A Time to be Expectant

Joseph Herrin (03-17-2011)

What is the next great event which must occur on Yahweh’s unfolding plan of redemption? It is that which the entire creation has been anxiously longing for ever since sin and death entered into the natural realm.

Romans 8:19-23
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

You hear very little about “the revealing of the sons of God” in the churches today. Those who do mention it, often do so only to dismiss the subject as part of what many call “the sonship heresy.” Men are ever prone to declare as error that which they do not understand. Those who proclaim the next work of God are often labeled as blasphemers, heretics and false prophets. Even the Son of God had such charges brought against Him, for no one who has tasted old wine immediately desires the new. Those who were brought up under the Mosaic Law of sin and death were loathe to embrace the age of grace that was now upon them.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Yahshua Christ.

Christ was declared to be a blasphemer, for those who had carved out a place for themselves in the old religious order did not want to relinquish it.

John 11:47-48
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

Times of transition have always been difficult. The creation lies on the cusp of another great transition. Those who like the taste of the old wine will once more prove to be resistant, and even the persecutors, of those who proclaim the next work of God.

Christ’s appearance 2,000 years ago was a phenomenal event. Despite this, it was greatly resisted by the old order. Christ “came to His own, and His own received Him not.” “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and well acquainted with grief.”

For the past 2,000 years, there has been a new people of God. The natural branches were broken off, and a wild olive branch grafted into its place. This new people of God have focused upon the last work of Christ. Truly it was a magnificent work. Christ appeared bringing salvation to all men. We must not stop there, however. Christ will now appear a second time for salvation.

Hebrews 9:28
Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.
[Amplified Bible]

Do you have an expectancy for this next work of Christ? Do you realize that the hour is at hand for it to be accomplished? It is the time for a firstfruits group of sons to ascend to the Father. These must receive ruling authority. They will be brought to a full salvation.

You may well ask what is meant by the words “full salvation.” Undoubtedly, in the churches of this hour, you have heard only of that salvation which Christ procured for man on the cross of calvary 2,000 years ago. This full salvation is what the apostle Paul describes as “our adoption as sons.”

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

In another place, the apostle Paul describes this coming great work as “the day of redemption.”

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Christ also spoke of this coming work, for He did not want His disciples to think that the Father’s plan of redemption had reached its completion on the cross of Calvary, and in the resurrection of His firstborn Son. There are other sons who must also arise in resurrection, who must also be redeemed from this mortal frame.

I Corinthians 15:53-54
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

Yahshua spoke to His disciples of this coming day of redemption. He told them there would be signs to precede that hour.

Luke 21:25-28
"And there will be signs in sun, and moon, and stars, and on the earth; distress of nations, with perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves;  men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

The cloud that is spoken of in this passage that Christ will be coming in, is not a rain cloud. It is a cloud of witnesses, living martyrs, who have made themselves ready for His return. For more on this subject, see the teaching titled “The Next Appearance of Christ.”

http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/next-appearance-of-christ_09.html

People of God, have we not been observing “the roaring of the sea and the waves.” There have been record numbers of hurricanes, and typhoons in recent years. They have wrought great devastation upon nations throughout the world. On top of this, there have been great earthquakes, accompanied by cataclysmic tsunamis with people perishing by the tens of thousands.

On the one hand, what is occurring is causing fear to arise in the hearts of multitudes. Yet, for those who anticipate the return of Christ and the promised day of redemption, a day of full salvation from this body of sin, there is cause to lift up one’s head. The day of redemption is near at hand.

Consider carefully, however, that not all of God’s people will be prepared for this hour. Not all will receive their redemption. The apostle Paul gave the following details concerning that day:

Hebrews 9:28
So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Who are those who “eagerly await” Christ’s return. It is those who are alert and sober. It is those who have departed from sin. Pay close attention to what is disclosed in the following words:

II Thessalonians 1:6-10
It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Yahshua is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Yahshua Christ. These shall be punished with age-lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe...

