The Two Advents Series – Lesson 6

First Coming Is Connected With Real Geography

Second Coming Is Connected With Real Geography

The first Coming of Jesus Christ is connected with real, genuine, specific geography. The second Coming is connected with real geography. I think it pays to take the Bible and read the Scriptures and observe. I have never tried to harmonize the doctrine of the life of Christ. There are those who try to do this. I’ve never attempted such.

Matthew writes from one angle, and I don’t know if this illustration is proper or not, but the way I see it, Matthew stood at one corner, Mark stood at another corner, Luke at another, and John at another. At the center of the intersection, is the Person of Jesus Christ.

I have said this regarding having to report an accident. I remember, while I was living in Regina there was an accident on Albert street, and I was second at the site. When the policeman came, he wanted me to bear testimony to what I had seen. I was on the east side of the street, and I am satisfied, and I can tell exactly what I had seen, and be telling the truth. Somebody else from another side would tell exactly what he had seen, and be telling the truth, and the stories would not be identical. They would not be contradictory, they would be complimentary.

So Matthew is standing at one corner, and he is looking at Jesus as the King of Israel. So everything that he witnesses has to do with Kingship and Kingdom; and he tells the stories that pertain to that aspect.

Mark looked at Jesus from another corner, not as the King, but as the Servant of Jehovah. And so, when you come to Matthew, you have a genealogy; for you have to have a genealogy of a King. When you come to Mark, there is no genealogy, just a brief introduction, the baptism of Jesus, the ministry of John, and then you are right into the ministry of Jesus.

The words in Mark that stands out are the words immediately and straightway. Why? If you want a servant you don’t ask about his genealogy. There is no genealogy in Mark. There He is not a King. There is a genealogy in Matthew, but in Mark you want obedience from a servant. When you say “Do it” He does it straightway. And so, Mark looks at Jesus from one corner and he writes of Him as a Servant.

Luke stands at another corner and looking at Jesus as the Son of man. He is seeing Him as a perfect Man. And isn’t this rather uniquely wonderful that the Lord used a medical, physical doctor to write that! Luke, the beloved physician, looked at Jesus, not as the King, he didn’t look at Him as the Servant, but he looked at Him as the Son of man. The best Man who ever lived. It is rather interesting when you read Luke, you have a doctor’s language. Whenever he talks about diseases that Jesus met, he would say, Behold, a woman was full of leprosy. That is doctor’s language -- full of cancer. Luke’s writing is always writing to point out the fact of a perfect Man.

In Matthew the genealogy only goes back to Abraham, because to be King He had to come from Abraham and David. But if He was going to be a Man, it is true He has to come through Abraham, but in Luke he goes right back to Adam; because if He is a genuine Man, he has to come from the first man so that every part of the Bible is interwoven and interlinked. And if you are going to believe one part, you have to believe all parts. And so, Luke presents Jesus from another corner. It is not a contradiction, it is a compliment. John stands and doesn’t look at Jesus as the King of Israel, he doesn’t look at Him as the Servant of Jehovah. John looks at Him as the Son of God. God manifest in the flesh. And so he begins, “In the beginning was the Word”. No genealogy. He talks about Jesus as being the Creator; and down through his language.

So every writer has a reason. I found this to be most exciting as I have read Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John, just to observe the geography. Some time ago I gave the definition regarding history. You can never read genuine history if it is not linked with genuine geography. Fiction is written regarding geography that is fiction; but genuine history is connected with genuine people at genuine places. And so we start reading from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 2:1,13-14

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea

That is still on the map. That isn’t some make-believe place. Bethlehem is very real, I am reading genuine history about a genuine event that took place at a genuine locality – Bethlehem.

(13) And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

(14) When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

I simply read it and say, Connected with the first coming of Jesus Christ, there is genuine geography. He was born at Bethlehem, and while He is still a little baby, He was taken down to Egypt. You can’t listen to the news today without hearing about Egypt. You don’t have to change the geography of your world; you don’t have to change the geography of the map. The geography of the Bible is the geography of the map. The geography of Bible history is the geography of today. When Jesus came the first time, His history was interwoven with genuine geography. Egypt doesn’t mean something else, it means Egypt. Jesus was in Egypt.

