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 AFTER THE PRESSURES

 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the forces which control the heavens will be disordered. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the sky; and then shall all the nations of the earth lament, when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they will bring together the elect to Him from north, south, east and west- from one extremity of the world to the other." [Matthew 24:29-31, Weymouth translation].

       It is most profitable, in the times of much pressure and tension, for the Holy Spirit to quicken afresh the truths which relate to the word " AFTERWARDS," and turning to the scriptures we find there are some very precious things to be considered. It is a marked sign of our times that a restless feeling of frustration has taken hold of people because they have no hope for tomorrow, and no sense of direction by which to order their lives. Thus they find themselves in a sea of futility, unable to find an anchor, and in the midst of their confusion they become very hostile and rebellious, ready to express their pent up emotions whenever and wherever opportunity affords, be it in riots, senseless destruction, or just a pleasure-mad spree of present living. Nor does it take much of a deep spiritual discernment to observe that little encouragement is given to people. A quick glance at any newspaper leaves one distressed in the natural─ wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom. Earthquakes, storms, floods, drought, with law and order rapidly vanishing out of the land. And so the attitude is adopted by many, "eat, drink and be merry, for there is no hope for the morrow." Since, from all apparent outlooks we face an atomic war which could spell the end of our globe, or, if we escape, that for awhile, at least we shall be plunged into another economical disaster unparalleled in all of history. One marvels that the world-at-large is able to hold any degree of sanity.  Nor is the picture improved much if one takes a visit to the churches of the day, to hear preachers talk of heaven, and how the only hope left for mankind is to be raptured away, while judgment destroys anything and anyone remaining behind after these have made their escape. If, as it is pictured, God has thrown up His hands in distress, and cannot save the situation any more, but must wipe it all out, saving only a few religious souls, then certainly there remains little that man can do to redeem himself out of this chaos.
          BUT─ THERE IS A TOMORROW, THERE IS AN AFTERWARDS, AND THERE IS A TRIUMPHANT WAY TO GAIN THE VICTORY THROUGH ALL OF THE PRESENT SITUATIONS. We have but to take ourselves back to the Word of God, to read, "See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." [Matthew 24:6]. And again, "IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS..." [Matthew 24:29].
          Ah, here is a ray of hope. The end is not yet, there is more to come! True, there are severer pressures to bear down upon us, and except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved: BUT FOR THE ELECT'S SAKE THOSE DAYS SHALL BE SHORTENED. And after the distress has come and gone, there will be a kingdom remaining, THE KINGDOM OF GOD. It is toward this Kingdom that we must set our course, and in the light of the "afterwards" order our present living.
          The word "tribulation" used in Matthew 24:29, comes from the Greek word "thlipsis," and means "PRESSURE," though it is also translated as affliction, or trouble. That this is a time of pressure such as the world has never known before, surely no one would deny, but how many today also believe that these pressures are used by God for a specific purpose of fulfilling His plan of the ages?  Indeed, we believe that these "pressures" are filling a dual role, being the death-throes of this present evil age, and at the same time serving as the birth-pangs of a new age, the kingdom age, wherein righteousness shall be administered, and the truth shall come forth in clear contra-distinction to all error and perversion.    Now, it must be pointed out, it is not enough to just have a vision of the future, and a hope that out of the confusion and chaos shall emerge a new day. This is essential, for "without a vision the people perish," that is, they are naked, being destitute of a covering to protect them against the ravages of present travail. We must have a hope─ not a hope in just anything, but that which is sure, a true "anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil:" [Hebrews 6:19]. But possessing a hope that is resident in our Lord Jesus Christ, and since He has entered into that within the veil, then we are linked to that kingdom which is to come, and it holds us steady while we make our way through the present conflict. Then, having this hope and vision, IT IS AN UTTER NECESSITY THAT WE UTILIZE OUR PRESENT TRAVAIL AS PREPARATION TIME for the hour which shall come, "immediately after the pressure of those days."
