Russ-03 Eternal Reward — Art Katz

The Church, Israel, and Eternal Reward

So it seems clear that the Church is in the earth while Israel is going through its time of final tribulation.

Therefore, it becomes clear that the Church must be present on the earth at the time when Israel will go through these last days of trial and suffering. And the faithful Church shares in the tribulation of Israel.

But obtains an eternal reward. That raises the question about the Church's rapture which we have traditionally thought meant before such a time of tribulation. I am not a great authority on the subject.

But it seems clear in all of the texts that we have shared.

But from all of the texts, from all of the writings that we have looked at, a picture is drawn. Ezekiel 37, chapter 20 of Ezekiel, Amos 9, and from many other places.

Ezekiel's Dry Bones and the Church of the Last Days

That there must be some people. Ezekiel 37 is especially significant because there it shows that God is as concerned with the Son of Man as He is with the dry bones. Son of Man, can these bones live? It's a question that the prophet himself cannot answer.

Lord, You know. This is beyond his prophetic faith. Maybe even beyond his desire. And yet, except that he speaks the word to Israel.

And yet, despite the fact that He speaks the word to Israel. That He prophesies. These bones, they cannot live without it. Because the last challenge that God poses to this Son of Man is the challenge that is mentioned in this prophecy.

It's a picture of the church of the last days. Because except that we can rise to this. How should we rule and reign with Christ? It is only those that are priests and blessed and holy that reign with Him.

The very same qualifications that blesses the remnant of Israel in the last days. Can you see the mystery? Would the church have risen to this prophetic stature without this challenge? It's the crisis of Israel that compels the church to be the church.

Speaking with one voice. In total agreement. In the faith of the Son of Man himself. And a faith that can only work by love. Or it will not work at all. How many of us are in that condition now? Very few, if any.

What will it take to bring us to that place? From where we presently are.

From what we presently are. To reach such a level when we become one heart and one mind.

And speak that one word when it's commanded. That brings Israel from its grave. For Paul says in Romans 11 What will their return be? But life from the dead. Do you have any idea what goes into the making of a prophet?

Dealings and sufferings of a particular kind. God does not trust his words to any mouth. In Ezekiel 37 he says. And you will know that I am the Lord. Speaking to Israel. Let me read it. Ezekiel 37. Verse 14.

And you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. In verse 14, the last part of it. Verse 13. You shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves. Do you see that?

Read that. Verse 13 of Ezekiel 37 13.

When I have opened your graves, I will lead you, my people, out of your graves. And I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.

I will place you in your own land.

And you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken it, and performed it.

The Prophet as the Voice of God

How can God say that? It's the Son of Man who has spoken it.

Because God simply ordered him to prophesy. And at the same time God says You will know that I, the Lord, have spoken it. What can we say about this? Because God makes no distinction between the prophetic statements and what He Himself says.

Because the voice of the prophet is His voice. And the mind of the prophet is His mind. Because the prophet is a man who has reached such an optimal level of God's knowledge that it is impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Israel's Restoration and the Church's Transfiguration

God has two purposes.

Israel's restoration and the Church's transfiguration. And the last only comes through the crisis that Israel presents to the Church. Have you the faith to believe in this?

That these bones can live? Easy to nod your head. It's very easy to nod your head. And when was the last time you picked up a dead bone? It has already become a matter of your hands. If you pick it up, it crumbles.

Imagine, there is nothing more dead than dry bones. And it may be that it simply removes your faith from you. Can you believe that such dry bones can live? By the word that will be spoken to you? Do you have faith in this?

This is the optimal faith. Do you want to revive these dead bones? Doesn't it frighten you?

Do you want Israel to be restored? Don't you want to be the only one that basks in the light of God? You want the younger son to come back? What do you call it? The son who lost all of his fortune? The prodigal son?

You want that son to come back? And to share with him in God's glory? And you have a faith that works by love? We're not talking about sentiment. At a time when these people will be hated in all nations?

You're going to love them? It's got to be the love of God. It's got to be the faith of God. And that's why he says, I have spoken and performed it. For what does Paul say? For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever.

Living Through God's Power Rather Than Human Ability

Your present ministry now your Christian life now is it through him or through you? Your well-meaning intention your ability your cleverness that's all very good.

But it's not glorious. Do you know what it means to live through him? And to serve in the power of his life? And to have his thoughts? And to speak his words? And to seek his pleasure?

And to seek to be pleasant to him? And this is the cross. This is death. In relation to everything that is convenient. And in relation to what people want and expect from you. Today is the Sabbath. God wants to restore it.

Sabbath Rest and Ceasing from Our Own Works

For the believers. So that they have rest. When when we leave all our work.

And when we no longer speak our own words.

We do not seek pleasant things for ourselves.

But for him. How is it possible to live like this? What should we do? What do we speak? Can we trust his resurrection life? And what if he's not speaking? Won't we look foolish? Oh, I'm touching something so deep now that most of present Christianity will miss.

That most of present Christianity will miss. That will follow that will that will accept this teaching of resurrection.

But they will not believe in this resurrection life. Where are you now? What's the basis of your present Christianity? Are you willing to move from the one to the other? And pass through a no man's land?

You know this expression? A no man's land. What happens when you pull the plug out from your electrical appliance? And there's no power. And it's dead. And what happens then? Isn't it embarrassing? What do you say and do?

If there's no other alternative. Like the life of Christ. The newness of life. Which broke the fetters of death. Paul says we are dead and hid with Christ in God. Until his life is revealed.

Trusting Resurrection Life in Ministry

Until the moment when his life will be revealed. And then our life will also be revealed. To glory. Do you believe that? Would you live like that? At the University of Kiev? Where you have to speak to the students?

In an open gospel demonstration on campus? Where you will not trust your own cleverness? And trust in the power of his life? That reveals his words? This is more the picture of our last days experience.

And it is on this basis that I've been sharing with you. I did not come with a program. An outline of what to say.

Trusting his life. And the wisdom of it. Ceasing from my own works. I left all my affairs. So that I could do his affairs. But you will say, but brother, this is just a lesson. This is not so important.

You are quite a smart person. What is special here? But you do not understand.

This is more than a lesson. This is an eternal moment that has come. Of an historic kind. That may not come again. And who is sufficient for these things? You are going to be required to operate in this faith.

Apparently, the time will come when you will be required to act on this faith.

And to trust his life. And to learn it in a very painful way. When God will test you. And his life will not always be revealed through you. And you will speak with some words that you will like. Which will lead you to success.

Or maybe.

Will save you from some mistakes or disappointments. He will check how jealous you are for his glory. Because his glory.

Always has to do with his resurrection. And not to our well-meaning Christian intention. I could tell you such stories of how I have been tested.

Not at the University of Kiev. But Harvard University. Yale University. Tubingen University in Germany. Where I went in for a cup of coffee after several days of meetings. And the leader of the communist student group met me there.

He said, you are the most dangerous man that has ever come to this campus. He said,.

You are the most dangerous man that has ever come to this campus. It was not a tribute to my cleverness.

But the life of Christ. Who is bringing his own words with the power that arrested men and stopped them in their tracks. Israel must be resurrected again. But only through a church that is itself a resurrection people.

A Resurrection People Prepared for Israel's Salvation

We cannot test that in a final moment. It begins now. And all of our moments must prepare us for that final moment. Everything is of him and through him. That it may be to him as glory forever. It will require our death from trusting our own ability.

We will disappoint men.

We will disappoint ourselves. We will not always like what comes out from us. It's a humiliation and a dying. You can never know what the end of it will be. Are you willing for that? It's the issue of his glory forever.

And Israel's salvation.