[Chapter 8-7] The Second Coming of The Lord and The Millennial Kingdom (Romans 8:18-25)
(Romans 8:18-25)
“For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the
earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of
the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the
creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the
whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even
we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope
that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance.”
Those
who are righteous by believing in the in the righteousness of God have
received the glory of heaven. This is why they suffer with the gospel of
the water and the Spirit of Jesus, to clothe all people with the glory
of heaven. Believers dedicate themselves to the gospel of the
righteousness of God and suffer on earth because partaking in Christ’s
sufferings is glorious and righteous.
Is
it not honorable for us to suffer for God, whom we deeply honor and
respect? It certainly is; it is a glorious suffering. This is why those
who believe in God’s righteousness suffer for His righteousness. For
whom are you suffering right now? Are you suffering for the world and
your flesh? What good would it be for your soul to bear the world’s
suffering? Suffer for the righteousness of God and believe in it. The
glory of God will then be upon you.
Inheritance with which we will be blessed in the future
Let
us think about the inheritance that we will receive. The inheritance
that we will receive in heaven is the reward of reigning with Jesus in
the new heaven and earth. The glory we will receive in the Thousand-year
Kingdom and the eternal Kingdom of God is so great that it cannot be
measured. Only the born-again believers themselves can know and will
possess this glory that awaits them.
The incomparable glory
“For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
Comparing
the glory to be received by the believers to their sufferings of the
present time, Paul said that their glory would far surpass their present
sufferings. This is absolutely true; the glory that awaits us is most
definitely far greater than the suffering that we bear now.
The earnest expectation of the creation
“For
the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing
of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the
creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:19-21).
All
of God’s creation yearn to be released from the corruption from sin. To
be released, the Kingdom of God must be established on this earth.
These creations also wait for the children of God to become the masters
of the Thousand-year Kingdom. All creations thus wait for the day when
the sons of God reign with Him clothed in God’s glory, for the Kingdom
of God to come.
Waiting for the redemption of our body
“For
we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs
together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting
for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this
hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope
for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait
for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:22-25).
Those
who believe in the gospel of the righteousness of God are saved from
all their sins. They wait for the Kingdom of God, for the day when it
comes, with perseverance through all their sufferings. They suffer
incessantly for the gospel, and, through suffering, their hope for the
Kingdom of God becomes even more earnest. This is only natural for them.
They do not wait for the kind of hope that is seen through the eyes of
the flesh, but instead, the Kingdom of God that is not seen and their
own transformation.
People
and all other things in today’s world live an indescribably exhausting
life. As time goes on, the world changes, and as technology and
civilization grow, people’s hope for the future increases in their
hearts. They expect to see a paradise on earth in the future and yet
become anxious, nervous, and dreary, wondering why the process takes so
long, despite all the progress. Computers, automobiles, and other
technological and scientific advancements continue, yet it has become
harder and harder to hear people’s laughter.
Is
there hope for the future of the humanity? The answer is an unfortunate
no. According to the Word of Revelations, as well as in the opinion of
scientists, disasters await us with the shortage of water, the
destruction of the ozone layer, draught and deforestation that will lead
many people to die of thirst and heat. Can you feel all these disasters
awaiting us in your heart?
Are
we living in a pleasant world? It may seem pleasant in some ways. What
is there that cannot be bought with money? But we need clean water and a
healthy environment. Yet the ozone layer is being destroyed, allowing
deadly rays to pierce through the atmosphere, while ultraviolet rays
causes plants to mutate and the people’s hearts to harden. People
increasingly worry, “What will happen to this world?” But unlike the
people of the world, we the born-again believers have faith that we will
be partake in the first resurrection and reign with Jesus for a
thousand years.
The
Bible tells us that the Lord Himself will descend again from heaven
with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God (1
Thessalonians 4:16). The question is “when” He is coming. Our Lord
promised that He would come down to take those who believe in the gospel
of the water, the blood and the Spirit, and so we are waiting for that
day.
