TO WHOM DO WE APPEAR?

This is a question of interest. The type (Lev 9:23) shows that the appearing is to “all the people.” Their typical priest so appeared and so blessed “all the people” for whom the sin offerings (plural) had been made. Israel being the type of the world as the house of Aaron (type of Levi) had before been used as a type of the household of faith, from which the “little flock” of priests are selected: So our appearing will be to bless the people – the world of mankind; to raise up and bless the race fallen in death and sickness and degradation; to raise them up to perfect manhood as at first – “the restitution of all things which God hath spoken.”

Throughout the “Day of atonement” – typical of the 6,000 years of sin’s reign, in the latter part of which 1900 years the sacrifices have been offering – during that “day of atonement” the people were instructed (Lev 16:29) that they should “afflict their souls” etc., typical of the world’s painful and afflicted condition during sin’s dominion and until their sins are blotted out and their at-one-ment with God completed. Theirs was only the type; the real atonement is almost finished and soon the blessing will begin.

Now it is these waiting multitudes – the people, who are awaiting the coming forth of the Great Prophet, Priest and King – “The Christ,” “The Seed.” Paul says so: “The whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.” “For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the SONS of God.” The human family will not see Jesus the head or bridegroom when he comes to get His “Jewels,” “His body,” “His bride.” He comes as he went away – quietly, unknown to the world. (But not again in the flesh “for though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him (so) no more.”)

Earth’s millions are groaning for deliverance from “the bondage of corruption” and though they may not have clear ideas of how it comes, yet in due time the deliverance shall come and they will recognize it as being the work of the “sons of God.” “And it shall come to pass that every soul that will not hear (obey) that prophet (teacher) shall be cut off [die] from among his people.” And all who do obey him shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption [sickness, pain and death] into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. As redeemed human children they shall come again into the same freedom from sickness and death as that enjoyed by angels, and by Adam before he sinned, etc. Pain, corruption and death are only the accompaniment and bondage resulting from sin.

Though “every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him,” we do not believe He will appear (and we with Him) to all at once, but that, as indicated in our text, it will be to those that “look for Him.” The seeing will not be that of the natural eye, for “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” The holy ones are the saints. “We shall see Him as He is,” for we shall be like Him.” (The world will not reach the stage of holiness, perfection unto the end of the millennial age after having passed thier final test.)

There are as you know other ways of seeing than by the natural eye. To see means to recognize; to perceive. When Jesus was present in the flesh, many saw Him with the natural eye. Few saw Him really. Eyes had they, but they saw not.

Again: “a blind man could truthfully say, “Wonderful things in the bible I see.” Paul says we are to watch and “see the day approaching,” &c. We thus use the word see as meaning to recognize. Now we understand that Jesus, our head, is now present as our “Morning Star” (day-bringer), preparing a “little flock.” (We don’t claim to know them all). The world and many of the (foolish) virgins (nevertheless still pure ones; saints), are asleep, and know not of the “day star’s” having risen.

Soon the few prepared ones (the “Wise virgin” class) will be caught away unknown, and, with the dead of the same class, constitute “the prophets and saints” of Rev 11:18 – the bride – the overcomers, who, under and in their leader and head, Jesus, are to “inherit all things” – be members of the “first-born” – therefore, “heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus,” of whom He spoke, saying: “Fear not, little flock; it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father,” whose kingdom, prayed for over 2000 years, will then have come: “Thy kingdom come,” and following gradually comes the next clause, “Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.” It requires all of the millennial age to fully accomplish God’s will on earth as in heaven, and to utterly wipe away sin and its results: corruption, pain and death.

Continued with next post.