Now here is the point. The sudden maturing of Christ in His people has been prophesied for the last days.

Notice the following:

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)

In the days of the seventh trumpet the mystery of God should be finished or accomplished. The mystery of God is Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Micah prophesied concerning the bringing forth of the Ruler.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:2,3)

Christ, the Ruler, was born in Bethlehem.

But Christ must give up His own people, the Jews, until the Christian churches bow in travail and bring forth Christ in the believers.

Then Christ's brothers, those of whom He is the Firstborn, will return to the children of Israel.

Wherever you see Christ being formed in Christians today you will notice their strong desire to return to the land and people of Israel. It is Christ in them longing after His own family, the Jews.

Another very important passage is as follows:

A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. (Isaiah 66:6-9)

Christ was born in Zion apart from any travail of the Church.

Christ will be born once more in Zion, but this time as a result of the travail of the Church.

The earth shall be made to bring forth in one day. A nation shall be born at once. This means that the holy nation, the royal priesthood of which Jesus Christ is the chief Cornerstone, will suddenly come to maturity.

It is a comfort to us Christians to understand that what God has begun in us He will finish. That which has been conceived in us will be brought to birth and there is no power of darkness that can prevent it.

The royal priesthood shall indeed appear suddenly. The holy city shall come to the earth. The new Jerusalem shall be established. All of the saved nations will come up to Jerusalem to learn the righteous ways of the Lord.

Let us be glad and rejoice at the happy prospect. Let us then turn our attention to the Lord to make sure our conduct is such that we will be prepared for God to bring forth Christ in us.

Our task is to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles so that Christ may be formed in us. God's part is to bring forth Christ, the Ruler of all nations for the ages of ages.

I'm sure glad I'm a Christian. How about you?

A one-liner for you: the salvation that cost God everything to fully achieve costs man everything to fully receive.