There is no point in Christ's returning to earth until His Body has been brought "to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"; until the firstfruits of the Church have been brought into unblemished union with Himself.

The Old Testament Prophets speak of the coming of Christ. Christ was born in Bethlehem. He died on the cross for our sins and then was raised physically from the dead.

Since that time a multitude of people have entered Christ and become part of Christ. They have become His Body, His fullness. They have become an integral part of His death and an integral part of His resurrection.

The Kingdom clock stopped ticking so Christ could attain His completion in a Bride—a Bride who has been changed into His death and filled with His resurrection Life. She shall appear with Him when He comes.

The Hebrew Prophets reveal that Christ will come as our sin offering (Isaiah, Chapter 53) and also as "king over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:9). Micah points to the season of travail that must occur between the two appearings of Christ.

Christ has come in the flesh! Christ has gone to the Father and will return from Heaven in like manner as He was seen going into Heaven. These facts are established eternally in the written Word. The great hope expressed in the New Testament writings is that of the coming of the Lord, of the Day of the Lord.

When the Prophets speak of Christ's coming it is to establish the Kingdom of God throughout the earth, bringing deliverance to Israel and justice to the nations. However, to the present hour Israel has not been delivered; neither has justice been brought to the nations. The lack of fulfillment of the Prophets may cause Jewish people to doubt the Messianic claims of Jesus of Nazareth.

What is delaying the fulfillment of the Divine promises? The reason for the delay is the period of time that is required for bringing into being the Body of Christ, the Body of the Anointed Deliverer. As the Body is attaining the fullness of unity and maturity, and also bringing its last great witness to the world, the prophetic clock will start ticking again.

Before Christ appears in the clouds (Revelation 1:7) the seventieth week will be fulfilled (Daniel 9:24; 12:7).

The seventieth week, as we understand it, will follow the same pattern as the seven abundant and seven lean years of the famine of Joseph's day. There will be a "morning," and then a "night" (Isaiah 21:12).

The purpose of the first half of the week, the time of the latter-rain revival, of the testimony of the two witnesses, is that all the peoples of the earth may become aware of the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth and of the resulting need for very serious and thorough repentance.

The purpose of the second half of the week is that the burning sun of persecution may bring both the wheat and the tares to maturity. The great tribulation will separate the true Church from Babylon (man-directed Christianity), thus making straight the way of the Lord.

To be continued.