"Your Deliverance Is Getting Near"!

SHINING BRIGHTLY IN THE KINGDOM

What will happen after Gog of Magog starts the attack on God's people? Both Matthew and Mark record the same event:  " [the Son of man] will send out the angels and  will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth's extremity to heaven's extremity."  (Mark 13:27; Matthew 24:31)  This gathering work does not refer tot he initial in-gathering of anointed ones.  (Matthew 13:37, 38)  That sealing happens before the outbreak of the great tribulation.  (Revelation 7:1-4) So, what is this gathering work that Jesus mentions?  It is the time when remaining ones of the 144,000 will receive their heavenly reward.  (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 14:1) This event will take place at some point after the beginning of the attack  by Gog of Magog.  (Ezekiel 38:11)  Then these words of Jesus will be fulfilled:  "At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father." -Matthew 13:43. 

Does this mean that there will be a "rapture" of the anointed ones?  Many in Christendom believe, according to this teaching, that Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth. Then, they expect Jesus will visibly return to rule the earth.  However, the Bible clearly shows that "the sign of the Son of man"  will appear in heaven and that Jesus will come "on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 24:30) Both of these expressions imply invisibility. Additionally, "flesh and blood cannot inherit God's Kingdom."  So those who will be taken to heaven will first need  to be "changed,in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet." (Read 1 Corinthians 15:40-53) Therefore, while we do not use the term "rapture" here because of its wrong connotation,the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time.

Once all the 144,000 are in heaven, the final preparations for the marriage of the Lamb can begin.  (Revelation 19:9)  But something  else will happen before that joyous event. Remember, shortly before the remaining ones of the 144,000 are taken to heaven. Gog will attack God's people.  (Ezekiel 38:16)  What reaction  does this provoke?  On earth, God's people  will appear to be defenseless. They will obey the instructions given in the days of King Jehoshaphat: "You will not need to fight this battle. Take your position, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah in your behalf. O Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid or be terrified." (2 Chronicles 20:17)  In heaven, however, there is a different reaction. Referring to the time when all the anointed are in heaven. Revelation 17:14 tells us this about the enemies of God's people:  "These will battle with the Lamb, but because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those with him who are called and chosen and faithful will do so." Together with his 144,000 co-rulers in heaven,  Jesus will come tot he rescue of God's people here on earth.  

The resulting war of Armageddon will lead to the magnifying of Jehovah's holy name.  (Revelation 16:16) At that time, all goat-like ones "will depart into everlasting cutting-off." The earth will finally  be cleansed of all wickedness, and the great crowd will pass through the final part of the great tribulation.  With all the preparations completed, the climax of the book of Revelation, the marriage of the Lamb, can take place.  (Revelation 21:1-4) All those surviving on the earth will bask in God's favor and experience bounteous expressions of his love. What a marriage feast that will be! Do we not look forward to that day with eager expectation? -Read  2 Peter 3;13. 

With these exciting events ahead of us, what should each of us now be doing?  The apostle Peter was inspired to write:  "Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider  what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah . . .Therefore, beloved ones, since you are awaiting these things, do you utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished in peace." ( 2 Peter 3:11, 12, 14)  Let us, then, be resolved to remain spiritually clean, supporting the King of Peace. 

Next time: Does It Matter Who Notices Your Work?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015