What will be the sign of your coming? Matthew 24:3

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse emphasizes the understanding of Jesus’ parousia, or presence, as a period beginning in 1874 marked by spiritual enlightenment and the gathering of the elect through messengers spreading the harvest message. It highlights Brother Charles Russell as the faithful servant who helped reveal this truth, stressing the ongoing nature of Jesus’ return, the significance of the ecclesia arrangement for believers to gather and feed on spiritual truths, and the ultimate hope of restitution and everlasting life following the thousand-year kingdom. The teaching encourages readiness, faithfulness, and active participation in sharing and living these truths amid the world’s increasing troubles.

Long Summary
Introduction and Context
– Speaker expresses gratitude to Brother Michael and Bible students in Toronto for their long-term spiritual growth and fellowship.
– Greetings from brethren in Oakland County and Sister Ruth.
– The subject under discussion: “What will be the sign of your coming or parousia presence?”
– Acknowledgement of Brother Ben’s service and mention of some differing opinions to be discussed later.

Understanding the Sign of Parousia (Presence)
– Matthew 24:21: The coming trouble is unparalleled (“the worst trouble that ever was to this time, nor ever shall be”), likely occurring after the “little flock” is complete.
– Matthew 24:3: Apostles ask, “What shall be the sign of your Parousia (presence)?”
– Explanation of the Greek word *parousia*: primarily means “presence” or “beside being,” not merely “coming” or “arrival.”
– Over 50 Greek lexicons and Bible dictionaries support “presence” as the primary meaning; however, only 16 Bible translations render it as such, indicating theological prejudice influencing translation choices.
– Recommendation of Joseph Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible for detailed study of *parousia*.
– *Parousia* used exclusively for Jesus’ return, never for God the Father, because Jesus literally returns to Earth’s atmosphere (1 Thessalonians 4:17 — “air” meaning atmosphere).
– God sends His Son at the restitution times (Acts 3:19-21), but does not come to Earth’s atmosphere Himself.

Matthew 24 Parousia Verses
– The word *parousia* appears four times: Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, and 39.
– Unique to Matthew’s account is the apostles asking for a singular “sign” of Jesus’ presence, unlike Mark or Luke, which focus on “signs of the end of the age.”
– Possible reasons: apostles understood Jesus would be a spirit being, invisible to human eyes upon return (supported by the Mount of Transfiguration and Matthew 5:8, 5:10, 5:12).
– Jesus’ response (Matthew 24:30-31) describes a singular visible sign: “The sign of the Son of Man in heaven,” with all tribes mourning and seeing Jesus coming in clouds with power and great glory.
– Jesus sends messengers with a great trumpet to gather the elect from all over the earth.

Visibility and Response at the Time of Parousia
– The world will not see Jesus Himself because He returns as a glorious spirit being (John 14:19: “yet a little while and the world shall see me no more”).
– The world will see the increasing dark clouds of unprecedented trouble (Matthew 24:21-22), causing global mourning.
– The “sign in heaven” symbolizes spiritual enlightenment for the faithful, who understand Jesus’ presence since 1874, demonstrated through the ministry and writings of Brother Charles Russell.

Role of Brother Charles Russell and the Great Trumpet
– Russell’s ministry (1869–1916) coincided with Jesus’ return.
– He began a Bible study group in 1869, incorporated the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1874 to disseminate Bible truths globally in various languages.
– His ministry spread messages that awakened spiritual understanding worldwide despite opposition and attempts to discredit him.
– The trumpet described in Matthew 24:31 symbolically represents two related trumpets:
– The Jubilee trumpet announcing the beginning of the antitypical Jubilee (since 1874), signaling transition from old world order to the Kingdom.
– The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15, signaling the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
– Believers are the messengers sounding this trumpet, tasked to proclaim the present truth and prepare others for the Lord’s return.

Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:44-45)
– Jesus’ strategy for informing his servants involves a “faithful and wise servant” who provides “meat in due season” (spiritual nourishment) to the household.
– The speaker identifies Brother Russell as this servant, citing his diligence and devotion to spreading truth after the Lord’s return.
– Russell’s publications (Studies in the Scriptures, Watchtower magazines) provided systematic biblical teaching aligned with the “harvest message.”

