by Dale Rumble
by Dale Rumble
We are living in a unique period of history, one that is most perilous in the sense of spiritual deception and darkness, but also one that is pregnant with hope and glory to be birthed for the age to come. It is vital we understand what will mark the transition from this age into the future when the whole earth will be filled with His glory.
Never before in the history of the church has the future estate of believers been so dependent upon recognizing the implications of our day of visitation.
The judgments of God are upon the nations; these are designed to impact the church, to restore and prepare her to gather in a great end-time harvest and make her ready for the Lord’s return.
The instruments of His judgments, all of which are under His control, include wars, earthquakes, civil unrest, economic collapse, natural disasters, famines, plagues, etc. Since America has put God out of the schools, the courts and her social conscience; since she now permits the murder of unborn children; and since she considers homosexuality to be an acceptable lifestyle, the Lord has given her over to an increasing lawlessness that now fills the schools and streets. This is part of His judgment. Everything that can be shaken shall be shaken in order that only what is of His kingdom shall stand (Hebrews 12:25-29).
For thus says the Lord of hosts, “Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations . . . .” (Haggai 2:16-17)
The Lord has forewarned His people of these things so that they may be prepared to stand in victory and to overcome the deepening darkness. God is calling us to rise up to our place with Him in heavenly places so that He may reveal His power, mercy and grace through us in a final great demonstration of salvation.
The church, in her present state, is not yet ready for what is to come. Pride, sectarianism, division, self-promotion and human programs will be judged. Religious walls created by man must come down. Men of integrity and humility are needed to bring unity, peace and understanding to Christian bodies. The bonds that unite the church to the world and structures that blend the holy with the profane will be supernaturally destroyed. The Lord is calling believers to repent, to unite in prayer and intercession that the fear of God will return to our nation.
Those who will not repent and be saved shall be ultimately deceived by the New Age counterfeit religion, which even now is filling the earth.
The sovereignty and grace of God will prevail, and as deepening darkness develops in the earth, His glory will arise upon the church.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
It is in the context of these things, that this tract concerning glory has been written. The word “glory” denotes the resplendent magnificence of God’s character. The Lord revealed this truth to Moses (Exodus 33:18-19; 34:6-7). However, to many the word has a vague and mysterious meaning. For this reason, the text is based on the use of many scriptures with as few of my words as possible.
There is a remarkable verse in the epistle to the Hebrews.
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35)
Because they were children of God, they were assured of a resurrection to life (Job 19:25-27). What did the writer mean, “to obtain a better resurrection?”
Time of resurrection may have been what they had in mind, for a “first-fruit” resurrection of some Old Testament saints did take place (Matthew 27:52-53).
However, it is more likely they were concerned with the resurrection honor and glory to be awarded to those who had most pleased the Lord by their life on earth.
The New Testament supports the proposition that glory and the privilege of reigning with Christ are tangible rewards promised to overcomers following the resurrection. As a Spirit-filled apostle, Paul still pressed on in order that he might know the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-12).
While we are saved by grace alone, we will be rewarded in the next life according to how well we have obeyed truth revealed to us in this life. One cannot earn salvation; eternal life, receiving the Holy Spirit, becoming as son of God and being resurrected to bear the image of the heavenly, are all part of the inheritance we receive, not by works, but by grace through faith when we are born of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:47-49). Rewards on the other hand, are a consequence of bearing fruit, being faithful to follow in the steps of the One who saved us. Glory is a tangible measure of the spiritual stature, honor and authority believers will be given at the resurrection. Salvation is free; but glory will cost us something!
But glory and honor and peace to every man who does good . . (Romans 2:10)
The ultimate reward set before us by our Lord, is to gain His glory. Nothing can be greater than this!
. . . because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you might gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
God purposed at the creation of Adam to bring forth many sons to share in the glory of His only begotten Son (John 17:24; Ephesians 1:3-6).
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory . . . (Hebrews 2:10)
This points to where our hope is to be fixed, for it reflects the purpose of God which He has planned from the beginning to accomplish.
Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
The choice is ours; whether we bear fruit thirty-fold, sixty-fold, a hundred-fold, or very little fruit at all. We are responsible to give ourselves wholly to Him and His call on our lives, so as to not lose the reward that could be ours.
Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. (2 John 8)
The answer to this question is that it is a process which has a specific and unique beginning: Christ coming to live within us as Lord of our life.
To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
The Holy Spirit works miracles of incremental changes within us as we go through periods of suffering, testing and trials that develop perseverance and godly character.
But we all, as with unveiled face, we see as in a mirror the Lord’s glory reflected, are changed into the same likeness from one degree of glory to another, derived as it is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Berkeley)
All change that brings glory cannot take place apart form the grace of God. Paul’s personal testimony is true for all of us.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored eve more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
The ease and comforts of this world and a spirit of lethargy will hinder and frustrate the process. Glory comes out of the harness of God’s discipline, affliction and persecution (Romans 8:28; Hebrews 12:5-11).
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to (in) us. (Romans 8:17-18)
But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:13-14)
As it has in past generations, martyrdom will almost certainly be a gateway to glory for many. While a crown of glory need not require physical death, it does require laying down our life to do His will. The difficult experiences and trials we encounter cause us to turn to Him for wisdom and strength. Problems are simply opportunities to mature in faithfulness and perseverance.
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
The love and glory of God are woven together in His purpose to unite all believers in Christ. This is evident in our Lord’s prayer to His Father just before He went to the cross (John 17). The significance of glory is particularly evident in our Lord’s words;
And now glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was . . . and the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one . . . Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou has given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me . . . (John 17:5, 22, 24)
Looking ahead, the great darkness that marks the close of this age will be used by the Lord to restore, mature and unite His church. In those days, the glory of God will come down in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a final great demonstration of the love and grace of God before the hour of His wrath (1 Peter 1:5, 13).
Spiritual rewards will be presented at the judgment seat of Christ after He returns and believers have been resurrected (Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12).
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
There will certainly be differences (or degrees) in the glory and honor that believers will receive at this time.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body . . . it is raise in glory . . . (1 Corinthians 15:41-43)
The judgment seat of Christ will reveal how well each believer has built his life upon the foundation of Christ.
Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
Before they sinned, our first parents were apparently clothed in glory. It was after their sin that they discovered they were naked. Their covering of glory was gone. It is one thing to be saved and go to heaven; it is quite another to be clothed with the glory of Christ. We need to be concerned about the glory of our resurrected body. Having one’s works burned up speaks of nakedness.
For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; in as much as we, having put it on shall not be found naked. (2 Corinthians 5:2-3)
The Lord used the following parables to clearly set forth those principles upon which rewards will be based.
The theme of these parables challenge us to lay hold of God’s promises and set our heart fully upon Him so that we will not lose any of the glory that could be ours in the age to come.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4)
In the parable of the talents, the slave who multiplied his talents five times was given authority over five cities, and the one who achieved a gain of ten was given authority over ten cities.
Paul relates the reward of reigning to the measure of perseverance that has been developed in one’s character.
. . . for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him . . . (2 Timothy 2:11-12)
John, the apostle, promises the reward of reigning with Christ to those who overcome during the last days.
And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron . . . (Revelation 2:26-27)
An implication of the phrase “until the end” is that this promise especially apples at the end of this age. The similarity in context with Revelation 12:5 suggests that the “man-child” in verse five is a company of overcomers who arise within the end-time church (the woman in Revelation 12:1-6) to strengthen and nourish her during the difficult times of the last days (Revelation 12:14).
The following is a specific promise to those who overcome:
He who overcomes I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)
A climatic event to take place near the end of this age will be the casting of Satan out of the heavens onto the earth1. Because the accuser of the brethren will no longer be over the church (being between her and the Lord), great power and authority will rest upon the people of God even as persecution comes to a climax in the earth (Revelation 12:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Daniel 12:1-3).
The honor that overcomers from these last days will have in reigning with Christ is quite clear in scripture:
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of he word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
These overcomers are part of a great multitude, a number no man could count, resurrected from every tribe, nation, tongue and people. They will come forth out of the great tribulation as fruit of the first resurrection (Revelation 7:9-17). Doubtless, all overcomers from previous generations will be present in this resurrected company.
When one considers the glory promised to the bride of Christ, a question arises, “Is the bride a separate group who is uniquely distinct from the church; or is she an integral part of the church?” The following are three reasons why the latter is a correct view.
