Ephesians chapter 1 verse 10.
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 10 is my text this evening. My subject
is the Great Gathering. Ephesians 1 verse 10. Let's begin reading at the first
verse of the chapter. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to
the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from
God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, in
love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom
and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself."
Now, here's a text. That in the dispensation of the
fullness of time, that is, here is the revelation of the mystery
of God's will. in the dispensation of the fullness
of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him."
Robert Hawker said with regard to this 10th verse of Ephesians
1, there is not perhaps the fellow to it in relation to the vast
subject it treats in all the Bible. There's no text comparable
to this with regard to the subject it deals with in all the scriptures. That in the dispensation of the
fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even
in him. I have to agree with Mr. Hawker. I do not think there
is another verse or statement, single verse or single statement,
in all the book of God that takes in such a vast subject and such
a limited space of words. That in the dispensation of the
fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even
in Him. Obviously, I have no hope of
expounding my text this evening. It opens to us the very heart
of the triune God and tells us that which is the purpose, the
intent, the design of God Almighty in all things in eternal predestination
and in providence to glorify His dear Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Here God the Holy Ghost shows
us that from all eternity the mind of the triune Jehovah has
been fixed on this one thing, the glorification of Christ in
all things. All things were decreed Him,
all things decreed by Him, and all things center in Him. The dispensation of all events
and the fullness of all times are pursuing this one point of
termination, the glory of Christ. God in His infinite wisdom has
arranged from eternity everything that is, has been, and shall
hereafter be. And God in His sovereign providence
orders all things for this one purpose, everything moving to
this one culminating point, the glory of Jesus Christ the Lord
in all things. Like countless rays of light
converging on one center, all things at last shall meet in
Christ and glorify Christ. Now notice the emphasis given
by the Spirit of God, even in Him. With that emphasis added
by divine inspiration, our Heavenly Father seems to be saying, now
children, listen up. This is important. You need to
know and remember it. in the dispensation of the fullness
of times, I will gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him. So the whole object and purpose
of God in all his works of creation, providence, and judgment, and
all his works of grace is stated fully and clearly here. God is
gathering together all things in Christ, in heaven and in earth,
for the praise and glory of our Savior, His darling Son. Again, I acknowledge at the outset,
I have no hope of entering into the depths of this vast declaration
of God's eternal purpose. I've studied it with ever increasing
awe reverence and gratitude for 48 years. And the more I've studied
it, contemplated it, tried to find what it means, the bigger
the text gets, the more wondrous the grace set before us becomes,
and I have no hope of realizing its fullness until I see the
Redeemer face to face. All I can do tonight is give
you a brief sketch of what I see of God's infinite wisdom and
prudence along the shores of this vast ocean of His grace. Everything that God has done,
everything that God is doing, everything that God shall hereafter
do is moving to this end. the dispensation of the fullness
of times, when God shall at last gather together in Christ all
things in heaven and in earth for the praise and glory of his
name. Now let's look at the dispensation,
the fullness of times, and the great gathering. First, Paul
speaks of a period of time that he describes as the dispensation
of the fullness of times. What period of time is he talking
about? What does he mean by the dispensation of the fullness
of times? As in all things, let's look
just into the Word of God to find out the answer to that question.
If you look up the word dispensation or dispensationalism in any religious
format, You'll find it talking about a certain system of theology
that very much limits the Word of God to just the epistles of
the Apostle Paul. Everything else belongs to somebody
else and this is all we have to be concerned with. And it
very much corrupts the teaching of the Word of God. with regard
to God's purpose, God's eternal predestination, God's salvation
in Christ, faith in Christ, and the everlasting redemption of
God's elect by Christ Jesus the Lord. But in the scriptures,
that's not how the Word of God uses the term. The word dispensation
simply means stewardship. It refers to the management of
a household. The management or oversight or
the administration of someone else's property or business.