Matthew 2:23

(23) And he came (speaking of Jesus) and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Again, we are back to the same principle. That’s not a place that you can’t find; it is still on the map. And rather significant, these places that are named, you can still find and visit them all today. The history of Jesus is as real as the geography with which it was connected. Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth.

Matthew 3:13

(13) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee

You can’t be at Nazareth and not be in Galilee any more than you can be in Winnipeg and not be in Manitoba. If you are in Winnipeg, you have to be in Manitoba. And if you are in Nazareth, you have to be in the province of Galilee.

to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

There I have another geographical location. I have another spot that is on the map. You don’t have to alter one thing, or change one thing; it is still established. When Jesus came, the entire history of His life is linked and locked with a piece of geography, or places of geography that are as genuine as the Red River that we saw this afternoon. The Jordan River still flows. The Jordan River is still there; and the geography of Jesus is the geography of the map.

Matthew 4:13

I found this a most interesting reading; not that it establishes so much doctrine, but just read through these books and notice how specific the geography is.

(13) And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast

It is talking about the sea of Galilee, and you cross the sea of Galilee and there is the site of Capernaum. The archeologists are digging up the site; and there is every evidence that Capernaum stood. And yet the wonderful thing when you read through the Gospel, it tells you that Jesus stood one day and said, Capernaum will thou be exalted to Heaven? Thou shalt be brought down to hell. Jesus predicted the destruction of Capernaum and now the shovels of the archeologists are digging out the ruins of Capernaum. So the history and the prophecy and the language of the Gospel of Matthew fits the geography exactly as it is. Jesus went to Capernaum.

Matthew 21:1

(1) And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives

The last geographical location that Jesus was at, according to Luke, and according to the book of Acts, was the Mount of Olives. So, when you look at the history, (and Mark, Luke, and John are filled with geography) stop and think of John; Jesus must needs to go through Samaria, and He went to Jacob’s well; and the well was deep, and Jesus was there. The book of John is filled with geography. Jesus went to the home of Martha and Mary at Bethany – geography. Every place you look, there is geography connected with the life of Jesus.

John 7:40-43

This verse helps us where we sit today.

(40) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

(41) Others said, This if the Christ (Messiah) but some said shall Christ come out of Galilee?

(42) Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

(43) So there was a division among the people because of him.

There was a division among the people concerning Bible prophecy. There was a division among the people because of what the Scriptures had said. One man read one text, another man read another text, and still another man read another text. This man said, “It has to be this way,” and the other man said, “It has to be this way.” The other man said, “You are both wrong, it has to be this way.”

But here we are on this side of the Advent, and now we can understand. All of the prophets were right. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesus went down to Egypt. Jesus went to Galilee. Jesus went to Jordan. Jesus lived in Nazareth; He was a Nazarene. Everything was fulfilled. The only problem was when Jesus came the first time, the Bible readers thought that all of the geography had to fit one event; but it didn’t. The geography of the first coming of Jesus was connected with a series of events. And different events were fulfilled at different geographical locations.

If we could only keep that in mind regarding the second Advent. There are some people who see the second Advent as happening like this, and that’s it! Or they haven’t read all the Bible. There is a division today among people because of prophecy, and one of the reasons is because some people think that there is only one event connected with the second Coming of Christ. But the first Coming was a series of events with a series of geographical locations, and the second Coming is going to be the same.

I confess, I read some things that I cannot fully understand. When I turn to the book of Isaiah and read from Isaiah 63, I know there are some who take this and say it is the first Advent. I cannot accept that myself, and so I present this passage as belonging to the second Advent.

Isaiah 63:1-6

(1) Who is this that cometh from Edom

Edom is a geographical location. Edom is on the east side of the Dead Sea. The prophet has a vision, and he asks the question, “Who is this that cometh from Edom?”

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?

And he answers:

I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

(2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?

