“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Ever since Christ disappeared in the clouds as He ascended into heaven, the children of God have waited and longed for His return. Those that have read from Scripture the signs that will precede Jesus’ coming, watch closely the events happening right now, trying to discern just how close we may be to His appearing. But let’s look beyond that twinkling of an eye moment.

In the twinkling of an eye, we shall all be changed. Over the years, I have ministered to my Christian family in numerous ways. I was a pastor for a good number of years; I have taught Sunday School to all ages ever since I was born again. I have preached, taught, counseled, and comforted my brethren from the Scriptures. There has always been in my words, whatever the circumstances, that sure hope we have in Jesus: He is coming, and we are going to be changed.

The moment Jesus appears, the change will take place; not before—we’ll all be changed at the same time. We know our new bodies will be immortal, incorruptible and glorious; but will we know each other and what will we look like?

Before I answer those questions, I would point you to the most glorious thing that will first take place beyond the rapture: the moment you’re changed, in the twinkling of an eye, you will see Jesus for the first time. Seeing Jesus for the first time will not be like seeing anything else for the first time. When we see Jesus, we are going to know Him more intimately than anyone else ever!

The most intimate relationship on earth is that of a husband and wife. God so designed that relationship, that the man and woman become one, and it is beautiful. And, if the husband and wife are careful to guard and protect that relationship, it only grows more precious over the years. But the relationship between Jesus and His bride will far exceed that, and will last forever. John put it this way:

“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.” There you have the perfect intimacy, the perfect oneness between Christ and His bride—in the twinkling of an eye! And then, John goes on to say, “…Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3

Will we know each other? We will be like Jesus. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He was on the earth 40 days. Without putting them necessarily in order, Jesus revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene, the two on the road to Emmaus, the apostles when Thomas wasn’t present, and the apostles when Thomas was present. Jesus fixed breakfast for seven of the apostles on the beach one morning. Paul said that on one occasion, Jesus appeared, “to more than five hundred brethren at once…”

The point of all those instances of Jesus’ meeting them is simply this: when Jesus was ready, they all recognized Him. This brings us to the second question: What will we look like?

The ten apostles told Thomas they had seen Jesus, but he didn’t believe them. Thomas said the only way he would believe it was to be able to stick his fingers in the wounds in Jesus’ hands, and put his hand in His side where the spear entered. A few days later, the apostles were gathered and Thomas was with them. Jesus came to them, and invited Thomas to place his fingers in the nail prints, and his hand in His side. All Thomas could say was: “My Lord and my God!” John 20:24-28

Here we see that Jesus is risen and is bodily seen and recognized by those close to Him. But there is another instance of Jesus’ appearance that is important. The apostles and the two on the road to Emmaus were gathered and Jesus suddenly appeared and they were startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost.

^“He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.” Luke 24:38-43

Will we know each other and what will we look like? Jesus had a body of flesh and bones, and everybody knew Him: that much we know.

“Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12  In the twinkling of an eye!

Just before Jesus was crucified, He left two promises to His church: He was going to prepare a place for His bride, and He would come back for His bride. Moving beyond the millennium, we read about what Jesus has prepared for His bride: John said,

“…I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2

There are two wonderful things prepared here for the bride of Christ. First, John saw a new country, a new heaven and a new earth. The Scriptures tell us that the Old Testament saints were, “…Seeking a country of their own…they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:14-16

Beyond the rapture, there awaits the bride of Christ a new country and a new city. I have visited some of the beautiful mountain ranges in the United States. I have watched videos of many of the beautiful places around the world. I always stand in awe of God’s creation. The beauty and grandeur of God’s new heaven and earth is awaiting the arrival of the bride and Groom, for them to enjoy forever.

Revelation describes new Jerusalem. Now, Bible scholars used to debate about the city; some would say it is the bride, some would say it’s an actual city; I say it’s both, and is the permanent home of the bride. It is the capitol of our new country. Again, it’s beauty remains for the bride’s new eyes to behold.

One final thing awaits Christ and His bride:

“…The sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27

Let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Let us fix our gaze at what lies beyond the rapture.

