November 7: THE JOY AND REJOICING OF MY HEART (part 2)
…but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” Revelation 10:7-8 NKJV
The sixth trumpet is behind us, and the intended lessons flew over the heads of the fallen church (see 9:21). Now we are living in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound. Is the seventh angel actually sounding his trumpet now, or is he still preparing to sound? For those whose citizenship is in heaven, the sounding of the seventh angel is already being heard by spiritual ears – approaching in the distance. That distance is rapidly closing. The four winds (7:1, see also Matthew 24:31) of strife are steadily being loosed upon the earth. The final sealing of His last day saints—who will be alive on the earth at the time of His return—is near.
But something must take place before the seventh trumpet is sounded for all to hear: the mystery of God [will] be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Understand that the seventh trumpet is the return of Christ. That is when “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Once the mystery of God [is] finished, Jesus will return. The event of 1844 was not the return of Jesus, as some had thought. This was when He moved into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to complete His final atoning work (see Leviticus 16:30; 1 John 1:9). Earth’s Day of Atonement commenced. From that time, we are living in the time of judgement and cleansing. Jesus said “He will set the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left” (Matthew 25:33).
Now, what is this mystery of God? …the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). We are no longer waiting on time prophecies… It is He who is waiting for His character to be reproduced in His people. Christ is waiting for His people to become much more than just a dim reflection of Himself. He is ready and able to come and claim His people, His “bride”, for Himself – and to take them over the threshold into the heavenly Jerusalem, the true city of peace. It is interesting that Paul, of all people, would be God’s instrument to express the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles. The man who had called himself a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Philippians 3:5). His life is a magnificent example of overcoming the culture in which he had been brought up. He knew the Scriptures better than almost anyone, but after he received light from heaven, those very Scriptures settled perfectly upon Christ, and they became his own joy… and his own rejoicing. He understood that “Israel” is the name for God’s people who overcome the world, including Gentiles. This is why he could declare to the Gentiles that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). This is the work within the human heart that only Christ, the ultimate Overcomer (John 16:33) can perform. Beloved, invite Him to do His work of creating in you a new heart, and then allow Him to do it!
Your words were found and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16