          LIVE TODAY IN THE LIGHT OF ITS IMPACT UPON YOUR TOMORROW. Oh yes, we are well aware of those who would do away with anything that appears to be futuristic, and they claim to have all, and are living in the "now." I am sure that we are not living in the fulness of that which is ours today. But I am equally sure that we have not yet arrived into the totality of the "ever present I AM," and therefore we desire to "go on to perfection," and "this will we do, if God permit." [Hebrews 6:1,3].
          The scriptures give us ample room for our daily living, with a sufficiency for every necessity. "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread." "TODAY is the day of salvation." "NOW are we the children of God." etc, but there is also much in the Word of God that points to the passing of the things which are temporal, and of the "nevertheless AFTERWARDS" which follows.
          First we would point out a couple of things from the negative realm, and then proceed to that which is more positive. Proverbs 20:17, "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but AFTERWARDS his mouth shall be filled with gravel." In our modern day terminology we have a phrase of how there are times when a man has to "eat his own words." Ah, how little do those who practice their deceit ever stop to consider what it shall be when the end returns to the beginning. Those smooth words which were used to soft-talk people into situations which were not righteous. Nor shall we even take time to illustrate this from natural life, though there is enough all around us to prove the point. But we are more concerned as to how this fits into our spiritual life, and so we would connect this verse with another found in Proverbs 28:23, "He that rebuketh a man AFTERWARDS shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue."
          What "bread of deceit" and "flattery" is handed out today by those who "will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables." [2 Timothy 4:3-4]. Prophesy smooth things which beguile the ears of those who listen. Tell again the myths and traditions of the elders which make null and void the Word of God. BUT THERE IS AN AFTERWARDS, and those very words shall return to the mouth of the clergy as GRAVEL.
          "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, ─I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed everyone of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: but he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." [Zechariah 13:2, 4-6].  THIS IS THE AFTERWARDS ! When those who have been deceived rise up against their deceivers. When those who beguiled the people with their silken threads of deceptive doctrine finally have to face up to those words, and they become gravel in their mouth. For then shall people turn to rend them, and heap reproach upon them, until they would prefer to be called an husbandman, or shall we say today, a farmer. BUT, the man of God who fearlessly spoke the truth, even when it was contrary to all pre-conceived ideas of men, and against all the mythology of the religious systems, such a one shall find favour with God and man, for in the AFTERWARDS, the man of truth shall reap joy and not sorrow, neither shall he be ashamed.
          Turning now to Proverbs 24:27, "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." While searching out the various passages of scripture where the word "afterwards" is used, this one stood out especially for us personally, because of something heard so often in our home as a boy. Herein again is seen another great sign of our own times, when this present generation is going contrary to the laws of progress and daily living, and shall surely  reap an awful harvest. The wise man pointed out that a diligent man working his field would be able to prosper, and in due time not only have a well established living, but also be able to build and furnish his home, and look back to enjoy the works of his hands. But today we find so manywho insist immediately upon the time of their marriage to also furnish their new home with everything that modern times afford, selling their soul into debt for things far beyond their means. They try to enjoy the end of their travail before it has even begun. Then having nothing but heavy debts to look forward to, and nothing more to set before themselves as a goal to obtain, they are again without a sense of purpose, and becoming bored with each other, and sick of their heavy bondage of bills, with nothing set before them as a goal to work together to achieve, they seek satisfaction in avenues which only bring heart-ache and break up the home.
          Going back to the phrase. I often heard as a boy, living on a farm, as we worked to improve the barn and enlarge the dairy herd, my father would remark, "a barn will build a house, but a house cannot build a barn." There is a principle of putting first things first. A good producing herd of cattle will eventually earn enough to enable a man to build himself a good home and furnish it with the comforts of life, but if he puts all of his time and money into building the house first, then where is that which will support and sustain him afterwards?
