Friday, February 06, 2004 (89)
HIS DEITY SEEN AT HIS SECOND COMING. The first scripture that we are going to reference may be called the second coming in simplicity. It presents what may be termed an introduction to the happening. It gives a picture of the event that is elementary and basically focuses on the fact of His Kingly separation of the ungodly from His saints. His coming as the Son of man, coming in glory to establish a throne of glory is noted. Here it speaks only of the angels who will accompany Him. We know that the redeemed of all ages will likewise be in attendance. [1 Thess. 4:16-17] There are but two classes of people mentioned, the sheep and the goats. That this is an act of Deity is emphasized that both groups, simultaneously will stand before Him for judgment. This will not only include the living but the dead likewise. All who have lived in this life will be faced with this moment of decision to be made by the Lord Jesus. The logistics of this event are astonishing. Is it that they are gathered before Him or does He appear before them, world wide and instantaneously? He is Deity and therefore Omnipresent. Those who are on the right hand, the sheep are granted the privilege of entering into the eternal kingdom of the Lord. Those on the left, the goats are excluded from the kingdom and sent away to everlasting punishment. Mt. 25:31-46
JESUS WILL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN. Something that is revealed may have been a secret but is now openly and generally known and seen. There comes a moment when His coming is not secret nor unseen. 2 Thess. 1:7 Those who accompany Him are termed to be mighty angels. This incident is likewise the time when He will be glorified in His saints. This can only be determined to be the same moment as that when He separates the sheep from the goats and establishes His throne of glory. 2 Thess. 1:10 It must be considered here, that along with what would seem to be a casual circumstance, there is one horrendous time of judgment for the ungodly. For He is coming in flaming fire. Most certainly this is in keeping with one of the descriptions found in the Word which relates to the person of the Lord. God is a consuming fire. Heb. 12:29 The fire of the Lord can be both, exceedingly pleasant and horribly unpleasant. It is most dreadful when it is displayed in judgment, which will be the case at His revelation. we have an example in Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron and therefore priests. They knowingly offered strange fire before the Lord which they well knew was forbidden. There judgment was in keeping with their sin. Fire came from the Lord and destroyed them. Lev. 10:1-2 In an act of rebellion against leadership which the Lord had appointed, the fire of His judgment was manifest. At which time two hundred fifty men who burned incense in defiance were destroyed by the fire of the Lord. Num. 16:35 It becomes very apparent that when the sin exceeds the point where the mercy of the Lord may be displayed that the extreme judgment by fire is displayed. Woe be to those who in the day of His coming are found offering false incense to the Lord.