offering); and, as Paul could say, so can all the followers in his
footsteps, viz.: Christ is manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor. 4:11)
As the whole Christ has thus been manifest and suffered in the
flesh, so they shall also be “glorified together” before the world;
for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together.” [“Ye are not in the flesh.” Rom. 8:9] When he shall
appear, we also shall appear with him in glory. Col. 3:4.
But this great High Priest of the world, will be recognized only
by them that look for him. If he were to appear in the flesh–or
appear in the sky, it would be an appearance to all, whether looking
for him or not but we have already seen that the Scriptures teach
that the head has been perfected as a spiritual being, and that his
“little flock” shall be “made like unto his glorious body.” We have
seen that the way in which the world will see the glorified church
will be by mental perception in the same sense that a blind person
may properly be said to see. In the same sense we see the prize, the
“crown of life,” while we look not at the things which are seen, but
at the things which are unseen (by organic sight); for the things
which are seen (thus) are temporal, but the things which are not
seen (thus) are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18) It is in this way that the entire
church of this age has been “looking unto Jesus”–thus “we see
Jesus.” (Heb. 2:9 and 12:2)
This is the only way in which the human can see or recognize
things on the spiritual plane. Jesus expresses this same idea to the
disciples–They who recognized his spirit or mind and thus knew
him, would be acquainted with the Father also in the same way. “If
ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from
henceforth ye know him and have seen him.” This is the only sense
in which the world will ever see God, for “no man hath seen God
at any time.” (“Whom no man hath seen, nor can see”)–the only
begotten Son he hath DECLARED him.” (1 Tim. 6:16; John 1:18)
Jesus revealed or caused the disciples to see him by making known
his character–revealing him as a God of Love.
It was in this same way that the Papal system was shown by
Luther and others, and seen by many as the ANTI-CHRIST, or as
Paul had foretold, that wicked system–the man of sin, was
revealed.
Thus it is, that Jesus the head (now present to gather the
Jewels) is being now revealed to the living of the “little flock,”
though all others continue to plant, build, etc. And know not of his
presence. (Luke 17: 26-30)