Thou Madest Him A Little Lower Than the Angels, Thou Crownedst Him With Glory and Honour, And Didst Set Him Over the Works of Thy Hands - Part 1576

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness ..." (II Peter 3:5-11)
The scriptures tell us that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night. The scriptures tell us that while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. It is for this reason that the scriptures present signposts - that when one sees these things coming to pass in the world, then they/we should know that summer is nigh.

Jesus tells us that in the same way that one can discern the face of the sky, the Word states that we should similarly be able to discern the signs of the times. (Jesus speaks of these days in Matthew 24)

Therein, the Lord Jesus shares that in the same manner as He was taken up, He shall come in like manner to gather His people. The scriptural account of Jesus' resurrection refers to a cloud receiving Him out of the apostles' sight. In a similar context, it is said that the Lord comes with clouds, and every eye shall see Him and those also which pierced Him.

The difficulty we have as humans (with our limited understanding) is that with the Lord a thousand years is one day. Nevertheless, what we can understand is that the Lord Jesus has already come into the hearts of believers, and thus, they have already been resurrected as far as the inward man is concerned. While believers had (the key word being had) been alienated from God as a result of Adam’s original sin, now he or she has been reconciled.

Note that it was for this reason that God declared peace and good will to all, so that in this current dispensation of grace -- the new testament could be ushered in.

But within the transition of salvation, we see the outward man perish (we begin shedding the care of this world) so that the inward man can be renewed daily by and through the  power of the Spirit of God, residing within. This is where the expression "born again" comes from, because believers in Jesus by faith are made brand new, washed clean from the sins and transgressions that once separated them from eternal life.

But now, they have been born again or born from above or simply born anew of God. These believers are now a habitation of God in the Spirit -- the temple of the Spirit of God, in which God Himself is pleased to dwell.

Those believers who have experienced this new birth are awaiting with expectancy the appearing of their great God and Saviour the Lord Jesus the Christ. At which time the trumpet of the Lord will sound, and all those who have died in faith will rise to meet the Lord. Those believers who are alive at the time of the Lord’s appearance will also be changed in a moment -- in the twinkling of an eye.

And, within this going to meet their King -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, all those who believe will be clothed in a new garment fitted in a form which will never die -- for death will no longer hold any sting. In that moment, the grave will have lost its seeming victory, (the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin being the law)

This is the first resurrection from the domain of the grave.

This presentation hopefully permits a brief perusal of what will be forthcoming, and I sincerely hope that it is received as only a preliminary thrust, stirring faith to arise within our hearts. In the meantime, we are all only one heart beat from eternity. Each one of us has an appointment with death. Therefore, we ought to pack our suitcase, for in reality no man knows the day or the hour in which his or her soul will be required of God.

In the interim, make Jesus your personal Saviour today. Study His Word and get to know the Author and Finisher of your salvation. Rejoice evermore and pray for His wisdom and knowledge and strength. Let the peace of Jesus bubble up within you, and be glad for every day that the Lord hath made. And don't forget to get water baptized by immersion according to Acts 2:36-38.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stand in the offering plate, offering yourself to Jesus -- knowing that He will never fail you -- and do everything that you do in word or deed, in the precious name of Jesus.