The Spectacular Moment

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Revelation 1:7, Philippians 2:11.

The Lord is soon coming in the clouds of heaven. His coming is yet for an appointed time, which shall be witnessed by ALL as never to be. Though it tarry we must wait for it because the Lord will not tarry. The utterance from the faithful lips of God’s servant, Habakkuk remains to testify this till it comes to pass.

How unique and spectacular will this day and moment be? Inspired writers never had another day to liken it with thus saying “… there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” Joel 2:2 (Last part).

UNIVERSAL DRAMA

The time is at hand when the whole of creation will be spectators in their earthly arena as Jesus makes His second appearance to men not as a carpenter’s son, but as a King of Kings clothed in the splendor of His divinity. It will be a solemn moment and EVERY EYE, will be a witness to this event. It’s a moment in its own in that all who lived from Adam to the last one to be born, the Bible declares, “shall see him.” How will it be with the blind that never saw a ray of light all through their lives? It is at the command of Jesus that ALL, with or without sight, should behold His majesty (Isaiah 35:5,6). Hence, of the many agencies to be brought to an end, the loss of sight will be one of them. To the phrase “every eye shall see Him” exempts none regardless of his status. “And the kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” Revelation 6:15,16.

Concerning this time, God would not have us ignorant for how much better are the demons of Gadara, who have a clearer knowledge of this coming time than us. “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Mathew 8:29.

THE NOBLE HERITAGE

As the last born church and children of God on a measuring scale, it’s only so, after being enriched with ALL the knowledge of truth that will make us a peculiar and wise people in a world that has bent so much to the wisdom and philosophy of man. As a last-born child to a father who inherits all that the father has i.e. land, houses, money, vehicles etc., so it is with us the remnant church of the living God. It’s His good pleasure to give us EVERYTHING liberally that is called His for our blessing, He gives the richness of His grace, joy, happiness, peace, love, patience, forbearance, humility etc only for us to own it with untold heavenly mansions of God.

Often our perceptions illuminate many of our thoughts concerning the moment of our Lord’s appearance in glory. We shall be as He is when He appears and that we may behold His beauty when He comes, are the only matching traits we can find. Only in the distant future, can we be able to fit into His likeness. It has become Satan’s fashion to deceive multitudes of professed Adventists, however, what God’s servants see in vision in relation to this view has a marked contrast to Satan’s suggestion(s). Before Jesus’ appearance on the clouds of heaven, it was witnessed that; “Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven.” GC 612. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2, 3.

Our loving Father has withheld nothing back from our knowledge that will help us be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9. Before then (spectacular moments) He has given us ample opportunities that we may transform our vile natures to bear the likeness of our Lord’s splendor when He comes to take His friends home. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he (Jesus Christ) is pure.” I John 3:3.

THE SANCTIFYING TESTMONY

Many have disputed the Lord’s coming, “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” “For this they willingly are ignorant of “…. “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” 2 Peter 3:4,5 (first part), 1 Corinthians 14:38. However for you, dear reader, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1.

In recounting their own victory to entitle them homage in the Holy City, the saints would hardly remember anything save “the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Concerning their testimony our attention is thus called to, “The name (Christian) was given them because Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation. Continually they were recounting the incidents that had occurred during the days of His earthly ministry, when His disciples were blessed with His personal presence. Untiringly they dwelt upon His teaching and His miracles of healing. With quivering lips and tearful eyes, they spoke of His agony in the garden, His betrayal, trial, and execution, the forbearance and humility with which He had endured the contumely and torture imposed upon Him by His enemies, and the Godlike pity with which He had prayed for those who persecuted Him. His resurrection and ascension, and His work in heaven as the Mediator for fallen man, were topics on which they rejoiced to dwell.” AA 157.

RECESSIVE POWER OF SANCTIFICATION

“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close.” GC 611-2 Solomon declares this plainly in His borrowed wisdom saying; “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” Ecclesiastes 1:9:10.

In faith, as we behold and hear the gentle voice of our Saviour entreating us “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” leaves us with the reason as to why, “the believers at Antioch realized that God was willing to work in their lives ‘both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Phil. 2:13. Living, as they were, in the midst of a people who seemed to care but little for the things of eternal value, they sought to arrest the attention of the honest in heart, and to bear positive testimony concerning Him whom they loved and served. In their humble ministry they learned to depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit to make effective the word of life. And so, in the various walks of life, they daily bore testimony of their faith in Christ.” AA 158.

CALL HIM YOUR LORD TOO

The example of the believers in Antioch is worthy of emulation to all of us who live at the end of the world’s history. They were and are without a doubt waiting to witness the spectacular moment in which their Lord, whom they dearly loved and testified of till death, appears in the clouds. Our standing to witness this moment with the people of Antioch heavily depends on the portion of our life that we have consecrated in His service. How we have testified to all about His redemption work, and that man was a prisoner but has hope in regaining the lost glory from sin, “Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.” DA 38.

THE CHOICE IS SOLELY YOURS

It is the unbelief, the worldliness, un-consecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years …. “We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action.” Ev. 696.

It’s not the will of God that His children (of whom we are) be dismayed in the moment of triumph saying that, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved,” Jeremiah 8:20. Rather we will with un-fainting joy, sure of what to expect, loudly declare; “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9. May we live to have this blessed hope! In that spectacular moment!
AMEN.

John Riang’a Obwocha
Nairobi – Kenya.