We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20, 21.

Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet–the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father’s throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended.
The glory of Christ’s humanity did not appear when He was upon the earth. . . . That same humanity now appears as He descends from heaven, robed in glory, triumphant, exalted.
Christ will come in His own glory, in the glory of His Father, and in the glory of the holy angels. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels, the beautiful, triumphant sons of God, possessing surpassing loveliness and glory, will escort Him on His way. In the place of a crown of thorns, He will wear a crown of glory–a crown within a crown. In the place of that old purple robe, He will be clothed in a garment of whitest white, “so as no fuller on earth can white” (Mark 9:3) it. And on His vesture and on His thigh a name will be written, “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:16.
All heaven will be emptied of the angels, while the waiting saints will be looking for Him and gazing into heaven, as were the men of Galilee when He ascended from the Mount of Olivet. Then only those who are holy, those who have followed fully the meek Pattern, will with rapturous joy exclaim as they behold Him, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” And they will be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”–that trump which wakes the sleeping saints, and calls them forth from their dusty beds, clothed with glorious immortality, and shouting, “Victory! Victory over death and the grave!”
Maranatha p. 291
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Gaylene who has bladder cancer and may have to have her bladder removed. Pray for Doug, her husband also for strength and wisdom and peace during this trying time. Rose
—–Can you add my wife and I to your prayer list we just Finished the Seminary and need some Godly direction on what to do next. Reginald
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Dear Friends
Some years ago, we were driving home from South Dakota. This trip normally takes twelves hours. We had made quite a few trips between South Dakota and Kansas over the years and had tried different routes in order to find the fastest way. We drove that way often, but one particular time, however, we decided to try a new way home. We had looked at the route on the map before we left for South Dakota, but we had accidentally left it home so only had a vague memory of Highway 385 going down through Colorado to Interstate 70. Still, we were positive that we knew the way. We had seen the road on the map many times and had discussed trying that way, so we were confident that we would be able to find our way home with no problem.
In fact, highway 385 was part of our normal route, so all we would have to do was stay on it instead of turning off as we usually did. When we stopped for gas, we asked the clerk about the road. He advised us to go our normal way. A lady, paying for her gas, ooverheard our conversation. She told us she also was from Wichita and that our normal way was best.
When we got back to the car, we discussed the advice we were just given. Should we go our regular way? At last we decided to try the new way despite the advice of those who had travelled it before. Off we drove, feeling rather carefree. We followed 385 for about 20 miles, and began to realize that it was running parallel to the Interstate where we could go much faster. We decided to get back onto the Interstate and then when 385 intersected I-80 we would take it down through Colorado and to I-70. It seemed like such a good plan, but we never did find the turn-off. What had seemed like a good plan made our trip much longer.
How often we do the same on our trip to Heaven. We are sure we know where we are going and feel we do not need the Road Map, God’s Holy Word. The Psalmist declares, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Ps 119:105; 130 Jeremiah exclaims, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16
How vital to our present and future happiness is God’s Holy Word, yet, how many times we forget to hide its words in our heart that we may consult it along the way. In His mercy, our Great Redeemer sends messages to us to help us stay on the right path, but we stubbornly will not listen. Soon we become confused and lost and find ourselves travelling down the wrong path. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Rom 3:10-12 (Ps 14:2, 3) Solomon tells us, “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 16:25
How much we wish we had taken the advice so freely offered. Praise God! We had a Shepherd and Guide Who will bring us back to the right way if we will ask Him to. He bids us through the prophet Isaiah, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isa 55:7 He pleads through Ezekiel, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 He assures us “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
May we follow God’s Word just as it reads, laying aside our preconceived ideas and self-confidendent wanderings. May we look always to our Shepherd and Guide “the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 May we hide His Words in our heart that we may live the victorious Christian life His longs for us to have is my prayer.
Rose

Christ’s Appearance at His Second Coming
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