(3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

(6) And I will tread down the people in mine anger,

Notice the difference of the language. Verse 3 – I HAVE trodden, and I WILL tread. The one is already passed, and the other is future. This passage is not talking about the first Coming of Christ; this passage is talking about the second Coming of Christ.

I believe that there is a little key in Isaiah 16:1.

Isaiah 16:1

(1) Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

Sela is mentioned in reference to the second Coming and the time of the end. Sela is in Edom, (the city of Petra). The city of Petra is in Edom. And it looks very much to me as though Jewish people, according to the Scripture, are going to flee to Edom. They are going to flee to the refuge of the city of Edom, or Petra, or Sela. And Jesus is going to make Himself known like He did to Thomas. He is going to reach out His hands and He is going to say, “Here I am, look at Me and see.” And they are going to look on Him and they are going to mourn as one mourneth for his only son. Jesus is going to come back to Edom.

Then I go to Zechariah 14. I have another geographical location. Again, I know there are some people who say this is the first Coming of Christ. It doesn’t make any sense to me!

Zechariah 14:4-5

(4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

(5) And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

It is pretty hard to read the last part of verse 5, and make that the first Coming of Jesus Christ. This is talking about the second Coming. The second coming of Jesus Christ is associated, not only with Edom, but the second coming of Jesus Christ is associated with the Mount of Olives.

Then I go to Joel and I read from Joel that Jesus is going to sit in the valley of Jehoshaphat and there He is going to judge the nations.

Joel 3:2,12

(2) I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

(12) Let the heathen be awakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

I’ve got the valley of Jehoshaphat. I’ve got the Mount of Olives, and I’ve got Edom. Somebody says,” Surely you don’t believe that these are really going to happen, and that it is going to happen this way?” Well, I really do believe it is going to happen this way. The first Coming of Jesus was connected with specific geography. You look back at it, and you see He fulfilled the Promises of the prophets by going to those exact places. Jesus has to go back to the same places to fulfill the same Bible.

I love the verse in Ezekiel 48. He is going to come right back to Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 48:35

(35) It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city

In the context, it is talking about Jerusalem

the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

Have you ever paid any attention to this verse? The Lord is there. Was the Lord in Jerusalem before? Yes He was. Is He going to come back to Jerusalem again? Yes He is. Peace is going to flow to the world from Jerusalem because Jesus is going to come back to Jerusalem again. And when peace comes there, it is going to flow to the world.

First Coming, Jesus Came In Veiled Glory

Second Coming, Jesus Will Come In Unveiled Glory

The first Coming was not only connected with real geography, but Jesus came in veiled Glory. When He came the first time, it was veiled Glory. When He comes the next time, as I have already illustrated, He is going to come in unveiled Glory. This is precious. If we really believe all of these Scriptures, it will touch you right where you live.

John 1:14

(14) And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us

Most translations, and they are correct in this, translate the word “dwelt” as “tabernacled.”

the Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us

You will notice, in brackets,

(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.

The Word dwelt among us full of grace and truth, but in brackets, (we beheld His Glory…..)” Everybody didn’t see His Glory. When Jesus came the first time, He was typified in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Have you studied the Tabernacle in the wilderness? When you look down the outside of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, do you know what you saw in the tent of meeting? Badger skins.

One time I preached a radio sermon on this. One fellow only got one part of what I said. He was really disturbed because he heard me say that Jesus was a badger, but he didn’t hear the rest of what I said. Now will you listen to all of what I said? The Tabernacle in the wilderness had Glory inside of it, didn’t it? When Moses finished the Tabernacle, the Glory of God came into the Tabernacle, but on the outside, all you could see was badger skins. I’ve never seen a pretty badger yet! Badgers aren’t noted for their beauty. There is nothing of outward beauty about a badger. The Tabernacle with its badger skins, typifies the flesh of Jesus Christ,

Christ Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see.

Veiled in flesh, Jesus see.

Veiled in badger skins.

Last night I read from Isaiah 53:2. There is no form, there is no comeliness that we should desire Him. And when we see Him, there is no beauty. No beauty on the outside, but the beauty was within. The Glory was within; it was veiled Glory -- veiled in human flesh.