Look in chapter 3, Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 1. Paul says,
For this calls I, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles,
if you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is
given me to you. What dispensation is that? Look
at verse 8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,
is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ. This is what it is to be called
and gifted and sent of God into the work of the gospel ministry.
It is to be given the dispensation of the grace of God. Stewardship. Stewardship of grace in the house
of God. Specifically, in Ephesians 1.10,
the word dispensation refers to the universal dominion of
Christ, our mediator. The universal stewardship of
Christ as the God-man, our mediator, by which he executes the will
of God as Jehovah's righteous servant, as the God-man, our
savior. Turn back to Ephesians, excuse
me, I'll get it right in a minute, John chapter 17. John 17. John 17. When you found that,
look at Romans chapter 14. All right, John 17 verse 2. Our Savior says, as thou hast
given him. Now this obviously refers not
to something that he possesses by virtue of his eternal deity,
but rather that which he possesses by virtue of his covenant mediatorship
as our surety, as our substitute, as our redeemer. This is given
to him as the reward of his obedience unto God, as thou hast given
him power over all flesh. You've given me, the Savior says,
power, the right to rule and dispose of all flesh as I will,
that I should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given
me." He says, Father, you have put in my hands the stewardship
of all things, dominion, the dispensation of all things over
all things so that I may save my people from their sins. Now
look at Romans 14 verse 9. I want you to see this is the
ascension gift of our Savior. It was given him as the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world before ever the world
began. He says, thou hast given me.
But in Romans 14, 9, we see clearly it is given to him as the reward
of his obedience. For to this end, Christ both
died and rose and revived, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and the living. This is the very same thing the
Apostle states in Ephesians chapter 1 at the last part of the chapter,
beginning at verse 20, where he describes the universal monarchy
of our Savior, whom God raised from the dead and set him at
his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality
and power, that he might have dominion, principality and power
and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come. and hath put all
things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things
to the church. So this dispensation committed
to our Savior is his sovereign rule of all things for the glory
of God. But what's meant by this term,
the fullness of times, the dispensation of the fullness of times? There's
only one place in the Scriptures where you have a similar statement,
Galatians chapter 4, Galatians 4. What does he mean by the fullness
of times? Galatians chapter 4 verse 4,
when the fullness of time was come, when the fullness of time
was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under
the law to redeem them that were under the law. The fullness of
time refers to the final work of God in time. As John calls
it, it is the last time, the last tick of the clock. People
talk about the last days as though somehow the last days refer to
a brief little period of time at the end of the world's age.
The last days refer to this age called the fullness of times
that began with the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ And
shall be consummated and finished at our Lord's glorious second
advent. The fullness of times then refers
to this whole gospel age. The last time refers to this
whole gospel age. The whole period of time since
our Savior's first advent unto his coming in resurrection glory
at the second coming. Look in Romans chapter 11. Romans
11 chapter. When the Apostle Paul considered
this, talking about the final consummation of all things and
the salvation of God's elect and the final fulfillment of
God's covenant mercies, he speaks with wonder and praise. Romans
11, 25, I would not brethren that you should be ignorant of
this mystery, God casting off the Jews that he might gather
in his elect among the Gentiles. lest you be wise in your own
conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel. Now watch
this, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. That is
until all God's elect among the Gentiles have been brought to
life in faith in Christ. Now watch the next word. And
so all Israel shall be saved. That's not talking about all
Abraham's physical seed. That's not talking about the
salvation of the nation of Israel. It's talking about the salvation
of God's holy nation, the Israel of God, all of God's elect. And so, when God has saved all
His elect in the Old Testament days, all His elect out of the
nation of Israel, and has sent blindness to that nation that
would not receive His word, and sent the gospel to the Gentiles,
