EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST “The more we understand of what we profess to believe the stronger is our faith therein; and the nearer we approach its development, the more necessary it is, that a lively interest be kindled in us, that our lamps be well trimmed and our lights be found brightly burning (Matt. 25:4,7,10). ” John Thomas 1866 FOREWORD This volume of notes arose out of a Bible study class conducted by the Wilston Ecclesia (Queensland, Australia) during 1979 and 1980. Notes were produced and distributed at each fortnightly class. Subsequently the notes have been reprinted several times and are now available electronically. The work of Christ between his return to raise the responsible dead and the beginning of his universal rule over all the earth is a vast scriptural subject upon which many volumes could and have been written. The purpose of these notes is to bring this subject within the reach of all, including young people who may be considering this wonderful subject for the first time. In compiling these notes constant recourse has been made to the writings of our pioneers whose expositions of the prophetic scriptures have for a long time enabled Christadelphians to form a vivid mental picture of the world-shattering events that are now on the horizon. The writings of Brother H.P. Mansfield have also been invaluable in treating of these matters and we acknowledge our indebtedness to his articles in the Logos Prophetic Supplement of 1970-71. It remains the hope of the author that these notes may contribute something towards strengthening the vision of all who ‘love Christ’s appearing’, that we may be found ready to share with him in the glories of the future age and the events ushering it in. J.A. Cowie Electronic version revised and reissued October 2003 B CONTENTS Page 1 INTRODUCTION – EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST The need for a clear vision of the future The need for watchfulness The vision of Abraham an example The aim of a clear vision – faith and hope We should love Christ’s appearing Triumph through tribulation The discipline of the Truth – Numbering our days Constant readiness – A key to acceptance 4 THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES 5 THE JUBILEE PERIOD Jubilee periods in the history of modern Israel 40 years of war to subdue the nations 7 THE RETURN OF CHRIST The order of events How will we know Christ has returned to judge the Household? The method of transportation to judgement 11 RESPONSIBILITY TO DIVINE JUDGEMENT The Responsibility question Saints and Sinners Responsible or accountable? 13 THE RESURRECTION A definition Paul’s discourse on Resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:35-54 ‘Sown’ and ‘Raised’ as used in 1 Cor. 15:36-52 The condition or nature of the Resurrected Body The three stages of resurrection illustrated in Daniel’s typical death and resurrection – Dan. 10 20 THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST The locality of the Judgement Seat Yahweh comes in from Sinai – Deut. 33:2-3 From Sinai into the Holy Place – Ps. 68 Eloah shall come from the south – Hab. 3:3-4 Sinai – The mountain of judgement The Judgement Seat – A literal reality The basis of judgement – The Word A verbal account – Rom. 14:10-12 The place of the Angels at the judgement The Angels as ministers to the saints The books of judgement A book of the life The Book of Life Reaping what we sow Children at the Judgement Seat The responsibility of parents and children Why the period of judgement will be short The fate of the rejected The condition of the world at this time 34 THE GLORIFIED BEING Instantaneous transformation – 1 Cor. 15:51-54 The immortal constitution Retention of identity Male or female? 36 THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB Joyous activity at Sinai His wife hath made herself ready Preparations for war 37 THE MARCH OF THE RAINBOWED ANGEL The conquests of the Rainbowed Angel – Rev. 10 Synchronisation of events occurring at this time 41 THE GOGIAN INVASION C 44 THE WORK OF ELIJAH The scope of Elijah’s work ‘Israel’ and ‘Judah’ in the prophetic Word The timing of Elijah’s mission Elijah’s associates – Matt. 24:30-31 46 THE SECOND EXODUS OF ISRAEL Elijah’s message to scattered Israel Returning Israel – Yahweh’s weapons of war The route of the Second Exodus 50 CHRIST’S MILITARY STRATEGY Synchronisation of events The deployment of the Saints The Arabs subdued and disciplined The purpose of this strategy The conversion of the Arabs The fate of Edom The smiting and healing of Egypt 58 CHRIST AT JERUSALEM The sacrifice in Bozrah – Isaiah 34 Edom and Bozrah typical names Treading the winepress at Bozrah – Isa. 63:1-6 60 ARMAGEDDON AND ITS AFTERMATH The great earthquake - Dramatic changes in the Land of Israel 64 THE REFINING OF JUDAH 64 THE LAND OF ISRAEL CLEANSED The Tribal Cantons 65 THE SUBJUGATION OF THE NATIONS Proclamation to the nations The mid-heaven prophecy – Rev. 14:6-7 The response of the nations The submission of Britain 66 THE LULL BEFORE THE FINAL STORM 67 RIVERS IN THE DESERT 68 THE TIME OF TROUBLE SUCH AS NEVER WAS The destruction of Rome 68 A FINAL PLEA TO THE NATIONS 68 YAHWEH’S CONTROVERSY WITH THE NATIONS 69 THE DURATION OF NATIONAL JUDGEMENT Random or selective judgement of individuals? 