1. Scripture is emphatic, that in God’s eyes, the church is the one, all inclusive, body of believers united in Christ (John 17:21-23).
2. Rewards are promised to individuals; thus glory of the bride concerns rewards given to individual overcomers in the church.
3. The Lord has promised that, although rewards will vary greatly, the whole church will ultimately be presented holy and blameless to Him.
. . . Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27))
In a great mansion, there are vessels with a special place of honor because of their distinctive utility and beauty, being made of gold, silver or precious jewels. There are also many commonplace vessels made of inexpensive material such as earthenware, which have much less honor. This is analogous to how believers in the resurrection will make up the dwelling place that God is building today for the place of His eternal rest (2 Timothy 2:19-20; Ephesians 2:19-22). It is in this sense that the following statement is true: “The garments we are weaving today are the ones we will wear for all eternity.” Today is the time to establish the reward and glory of our resurrection.
Spiritual pride, elitism and sectarianism will inevitably arise whenever a body of believers see and proclaim themselves as a special group with a “higher rating” in God’s eyes than the rest of Christendom. This can arise from doctrine, religious practices or from allegiance to a charismatic leader who claims to have special revelation and authority from God. Such groups bring division to the body of Christ and are a sign of immaturity.
There is no doubt that there will be “special distinctions” in the resurrection (Revelation 14:1-4). However, these must come from the Lord Himself when He rewards His disciples. We are never to presume such honor for ourselves today. The greatest calling we have in this life is to be bondservants in His house.
O Lord, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwells. (Psalm 26:8)
In the days preceding the return of Christ there will occur the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit ever seen upon earth. This will be accompanied with times of testing, persecution and purification of the church to prepare her to gather in the final harvest. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached as a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14). Concerning these days, it is good to remember our Lord’s words that, “the last shall be first” (Matthew 20:16). The greatest rewards are apparently reserved for the eleventh hour laborers at the end of the age.
A primary quality of the bride will be her deep love relationship with the Lord; He sees her as His bride in army boots. She is both a bride and an army!
Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun, as awesome as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 6:10)
A second quality of the bride will be her obedience in deeds of righteousness.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)
A third mark of the bride is that she represents both the people and the city which God has prepared over the centuries for His final dwelling place, the place of His eternal rest among mankind. She comes down to the earth after the millennium clothed with the glory of God being uniquely prepared for His presence.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
. . . and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God . . . and the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Revelation 21:10, 11, 23)
And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)
Those who overcome have unique promises concerning their place with the Lord in His eternal city.
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12
There will be many from various nations saved by the blood of Christ who, although apparently not part of the city, will have access into it and His presence.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it . . . and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:24-27)
The future will see the fulfillment of that which the Lord God has purposed to accomplish from the beginning of creation. He is preparing a people for Himself. His greatest treasure in the earth are those who respond to the gospel and choose to serve Him.
The transition from the present into the glory of the future is destined to take place in a time of deep darkness and spiritual deception. All men will be polarized by earthshaking events and will have to choose either the way of God or the way of darkness. Climactic events are destined by God to remove all tares from the wheat and separate His people from the ways of man and the world. This will prepare the church for the final great end-time harvest so that she can then enter into the glory of Her Lord.
God is calling His people to intercession, integrity, humility and unity. Through a great final outpouring of the Holy Spirit the Lord will reveal His great love, mercy and power through the church to the nations. Multitudes will come to Him! As the bride responds to His love and makes herself ready, His glory will come to rest upon her.
We are on the threshold of a great and quick work of righteousness that will touch every nation. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached and demonstrated as a witness to all nations before the end comes! All of creation is eagerly awaiting the revealing of God’s sons in a final great salvation that is to be unveiled at the end of this age.
Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)
The final conflict of the ages is upon us. Nations and individuals will be brought into the valley of decision. In the past there were many options. In the future there are only two. The choice to be made is between obeying the Lord or going our own way, between truth or deception, between glory or darkness. Difficulties, afflictions and persecution will be great. Even when standing in the midst of darkness and turmoil, the glorious reality is that we are seated with Him in heavenly places. We are in union with our Head, and we enter into His rest and victory! In this way we will partake of the glory that is to be revealed.
1. Dale Rumble, THE UNVEILING OF THE MAN OF SIN; Fountain of Life tract.