now He's gathering His elect out of the four corners of the
earth, north, south, east, and west. And when He's finished
this, All Israel shall be saved. Watch what it says. As it is
written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall
turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto
them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the
gospel, the Jews, they are enemies for your sakes. They persecute
and oppose us. But as touching the election,
They are beloved for the Father's sakes. For the Father's sakes. For the gifts and callings of
God are without repentance. And when Paul contemplates this,
and all God's purpose, and all the wonder of his providence,
and all the things going on around him. Now try to put yourself
where Paul was. We think that our society has
become decadent. perverse. We didn't even begin to start
comparing with the decadence and perversity of this Roman
society in which Paul lived. Baddest things are today in Western
civilization and in the United States of America in particular. We don't come close to to the
depths of degradation that existed in this day when Paul writes
this. And he's looking at all that's going on around him. God
casting away the Jews and all the political and social and
economic and religious affairs of that idolatrous, perverse
generation around him. And all the acts of God's judgment
as well as his acts of mercy. And his soul is lost in wonder. watch what it says in verse 33,
Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God. How unsearchable are His judgments
and His ways past finding out. We look at things around us and
we grumble and we fuss and we complain. God forgive me. God forgive me. I don't mean
that we should not be opposed to wickedness. We should. I don't
mean that we should not do everything we can to preserve some sense
of moral uprightness in society. We certainly should. I do mean
that we shouldn't allow the course of the world to upset us. This
is the course of our Father's everlasting purpose. What's God
doing? doing. He's saving His people
from their sins in the wisest, most prudent manner possible. In the prudent wisdom of His
purpose, God Almighty brings to pass everything He brings
to pass for the saving of His people for the glory of His Son. In other words, in other words,
The very best thing that can happen is the glory of Christ. Would you agree with that? The
very best thing that can happen is the glory of our Redeemer.
What would you want above that? The very best thing that can
happen is that Christ be praised by everything and everything
at last shout Amen to the glory of God in Jesus Christ in all
that he's done. That's exactly what's going on.
That's exactly what's going on. Doesn't matter who gets elected
and who gets defeated. Doesn't matter who the next terrorist
group is or who the next triumphant warring nation is. Doesn't matter.
Doesn't matter. What's going on is God's wise,
prudent work under the rule, the absolute rule of Jesus Christ
our Lord for the glory of his name in the saving of his people.
Read on, Romans chapter 11. How unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out, for who hath known the mind of
the Lord, or who hath been his counselor, or who hath first
given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again. Now
hang on to your seats. I quote this to you all the time.
You can quote it, read it, and God help us. to have it inscribed
on our hearts, for of him and through him and to him are
all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. That's just the way I want
it. That's just the way it ought
to be. Now, let's look at the gathering.
The word translated gather together suggests many things. It's one
of those terms that has broad meaning, not just broad application,
broad meaning. The words might be better translated
gather together again or reunite or restore. There was a time
when all things were one. We can't imagine it. There was
a time when everything in God's creation was perfectly united. In the original creation, the
angels of God were one, but sin divided them. Adam was one with
the holy angels, but sin divided man from God's angels. All creation
was one with Christ, the creator, until sin entered. How horrible, how sad, how far
reaching the consequences of sin are. What a horrible, horrible, horrible
influence is left on God's creation by the slime of the serpent and
the sin that results from Satan's temptation of our mother Eve
in the garden and Adam's transgression. Sin has separated man from God,
and sin separates men from men. We were created as one. We all came from one blood. That's
what Paul tells us in the book of Exodus. We all came from one
blood. All of us did. We were created
as one. Then sin entered. And since the
day that sin entered into the world, man has been divided immediately
Adam and Eve, that couple united in marriage like no couple has
ever been since. That man who was utterly devoted
to his wife, so devoted to his wife that he freely plunged himself
into death and judgment rather than being separated from her.
