The Final Events.
Parousia and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Self Dies. Christ Lives.
Part Fifty-four in a Series.
https://secondcoming.org/blog/
The ultimate end of true Christianity is that the Christian rejoices in Christ and has no confidence in the flesh.
“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.“ Philippians 3:3
Have you ever wondered why God allows His people to be harassed after probation has been closed? When probation closes there can be no change in status.
God has said “He that is righteous let him be righteous still, and he that is holy let him be holy still” Revelation 22:11. Those who are righteous by faith will remain so until the end; those who have rejected Christ will remain in that condition. Why then does God allow His righteous people to go through a time of terrible crisis after the close of probation-a crisis the like of which can never be experienced by any previous generation?
Is He simply trying to prove a point? Is He just proving to the universe that these people will remain faithful to Him, no matter what He throws at them?
“Their (God’s people’s) affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about them to consume them; but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in fire. God’s love for His children during the period of their severest trial is a strong and tender in the days of their sunniest prosperity; But it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace of fire; their earthliness must be consumed, that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.” GC 621
When you are going through a crisis, it doesn’t mean that God loves you any less. God’s agape love never changes; it is eternal, unconditional, changeless.
“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3
So, the time of trial following the close of probation doesn’t indicate that God is not concerned about what happens to His people, any more than Job’s experience showed a lack of concern on God’s part for him. Self must be consumed so that the image of Jesus Christ may be reproduced in our lives. The world desperately needs to see Christ, but it cannot see Him in you or me unless every particle of self has been crucified. That is why God allows us to go through the refining process now and that is why He will allow His people to go through the time of crisis following probation’s close.
The Final Events will end with the splendor of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ also known as the Parousia. The Signs of Parousia are detailed in the Final Events Blog series and emphasize the Imminent Return and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the Love of the Father for all mankind.
In the time of trouble, Satan will point us to our feelings. Even after probation closes, we will still feel sinful. Even after probation closes, we will still feel that we aren’t good enough to be saved. But the question is not how we feel. The question is: “Who is our righteousness?” The answer must be Christ. Every bit of self every taint of earthliness must be consumed. We cannot look to ourselves or our experience.
Christ can be fully reproduced in us only when we have said goodbye to self completely.
In this, as in all other aspects of our lives, Christ is our example.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2: 5-8
https://secondcoming.org/blog/
The Final Events.
Parousia and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Self Dies. Christ Lives.
Part Fifty-four in a Series.
The Final Events will end with the splendor of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ also known as the Parousia. The Signs of Parousia are detailed in the Final Events Blog series and emphasize the Imminent Return and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the Love of the Father for all mankind.