When the members of the Body of Christ, the Body of the Servant of the Lord, have thus been brought to maturity, the Lord will return with them. The waters of life flowing from them will cover the dead sea of mankind. The Glory of God will fill the earth.

It appears Christians have the idea that somehow the Glory of God will descend from Heaven and the earth will enter the Millennium. It will be a giant Pentecost.

It is true that there will be the greatest of all outpourings of the Spirit at the close of the Church Age. This is the promised latter rain. The purpose of the latter rain is to bring the Lord's wheat to maturity.

But the Kingdom Age will commence with the return of the Lord and His saints. Then the Glory of God will not descend like rain but will come from within those who have been made trees of life. The creation is waiting for the unveiling of the sons of God, not for the Spirit of God to be poured from Heaven. The creation will be released from futility and corruption by the ministry of the sons of God.

Notice in the following passage that the nations of the earth will come to the saints in order to receive the blessing.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (Isaiah 60:1-5)

Can you see that the glory that will be given at the beginning of the Kingdom Age will be entrusted to the saints? Then the peoples of the earth will come to the saints. They actually are coming to the Glory of Christ in the saints. He and we are coheirs of the nations and the farthest reaches of the earth.

On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. (II Thessalonians 1:10—NIV)

All depends (for us as an individual) on our faithfulness in following the Lord each day, on our willingness to let Him deal with the worldliness, lust, and self-will in our personality. The great worldwide fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles will come through those who have lost their life in Christ, who have permitted Christ to take His rightful place on the throne of their heart.

To be continued.