The day of the Lord’s return is described as a day of fire. This fire will be loosed as vengeance not only upon “those who do not know God,” but upon “those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Yahshua Christ.” There are multitudes of professing Christians today who are not walking in obedience. They are failing to take up their cross daily and follow Christ. They have disdained “the afflicted path that leads to life,” of which we are told “few there are who find it.”

This coming redemption and full salvation is for those who “believe” and “obey” the gospel of Christ. It is NOT for those who call Christ “Lord,” but do not do the things which He says.

The Spirit has been explicitly testifying that it is a time for every believer to examine their life. It is time to set their house in order. At this time all things will be shaken (the earthquakes are merely a natural sign of this spiritual occurrence.) The quality of every man’s work will be tested with fire.

Christ is coming to be glorified in His saints, His “holy ones.” The Spirit is calling the people of God to come out of Babylon. Come out of the houses of confusion, where the holy and profane are mixed together. Come out of the temples of sensuality that proclaim a message of worldliness, of material prosperity and selfish desire.

It is a time to submit to the judgments of God. All who are willing are being invited to surrender their lives to be led of the Spirit of Christ. Yahweh will lead His sons and daughters down a necessary, afflicted path that the fleshly creature might give way to a spiritual being. There is a cross to be borne by all who would be Christ’s disciples.

Do not be deceived, it is not enough to clean the outside of the cup. Yahweh demands holiness in the inward parts. No man will attain to the coming work of Christ who has not embraced the cross, surrendering to be guided by the Spirit to walk the path appointed to them.

Christ is even now giving forth signs that the hour of His return is drawing nigh. I wrote three years ago of the great sign given in the heavens that occurred in the constellation Bootes. Bootes means “the coming One.” He is figured as a shepherd with a staff in one hand, and a scythe, an instrument for cutting grass in the other. “All flesh is as grass.”

Bootes

You can read more about this sign at the following link:
http://www.heart4god.ws/id655.htm

There have been a myriad of signs that testify of the lateness of the hour. Christ said that earthquakes in diverse places would occur before His return. He described them as “the beginning of birth pangs.” I was recently sent a link to some earthquake statistics. If we look at the past three years for which statistics are available, we see an intensification of the number of severe earthquakes. Like the contractions of a woman about to give birth they are increasing in frequency and severity.

•    In 2008, there were 12 major earthquakes 7.0 or higher. This results in an average of one major earthquake every 37 days.
•    In 2009, there were 16 major earthquakes 7.0 or higher. This results in an average of one major earthquake every 22 days.
•    In 2010, there were 24 major earthquakes 7.0 or higher. This results in an average of one major earthquake every 15 days.
[Source: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=274761]

Already in this year 2011 we have seen two devastating earthquakes strike highly populated areas, wreaking tremendous destruction. On February 22, 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand was devastated by an earthquake. Just a few weeks later, on March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the most powerful earthquake in her known history.

There are those who say that we cannot know the time of Christ’s return. They cite the phrase that He will come “as a thief in the night.” In doing so, they neglect to cite the rest of the passage.

I Thessalonians 5:1-11
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Yahshua Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Are you anticipating the next great work of God? In an hour when cataclysms are ravaging the earth and men’s hearts are failing them for fear, the Redeemer draws near. He must remove the flesh from His people. All true disciples must pass through the fire. Yet, to those who obey the gospel of Christ, not a hair of their head shall perish. An hour is approaching when those who are eagerly awaiting the return of Christ will receive a full salvation. They will lay aside their mortal, sin corrupted bodies and receive a new body immortal and incorruptible.

In anticipation of these things, how should we live? We must submit to the purifying work of God in our lives. We must buffet our bodies and keep them under subjection. We must clothe ourselves in Christ, living as He lived, seeking always to be found pleasing to the Father.

I John 3:2-3
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

As John Mulinde shared in the video I recently posted for the saints, the Spirit is testifying that it is not sufficient to manifest the gifts of the Spirit. We must walk in holiness.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord...

The hour is late. The earth is beginning to reel as a drunkard. More calamities will surely come, and America will not be spared. It is an hour to be expectant, watchful, and living a life set-apart unto God. Our redemption draws near.

Come quickly, Lord Yahshua!

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws  

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com  

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063