Those
who are born again believe in this gospel. “My sins were passed onto
Jesus when He was baptized, and I believe in the Lord as the Savior who
was judged for my sins, in my place.” God has granted us salvation
through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is coming again to
resurrect His people and to let them reign for a thousand years on this
earth. The Bible is like a picture puzzle that must be matched together
by its readers.
When
Jesus first came down, He came to call on the sinners to repent. He
bore their sins in His body through His baptism and was judged for them
through the blood that He shed on the Cross. When the Lord, who now
resides heaven, comes again, He will resurrect all those who believe in
God’s righteousness to reign with Him for a thousand years.
The Millennial Kingdom
Those
who truly love others in this world are the children of God. They are
the only people who deliver the gospel of God’s righteousness to every
lost soul to win them to Christ. Do people of this world reward the
children of God? No. Then who does? When Jesus comes again, He will
reward them by resurrecting those who are born again and allowing them
to reign for a thousand years.
The
Thousand-year Kingdom is for us, the born-again believers. Even as the
present world is becoming desolated, when our Lord comes again, we will
live in a new world. There, the Lord will allow us to reign with Him and
live happy and joyful lives for as long as we want.
Paul
said in Romans 8:23, “Not only that, but we also who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Are you
waiting for that day? Even we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit
groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the redemption of our
bodies. God said that He would resurrect us, change our bodies, and
allow us to live with Him. We, who have been born again as the
righteous, hope and wait for His second advent through the Holy Spirit.
We
groan within ourselves. The born-again believers know what this world
is going to be like. What the fortunetellers foretell of the future
means nothing. The born-again believers know precisely what will happen
in the future. Even if the world were to change into what we had exactly
predicted, no one would believe us now. But those who believe in the
written Word of God just wait without boasting. Even if other people who
do not recognize God’s Word regard them with contempt, they live with
hope.
Those
who do not believe, therefore, must receive salvation before their
lives come to the end. They must believe that Jesus took upon their sins
by His baptism and was judged in our place on the Cross. Only then will
they be able to enter the Kingdom of God when the final day comes. We
will be rewarded then and enter His Kingdom to have eternal life.
Are
you sad? Are you weary? Or, are you satisfied with your life? We must
clearly know and believe how Jesus became our Savior before we pass
away. We must also prepare for our lives in Heaven. This world is not
everything; knowing this truth, we must prepare to live in Heaven. This
is what the wise do. Do you live in pleasure day by day? If so, you are a
foolish person. Those who desire the better, that is, a heavenly
country, and prepare to make their dreams come true by entering it, on
the other hand, are the wise who truly build their house on the rock.
In the Millennial Kingdom
God
made us in His own image and wanted us to live with Him forever. That
is why the Lord came to this earth, received His baptism, and shed His
blood to deliver us from all our sins. Those who believe in the
righteousness of God live with the Lord, and the Lord will reward them
for it. Our Lord will wipe away the tears from our eyes and reward us
for all the hardships and loneliness that we have suffered.
God
renews all things. He will allow a new world to come, where a weaned
child can put his hand in a viper’s den and will not be bitten (Isaiah
11:8). We must believe in and eagerly wait for what is not seen, hoping
for that day with perseverance. If we say that we wait for what is seen,
we are foolish. If, on the other hand, we wait for what is not seen and
believe in the Word of God, we are then wise. After our salvation, we
wait for the glory that, though presently unseen by our eyes, is sure to
come.
God
Himself groans more than we do but still makes us wait. We are eagerly
waiting for our flesh to be changed into spiritual bodies and to reign
when our time comes. What does the Holy Spirit who dwells in us say? For
what does He make us wait? He is making us wait for the Millennial
Kingdom. The Lord is waiting to renew our bodies and live with us. We
are also waiting to reign for a thousand years together with God.
Hallelujah! We give thanks to our Lord.
Christians
live with their hope for heaven and confidence in their hope. This
confidence is based not on our emotional feelings, but on the Word of
God, who does not lie.
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