IN THE FULNESS OF TIMES

Eph 1:10  "That in the dispensation of the fulness 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:"

            There seems to be a growing interest in those times.  "The end of the world" is on the lips of people even who do not profess Christianity.  We should not be surprised, because even the disciples in the days of our Lord's sojourn on earth were interested.  In Acts 1:6 we read, "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"  Our Lord told them it was not time for them to know.  Paul was interested in those times.  It is a time for which we pray.  See Matt. 6:9, 10.  "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

  
            Let's notice some blessings of that time and the unity it will bring.  First tyranny and miss rule shall be ended, Isa. 11:3, 4, "And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked/"  Here we are told the Lord will judge with righteousness and with equity.  Israel will receive her sight.  See Rom. 11:25-27, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."  Toil and trouble will give way to rest, "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,"  2 Thess. 1:6, 7.  Our sufferings will be turned to glory, see Rom. 8:17, 18, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  Finally, even creation itself will burst forth in freedom, Rom. 8:19-23.  "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

            Are you ready for those days?  I believe they are rapidly approaching us.  For the lost this is a terror; for the saved, it is our blessed hope for then we shall see Christ.