CREED : I BELIEVE... FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD
From the earliest days of my church life, I had no question that Jesus would someday return as Judge and pass sentence on “the quick and the dead”. I also understood that “quick” meant “the living.”
I knew nothing of Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. And especially --- Premillennialism, (The Creed was in existence long before J.N Darby/Margaret MacDonald, or C.I.Scofield). I had never heard of “the rapture”. (It was before Hal Lindsey /Carole C. Carlson, or Tim LaHaye; or Herbert W. Armstrong.) And for me personally and for the framers of the Creed and the thousands of those who have declared their belief over the centuries I suspect we have been the better off for it.
This portion takes the clear teaching of scripture and without any speculation or additional suppositions simply declares that this same Jesus who ascended into heaven shall come in like manner. The fact that he is coming from heaven reinforces the idea that he is coming “from the Father” and with divine authority. It will be as God that He judges, and there will be no question as to “by what standard?” or “who is included, who excluded?” There is no question about “fairness” or “justice”. Simply He shall come and He shall judge. No mention of anyone caught up in the air and others “left behind”. Simply that at some time He shall come and those who are living and those who have died shall be judged. It makes no pronouncements about signs that must precede the event. No need to study prophecy and end time speculations. Just live every moment in that expectation.
I think it is far more significant that rather than talking about will I be ready when Jesus COMES, as if I might be taken up, is the constant awareness and question will I be ready when I GO? In other words if He is going to judge the living and the dead, then whatever state I am in when I pass from life to death, from living to dead, is the condition He will be judging.
The chronological time table of judging of works for the believer, or separation of believers from unbelievers and all of that, as far as the Creed is concerned, is incidental. What cannot be denied or escaped is the fact that Judgment is the expected reality.
There really couldn't be a clearer answer than the obvious one if after this declaration of belief, someone asks “So What? So my life must be lived always in the knowledge that I, (my faith and my works) UP to this moment and AT this moment is under the scrutiny of, and subject to the sentencing of, Jesus the Divine Judge.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
From the earliest days of my church life, I had no question that Jesus would someday return as Judge and pass sentence on “the quick and the dead”. I also understood that “quick” meant “the living.”
I knew nothing of Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. And especially --- Premillennialism, (The Creed was in existence long before J.N Darby/Margaret MacDonald, or C.I.Scofield). I had never heard of “the rapture”. (It was before Hal Lindsey /Carole C. Carlson, or Tim LaHaye; or Herbert W. Armstrong.) And for me personally and for the framers of the Creed and the thousands of those who have declared their belief over the centuries I suspect we have been the better off for it.
This portion takes the clear teaching of scripture and without any speculation or additional suppositions simply declares that this same Jesus who ascended into heaven shall come in like manner. The fact that he is coming from heaven reinforces the idea that he is coming “from the Father” and with divine authority. It will be as God that He judges, and there will be no question as to “by what standard?” or “who is included, who excluded?” There is no question about “fairness” or “justice”. Simply He shall come and He shall judge. No mention of anyone caught up in the air and others “left behind”. Simply that at some time He shall come and those who are living and those who have died shall be judged. It makes no pronouncements about signs that must precede the event. No need to study prophecy and end time speculations. Just live every moment in that expectation.
I think it is far more significant that rather than talking about will I be ready when Jesus COMES, as if I might be taken up, is the constant awareness and question will I be ready when I GO? In other words if He is going to judge the living and the dead, then whatever state I am in when I pass from life to death, from living to dead, is the condition He will be judging.
The chronological time table of judging of works for the believer, or separation of believers from unbelievers and all of that, as far as the Creed is concerned, is incidental. What cannot be denied or escaped is the fact that Judgment is the expected reality.
There really couldn't be a clearer answer than the obvious one if after this declaration of belief, someone asks “So What? So my life must be lived always in the knowledge that I, (my faith and my works) UP to this moment and AT this moment is under the scrutiny of, and subject to the sentencing of, Jesus the Divine Judge.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
posted by Mister A Muses | 3:03 PM
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