The Harp of God: Proof Conclusive That Millions Now Living Will Never Die
John Stuart Mill · en
What is meant by the voice of the archangel? ¶ 462.
Should we expect the resurrection of the saints during this time? ¶ 463.
How is he gathering unto himself the saints who are still on earth
during his presence? ¶ 463.
Give some Scriptural promises concerning the church being forever with
the Lord. ¶ 463.
What is meant by the kingdom of God? ¶ 464.
Who constitute the royal family of heaven? Quote the apostle Peter's
words relating to this. ¶ 464.
What promise did Jesus make to this class concerning a kingdom? ¶ 465.
Where will these be associated with the Lord Jesus in his kingdom? ¶ 465.
For what kingdom did the Lord teach his disciples to pray? and is it the
same spoken of by the prophets of old? ¶ 465.
Who have enjoyed and are enjoying the blessedness spoken of by Daniel
the Prophet in Daniel 12:12? ¶ 466.
As these appreciate this string of the harp, what song is appropriate to
them? ¶ 466.
While the saints thus rejoice, for what do they patiently wait? and to
what do they look forward? ¶ 467.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER X
String 9: _Glorification of the Church_
The church means a called out class, separate and distinct from all
others. The church of Christ consists of Jesus Christ the head and the
144,000 members of his body. (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 7:4) Those
composing this special class are otherwise designated saints. A saint is
one who is pure, holy, blameless. The followers of Christ Jesus are not
holy or blameless within themselves, but their holiness is by virtue of
his imputed merit. This same class of Christians is otherwise designated
in the Bible as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for a purpose". (1 Peter 2:9) They are also designated new
creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17); therefore they constitute the new
creation. This new creation when completed will be of the divine nature.
(2 Peter 1:4) Nature is determined by organism. The nature of the
church, then, will be like unto Jehovah God. It pleased God that Jesus
Christ, his beloved Son, should have preeminence in his great plan;
hence he is made the head of the new creation.--Colossians 1:18.
[469]This new creation had its beginning with Jesus Christ at the time
of his baptism in Jordan when he was begotten to the divine nature and
anointed with the holy spirit without limitation. As a man, he was pure,
blameless, holy. At the age of thirty years, he was qualified under the
law to be a priest, and there he consecrated himself and at that time
was baptized and begotten to the divine nature; hence became a new
creature there from the divine standpoint. As a new creature he was
made perfect by the things which he suffered.--Hebrews 5:8.