Ecclesia Arrangement and Harvesting Work
– The “Ecclesia Arrangement” refers to early Christian-like gatherings of believers who meet free from clergy and formalism.
– These gatherings serve as spiritual feeding grounds (“meat in due season”) symbolized by eagles feeding on the carcass (Matthew 24:28).
– Eagles represent spiritually wise believers who discern the truth and separate themselves from nominal Christianity.
– Luke 17:34-37 emphasizes selective gathering (“one taken, the other left”), linked to where the body (carcass) is—signifying the place of true believers.
– The gathering is not a physical rapture but a symbolic spiritual separation and unification of faithful Christians.

Duration of Parousia and Symbolism of the Sun
– Parousia is a period, not a momentary event—demonstrated by Jesus’ analogy in Matthew 24:27, likening his presence to the sun rising and traveling across the sky, spreading light progressively.
– As the parousia progresses, more will understand the truth, culminating in full light after the church is complete and the great company dealt with (Zechariah 14; Zephaniah 3).
– The world will continue largely unaware, like in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39), until the flood (great trouble) comes.

Seven Church Ages in Revelation and Jesus’ Return
– Revelation chapters 2 and 3 outline seven church stages, each symbolizing a period in Gospel age history.
– In each, Jesus promises “I will come” or “behold, I come,” indicating a progressive return culminating in the final stage (Laodicea).
– Laodicea’s message (Rev. 3:20) shows Jesus “standing at the door and knocking,” emphasizing the secret presence and invitation to open hearts.
– This further supports the parousia as a drawn-out period rather than instantaneous event.

Christian Duties and Hope
– Believers are encouraged to open hearts and minds to investigate Scripture about Jesus’ return and their role.
– The narrow way to life (Matthew 7) requires consecration and faithfulness—the “little flock” or bride class is the high calling.
– After the 144,000 faithful are complete, the “highway of holiness” (Isaiah 35) will open for the rest of mankind to progress spiritually and physically.
– The thousand-year restitution period will restore humanity’s perfection, culminating in the final test and granting everlasting life.

Conclusion and Encouragement
– The Lord’s presence is real and ongoing; believers are privileged to be part of the faithful servants and messengers.
– The importance of faithfulness in challenging times is emphasized.
– The discourse closes with a prayer for the Lord’s blessing and encouragement to remain diligent.

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Key Bible Verses Referenced:
– Matthew 24:3, 21-22, 27, 30-31, 37-39, 44-45
– John 14:19
– 1 Thessalonians 4:17
– Acts 3:19-21
– Luke 17:34-37
– Revelation 2:1-5; 2:8-16; 3:1-20
– Isaiah 35
– Zechariah 14
– Zephaniah 3
– Matthew 5:8, 5:10, 5:12
– Matthew 7 (narrow way)

Transcript

Well, thank you Brother Michael and thank you brethren in the Toronto area, Bible students, long term relationship with you and we just thank the Lord to see your spiritual growth over the decades, really truly and we want to bring you the love and greetings of your brethren here in Oakland county where we meet, as well as my beloved wife Sister Ruth, and we are appreciative of the subject matter. Our particular portion what will be the sign of your coming or parousia presence? I thank Brother Ben for his service. I have to say I had some different opinions. Maybe there’ll be time in the question period for some to ask that.

I think I would highlight in Matthew 24, verse 21 that the trouble there is one of a kind. It says that it’s the worst trouble that ever was to this time, nor ever shall be. So I do think that trouble is ahead, particularly after the little flock is complete. But okay.

In Matthew 24:3 the apostles asked, what shall be the sign of your Parousia in the Greek means beside being or present, not absent and still coming. There are other Greek words for coming that could have been used now about parousia. Over 50 Bible dictionaries and Greek lexicons give presents as the primary definition of parousia. There are many Examples in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd century Greek writers outside of the Bible that use parousia for presence. Yet only about 16 translations interpret parousia as presence in most instances where it occurs in the New Testament.

So logically we’d ask why is that? The only answer we really have is theological prejudice. For a non Bible student detailed examination of parresia in the New Testament, I recommend Joseph Rotherham’s emphasized Bible. It has an excellent appendix entitled Presence.

Parresia is used for Jesus upon his return, but it is never used for the Lord God Almighty, and why is that? Why would the word parousia or beside being be used for Jesus upon his return but never used for the Lord God Almighty? It’s because Jesus actually does return. Like he said, I go away, I’m going to return.

