In Luke, chapter 24, our Lord gave unto us an everlasting example of what actually takes place when He comes to walk and to talk with us, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself … And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him … And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us along the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? … And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (vv. 27-45).

Jesus Christ, our Lord, is the same in every way. What He did then and what His disciples and the New Testament church experienced at the beginning, must be our experience today. Everything pertaining to the Lord and Saviour was shown forth as the fulfilment of Scriptures. The Apostle Paul summarises this fact in making the statement, “For I delivered unto you first of all which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

When the New Testament Church was founded by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the prophecy of Joel 2 was fulfilled.

We are still living in Bible days. Now, before the second coming of Christ, the same scriptural pattern applies. The direct commission and highest duty of a servant of God is to place all things within the Kingdom of God according to the Holy Scriptures. It fills one with unspeakable joy to know that our brethren at the beginning altogether referred to the Old Testament scriptures, not less than 845 times in the New Testament. It shows the importance they were giving to the Word of God. The New Testament Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief-cornerstone and also the headstone (Eph. 2:20; Zech. 4:6-7).

Every true teaching is based upon God’s Word; every false teaching is based upon the private interpretation thereof. All things connected to the plan of salvation are foretold in prophetic scriptures and are not of any private interpretation. As the Apostle John stated, it remains for ever valid that no lie originates in the truth and also that all who are born of God will remain in the truth of His Word, for “… whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him” (1 Jn. 3:9) and, “For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (2 Jn. 2). Amen!

As we have seen, the many predictions and prophecies concerning the first coming of our Lord and Saviour were all fulfilled, so it is now in the time period before His return. Every Word of God must merge into reality. Whenever the time comes, not just a teaching or a so-called revelation, but reality is manifested. As the birth of Christ was a reality, His life and ministry, His sufferings and death, His resurrection and ascension were a reality, so His return, the resurrection of those who died in Christ and the changing of those who live in Christ and the taking up to meet the Lord in the air will be a reality. All these things will take place precisely as they were promised and we find written in the Scriptures.

The promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord …” (Mal. 4:5) had to be fulfilled now, as Jesus our Lord then confirmed it for the future, “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt. 17:11b; Mk. 9:12). Also what our Lord said in Luke 17:22-30 had to be fulfilled now. The Son of man has revealed Himself in the same way and perfect prophetic ministry with the sign of the Messiah, as it happened in the days of His flesh. Acts 3:18-21 is one of the most important promises for this time and must be fulfilled. God is bound to His Word to send the times of refreshing before the return of Christ, “… Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the age began” (v. 21). It is Thus saith the Lord in His Word. The restoration must come first, as our Lord will come to take a Bride church that is without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27) into Glory (1 Thess. 4:17). Also all the predictions for Israel must now be viewed in the light of the prophetic Word. The return of theJews to the Promised Land is not only one of many signs, but it is the sign of the time in the symbol of the fig tree which has come back to life again (Isa. 14:1; Jer. 31:10; Ez. 36:24; Mt. 24:32; Lk. 21:24). True sons and daughters of God are children of the promise as Isaac was (Gal. 4:28), believing the Word of promise, receiving the spirit of promise (Acts 2:33).

In Luke, chapter 24, our Lord gave unto us an everlasting example of what actually takes place when He comes to walk and to talk with us, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself … And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him … And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us along the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? … And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (vv. 27-45).

Jesus Christ, our Lord, is the same in every way. What He did then and what His disciples and the New Testament church experienced at the beginning, must be our experience today. Everything pertaining to the Lord and Saviour was shown forth as the fulfilment of Scriptures. The Apostle Paul summarises this fact in making the statement, “For I delivered unto you first of all which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

When the New Testament Church was founded by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the prophecy of Joel 2 was fulfilled.

We are still living in Bible days. Now, before the second coming of Christ, the same scriptural pattern applies. The direct commission and highest duty of a servant of God is to place all things within the Kingdom of God according to the Holy Scriptures. It fills one with unspeakable joy to know that our brethren at the beginning altogether referred to the Old Testament scriptures, not less than 845 times in the New Testament. It shows the importance they were giving to the Word of God. The New Testament Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief-cornerstone and also the headstone (Eph. 2:20; Zech. 4:6-7).

Every true teaching is based upon God’s Word; every false teaching is based upon the private interpretation thereof. All things connected to the plan of salvation are foretold in prophetic scriptures and are not of any private interpretation. As the Apostle John stated, it remains for ever valid that no lie originates in the truth and also that all who are born of God will remain in the truth of His Word, for “… whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him” (1 Jn. 3:9) and, “For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (2 Jn. 2). Amen!

As we have seen, the many predictions and prophecies concerning the first coming of our Lord and Saviour were all fulfilled, so it is now in the time period before His return. Every Word of God must merge into reality. Whenever the time comes, not just a teaching or a so-called revelation, but reality is manifested. As the birth of Christ was a reality, His life and ministry, His sufferings and death, His resurrection and ascension were a reality, so His return, the resurrection of those who died in Christ and the changing of those who live in Christ and the taking up to meet the Lord in the air will be a reality. All these things will take place precisely as they were promised and we find written in the Scriptures.

The promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord …” (Mal. 4:5) had to be fulfilled now, as Jesus our Lord then confirmed it for the future, “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt. 17:11b; Mk. 9:12). Also what our Lord said in Luke 17:22-30 had to be fulfilled now. The Son of man has revealed Himself in the same way and perfect prophetic ministry with the sign of the Messiah, as it happened in the days of His flesh. Acts 3:18-21 is one of the most important promises for this time and must be fulfilled. God is bound to His Word to send the times of refreshing before the return of Christ, “… Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the age began” (v. 21). It is Thus saith the Lord in His Word. The restoration must come first, as our Lord will come to take a Bride church that is without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27) into Glory (1 Thess. 4:17). Also all the predictions for Israel must now be viewed in the light of the prophetic Word. The return of the  Jews to the Promised Land is not only one of many signs, but it is the sign of the time in the symbol of the fig tree which has come back to life again (Isa. 14:1; Jer. 31:10; Ez. 36:24; Mt. 24:32; Lk. 21:24). True sons and daughters of God are children of the promise as Isaac was (Gal. 4:28), believing the Word of promise, receiving the spirit of promise (Acts 2:33).