As soon as sin entered, he said it was her fault. and Adam and
Eve were divided. And so it has been since that
day. The more we try to repair the
divisions, the worse they get. The human race is divided by
race and face and place. And we keep trying to reunite
the race. And the more we try, the more
the division exists. After the fall of Adam, our parents
were expelled from the garden and fallen man was scattered
as one race over the face of the earth. After the flood, mankind
was divided into three races by the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham,
and Japheth, and they were scattered through the earth. And since
that day, the divisions and the scatterings have constantly multiplied. No culture, no society, no civilization,
has ever stopped or even slowed the divisions. Never been done. Like some of you, I grew up in
the Deep South during the tumultuous civil rights struggles of the
50s and 60s. And I know firsthand what the
division was. In the last 60 years, we've been
legislating all kinds of things as a nation to try to heal the
divisions between men. Had the Voting Rights Act and
forced integration and school busing and affirmative action
and hundreds of other laws have been passed, both by federal
government and state governments, trying to bring men together.
But every one of them has been a miserable failure. Every, there's
not one of them that's worked. Not one of them that has produced
what they said it intended to produce. The more we've tried
to bring men together, the more we divide. There's more racial
division in the United States today than there's ever been
in my lifetime. And I know what racial division
is. There's more racial division
today than there's ever been in my lifetime. The goal is good. How blessed it would be if men
and women could live together as one. Oh, what a difference that would
make. If we could live together as one. But such a goal simply
is not attainable by human effort. I don't mean we shouldn't try.
We should. But I do say that it's unattainable. All of human history, and all
of experience verifies that fact. Is there any question about that?
This is verified in all the history of mankind. But our text speaks
of and assures us of a reuniting of all things. A reuniting of all things in
Christ. I was asked, I was asked along
with other students in class, in literature class, and when
I was in college to, I wasn't asked, it was a requirement,
to write a paper describing what we would consider utopia. And the papers were to be read
in the class. I was shocked. I was shocked at all the things
both young men and young women in the Bible College wrote to
describe Utopia. If I remember correctly, and
I'm sure I do, the professor made a comment concerning it,
I got up to read my paper and it was altogether different from
all the others. Utopia is Christ reigning everywhere,
everybody one in Him, united in Him, glorifying God in Him. That's the sum of it. the end to which we are moving.
That's the end to which we're moving. The word gathered together
also conveys the idea of recapitulation or summarization. Sometimes if
I have time when I get done preaching, I will recapitulate the points
of a message and going over the points one by one. It also suggests
a mathematical sum. The total sum of things added
together, taken in that sense, this word gathered together refers
to the final summing up of all things in Christ. God's going
to bring everything together in one hand. All the blessings
and promises of the covenant, all the types, shadows and sacrifices
of the law, All the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament.
All the revelation of God in Holy Scripture. All the hosts
of God's elect. All the events of providence.
Christ is the sum total of all. Again, the words gather together
in one. It might be translated, reduced
to one. Reduced to one. Recall our first
visit to Alaska where Larry and I were visiting and one of the
ladies started to tell us something and he said, Brother Don's policy
man only, he doesn't need the details. And the reason was because
this guy was given to talk a lot for a long time, beginning to
talk about getting water. And so Larry, we were in a hurry. He said he just wants the policy,
not the details. Well, let me tell you, God Almighty
shall at last reduce everything to just one. And that one is
Christ is all. Christ is all and in all. What is grace but Christ? What is redemption but Christ? What is salvation but Christ? What is holiness but Christ? What is righteousness but Christ? What is heaven but Christ? What
is the church but Christ? What is the glory of God but
Christ? What's the will of God but Christ? What is God but Christ? In Him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. Seated yonder on the throne of
glory is a man in a real human body just like this. And in that
human body resides the totality of the triune Godhead, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost. All of God you will ever know. All of God you will ever see. All of God which will ever be
communicated to you, or to whom you will communicate, is that
man, Jesus Christ the Lord. In Him resides all the fullness
of the incomprehensible God in a body. That man is himself God. Now, let's look at this gathering
a little bit more. That in the dispensation of the
fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even
in him. I have no doubt that this includes
everything, but Paul's intention in declaring in this verse the
gathering together of all things. He is talking about the gathering
together of God's elect in Christ. The fact is our God according
to the abounding wisdom and prudence of His grace for the glory of
His Son has scattered His elect across the face of the earth.