He returns to Earth’s atmosphere first. Thessalonians 4:17 the word air in that verse in the Greek is atmosphere. But God never comes to earth’s atmosphere. Rather he sends his Son at the times of restitution of all things. Acts 3:19 21 now this word parresia presence appears four times in Matthew 24.

First in verse three where we’ve read it, the apostles were asking and then in verses 27, 37 and 39 and Jesus is responding.

Now we want to note a very peculiar point. The disciples asked Jesus in verse three, what would be the sign of your presence? Now, this expression is unique to Matthew’s account. In other words, when you look at Mark, it asks for the sign of the end of the age, or when these things would be, and Luke doesn’t cover it.

That I found. But the point is, why sign singular? Why did they ask for a sign singular? Well, first off, they apparently knew from his previous teachings that he would be a spirit being in the spirit realm, and therefore invisible to human sight upon his return. Perhaps the Mount of Transfiguration gave them this impression.

But also his early teachings in Matthew the fifth chapter, the Beatitudes. In Matthew 5:8, he talks about the faithful will receive the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10, that those who are faithful will have a reward in heaven. Matthew 5:12.

This would help them to understand this, and I wanted to say Matthew 5:8, they would see God. So they had this impression of receiving a spiritual reward. But they certainly thought Jesus would return as a spirit. We learned that Jesus very specifically answers this question in verses 30 and 31.

What will be the sign singular of your presence? And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he shall send his messengers with a great trumpet.

And they shall gather together the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven unto the other.

It’s very helpful to know what the world will not see. They will not literally see Jesus himself. A little later, a few days later, Jesus told his disciples that yet a little while and the world shall see me no more. John 14:19. Because as already brought out, Jesus returns as a glorious spirit being, and so is invisible to human sight.

So then, what do the people of the world see? The world only sees the dark clouds of the increasing time of trouble, the worst that it has ever been. Matthew 24, 21 and 22. That is why they mourn. That’s why they mourn.

And it is all the tribes of earth, all the tribes of the people of earth, not just Christians, because the trouble is worldwide. Eventually, when Jesus apocalypsis his revelation takes place after he’s gathered all his elect, his bride, then his invisible presence will be made known to all through the power and glory of his fullness of his kingdom. However, first things first. What is the sign singular in heaven? It must be a sign that will reveal that Jesus is indeed present.

How have you and I come to know that Jesus has been present since 1874? It’s through the writings of brother Charles Russell. His writings and his 42 year ministry at the very same time as our Lord returned is what has demonstrated in over a dozen different lines of reasoning that Jesus indeed is present. The sign in heaven, as contrasted with those mourning tribes on earth, represents that those with spiritual or loftier sentiments and thinking would be the first to understand this present truth. The Bridegroom has returned.

In verse 31 it states that Jesus will send out his messengers with a great trumpet. The word sound is not in the oldest manuscripts, yet this trumpet is what the messengers use to gather the elect. From all over the world we have learned that it might equally represent two different but related symbolic trumpets. One is a symbolic jubilee trumpet that announces that the great antitypical jubilee has begun since 1874, the great time of transitioning from the old world order into that of the incoming kingdom. It is a time of great trouble as the people’s liberties, both legitimate and those that are erroneously held, converge in conflict with with long standing ideals, both good and bad.

It’s a time of confusion for the world, but a time of rejoicing for those who are enlightened of mind to understand that it is the beginning of the thousand year restitution process. It’s the time when our Lord stated in Luke 21:28 and when these things begin to come to pass, that is all the troubles, then look up and lift up your heads, for your deliverance draweth nigh. Yet that great trumpet also represents the seventh trumpet, which is a period of time found in Revelation 11, 15, 19. I’ll read in part and the seventh messenger trumpeted and there were great voices in heaven saying, the kingdom of the world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

Yes, it also shows the great transition period, the time resulting from a great message going forth throughout the world. Note that these great voices in heaven, this is the same as he shall send his messengers with a great trumpet to gather the elect from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31 Brethren, you and I are privileged to be part of those messengers and those voices in the symbolic heavens, declaring or explaining to those who will ever listen that our Lord Jesus has returned as our great King with the purpose of establishing the kingdom with all the aspects of the restoration of all things that was lost by our first parents in Eden. However, we need to ask the logical question how do these messengers know what to proclaim? Well, we find a very satisfying answer right in Matthew the 24th chapter, verses 44.

