April 22, 2010

The Scriptures in which Jesus talks about the end times are, to me, some of the most important ones we can study, and hear His voice in, for NOW.  He tells us these things not to frighten us, but to prepare us and comfort us.  All these "dreadful portents" are indications that the Kingdom of Heaven is soon to be Christ's reign on Earth!  How could these things be our doom?  They are only foreboding to those who reject Christ, and to the rebellious kingdoms of the earth.  If we endure, we very well could be among the generation to see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" ! 

Jesus made it clear that these terrible signs and events should give us a sense of expectation, not the fear and confusion that would be characteristic of the nations of the earth.  "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28  Our response should be to get ready and be watchful-- keeping our eyes on heavenly things and our focus on Jesus Christ.  It is time to renew our commitment to serving the Lord, putting aside all the idols that distract us and take our attention away from Him.  It is time to lay down all the things in the past that keep us focused on ourselves and that hinder us by causing us to have a victim mentality.  

It is time to rise up and show the world that there is an unshakeable Kingdom, with a glorious King who reigns with love and wisdom, and to call people into it. We are in this Kingdom already, because we are in Christ who is the King.  We will have righteousness, peace and joy if we will actually live in the Kingdom we are part of.  We are, in truth, high above all that is happening on this earth.

I believe we have physicalized the concept of the "Rapture" because we took the things in Scripture and interpreted them the only way we knew how, naturally.  But if we can see things according to the Spirit, we will realize that we are ALREADY "seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus".  "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 4-7

Oh, how the Spirit of the Lord is singing over us right now, desiring with fervor for us to get a hold of this REALITY!

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" Colossians 1:13 KJV

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" NKJV

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" NIV

"For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" NLT

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ESV

"el cual nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo" RVR

"He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" RSV

"who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love" ASV


"who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love" HNV

It has already been done!  Can you hear the music?  Will you sing it with Him?

P.S.
The sudden switch of tone and perspective in the second half of Psalm 89 reminds me of the way we think and feel when we do not realize what God has already accomplished in Christ, for us. 

P.P.S  PLEASE READ THIS!
So you don't get the wrong idea from what I'm saying:
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2

Jesus is still returning in person to reign on Earth, and we will reign with Him!

I suggest reading this chapter, as well as chapter 1. Paul is encouraging the brethren who are enduring persecutions and tribulations. Jesus said we would have these things, and that is why we must endure. But our endurance and patient perseverance is going to be dictated by our internal outlook and perspective.

"that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. . . when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. " 2 Thessalonians 1: 5a-7,10