The Great Gathering! # 1

The Great Gathering! # 1

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him" (2 Thess. 2:1).

The test which heads this page contains an expression which deserves no common attention. That expression is, "Our gathering together."

"Our gathering together!" Those three words touch a note which ought to find a response in every part of the world. Man is by nature a social being - he does not like to be alone. Go where you will on earth, people generally like meeting together, and seeing one another's faces. It is the exception, and not the rule - to find children of Adam who do not like "gathering together."

Happy is the land where such a state of things exists. Cold and hard is that religion which pretends to frown at social gatherings, and denounces them as wicked. Family affection lies at the very roots of well-ordered society. It is one of the few good things which have survived the fall, and prevent men and women from being mere devils. It is the secret oil on the wheels of our social system which keeps the whole machine going. Anything which helps to keep up family affection and brotherly love is a positive good to a country.

But earthly gatherings after all have something about them that is sad and sorrowful. The happiest parties sometimes contain uncongenial members. The hand of death makes painful gaps in the family circle. People do not talk much on such things; but there are few that do not feel them. I suspect, many people who reach middle age, if they spoke the truth - would say that there are sorrowful things about earthly gatherings.

But is there no better "gathering" yet to come? I thank God that I can give a plain answer to this question. I ask my readers to give me their attention for a few minutes, and I will show them what I mean.

1. There is a "gathering together" of true Christians which is to come. What is it, and when shall it be? The gathering I speak of, shall take place at the end of the world, in the day when Christ returns to earth the second time. As surely as He came the first time - so surely will He come the second time. In the clouds of heaven He went away - and in the clouds of heaven He shall return. Visibly, in the body, He went away - and visibly, in the body, He will return. And the very first thing that Christ will do, will be to "gather together" His people. "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:31).

The MANNER of this "gathering together" is plainly revealed in Scripture. The dead saints shall be raised, and the living saints shall all be changed. It is written. "The sea shall give up the dead that were in it, and death and hades gave up the dead that were in them." "The dead in Christ shall rise first. Those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air". "We shall all not sleep - but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (Revelation 20:13; 1Thess. 4:16; 17; 1Cor. 15:51, 52). And then, when every member of Christ is found, and not one left behind, when soul and body, those old companions, are once more reunited - then shall be the grand "gathering together."

The OBJECT of this gathering together is as clearly revealed in Scripture as its manner.

It is partly for the final reward of Christ's people - that their complete justification from all guilt may be declared to all creation; that they may receive the "unfading crown of glory," and the "kingdom prepared before the foundation of the world;" that they may be admitted publicly into the joy of their Lord.

It is partly for the safety of Christ's people, that, like Noah in the ark, they may be hid and covered before the storm of God's judgment comes down on the wicked; that when the last plagues are falling on the enemies of the Lord - they may be untouched, and unscathed. The saints have no cause to fear the day of gathering, however fearful the signs that may accompany it. Before the final crash of all things begins - they shall be hidden in the secret place of the Most High. The grand gathering is for their safety and their reward. 

a. This gathering will be a great one. ALL children of God who have ever lived, from Abel the first saint down to the last born in the day that our Lord comes - all of every age, and nation, and church, and people, and tongues - all shall be assembled together. Not one shall be overlooked or forgotten. Their shall be a multitude which no man can number.

b. This gathering will be a wonderful one. The saints from different lands, saints who died five thousand years ago, shall find their bodies raised and renewed as quickly as those who are alive  when the trumpet sounds. Above all, miracles of grace will be revealed. We shall see some in heaven who we never expected would have been saved at all. The confusion of tongues shall at length be reversed, and done away. The assembled multitude will cry with one heart and in one language, "What has God wrought!" (Num. 23:23).

c. This gathering shall be a humbling one. It shall make an end of bigotry and narrow-mindedness forever. The Christians of one denomination shall find themselves side by side with those of another denomination. If they would not tolerate them on earth - they will be obliged to tolerate them in heaven. Never, will the world have seen such a complete overthrow of sectarianism, party-spirit, unbrotherliness, religious jealousy, and religious pride! At last we shall all be completely "clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5).

This mighty, wonderful "gathering together," is the gathering which ought to be often in men's thoughts. It deserves consideration - it demands attention. One thought alone will swallow up men's minds - that thought will be, "Shall I be gathered with Christ's people into a place of safety and honor - or will I be left behind to everlasting woe?" Let us take care that we are not left behind!

2. WHY is this "gathering together" of true Christians a thing to be desired? Let us try to answer that question.

Paul evidently thought that the gathering at the last day was a cheering object which Christians ought to keep before their eyes. He classes it with the second coming of our Lord, which he says elsewhere, believers love and long for. He exalts it in the distant horizon as one of those "good things to come," which should animate the faith of every pilgrim in the narrow way. He seems to say that each servant of God will have rest, and a kingdom, and a crown - he will also have besides a happy "gathering together". Why is it a thing that we ought to look forward to with joy, and expect with pleasure?

1. For one thing, the "gathering together" of all true Christians will be a state of things totally unlike their present condition. To be scattered, and not gathered, seems the rule of man's existence now.

2. For another thing, the gathering together of all true Christians will be an assembly entirely of one mind. There are no such assemblies now. Mixture, hypocrisy, and false profession - creep in everywhere. Wherever there is wheat there is tares.  Wherever there are wise virgins - there are sure to be foolish. There is no such thing as a perfect church now. There is a Judas Iscariot at every communion table - and a Dema in every apostolic company! And wherever the "sons of God" come together - satan is sure to appear among them.

But all this shall come to an end one day. Our Lord shall at length present to the Father a perfect church, "having neither spot nor wrinkle, nor any such thing" (Ephes. 5:27). How glorious such a Church will be!

3. For another thing, the gathering together of true Christians will be a meeting at which none shall be absent. The weakest lamb shall not be left behind. We shall once more see our beloved friends and neighbors who fell asleep in Christ - better, brighter, more beautiful, more pleasant than ever we found them on earth! We shall hold communion with all the saints of God who have gone before us, from the beginning of the world to the end. Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles and Fathers, Martyrs and Missionaries, Reformers and Puritans - all the host of God's elect shall be there. 

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 2)