          Now, you say, all this is true in natural living, we see the point which must be acknowledged, but how does this fit into our spiritual life? Beloved, what tragedies are caused because far too often today, when God begins to work in a life, and a change is made so that they turn from the world to serve Christ, and long before there is any development and real spiritual growth, long before they are prepared to face the severe testings which accompany the position, people have been pushed to the front and acclaimed, and made to fill places for which they are not spiritually qualified. God does not use novices for leadership, nor does He place newborn babes into situations where they must direct others, giving counsel which requires deep spiritual insight and development. Yet we find men who have a beginning experience with God, suddenly rushed off to a theology school for a few years, and then placed as pastors over flocks, or filling other positions where self is tempted to become exalted, and we wonder why they flounder and fall. One can only marvel at the grace of God in their own life, how He sovereignly sustained when in our youth we tried to lead others to a closer relationship with God. But how could we take them any farther than we had gone ourselves?
          But now we see how God has taken out from among the people a REMNANT, placed them into training schools far more rigid than any Seminary, and there in the midst of THE FIELD OF PRESSURES AND TESTINGS He is preparing a people who will be duly qualified, not to serve as servants in the house, but as SONS to be over the house, as divinely appointed administrators in the kingdom of God. No, the position of sonship does not come first, and the qualifications come later, but God shall thoroughly train and prepare them first, and AFTERWARD build an house. Self shall have been completely dealt with, placed on the cross, so that as God raises His sons to positions of authority, to rule and reign with Him, none shall fall or break the ranks of their administration because of a weakness in their character. Each one shall be fully joined to the Lord in one spirit, until HE is all in all in them, the central supremacy of their life. The travail of the field, the preparation and discipline, the losing of their own "self" life, tQ find it again in HIS LIFE, all of this is God's process leading up to the AFTERWARDS, when they shall be vessels of honour in His great house. Now isn't the time to claim sonship and its positions of glory, now is the time to work in the field, until His grace has made us "meet for the Master's use."
          "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. ─Lest there be any...as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that AFTERWARD, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentence (or, way to change his mind, though he sought it carefully with tears." [Hebrews 12:15-17].
          How blind Esau was to the afterwards! Not considering that it would cost him all of the greater blessings to come, just to indulge in one morsel of meat for the satisfaction of the flesh for present time. Friend, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted to exchange the "house" and all that it entails with its administrative position and honor and glory, for any present tabernacle which might be offered to us now. Sure, you can build a name, and a kingdom, and appear to be "living it up," but what about the afterwards? When God shall unveil His sons, and place them in the high places to rule and fulfill His will, "and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room." [Luke 14:9].
          Yes, we realize that there are times when we come in from the field, as Esau, seemingly a fruitless venture, and we are faint within, our soul is troubled, and the tempter whispers to us that we just cannot go on this away any more, and why don't we leave the field and go build us a house now, just forget about tomorrow, for you sure can't see any proof of what it shall be. But then is the time, like David, that we need to encourage ourselves "in the Lord our God." [1 Samuel 30:6]. And remember, our hope IS ANCHORED WITHIN THE VEIL, and HE is able to preserve us blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." [1 Thess. 5:24].
          "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARDS it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." [Hebrews 12:11].
          AFTER THE PRESSURE OF THOSE DAYS! Always we look for the "sign" of the Son of Man during the travail. Always we want to see manifestations of glory NOW, in the midst of the process. Nay, the chastening is not pleasant, nor was it meant to be, it is only because of the joy that is set before us that we are able to even endure the cross and think down its shame. But endure your cross in the light of the AFTERWARDS─ knowing that we have "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith into salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." [1 Peter 1:4-7].
          David passed through one of those times of "mani-fold temptations," and he said, ''as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. ─Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." [Psalm 73:2, 3-14]. Then he looked at the wicked, and saw that they prospered and increased in riches, and were not plagued nor troubled like he was. "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. ─Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and AFTERWARD receive me to glory." [Psalm 73:16-17, 21-24].