He scattered his elect across the face of the earth so that
he might at the appointed time of love gather his elect to Jesus
Christ the Lord. Gathering them as one in Christ
for the everlasting praise and glory of his own great name.
Now I want you to look at some scripture. I'll read a couple
of passages, but you be turning to Ezekiel chapter 11. I want
you to look at Ezekiel. I'll read a couple of others
to you. This is a subject so constantly spoken of in scripture,
so constantly spoken of, it's astounding that it is seldom
even thought about, let alone declared, in this world. God
scattered His elect that He might gather them for His glory, and
thereby secures the greatest possible glory of His dear Son. Listen to Deuteronomy chapter
30, verse 3. Then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity,
and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee
from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered
thee. My family is, I've been told,
I don't do this family research stuff, family tree stuff. I thought
about it one time, but when I bumped into family tree, Adam kept falling
out. So I just forget that. My family, I'm told, is German.
The name Fortner is a German name. It refers to trolls, keepers
of the ford. Germans. Germans. Not exactly known for great nobility
with regard to moral causes. Historically. I'm not speaking
of folks present today or any individual Germans. Please let
none be offended. But the society as a whole was
a pagan, fierce, warring society. That's been their history. And
God has preserved that society. Preserved that society for many,
many people's benefit, I'm certain. But specifically because there
was one man who must be born to a woman of German ancestry
and a man of German ancestry in June 1950 down in Bladen County,
North Carolina, whom he is pleased to make his child. He scattered
his elect that he might gather them in his time for the glory
of his son. Listen to Jeremiah 31. Hear the
word of the Lord, O ye nations. declare it in the aisles afar
off and say he that scattered Israel will gather him and keep
him as a shepherd doth his flock." Now you're in Ezekiel 11, look
at verse 17. Brother Rex read Jeremiah 23
stating the same thing. Therefore thus saith the Lord
God of I will even gather you from the people and assemble
you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and
I will give you the land of Israel. Chapter 20, verse 34. I will
bring you out from the people and will gather you out of the
countries wherein you were scattered or you are scattered with a mighty
hand and a stretched out arm and with fury poured out. Verse
41. I will accept you with your sweet
savor when I bring you out from the people and gather you out
of the countries wherein you have been scattered and I will
be sanctified in you before the heathen. Now, look at John chapter
11. John the 11th chapter. Verse 49. Back in the office, Brother Larry
read the 107th Psalm. We won't have time to read it again now,
but I urge you to go home and read it. We got done reading
and I said, tonight, that's my favorite psalm. It speaks of God gathering
His elect, the ways He gathers them. Listen to this, John 11,
verse 49. One of them named Caiaphas, being
the high priest that same year, said unto them, ye know nothing
at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that one
man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish
not. And this he spake not of himself, but being the high priest
that year, he prophesied. He didn't have any idea what
he was saying. Caiaphas didn't know God from a gourd, but he
spoke because God the Spirit put it in his mouth and prophesied
that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation
only, but also that he should gather together in one How? By His death, by redemption that
He should gather together in one the children of God that
were scattered abroad in redemption by the sacrifice and blood atonement
of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord God gathered
His people out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue. He
gathered together His people, not imputing our trespasses unto
us, but imputing our sin to His darling Son who has made sin
for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In the redemption of our souls
at Calvary, all God's elect were brought together before the holy
law and justice of God in one head, Christ Jesus. And all the
sons of God and all the sins of God's elect were gathered
together in Him when He who knew no sin was made sin for us. And all our sins were made to
meet on Him, punished in Him to the full satisfaction of justice,
and put away by Him in whom we have redemption through His blood
the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. Turn
back to Matthew 13. Matthew chapter 13. In regeneration and effectual
calling by the omnipotent grace and almighty mercy of God the
Holy Spirit gathers God's elect one by one into his garner by
the preaching of the gospel. You send me back and forth and up and down
the length and breadth of this country nearly every week. Send me other places around the