Therefore, be you also ready for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household to give them meat in due season. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. Right here Jesus tells us that he has a very specific strategy on how he intends to inform his servants those Spirit begotten by His Father, the consecrated Virgin class, how he intends to inform them of his return, and he looks to see which of his servants is busy trying to serve as he returns.

Now we think this is Brother Russell, that wise and faithful servant. I’m going to say some dates and give some references if you’d like to make note.

Brother Russell writes about what he was doing in 1874. Although he did not yet understand the Lord had returned, he wrote that he understood that feature the Lord’s Return, that feature of Truth in 1876. Harvest Gleanings 3, page 102. He also writes that he had started a Bible study group in 1869, harvest gleanings three, page 101 and 102 and that he incorporated the Zions Watchtower Tract Society in Pennsylvania for the stated purpose of disseminating of Bible truths in various languages on April 29, 1874.

Harvest Gleanings 3, page 131. Special thanks to Sister Marilee Wesolowski for that specific piece of info.

So we recognize that Brother Russell had started a Bible study group with other Sincere Christians in 1869. He did not know about the Lord’s return until after the lord had returned two years later, 1876. But in 1874, when the Lord had returned, he could see that here was a wise and faithful servant, one who was diligent in spending his time and energy in order to serve his master.

From 1874 until his graduation from the School of Christ In October of 1916, he spent his entire fortune and life in dedicated service to his Lord by disseminating the Harvest message epitomized in the Divine Plan of the Ages and systematically detailed with Scriptures through the studies in the Scriptures series as well as the Watchtower and Notice the name Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence magazines.

Those began in 1879.

There were other teachers who were active both before and during the same time period of 1874. However, none were used in the way or to the degree that Brother Russell was used. His public ministry spanned the world. His lectures, published sermons, often on the front page of leading newspapers and in magazines, swept the so called Christian world. Just here.

I’d like to ask for that screen share to be posted for a moment, please.

Thank you. So brethren, and I know it’s in the chat, if you’d like to download it, it’s useful. The book is called the Year and it’s a mid century edition. This one was printed 1950 and this is a page of it. They’re sometimes called the Yearbooks of knowledge and these are secular writings.

But you notice in the center of the page there is the photo of Brother Charles Russell. Then there is Darwin and then there is Ingersoll, and the caption reads, fundamentalist scientist, atheist engaged in bitter feud. Best selling author and evangelist pastor Charles Russell, left, preached against evolution theory of Charles Darwin and atheism of Robert Ingersoll. So even though Brother Russell has been largely set aside and ignored because of his teachings, so rattled the nominally Christian world of his day that it’s no wonder that Satan has worked hard to discredit him and bury him in his good works.

However, in 1950, there were still those in the world who recognized that he was one to be particularly highlighted. Now, the reason he’s called a fundamentalist is because he put the Bible first and foremost. Now, at the very bottom of this page I use this as a handout in another discourse on Ezekiel 9. But there are some references to the volumes and reprints demonstrating the various forms of higher criticism and other errors that were sweeping the world at the time of Brother Russell and his writings. Hopefully that will be of interest to you.

Okay, thank you for sharing that screen for me.

Now, the good efforts of Brother Russell. In his day he was not taking collections. The clergy hated him for both his message and how he conducted the Bible student organization. Now, Satan tried to bury his memory and his good works and his efforts were hijacked by egotistical men who loved not the truth, and to this day there is a Jehovah Witness organization, sadly so often linked to Brother Charles Russell.

But we move on.

We have to stress several central teachings. The ransom for all, restitution period of probation for all mankind. The high calling to be of the little flock, the bride of Christ, and although you might not expect this is one of the truths I’d like to emphasize. The Ecclesia Arrangement.

The Ecclesia Arrangement. Yes. What Jesus was Sending out his messengers to do was a great harvesting work. They were reapers separating the wheat faithful spirit begotten Christians from the tares, only professed or nominally Christian. This is the great harvesting or separating work that was due to begin upon Jesus return.

Jesus had outlined this in detail in his parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew the 13th chapter which you are aware of. These messengers or reapers are the fellow servants of Jesus household. These would receive their returned Lord’s message of truth and after making them their own, they were to share these harvest messages with others throughout the world. That those who could accept these present truths should then come out of the various denominations come out of the world? But where would they go?

