them with a scepter of iron like that which Jesus received from the Father (Revelation 2:26-27).
• We shall be clad in white garments, and our names not erased out from the Book of Life and Jesus will confess our names openly before His Father and His angels (Revelation 3:5).
• He will keep us safe from the hour of trial (testing) that is coming to try those who dwell upon the earth (Revelation 3:10).
• He will make us a pillar in the sanctuary of His God and He will write on us the name of His God, the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, which descends from His God out of heaven, and His own NEW NAME (Revelation 3:12).
• He will grant us to sit beside Him on HIS THRONE, as He sat down beside the Father on His Throne (Revelation 3:21).
• We are to be His Bride! (Revelation 19:7-10).

The Rapture – The Hope of the Church

· Our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing is that we are in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

· With the trump of God, we who are alive shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

· He has not appointed His Church to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The Great Tribulation is defined as the time of the wrath of God, beginning with the breaking of the sixth of the seven seals in the book of Revelations (Revelation 6:12-17). Also we see the church gathered out of every nation before the throne and before the Lamb in the seventh chapter of Revelation (Revelation. 7:9).

· He shall keep us from the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole earth (Revelation 3:10).

· The Lord Himself will come for the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), but angels will gather the Elect, or Remnant of Israel at the coming of the Lord (Matthew 24:30-44).

· Other indications supporting the rapture of the Church:

· The Church is mentioned 19 times in the first 3 chapters of Revelation. From chapter 4 to 19, there is not one mention of the Church. From 19 on the Church is described as participating in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and as being the Bride of Christ, with Him in heaven.

· God has not appointed the Church to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

· The Man of Lawlessness, Antichrist, cannot be revealed until He who restrains is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:1-9). The true satanic nature of the antichrist is revealed when he seats himself in the Temple of God, claiming to be God and demanding to be worshiped. This restraining is related to "our gathering together unto Him" (vs. 1) and the "He" is the Church (the body of Christ, the one new man) functioning as the restrainer of lawlessness (John 16:8-11). Thus the Church must be removed before Antichrist can be revealed.

· Jesus taught the rapture of the Church. Jesus said, "Whoever believes in Me, although he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever continues to live (to the time of my coming) and believe on Me shall never die at all (John 11:25-26).

· Paul taught that: 1) Not all Christians will die. 2) Before those who are alive are raptured, Christ will raise the dead in Christ up into incorruptible new bodies. 3) It will be an instantaneous event. 4) The rapture will occur at the blowing of the last trumpet (Rosh haShanah). 5) All believers will be changed, their mortal earthly bodies changed into incorruptible, immortal bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

· Old Testament promises of protection in the Day of Trouble or Wrath: Psalms 27:5; 91:8; Noah, Gen 6; Zephaniah 2:3; Isaiah 26:20; Lot, Gen 19:15-16.

Jesus did not promise the Church freedom from trouble and tribulation in this current age. In fact He warned us that in this present world we would have tribulation.

{Matthew 24:9 NASB} - "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

{Romans 5:3 NASB} - And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

{Romans 8:35 NASB} - Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

{Romans 12:12 NASB} - rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

{1 Thessalonians 1:6 NASB} - You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

{Revelation 1:9 NASB} - I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance {which are} in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

{Revelation 2:9 NASB} - 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

{Revelation 2:10 NASB} - 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

What He did promise us is that He would always be with us, and that in the end, all things would be restored, all sicknesses healed, and all trouble ended.

{Matthew 28:20 NASB} - teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

{John 16:33 NASB} - "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

{Rom 8:18 NASB} - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

{Rom 8:37 NASB} - But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

{Rom 8:38 NASB} - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

{Rom 8:39 NASB} - nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus also gave us the Holy Spirit to indwell us, as a down payment of our complete salvation with will be a new and imperishable body.

{Romans 8:23 NASB} - And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for {our} adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

{1 Corinthians 15:42 NASB} - So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable {body,} it is raised an imperishable {body;}

{1 Corinthians 15:53 NASB} - For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

{1 Corinthians 15:54 NASB} - But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

Through His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, He also gave us the authority and the power to deal with the world that we are currently living in.

{John 20:21 NASB} - So Jesus said to them again, "Peace {be} with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

{John 20:22 NASB} - And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

{John 20:23 NASB} - "If you forgive the sins of any, {their sins} have been forgiven them; if you retain the {sins} of any, they have been retained."

{Act 1:8 NASB} - but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

{Luke 9:1 NASB} - And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

{2Cr 10:3 NASB} - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

{2Cr 10:4 NASB} - for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

{2Cr 10:5 NASB} - {We are} destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Our hope is indeed in Jesus. He has given us promises for the future, authority and power to deal with the present world, and His own Holy Spirit to be with us as we journey towards our ultimate home, Heaven and the New Jerusalem, our destiny, our Hope of Glory!

Every day, current events are telling us that we are drawing ever closer to the great day of the Lord’s return for His church. This is the good news!

{Luk 21:28 NASB} - "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."