world. I'll be leaving Wednesday to
go to England and Ireland to preach the gospel. Why? Why? Why the labor? Why the expense? Why the long weary days? Why do this? Because it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching. to gather His elect, whom He
scattered among the nations of the world. I preach full of anticipation,
full of anticipation God's going to save His people. And He's
going to save His people by the preaching of the gospel. Look
here, Matthew 13, 24. Another parable our Lord Jesus
put forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened
unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept,
the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way. But when the blade was sprung
up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the
servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst
not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath
it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath
done this, The servant said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go
and gather them up? But he said, Nay, lest while
you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. And in the time
of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first
the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the
wheat into my garner. What's he talking about? He's
talking about the preaching of the gospel. Several years ago,
I had some correspondence with Brother Joe Terrell out in Rock
Valley, Iowa. And someone, we were discussing
attending services, and he said, I see them come and I'm always
perplexed. Did God send them here to melt
their hearts by the gospel? are to harden their hearts by
the gospel. He'll do one or the other. And
our Lord sends preachers out to preach the gospel. And they
are doing two things. They are binding up the tares
for the burning and gathering God's elect, His wheat, into
His garnet. Look in Mark chapter 13. I'll
show you. Verse 27. Then shall he send
his angels, his messengers, gospel preachers, and they shall gather
together his elect from the four winds and from the uttermost
part of the earth unto the uttermost part of heaven. The gospel of
God's grace is the fan by which the Son of God purges his threshing
floor, separating the chaff from the wheat, the precious from
the vile, and gathers his wheat into his garner. being gathered
out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, gathered from
all the divided peoples of the earth. In Christ, we are made
one. I always love conference time
for many reasons, particularly the privilege of gathering with
God's saints and hearing the gospel, singing his praise, worshiping
him. But I always like to sit here
and look over the crowd. and see the many different faces. Black and white and oriental,
folks from all over the country, folks from every walk of life
imaginable in this world. Here we are gathered together,
one. One in Christ. Because in Christ,
circumcision means nothing and uncircumcision means nothing.
How much money you have, means nothing. How poor you are means
nothing. How brilliant you are or how
slow you are is irrelevant. What your education is or your
lack of education is is utterly meaningless. Well what matters?
Christ is all. And Christ is in you all. And we are one in Him. And then when our blessed Savior
comes again in His glory He will gather all His elect together
in resurrection glory. Paul calls it, our gathering
together unto Him. Let's see how he describes it,
and I'll wrap this up. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 13. I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, Concerning them which are asleep That you sorrow not
even as others which have no hope For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of
our of the Lord Jesus Shall not prevent we shall not go before
them which are asleep For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the
trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall
we ever be with the Lord. Now watch this next line. Wherefore
comfort ye. one another with these words. Our gathering to gather unto
him. Oh, what a prospect. Our gathering to gather unto
him. What will that gathering be?
Oh, what will it be? No wonder the Apostle Paul calls
this the blessed hope of every believing sinner. When every
member of Christ has been found and not one left behind. When
soul and body long separated by death, those companions are
once more united. That will be a great gathering.
And all gather together in one in Christ, even in him. Adam and Eve gather together. Abel and Abraham gathered together,
Abraham and Lot reunited, Isaac and Isaiah, Noah and Simeon,
Rahab and Ruth, Tamar and Bathsheba, Paul and Barnabas, Peter and
John, David and Don, all gathered together, one in Christ Jesus
the Lord. Oh, children of God, we have
no reason to fear the day of our gathering. However fearful
the signs of that time approaching may appear, before the final
destruction of all things begins, we shall be hidden in the secret
place of the Most High with Christ our God in all the fullness of
His glory by our gathering together in Him. Amen.