- Signs of the Kingdom, Part VII
Good can be the worst enemy of best. We are thankful for the institutions that have sought to preserve the truth and do the works of God, and for all the good they have done, but their time is up. In place of “moves of God” we are entering a time when God will truly move. He never really has been a part of our human camps or institutions. This exhortation from Hebrews 13:12-14 explains:
“Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
“So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
The best institutions are still institutions. The Lord will bless them as much as He can, but He will not inhabit them. He will only inhabit the church which He has built. No establishment or institution built by men can measure up to what He will build for Himself. Do we see the city He is building?
We are living in the greatest times of knowing and walking with God. When Jesus walked the earth, He said it was better for His followers that He go away, so the Holy Spirit could come. Then He could walk with His followers and be inside them, and they would be His temple.
The highest calling is to be His habitation—God in us! What could be more awesome and wonderful than that? Are we living in this reality? If we know He is in us, what could possibly intimidate us? If we know God is with us, why should we care what others think or could do to us?
One of the greatest signs that the kingdom is near is the “manifestation of the sons of God” spoken of in Romans 8:19. His sons and daughters have been here since He walked the earth, so what will their “manifestation” look like? Why does all creation groan and travail for this? The great teachers throughout the age believe this will be a revealing to the world of those who fully abide in Him and walk in all they are called to be as “new creations.” When this happens, creation itself will recognize this as the beginning of the restoration of all creation.
The belief is, when Adam fell, all that was under his dominion began to pay a terrible price for the sin and discord that entered the world. This resulted in every form of sickness and death, and worst of all, wars. However, when these “manifested sons” appear, this will be a sign that the harmony of creation is about to be restored, because some of Adam’s sons are walking as sons of the “last Adam,” who is Christ, who paid the price for all through His sacrifice.
It is also believed that this disharmony between man and God, and man and creation, will become so intense at the end that the ultimate time of trouble, the worst ever, will occur. This will become necessary to reveal to everyone how deep and wide this discord is, and the great fallacy that man can run this world without God. At that time, these “manifested sons” will reveal what everyone can become when reconciled and restored to Him.
As this time of trouble increases, we should also look for the great things that are also coming and how they will become better and more glorious. This is why we are told of “the great and terrible day of the Lord” (see Malachi 4:5, italics added). It will be great for those who have eyes to see and are being reconciled and restored to God, but terrible for those who refuse to be reconciled.
© 2023 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.
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