God transcends time and is in no
wise affected by it, since He is eternal and inhabiteth eternity. He has created time as a place
wherein He would display His creation, since all else besides
Him is finite. He is before all things, and
by Him all things consist. We can discover four general
divisions of time which are related to the creation, which we can
see and know about to some degree in the scriptures. They are number
one, before the foundation of the world, number two, the former
times, number three, the latter days, and number four, the ages
to come. There is little that we are given
to know about the first era or the last, since they are before
our creation and after our glorification. The only divisions of time which
have been clearly revealed in every detail is the middle two,
which are the former times and the latter days. It is with these
two divisions that most all of the scriptures which have been
given to us are primarily concerned. Before the foundation of the
world is quite often defined by many as eternity, yet eternity
cannot be defined in terms of time, and therefore it has no
befores or afters. Eternity is the habitation of
God alone. The era which is described as
before the foundation of the world is the earliest point at
which anything which is presently appearing in this world could
be said to exist. It was here that the manifestation
of redemption and the redeemed was begun. The ages to come is
again often defined by many as eternity, and is truly, insofar
as not having an end, the closest man can ever come to eternity
moving forward. Yet eternity has no ages, since
it is the habitation of God alone who defines and creates the ages.
This is a glorious period for the redeemed who shall dwell
in the presence of Him who designed and purchased their redemption.
and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ, that in the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus. This is the era when all enemies
shall have been destroyed, the former things forgotten, and
the full fruition of the eternal life which has been given to
the elect shall have its free course. So we are left with those
two eras and the actual life of the world which are clearly
set forth in much detail in the Word of God. The first being
the former times or times past. Hebrews tells us that these times
are those from the beginning of the world until the incarnation
of Jesus Christ. Then those last days or latter
days being the present wherein He has clearly spoken His truth
in the earth. Jesus Christ is the hinge upon which those times
past and these last days turn. This is the day of the Lord.
This is that day of which the prophet spoke when Christ shall
manifest his kingdom and call out his elect from the corners
of the earth. We wait for no future kingdom, but we have been
privileged to dwell in it at the present time. This is truly
a glorious day because the gospel, which brings life and immortality
to light, is now published from every hilltop and the wheat of
God is being gathered into his garner. This is that day of which
Isaiah says, in that day sing ye unto her. God is not only
designed and provided redemption for his people, but he is presently
sending men to declare these glad tidings far and wide, that
his people may hear and believe, and believing may be comforted
by this pleasant song. What good news to a sinner deep
in debt and bowed down under the guilt of his wickedness?
The Lord has wrought salvation for even the chief of sinners.
Those to whom these glad tidings are sent are described by Isaiah
as a vineyard of red wine. This is a vineyard of his own
planting and grafting. Did he not say, I am the vine,
ye are the branches? It is a vineyard of red wine.
which is indicative of the fact that this vineyard, that is the
Church of God, the Bride, the Elect, is purchased with the
blood of the everlasting covenant, which was shed by none other
than Jesus Christ, making full and complete atonement and obtaining
eternal redemption for all of those included therein. But Christ,
being coming high priest of good things to come, by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. It is a vineyard
of red wine. Wine is symbolic of joy and is
the ultimate purpose for the gathering and nurturing of the
vineyard. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is sat down on the right hand of the
throne of God. Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus
knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of
this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the
world, he loved them unto the end. Do you long to be a part
of this vineyard? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.