What is "The Curse"?
Scripture contrasts the curse with the blessing. The blessing of God is god's favor. The curse is the opposite of that. When we are born again we come into God's favor. Yet we still must live in a world or wickedness. So we still must live in a cursed world. Our inward man, favored by God, is renewed day by day, but our outward man, which is in slavery to corruption, must continually be put to death.
Who is the author of "The Curse"?
He is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Colossians 1:17, KJV
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17, NASB
There is a concept in physics called "entropy". The second law of thermodynamics holds that disorder in the universe will only increase. Entropy is absolutely foundational to all energy exchanges, including digestion and plant growth, for example. When God created the universe, to say there was no entropy is inconceivable. It is as foundational to the physical world as gravity and e=mc2. In the beginning, however, despite entropy, God held all things together. When God cursed the world, that curse applied to man spiritually and to the whole creation naturally. God relaxes his hand just a little, and things begin to fall apart.
They all wait for you,
to give them their food in due season.
When you give to them, they gather {it} up;
when you open your hand, they are satisfied
with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their spirit, they expire
and return to dust.
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
~ Psalm 104:27-30
And so sickness, suffering, and death enter the world through the Curse.
The LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this,
cursed are you more than all cattle
and more than every beast of the field;
on your belly you will go,
and dust you will eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
between your seed and her seed;
he shall bruise you on the head,
and you shall bruise him on the heel."
To the woman he said,
"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth,
in pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you."
Then to Adam he said,
"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten from the tree
about which I commanded you, saying,
You shall not eat from it';
cursed is the ground because of you;
in toil you will eat of it all the days of
your life;
both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you will eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
because from it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return."
~ Genesis 3:14-19
From this basic teaching in Genesis we understand that it is God who is the author of the curse, not the devil or anyone else. God is not the author of sin, but specifically God is the author of the curse, including a woman's pain in childbirth, a man's fruitless toil in the field and ultimately man's death. God removes his hand of blessing and they die. Satan is not the author of the curse, in fact the first curse of all was given by God to Satan.
Who does God curse?
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
~ Romans 1:18
Christians are still under the curse of Adam.
Adam and Eve were cursed. The ground was also cursed for their sake. Later the Generation of Noah brought God's judgment upon themselves in the Great Flood. Are we still under that curse today?Are Christians under that curse today?
Some Christians teach that we are no longer under the curse, so we ought not to experiences these sufferings.
- Do Christian women still suffer pain in childbirth? Yes.
- Do thorns grow in fields of Christians? Do insects still eat their crops? Yes.
- Do Christians still return to dust when they die? Yes.
Christians are still under the curse of Noah.
We still bear the curse of the judgment upon Noah's generation. It is clear from scripture that the pre-flood world, though cursed, was a much more fruitful and pleasant world than the natural world we live in today. With only a vegetarian diet man could live for hundreds of years. The rapid decline in longevity after the flood shows how that one judgment cursed the world in which we live.
Shem lived 600 years.
Arpachsad lived 438 years.
Shela lived 433 years.
Eber lived 460 years.
Peleg lived 239 years.
Reu lived239 years.
Serug lived 230 years.
Nahor lived 148 years.
Abraham lived 175 years.
The relatively early death of those who lived shortly after the flood testifies to the curse . Christian or non-Christian, we still bear that curse today. Those who think they are not under the curse of Adam or the curse which God placed on the world at the flood should live longer than 600 years, or concede that they have a problem with their theology.
Did Christ redeem us from the curse? What does that mean?
At this point it would be helpful to read the entire chapter of Galatians 3. The key verses being vs 13 and 14:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
~ Galatians 3:13-14
Notice here that it is the curse of the law that we were freed from. Christ fulfilled the law of Moses, with all of its demands for death, sacrifice, etc. Now we, by faith, may receive the promise of Abraham. That is, to have imputed righteousness by faith, to be blessed with the promises made to Abraham. Yet this blessing is not fulfilled until the Millennium.
And David my servant [shall be] king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even] they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
~ Ezekiel 37:24-28
This prophecy only comes to completion in the millennium. When God's sanctuary shall be in the midst of the for evermore.
So we still bear the curse which is upon the is fallen world. We still bear the curse from the time of the flood. What has Christ set us free from? The curse of the law. We may be righteous before God and have eternal life (the hope of a part in God's kingdom).
When will the curse be fully broken?
In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be {the only} one, and His name {the only} one. All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin's Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's wine presses. People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security.