John 1:9-10

(9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He was in the world. Who? The Light of the world. Who? The Creator of the world. He was in the world, and the world didn’t know it. How could they not know it? The reason they didn’t know it, was because when He came the first time, veiled. But, Hallelujah, when He comes the next time, everybody is going to know who He is.

When He came the first time, veiled, when He comes the next time, unveiled. When He came the first time, hidden Glory. When He comes the next time, revealed Glory. If you keep it straight, it becomes wonderful in all of its implications.

1 Peter 1:11

Regarding Jesus, Peter writes of the first Advent.

(11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The prophets couldn’t understand it because they couldn’t put Glory to sufferings together. They couldn’t figure that out; because here was something that was veiled to the eyes of the prophets. They saw the Glory up ahead, but they couldn’t understand that in the light of what they had written.

Hebrews 2:8-10

Regarding Jesus in the context.

(8) Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.

Now here is something that people leave out of their theology.

but now we see not yet all things put under him.

(9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

(10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Notice, in His second Coming, He is going to bring many sons to Glory. There’s the second Advent. But in verse 8 – we see not yet. But then reverse it. If we see not yet ALL things put under Him, and when Jesus came the first time and finished His work and went back to Heaven, He defeated His enemies but we don’t see it ALL yet. Somebody says, If Jesus is the healer that He says He is, why do we see any sickness? If Jesus is the Master that He says He is, why do we have any storms? All things are under His feet, but we don’t see everything yet. But will you put the positive in there! The wonderful truth of that text is: We will see. Hallelujah! We will see all things under His feet. It is not yet. We don’t yet see, but praise God, the day is going to come when we are going to see all things under His feet. It is as good as done. It is as sure as Jesus is alive. We don’t see it yet; by faith we see it. And when He brings and leads many sons to Glory, that’s when we are going to see it. Praise God, we are going to see what it means to be a son of God, when He brings many sons to Glory.

1 John 3:2

(3) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

How wonderful it is going to be when I’m going to be like Jesus. When you are going to be like Jesus, you are going to be revealed and manifest like Jesus. Isn’t that going to be a wonderful day! Then you are going to find out really what Jesus did on the cross. You don’t see it all yet, but you are going to see it all then.

1 Peter 4:12-14

It explains a few more of our problems along the way.

(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

I don’t think I shall ever forget the first time I heard Sister Grace Wallace speak after the home-going of her husband Jock, only a few weeks after Jock’s sudden home going in Japan. One of the casualties in our eyes on the mission field is dying on the field. Sister Wallace spoke to our class at Jubilee and her subject was “TEARS.” She was still mourning, and she said,

“I have been raised at Apostolic churches, and I’ve been in the ministry for many years, but I suddenly discovered that I had not been prepared for this. I just expected the Lord to heal Jock, and I just expected the Lord to raise him up. And I wasn’t prepared to suffer such a trial. I’m going to speak to young people. I’m going to try and balance what is in the Scripture.”

There are two sides to the life of Jesus, and there are two sides to the life of a Christian. So often, they give the impression, that when you come to Jesus, as I said, you get on a band wagon. It’s a Hallelujah time, and there are never any trials. They get the impression, and give the impression there are no burdens. But listen, trials are necessary for saints, if a church wants to walk with God and teach all the Bible, and keep the message of discipleship. Discipleship says that if any man will come after Me (Jesus), let him take up his cross and follow me. If you are going to teach discipleship, one thing it is going to do is keep out the hypocrites. Hallelujah!

If there was no suffering for Christians, we would have so many unsaved people pretending to be Christians that we wouldn’t know what to do with them. If, becoming a Christian meant never having a flat purse, and never being sick, and never having trials, we wouldn’t know the sheep from the goats. But, praise God, tribulation shows up the sheep. You find out who the goats are and who the sheep are, when tribulation comes. Haven’t you found that? Trials have a way of making Jesus just a little nearer. And so, this is part of Christianity.

(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Jesus had two parts to His ministry, and there are two parts to yours.

You are going to find out, at the time of the second Advent that there was no trial in your life that wasn’t necessary. And the reason for the trial is going to be manifest in the day of Glory. Hallelujah.