69 ISRAEL ESTABLISHED IN THE BONDS OF THE COVENANT The return of scattered Israel Israel enters the Land Israel’s deliverance complete 70 CHRIST’S REIGN ON EARTH All nations subject to Zion’s King The Saints as king-priests Tribute to David’s son Satan bound 71 A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS When and how the Temple will be built The site of the Temple The Holy Oblation The Temple structure Ground plan of the Temple The entrance gates The circular inner Temple The Altar 77 THE FINAL CONSOLATION D EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST INTRODUCTION THE NEED FOR A CLEAR VISION OF THE FUTURE A clear and vivid mental vision based upon an accurate understanding of the prophetic Scriptures is absolutely essential if saints are to maintain integrity in their walk towards God’s Kingdom in the ‘midst of a crooked and perverse’ generation. After the example of Christ ‘who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross’ (Heb. 12:2), we need to understand and to fix our attention upon the events that will occur upon the earth after the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our privilege now to ‘speak of the glory of God’s Kingdom’, for surely ‘Yahweh will do nothing, but he revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets’ (Amos 3:7). We have this assurance that if we make the things of the Kingdom ‘all our salvation, and all our desire’ (2 Sam. 23:5) then Yahweh ‘will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him’ (Ps. 145:19). The inevitable result of a poor or cloudy vision of the future is spiritual nakedness – i.e. the loss of our covering for sin and a return to our former unredeemed state. Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision” – chazown – mental sight, from a root chazah – to gaze at; mentally, to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specially to have a vision of. “the people perish” – para – to loosen; to expose, dismiss. Note the margin of the A.V.: “naked”. The word is translated 3 times as “naked” (note in particular Ex. 32:25). Roth. – “a people is let loose”. Youngs Lit. – “Without a vision is a people made naked”. THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS In his final message the Lord Jesus Christ warned his disciples that a failure to watch the signs that indicated his coming was near would result in ill-preparedness likened to nakedness. Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief” – The Lord bases his words upon the familiar practices associated with the Temple guard. Every night 240 Levites and 30 priests were stationed in the precincts of the Temple to watch and guard the 24 gates of the Temple and its courts. Their duty was to remain awake and alert to prevent the entry of the unclean or forbidden. When these Levites and priests came on duty at sunset they put on a distinguishing garment of white linen. They had to stand watch until dawn without relief. At any time during the night the chief of the Temple guards known as ‘the temple captain’ (Acts 4:1) could make his rounds of the Temple. On his approach the guards had to arise and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep while on duty was arraigned before his fellow guards at dawn and publicly stripped of his garment which was burnt while he was summarily dismissed from his temple service. He departed naked and shamed before his brethren. It is not difficult to see the parallels with our position. We are all ‘temple watchers’ being charged with the responsibility of watching the doors of God’s spiritual house to prevent the entrance of anything unclean (2 Cor. 6:16-18). We have a ‘linen garment’ (Rev. 19:8) which we must keep ‘unspotted from the world’ (Jude 23, James 1:27). We watch in the night ‘until the day dawn, and the day star arise’ to dispel all darkness (2 Pet. 1:19; 2 Thess. 5:2-7). Our head may come during any watch of the night (Matt. 24:42-44) and will reject us if we are found asleep or unprepared (Matt.