How would they meet with like believers? Well, they were taught that they could meet like the early Christians met in the ecclesia arrangement, free from the clergy, laity error free from the outward forms and formalities which only kept the people in darkness. As to God’s true character in Matthew 24:28 we for wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The eagles represent those that have faithfully left the nominal church systems and gathered where they might feed on spiritually strengthening meat pictured by the carcass. The carcass is the same as this meat and dew season in verse 45 it’s the harvest message truth.

As the various Christians around the world became aware of the truth and accepted it into an honest heart, they would want to meet with other Christians who believed the same way. But where to go? They gathered together and formed their local ecclesiastes, each one responsible to study and prove to themselves what God’s plans and purposes are, first for themselves and then for all mankind. It’s also known as the expression they followed the Lamb. Whithersoever he went, they followed his leading and this is upon his return.

This is how he’s led his people.

It is well documented that in fact eagles do sometimes eat carrion that is previously that animal. This has been observed most often in winter months when ice and snow make it much more difficult for the eagle to catch their own food. But the lesson to us is this faith strengthening food has been provided for us by our returned Lord through his appointed servant. Being gathered together to symbolically feed on the same harvest message is meant to bring the Bible eagles together. It is meant to be unifying so that the reapers, these messengers could go forth with the same clarion call sounding we consider Luke 17:34 37 Luke 17:34 37 I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed.

The one shall be taken, the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other left. Two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left, and they answered and said unto him, where, Lord? And he said unto them, wheresoever the body, it’s the same as the carcass, wheresoever the body is.

Thither. Where will the eagles be gathered together? Thither. Will the eagles be gathered together. Now, brethren, we know there’s no dead bodies in heaven, hence the nominally Christian view that these verses I’ve just read represent a rapture, an instantaneous return of our Lord and a gathering together of his faithful, and they are somehow miraculously taken up in bodily form to heaven.

However, they don’t really explain this last verse. Where the carcass is a body, that’s where the eagles will be gathered. But we’re blessed to understand that our Lord was speaking in a symbolic language which could be understood. Now. An eagle is unique because of their keen wisdom.

Their eyesight represents wisdom. Their keen vision, their eyesight represents wisdom. So the Bible eagles are actually showing some wisdom in that They’ve discerned that the message that they’ve been presented, however it may come to them, someone’s showing them, telling them something they’ve read it leads them to want to investigate it because they can see there’s something different here. The character of God is portrayed better. The character of Jesus is portrayed better.

The hope for mankind is portrayed better, and the privileges for the Christian now in this life is portrayed better. They want to investigate, and you know what? Each one has to eat for themselves.

You’ve heard the old adage, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. That’s how it is with the truth, brethren. All we can do is show others how we’ve been blessed, help them to have the same materials. But each faithful Christian, each of these eagles is feeding themselves. They feed together, but they’re each feeding themselves.

A few important points we’d like to observe. We read that Jesus upon his return provides meat in due season to the household of faith. Why would he do this if his parousia was not a period of time, if his presence, his return was just a 24 hour day, like many Christians think, or just a moment in time, why would he return to provide meat and do season to a householder, then to give to the fellow servants? That wouldn’t make any sense, and in Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:27, we read that his parresia is like the sun rising and traversing the sky from east to west, an example of the enlightening influence of his present truths being heralded forth throughout the world.

Now only the faithful watchers who are awake to the dawning of the new day. But as the sun increases in height, as we get further into the thousand year kingdom, more and more will come to learn the truth of the matter, and once the church is complete, and once the great company has been dealt with, then will the fullness of light will be granted, like that valley of Zechariah 14, or like the pure message going forth from Zephaniah 3. There will be no doubt as to the truth eventually. But now we’re still in the early dawn of that thousand year day.

The parousia is demonstrated in Matthew 24:37, 39, as the days of Noah. I’ll read in Matthew 24:27. But as the day of Noah were, so also shall the parousia, presence of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were waiting, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they knew not until the flood came and took them all away.

And so shall the parousia of the Son of man be.

So clearly Jesus is using the example of the days of Noah. Now, Noah was there, we read in Genesis 6. He spent a hundred and twenty years in building the ark, and at that time we think he was there present, and that was a witness to all that were around that had never rained before. Why are you building an ark?