In the meantime, verse 14.

(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;

I’ve seen this happen in water baptism services. Water baptism is really a reproach if you do it for Christ’s sake. I’ve seen some people come up from the water baptism tank so happy. But I have yet to have a time when I haven’t had real joy myself. I’ve had joy and I’ve seen candidates be overjoyed.

I baptized three young girls in Regina. Two of them had been quite backslidden and they had been restored to the Lord and wanted to be baptized. The first girl was but a teenager. I’ve been a pastor long enough to know that when teenagers are cool toward the Lord, they are quite cool toward pastors. I found that out. When teenagers would come close to me, I knew that they were close to the Lord. I found that out. Do you know what this teenager did when she came up out of the water? She threw her arms around me and gave me a great big hug. It was a Holy hug. It was one of the greatest hugs I have ever had in my life. She was so happy that she hugged the pastor; and she was only a teenager.

A few weeks before that, she would have gone around the block to avoid me; but now the joy of the Lord is upon her.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for (not Glory that is ahead but for) the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:

Thank God for the Spirit of Glory that gets upon us every once-in-a-while! And if you be reproached for Christ, you have a Promise, you are going to get the Spirit of Glory upon you. The Spirit of Glory rested upon you. And if the Spirit of Glory can be so glorious, what’s it going to be like when you get the whole measure? It’s only a part now, and the Spirit of Glory is only a foretaste of the Glory that is ahead. Hallelujah. The Spirit of Glory is our portion because we are partakers of His sufferings in His unveiled Glory.

Illustration

There are two parts to David’s life. David is a wonderful type of Jesus. The first part David was hunted and haunted and running in the mountains. Saul was on the throne. David had been anointed king, but David was running for his life. He was the king, associated with sorrows and grief and suffering. And when David was in the mountains, do you remember what happened? There were people in Israel, and what a bunch they were, who were all distressed and disturbed and in trouble. And anybody who was in debt and in trouble joined himself to David. That was the kind of gang that David had to fight battles with him. And those were the ones who had joined him, when David was in the mountains despised, and veiled. He was the veiled king, but the day came when David was unveiled, and he became the king on the throne, and when David sat on the throne, do you know what happened to those fellows who joined David up there in the mountains in his sufferings? They became his mighty men. His mighty men were those men who had come out and joined him in his suffering. What a picture of the Church! David’s band of disgruntles. Hallelujah.

That’s the kind of people who are getting saved today. People who are in debt, people who are in distress. People who are in trouble. That’s why they join up with Jesus. But praise God, they suffered with David in the day of his suffering, in the day of his veiled kingship, and when he was unveiled, he sat on the throne and he started to tell people all that those men had done. David started to reveal what those men had done. There is going to be a revealing day; and not only will the King take the veil off of Himself, but the King is going to take the veil off of His soldiers. And He is going to reveal us when He is unveiled.

He Is Coming In Unveiled Glory

He is coming in unveiled Glory

Matthew 24:30

(30) 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 (not this time with veiled Glory but) with power and great glory.

Matthew 25:31

(31) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Matthew 19:27-28

Peter was feeling a little “down” and he said,

(27) Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

(28) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Notice, “the throne of His Glory”

Romans 8:18

We can get something very practical out of this.

(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time

I stop and ask you a question. Are the sufferings of the present time real? Are the sufferings literal? Are the sufferings of the present time, at times heavy burdens?

I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy (to be put in the balance) to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

When Jesus comes in His Glory, we are going to share in His Glory. How real will that sharing be? As real as the sufferings. As real as the problems of the present. And the problems of the present are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that is ahead. Do you believe it? And the Glory has got to be as literal as the suffering.

Colossians 1:27

(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

There is Glory ahead. And why is there Glory ahead? There’s Glory ahead because Christ, the prince of Glory is in you.

I remember, I had one lady look me straight in the face in 1952. She was just a little afraid of her future. She said, “Brother Pritchard, I want you to answer me,” and she looked at me in such a way that I knew she wanted a personal answer, “I want you to answer this question: “Are there not times when you are just a little fearful, that you may not make the Rapture?”

