A Glorified Saint seen before the End of the Age. Is that possible? It is commonly thought that the glory given to Christ to give to the elect comes at the end of this age.
We have been going through a series of articles describing that our purpose on earth is to climb up and clamor out of the obstacles of our age, to lay hold of why Christ laid hold of us of things eternal. For us to be able to participate in His Glory more and more now as we do this. Does not scripture say “We are beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, and are being transfigured into His self same image from the Glory to the Glory as by the Spirit”? (2 Corinthians 3.18) Shouldn’t we then know what the Glory is and how to enjoy it if not at least in part? That is if we are really (beholding) looking at Gods Glory and obtaining any of it.
If you remember Paul prayed for us in Ephesians 1. 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (because that’s the only way the Glory is transfered from God to us.) and 18 the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; (meaning to see the invisible) that you may know what is the hope of His calling, (His Glory to be shared with us to know and experience in) what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to (meaning just like) the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”
Once again we demonstrate here from 2 Peter 2 that “God has given us everything that pertains to life and Godliness (including His Glory) through the knowledge of Him who has called us to (share in His) Glory by virtue”. By virtue that you can learn to hear and understand that this is the goal of your pilgrimage here on earth as becoming the elect and the purpose of the gospel. It is for the Glory, and not for us to focus on a second coming or an end time scenario as tho we are held bereft to the things of God till then, except by ignorance.
And ignorance doesn’t mean being stupid, but it does mean to NOT be aware or take seriously the gift God gave us as being this significant, that is repugnant. Hopefully here you can advance now with the Heavens wide open to take the spot here with your new name on it. Do not insult the spirit of grace by whom you’ve been sealed.
Now if we were to show you someone in scripture who was once a simple human, turned prophet, testifier and judge and then was actually mistaken as Yashua/Jesus Himself, would you believe that this type of person exists? And that this one could fool even one of the most regarded among the apostles into thinking that this one was Christ Himself, would you believe it? Not that this one was intentionally trying to fool John. He was just doing what comes naturally as being “a new creation in Christ” before this age expires. He looked into the mirror of scripture and put on to own what he saw. What are the chances of that?
I mean, John was seen seated with the ten others at the last supper. Judas now being gone, so 12 minus 1, minus John, equals ten. And the account says that John’s head rested in the bosom of Christ, he was that close. You can tell by John’s gospel, his three epistles and the book of “The Revelation of Christ” that John the Apostle knew Christ as well or better than anyone else.
So if John who knew Christ like that, and mistook another in Glory like Christ, and this one was so much so like Christ that he spoke in the first person indicative as Christ without insulting Christ Himself. How else would you describe someone who has displayed equal authority over the affairs on earth as “The Only Begotten Son of God”? Is this one a crook? A dreamer? Some kind of mistake? An imposter? No! This one was an accomplished specimen of the gospel before the “end times” as many look to for their completion. Can you believe this?
Doesn’t scripture say that in Christ dwelled the fullness of the Godhead body, and “you are complete in Him over all powers and principalities”? And “of His fullness we have received”? And that “God has given us every spiritual blessing in Heavenly places”, minus none, not even the Glory. And even from John 17 where Christ prayed to the Father on our behalf saying “Father, I want those whom you have given Me to be with Me where I am that they may behold My Glory”, “and Father, the Glory you have given Me I have given to them also that they may be one with us. Them in Me,I in you, and You in Me that the world may believe”? (For the exact account go to John 17). I think we have made this quite clear.
Having shown you here the allocation of our union to the Father and the Son, and Them giving us Their Glory and Their love, showing us that these are not with held for a future event.
And if you think that it’s strange that, that same glorified saint was employed as opening the last seven seal in “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ” ends with this account
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the [b]holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants (John and Us) the things which must shortly take place.
7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 Now I, John, [c]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. [d]For I am your fellow servant, and OF YOUR BRETHREN they prophets, and of THOSE WHO KEEP THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
(But when it is not and the doors are closed?) 11 then let those who are unjust, let them be unjust still; those who are filthy, let them be filthy still; those who are righteous, let them [e]be righteous still; those who are holy, let them be holy still.”. What category do you suppose you are in?
We’ll end our discourse with Pauls words from 2 Timothy 2. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the [a]elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The Kingdom of God with Eternal Glory is at hand, in this way. If you can receive it if even just in part or momentarily, and it is right here right now. Amen!