And he would give testimony. The Lord had instructed him. So in the days of the Son of Man, when he’s present, he’s here. But there’s a period of time when most in the world are just going about their own business. They don’t recognize it.

But the time will come to a conclusion when this great time of trouble, the greatest time of trouble that ever shall be, will come to pass. But gratefully the elect are complete at that time, and they will intervene and shorten those days so that all flesh will not be destroyed.

As a cooperation. As a cooperation. When we look in Revelation the second chapter, Revelation the second chapter. We have presented to us seven churches. They’re named, but the brethren have long understood that the Revelation is a book of symbols.

And these symbols teach us lessons, and we read that in the first stage of the church, which is Ephesus, Revelation 2:1, in part of his message, he comes down and he says in verse 5, Revelation 2:5, I will come unto thee and will remove thy lampstand. Jesus saying to the first agents that he is going to come. Then we read that there is the second stage of the church, Smyrna.

And we move forward. We get to the third stage of the church, Pergamos, and we read in verse.

16, I will come unto thee quickly. Again, the Lord is saying that he will return. Then we get to our fourth state of the church, Thyatira, and we read in verses 25, you have already hold fast till I come, and again it’s a message of his return. Then in the third chapter, verse one, we have the fifth stage of the church, Sardis.

And we read to the church of Sardis that verse three, I will come to thee as a thief. Which is interesting because the Lord returns as a thief. It’s a secret presence at first, and then in chapter three seven, we have the message to Philadelphia, sixth stage of the church, and we have in his message verse 11, behold, I come quickly.

And then in verse 14, 3, 14, it’s the seventh stage of the church, Laodicea. We think the messenger to the seventh day of the church is our brother Russell. But note down in verse 20, behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me. So clearly, in the earlier stages of the church, which represent the time periods of the Gospel age, Jesus always held forth the promise of his return.

It was to act as to try to give a sense of spiritual urgency. But to the seventh, the final last days of the church, he says he’s at the door and he’s knocking. He’s trying to get the attention, and part of that attention is the trumpet sounding, the messages going forth, and with that, then if we will investigate, that is, we open the door to him.

He will feed us, and we will feed on what he provides. Again, a beautiful tie in to our Matthew 24.

And we want to emphasize that this also helps demonstrate that his parresia, his presence, is a period of time. It’s the entire seventh stage of the church, even as the previous stages of the church were periods of time.

What a wonderful promise we have set before us. Brethren, the Lord is here, and he is encouraging us to open our hearts unto him and open our minds to investigate in the Scriptures. Has he returned? If he’s returned, what does he expect of each one of us? And gratefully, gratefully we are given the instructions in so many different ways, but to be his faithful disciples.

And one of these aspects of the harvest message given by our returned Lord through that servant is the high standards of consecration that yes, the world is upon a Broadway that leads to destruction. Matthew 7. That’s the Adamic death condition. But Jesus opened a new and living way, a narrow way again, Matthew 7, and few, few there would be that would find it.

But it’s a narrow way, it’s a difficult way, but that is the way the Master tread, and we get to follow in his footsteps, and once all that have been found to have been faithful, 144,000 the bride class, then the grand privilege of the highway of holiness of Isaiah 35 will be opened and the church with Jesus their Lord. Having been educated in this life, we will then be able to help mankind make progress in overcoming their weaknesses. Because we’ve learned in fighting against our weaknesses in ourselves, we’ve learned how we can improve our characters.

You and I are stuck trying to live as new creatures in this old flesh with this old brain. But the world of mankind, they will be blessed that as they make progress up that highway of holiness, their flesh will improve. As humans, they’ll be able to grow in grace, understanding, and as they apply this in their lives, they will actually physically get better. So by the end of the thousand years, all that have applied themselves, it’s still an individual matter, will have been able to reach human perfection and then be ready for the great mediator, Jesus as the head and the Church, his body, to step aside to allow them to stand the final test of that little season.

And the faithful who withstand that test will be granted life everlasting. So, brethren, we’re blessed to understand the time we’re living in. We’re blessed to have it so clearly set before us what our duties and privileges are now. May the Lord continue to add his blessing to help us to be faithful in these challenging times. May the Lord overrule anything said amiss at his blessing.

As each of us consider these things, Brother Michael, I turn it back over to you.

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