Page 14 - October 2024 - Truth & Tidings

Read Romans 8:18-25 on our present sufferings.
The final words of Romans 8:17 are Paul, who suffered so much for the cause
these: “... if so be that we suffer with him, of Christ, stated, “For our light affliction,
that we may be also glorified together.” which is but for a moment, worketh for us
1
The subjects of this statement are suffering a far more exceeding and eternal weight
and glory. That leads us, naturally, into of glory” (2Co 4:17). Now notice that
our next topic. Verse 18 states, “For I Paul, in writing of “the glory which shall
reckon that the sufferings of this present be revealed,” is not actually referring to
time are not worthy to be compared with what we call the Rapture. He states, “For
the glory which shall be revealed in [Greek the earnest expectation of the creation
eis = to] us.” The verb translated “reckon” eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons
is the Greek word from which we get of God” (Rom 8:19 NKJV). The reference to
our English word “logic,” and has the “the creation” is to the material universe,
meaning “to reason, or calculate.” In this and particularly to the world in which we
verse, Paul compares the sufferings that live. This decaying world in which we live
we experience in this life as Christians, of is eagerly awaiting an event, described
which he personally knew a great deal, here as “the revealing of the sons of
with the glory which shall be unveiled God.” This does not refer to the Rapture.
to us in a coming day. The words “shall It refers to the second coming of Christ,
be revealed” are actually more literally when He returns to establish His Kingdom
translated “about to be revealed.” This and reign for 1,000 years. What is the
does not mean that God has failed to bring significance of “the revealing of the sons
about His plans for the future. The point of God”? Notice that Paul doesn’t write
is that there are no prophetic events that here of “the children of God.” As has been
must be fulfilled before the Lord returns to mentioned before, the term “sons of God”
rapture the Church. The Lord Jesus could is expressive of character. When the Lord
returns to establish His Kingdom, He will
come at any moment. If we could keep “be glorified in his saints, and be admired
our focus on the prospect of His return, in all them that believe” (2Th 1:10). We will
secretly, to the air for us, it would result in
our having a totally different perspective be on display in our transformed bodies,
and people will look at us and say, “Isn’t
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV He [Christ] wonderful!” All that we will
unless otherwise noted. be in that day will be entirely due to His

302 TRUTH kTidings October 2024