Brother Bill Oldham            bboldham@sbcglobal.net

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?” 2 Samuel 7:18

The Lord had just given David a wonderful revelation through the prophet Nathan. David had it in his heart to build a house for the ark of God, but the Lord revealed to David that, not only was David not going to build Him a house, but the Lord was going to build a house for David. The words and vision of what the Lord had purposed to do through the house of David were overwhelming to him. And so David retreated into the presence of the Lord and asked the question: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord…?”

When I read God’s word, and I “see and hear” all the amazing things the Lord has done, is doing, and is going to do for me, I can only thank Him, and ask: “Who am I?”

I can tell you who I am not. I am not Catholic or Protestant; I am not a Calvinist or an Arminian; I am not undenominational or non-denominational; I am a born again child of the one, true, living God, and a believer in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not a reverend, or father, or his excellency, or any other title; I am a brother in Christ to all who are members of Christ’s body.

I was thirty years old when I was born again. Up until that time, I had never read or even looked at a Bible. Since I was led to Christ through a book by Billy Graham, I wrote his organization a note telling them what had happened. They immediately sent me some workbooks that required me to get a Bible to answer some simple questions. When I finished those, they sent me a Scripture memorization course. In a little over a year, I memorized 108 passages of Scripture from the KJV.

During those first months of my reading, studying and memorizing the Scriptures, I realized that God was speaking to me, guiding me, counseling me, correcting me, disciplining me and feeding my new man. Without questioning it, I knew I was reading God’s word, and that it was true. And after all these years, I do testify that the Bible, God’s word has been, “…a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I have read through the Bible in several different translations, no paraphrases, beginning with the KJV. Some I read to critique them, but in all of the ones I read, Jesus was presented this way:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5

In all of them, Jesus is presented as the second Person of the Godhead, from everlasting to everlasting. He is presented as the fullness of the Godhead bodily; He is presented as the Word made flesh, and the express image of the glory of God. In other words, the Bible gives us the full revelation of who Jesus is.

Many years ago, while I was a pastor, the Lord led me to read the one book that I will never fully understand—Revelation. I had read it many times before, but, from the NASB, I read through the book of Revelation every evening for one month. Several weeks later, the Lord impressed me to teach it to the church on Sunday morning. I greatly resisted that thought, but the Lord won, and so I did.

I prayed about it much, and then read through each chapter, one by one, every Sunday. What I came to clearly see was that Revelation is all about Jesus Christ, and the ages to come. The whole Bible is a revelation of who God and His Son, Jesus Christ are. But the Bible, especially the New Testament, also reveals who God’s children are, who I am. Who am I?

Although I was thirty before my new birth, the Scriptures reveal an amazing fact about God and me from my beginning.

“…You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalms 139:13-17

But then, as we are born and begin to live on this earth, the Scriptures declare we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. They say, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way;” And then, thank God, it says, “…and the Lord has laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all. Thank the Lord for saying, “Us All.”

It is in the writings of the New Testament mainly where we find the wonderful, amazing answers to the question: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord?” It is there we find who we are, and more importantly we find that we are who we are because God predestined us to be that way.

We are born again children of God. “…born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:13 We are members of God’s family, and in particular, members of the body of Christ. God has appointed His Son to be the heir of all things; as members of His body, we are joint heirs with Jesus.

Who am I? I am a soldier and conqueror in Christ; through faith in Christ, I am a victorious overcomer of the world. I am part of God’s, “…Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…” 1 Peter 2:9

I am part of the bride of Christ who will sit with Him at the marriage supper of the Lamb. I am one of the members of the, “…Armies of heaven”, who will be following Him when He comes to “Strike down the nations.” I will reign with Him for a thousand years.

“When I think of how He came so far from glory,

Came to dwell among the lowly such as I,

To suffer shame and such disgrace,

On mount Calvary take my place.

Then I ask myself this question: “Who am I?”

Who am I that the King would bleed and die for…”

God loved me ere I knew Him: I am His child; a citizen of heaven and a resident of New Jerusalem: That’s who I am.

Brother Bill Oldham        bboldham@sbcglobal.net

“…The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Titus 2:11-15

Whether you see it or not, if you are looking for the glorious return of Jesus, there is in this Scripture a call to make a clear decision as to who you will follow: will you follow the world, or will you deny yourself, and follow Christ—you can’t do both.

