8 The Tribulation, the Kingdom, and the Patient Endurance
December 8
The Tribulation, the Kingdom, and the Patient Endurance
WE PASS BY two verses—in 2 John: “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son” (v. 9). Here “in Christ” was transformed into “in the doctrine of Christ,” and if you are “in the doctrine of Christ” you have “both the Father and the Son.” This is the position of many today—correct doctrine and you are “in,” otherwise not. This doesn’t necessarily follow. Correct doctrine may point to Christ and surrender and obedience to Him, but it may stop you at itself, in which case it becomes an idol.
We come now to one of two passages—in Revelation: “I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance . . .” (1:9). He shared “in Jesus” three things: the tribulation, the kingdom, and the patient endurance. The tribulation—that strikes them first. But the kingdom is beneath their feet; they are steadied, so there is patient endurance, power to face the tribulation.
This kingdom element in being in Jesus is important. Apart from the kingdom element, the fact of being in Christ is personal and individual, but lacks corporate and cosmic emphasis. If being in Christ means being in the kingdom, then that supplies just the needed universal and corporate emphasis.
To be in Jesus is to be in the kingdom. Jesus is the kingdom personalized; they are one. He used interchangeably “For my sake” and “for the kingdom’s sake.” This means that not only divine goodness and love look out of His eyes, but divine power and authority also are in those eyes. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18) is more than an exaggerated saying. It is fact. He is the Alpha—the Christ of the Beginning—and the Omega—the Christ of the Final Word.
O Lord of the kingdom, Thou art the answer to our individual longings, and Thou art the answer to our corporate longings—longings for a total answer, to the total needs. Thou art the answer—full stop. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: When I am in Christ I am in the kingdom—the Person and the Order coincide, thus meeting my personal and social needs.