          Not until the Psalmist understood about the AFTERWARDS was he able to be at rest concerning the discipline of his life, and the present prosperity of the ungodly around him. But how precious the summation, THOU SHALT GUIDE ME WITH THY COUNSEL, AND AFTERWARD RECEIVE ME TO GLORY. Thank God for His guidance and tender care─ knowing that all of the present travail but leads to His glory.
          What we have considered thus far has pertained to us as individuals, but now before we bring this chapter to a close, note the glorious promise given unto Israel, wherein they also reap a blessed AFTERWARDS.
          "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim; AFTERWARD shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days." [Hosea 3:4-5].
          "God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew..." [Romans 11:2], but He has stripped them of all their position as a nation, given them a spirit of slumber, and led them through deep valleys of purging and judgment. But the hour comes when their eyes shall be opened as to who they are, and who their God is, and they shall return to see the Lord. It is a blessed AFTERWARD to all of the desolation and stripping, and for all of the purgings and judgment times.
          Again we find the witness and confirmation of the scriptures, turning to Acts 15:14-18. "God at the first did visit the nations, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, AFTER THIS I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world."
          0, how we need to know the purposes and plans of God, and of His times and the seasons of His inworkings. Blindness is happened unto Israel UNTIL the fulness of the nations be come in. "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all." [Romans 11:32]. Now─ while this blindness in part grips Israel, and they are laid desolate, scattered among the nations as He hath purposed, GOD IS VISITING THE NATIONS TO TAKE OUT OF THEM HIS ELECTION OF GRACE, a people to become His name, to be one in Himself, that through them He might shepherd all nations and bring forth complete redemption to all men.
          It is this process of "gathering unto Himself a remnant people" of which most of our teaching and writing is about, but there is a purpose involved, for we read on, AFTER THIS─ after this purpose is fulfilled, then shall come the building again of the tabernacle of David, and ultimately complete restoration when all the residue, remainder of men come to know the Lord, from the least unto the greatest of them.
          But note: we need to learn to keep first things first, and not to confuse the AFTERWARDS with the present process. Though some people are trying, GOD IS NOT EVANGELIZING ALL THE RESIDUE OF MEN AT THIS TIME, HE IS VISITING THE NATIONS TO TAKE OUT OF THEM HIS ISRAEL, HIS ELECTION OF GRACE. May God illumine to us more and more of His purpose as it comes to fruition, that we might walk TODAY in the light of that for which we are called and apprehended to fulfill in the AFTERWARDS. A people for His name, to manifest the fulness of His character, to be the exact reproduction of His nature and substance. The calling is tremendous, and therefore the processing must be equally great, for God will not have some inferior quality vessel, but all must meet His specifications and obtain His divine approval. YOUR TODAY IS IMPORTANT, for it is as to how we qualify now, through the inworkings of His grace, as to how we shall fulfill the positions of glory in the AFTERWARDS. There is a tomorrow! There is a blessing to be received after the pressures of those days of which our Lord spoke. May the Lord so become LORD OF OUR LIFE, while we are utterly abandoned to His Spirit, that when He returns to build again the tabernacle of David, and Israel is received into the fulness of the grace of God, along with all other nations, that we shall also be found unto His praise, and  worthy of the calling wherewith we were called.
 

IN THE PROMISED " AFTERWARD"!

 
'Tis not the race of present sun,
With laurels which might now be won,
That sparks the gleam within our eye,
And sets the pace to qualify;
But far beyond all present strife,
We see a more abundant life─In the promised "afterward".
 
'Tis not the kingdoms men have built,
With all their pomp and glory gilt,
That beckons us to sacrifice,
And give our all to meet the price;
But far beyond their feeble pall,
God's throne doth now our hearts enthrall,
For the promised "afterward".
 
'Tis not the lilt of present rhyme,
With chords that ring in off-beat time,
That strikes the key-note in our soul,
Till through our being a praise doth roll;
But we have caught the joyful sound,
A harmony where peace is found─
In the promised "afterward".
 
'Tis not the cry of wealth and fame,
With all their pleasures bright acclaim,
That brings to us a challenge clear,
To break the bonds and pioneer;
But we have heard a message true,
Of realms where fulness doth imbue─
In the promised "afterward".

 

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(1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris. THE TRIUMPHANT WAY!. (now out of print), Boise, Idaho 83705}

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