There is a perfect example given us in the Old Testament of the people of God trying to follow God and the world at the same time.

It took place during the days of King Ahab and Elijah. Israel professed to be following the Lord, but in their hearts they were following the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. As a result of their double-mindedness, Israel had been suffering from a severe drought.

There came a day when Elijah decided to confront the people of Israel about their divided devotion. He called for the 850 false prophets, and the people to meet him on Mount Carmel. When they were all assembled, Elijah said to Israel: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God, follow him.”

There Elijah was going to prove to Israel who was the true God, and who was false and no god. He challenged the 850 prophets to call down

fire from heaven by their gods. They called on their gods all day long, but, of course, the fire never came. Then Elijah prayed to the LORD God, and the fire fell. When the people saw that, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” 1 Kings 18

It is abundantly clear that today’s progressive church professes to follow Jesus, but in their hearts, they worship the gods of this world. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. The time has come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they will look for teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear. How does it happen?

A group of people begin to meet in a “Bible” study with a “teacher.” He/she begins to teach them about “spiritual” things. Everyone likes the fellowship and camaraderie, and the group begins to grow, and the next thing you know, they’re building. As they continue to grow, the word spreads about this amazing, friendly church, where everyone is welcome. But to continue to grow, the leadership quickly realizes that the tone and tenor of the “preaching” must not interfere with or hinder the growth of this great “church.” And so the “preacher” and the “church” quickly let it be known that it accepts and affirms any and all lifestyles. Old, established denominations follow suit in an attempt to “stay alive” in a godless culture.

The power of God is not demonstrated by signs and wonders; it’s not seen in the advancing influence of mega churches. Nor is it seen in theatrical preaching, and loud praise music. The power of God is evidenced in lives that were once, “enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. Lives lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another,” but have now been delivered from that domain of darkness, and are seeking to serve the living God.

The modern, progressive “church” of today will not, and cannot teach its members to say “NO!” to their ungodly lifestyles, because if they did, their ecclesiastical empire would crumble. In order to avoid any reference to fearing a holy God, to denying their fleshly impulses, or being led by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God must be largely set aside, and replaced by heart-warming stories and fables.

The modern, progressive “church” of today, in order to display a form of godliness, hone in on two things: love and unity. They openly declare and boast of their love for everybody, which is biblical, for sure. But their love and God’s love are two different loves: one is carnal and devilish; God’s love is pure and redemptive. In the press for unity, their love embraces everyone as a brother or sister, whether they be a Christian, an atheist, or a follower of an antichrist religion; and that is where the Holy Spirit departs. A child of God cannot have fellowship with an unbeliever—that’s Bible!

We’re all born with a sin nature, that’s why we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. When a person is born again, that sin nature is crucified with Christ, and a new man is born. However, the old man is still present. This brings about a never-ending conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. But if our minds and hearts are fixed and set on Christ Jesus, we shall walk in victory in Jesus.

As we eagerly look for the glorious appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, then the choice to follow Jesus is made certain. Following Jesus is consistently saying “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions; to say “NO” when the old man wants to say “YES.” Following Jesus is consistently saying “YES” to self-controlled, upright and godly living, when the old man wants to say, “NO.”

We eagerly look for the appearing of Jesus Christ; we eagerly look for Him because He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own; we become eager to do what is good. And here is what we are eagerly waiting and looking for:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

“…We know that when Christ is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2

If you’re looking for Jesus, follow Him with an undivided heart, and know He could appear any moment—Be ready!

Brother Bill Oldham       bboldham@sbcglobal.net

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:22

There came a day when seven churches stood before the Judge of all things, Jesus Christ. There was no need for them to present their case or testify, because the Judge knew all of the true facts about them, and He had summoned them to appear before Him. It’s important to understand that Jesus loved these churches, and His grace was going forth to try to bring them to the place where they were pleasing to Him and the Father.

In every church, Jesus knew their works: He knew what was happening, dismissing what they said about themselves. Jesus knew the good, the bad and the ugly about each church and each individual in that church. There were commendations and condemnations in His judgments; Christ gave them clear commands as to what they were to keep on doing, and what must immediately cease. He was plain about dealing with evil doers in the church, and about the lukewarmness of Laodicea making Him sick. “True and righteous are His judgments.”