Did anybody ever ask you that question? I didn’t see her for 23 years. This spring I was in Nanaimo, and I looked out in the audience, and saw her. We had a good time of fellowship after the service.

Twenty-three years between these stories. Back in 1952 she looked me in the eye and said, “Are you not just a little fearful at times? You sound so positive when you preach, but are there not times when you are just a little fearful?”

I looked at the sprout out here the other day when it was raining, and the water was pouring out of that spout full blast. I was wishing I had had my camera to take a picture of it; because every once-in-a-while I talk about the Glory spout that comes out. That spout reminded me of the Spirit of Glory that hits me every once-in-a-while.

That Spirit of Glory hit me while I was looking face to face with one person who was asking me a pointed question Dorothy had asked me. “Are you not a little fearful?” And the Bible came to my mind. The Spirit does that! The Spirit brings the Word to your remembrance. I have been amazed. Somebody says, “My you have a wonderful memory.” No I haven’t. I’ve got a good forgetter, just like the rest of you.

But I have had times when the Glory of God, and the anointing of God has been so strong upon me, that everything I seemed to have learned has come back. Some people have said, I talk too fast. I notice what someone wrote in the Eston year book about me. They said, “When Brother Pritchard gets anointed, he talks faster than an angry chipmunk.”

That was quite a description. I don’t know too much about a chipmunk, let alone an angry one; but I am reminded of it once-in-a-while, that I talk too fast for people. I’m told, Slow down a bit, you are going too fast. I know what it is to get so anointed that I can think ten times faster than I can talk. I try and keep up to my thinker; because it is going ahead of my talker. Well it is wonderful. It’s better felt than telt, and I can’t explain it. But that Glory spout got over my head as I was looking at Dorothy in the face; and the Spirit of God brought this verse to mind:

Colossians 1:27

(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

With a great big smile, the Spirit of God on the outside and on the inside, I looked at Dorothy and I said, “No Dorothy, I haven’t got any doubts at all. I don’t worry about it because the Scripture says to me, Christ in you, the hope of Glory. Christ is in me. He has Promised that He will never leave me and He will never forsake me. And if He won’t leave me, and if He won’t forsake me, and He is in me, and He is my hope of Glory, I can’t miss it. I can’t miss out on it because Christ in me is the Hope of Glory. I haven’t got any other hope at all.”

Paul writes in 1 Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:1

(1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.

Christ our hope. Stop and think, the older you get, if you had to base your hope on you, you would have sunk long ago, wouldn’t you? I’m singing better every day,

Chorus

My Hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ Blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest flame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

There is no other hope but Christ. Whenever Christ got in the boat, the boat always made it to shore. When Christ got in the boat, the boat couldn’t sink. The boat couldn’t sink when He was in the boat. Praise the Lord, I can’t go down; and because I can’t go down, I have to go up. The reason I’m going to go up is because Christ is in me. He is my Hope of Glory. He is going to manifest His Glory. And He is going to manifest the Glory He has given to me.

Colossians 3:4

(4) When Christ, who is our life,

Brother Post preached a strong message at our Moose Jaw conference. And Brother Crabtree put his hand on Brother Post’s shoulder, and he said, “You know, brother, I feel a little more secure myself.”

And I hope you feel a little more secure yourself after you start reading a Scripture like this. Look at it.

When Christ, who is our life,

I ask any man this question: How can you do any better than that? Have you got anything any better than that?

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

He has given me a little bit of Glory to go to Glory in, so that when He appears in Glory, and I appear with Him, the same life that gives Him Glory, is the same life that is going to give me Glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17

(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

There is Glory ahead. And the Glory is connected with the second Advent of Jesus. We have been identified with the Savior, and we are going to be identified with the King.

I suddenly realized that throughout the Bible, the Lord was gracious enough to let some men see the vision of the coming of the Lord. And we sing the hymn:

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF

THE COMING OF THE LORD.

We will talk about the vision of the Glory of the coming of the Lord in the next Lesson.