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This exhortation from our Lord covered two areas: the existing conditions that were pleasing and should continue, and the ones that were displeasing to the Lord and needed to be corrected. And then the rewards that He promised to, “Him who overcomes.” The Spirit of the Lord said everything that needed to be said to those seven churches, to bring them to a place of commendation and eternal reward. Then, it was up to them to, “…Not only be hearers, but doers of His word” To be overcomers!

Commentaries abound concerning these seven churches, with much explanation about the situation and context of each church. Some say that those words only applied to those specific churches and nothing else. Others say they apply to seven church ages, the last being the Laodicean age, of where we presently are. Still others say that they represent seven conditions which appear in all the churches throughout the ages.

This one thing I know for certain: The Holy Spirit has spoken to the church through the Scriptures, all we need to know. The church of God doesn’t need any new revelation or word from God.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy” 3:16-17

The Bible contains the fullness of God’s revelation of Himself to man. Written by many different men of God, over a period of many years, it is one book, with perfect continuity, written under the inspiration of God.

“…No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, these prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21

When a believer is sitting under the teaching of a so-called preacher, teacher, or pastor, and they do not stay true to the Scriptures, or even worse, teach their hearers they need to “unhitch” from the Old Testament, or the Bible altogether, that believer needs to run to the nearest exit, and never return.

There is or was a movement that began to teach that everything in the Scriptures needed to be taught in context. I know very little about that except something I read. It was about a very familiar promise God had given to Israel in a particular situation. The writer made the point that the church couldn’t lay claim to the promise, because it was given to Israel only. With all due respect, they miss a very important truth.

The revelation of God and Jesus in the Bible is just that: it reveals their unchanging nature, heart and mind in dealing with their chosen people, whether it be Israel, or the church. When you read in the Old Testament about rebellious Israel, you will also read of God’s amazing grace and patience with them. In times of chastisement and judgment, God made some great promises to restore them. That same God is the God and Father of the church of God in Christ Jesus.

The unchanging character, nature, heart and mind of God came into full view when Jesus Christ appeared. He is the image of the invisible God; it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him; Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature. And forever will the love of God for the world remain indelibly inscribed in the wounds in Jesus’ glorious body.

“God…in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world…We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.” Hebrews 1:1-2, 2:1

Every child of God has been given a set of spiritual ears to hear what the Spirit has said. God has given His chosen people a complete book to listen and to learn everything He wants them to know about Him and His Son. In Genesis, God reveals in the beginning how all things came to be; in Revelation, He reveals the end of this present age, and the beginning of the ages to come.

To His chosen ones, the most important truth in the Bible is His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. How He left His home in glory and came to earth as a baby, born of a virgin. Jesus was sent to earth by His Father, because God so loved the world. It was the Father’s good pleasure to lay on Him the iniquity of the world, and to bruise Him, so that sinners could be set free from the bondage of sin, and the fear of death. Jesus accomplished this in His crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

When Jesus sat down at the right hand of God as Lord, He had the power to grant eternal life to all who should call upon His name; and those who do are born again. And this is wonderful, but every new babe in Christ, and all of God’s elect who are looking and waiting for Jesus’ return, must realize they need to hear and take heed to the full counsel of God.

Here’s what I mean: God is holy; there is no sin or darkness in Him. His children are called to be holy: separated from this world and the love of it. In our great salvation, we must walk in fear and trembling before our holy God, lest we drift. Not a fear of now being cast into Hell, but a fear of grieving and quenching the very heart of God who loves us and keeps us.

In the New Testament, there are many sins and issues addressed, but I want to mainly focus on two. The first is immorality: adultery, fornication, and greed. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches:

“…Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints…for this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetousness man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Ephesians 5:3-5

The second issue is the specific command Jesus gave to His church before He was crucified: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

This commandment calls the members of Christ’s body to love each other as He loved us. A member may have faith, they may give themselves to helping in community projects, they may be active in the leadership of the church; but if they don’t have love for their brothers and sisters in the body, all of their other works are worthless.

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:10-11

We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of ourselves to God. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Brother Bill Oldham            bboldham@sbcglobal.net