~ Zechariah 14:6-11
There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name {will be} on their foreheads. And there will no longer be {any} night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
~ Revelation 22:3-5
Here we see that it will only be in eternity that the curse will be removed. Whether Revelation 22 speaks of the millennium or eternity is a good question. Zechariah 14, though, clearly speaks of the millennium. At that time, although the curse will have been removed from God's people (those who are resurrected), it will still apply to the survivors of the tribulation and their descendants.
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no {rain will fall} on them; it will be the plague with which the LORD smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
~ Zechariah 14:17-19
As the plague and drought are judgments, the curse clearly remains on the nations of as yet un-resurrected survivors.
In Romans 8:20-23, Paul explains that the groaning of creation (this cursed atural world) corresponds to our groaning as both the creation itself and we ourselves wait eagerly for the revelation of the sons of God:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for {our} adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
~ Romans 8:20-23
Creation is subjected to futility until the return of Christ. Disease, mutation, death, earthquakes etc. So we, physically, are subjected to futility until then. Our bodies and minds get old and no longer function the way they should. Creation is under slavery to corruption, it just gets worse. So our old man is in slavery to corruption. We must continually put to death the deeds of the flesh. We must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.
“Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
~ Genesis 4:7
We do this as we walk in the spirit. But don’t think the old man will no longer be there to turn you back to your old ways! It will always crouch at the door. You must master it.
A young friend who had been attending church for a year had been convinced that once he became a Christian his temptation and impure thoughts would disappear. He became frustrated at God when they didn’t. He felt deceived and accused God of not changing him. He was mistaken. The bible teaches that we “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”. Does that sound difficult? Of course! But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! A weak theology which ties to pretend that all sickness and suffering is done away with when we believe will cause believers to stumble.
One day these temptations, sufferings, sicknesses etc. will have no hold on us. The wonderful new world God will create in the millennium will accompany the wonderful new bodies of the resurrection.
The creation.
"For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth. And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind."
~ Isaiah 65:17
The body.
"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be {any} death; there will no longer be {any} mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
~ Revelation 21:4
The new creation will endure.
"For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure."
~ Isaiah 66:22
The new body will endure.
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:52-57
How does God use sickness and suffering?
Immediately after man sinned, God cursed the world, thereby introducing sickness and suffering. Surely God, in His infinite wisdom, had good reason to do so. Although it is unpleasant, there are biblical reasons sickness and suffering are necessary in this fallen world. Even in the lives of believers. Scripture plainly states that these things make us worthy of the kingdom of God. Consider the following scriptures:
Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. {This is} a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
~ 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
~ 1 Peter 1:6-7
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
~ 1 Peter 4:1-2
Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
~ Daniel 12:10
Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for {many} days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because {it is} still {to come} at the appointed time.
~ Daniel 11:33-35
- > Suffering is God's righteous judgment so that we will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God.
- > Suffering proves our faith.
- > He who has suffered has ceased from sin.
- > Suffering refines, purges, and makes pure.
Clearly God has a purpose in allowing suffering in this fallen world to purge his children. While not relating to imputed righteousness by faith, suffering plays an important part in our sanctification. Despite such passages, how is it that some bible teachers maintain that Christians do not need to suffer?
"Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose."
~ 1 Peter 4:1
Sickness and suffering help us see the world as God sees it.
Woman was cursed with multiplied pain in childbirth. (Gen 3:14). Was this not to teach man the pain God endures in patiently bringing to birth His children? Paul tells the Galatians:
"My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--"
~ Galatians 4:19
Paul understood the patience of God who strives with us, to bring us to faith and change us into the image of Christ, despite our hard hearts and tendency to rely on the flesh rather than on God.
Man was cursed with toil and labor while the ground would produce thorns and thistles. With each failure in this life we are taught not to trust in this life. There is no true rest apart from the rest we have in Christ. Is this not to teach man to “be diligent to enter that rest” (Heb 4:11). This too will come to completion in the millennium. Many Christians testify to coming to faith or having there faith rekindled after trials. Chuck Missler, of Calvary Chapel, tells of how God gave Him his ministry after his successful business collapsed. Otherwise he would probably never have begun.
God allowed a period of suffering to reflect a deeper spiritual state of an individual or nation.
- *Miriam was smitten with leprosy after slandering Moses, displaying her sin. (Numbers 12:10)
- *Gehazi was smitten with Naaman’s leprosy to illustrate his covetous heart. (2 Kings 5:27)
- *The drought in Elijah’s day illustrated that idolatry had caused God to withhold His blessing. (1 Kings 17:1)
- *Haggai: the people were building their own house while the house of God lay in ruins. God said:
"{You} look for much, but behold, {it comes} to little; when you bring {it} home, I blow it {away.} Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which {lies} desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands."
~ Haggai 1:9-11
(Notice that God says here that HE BLEW AWAY the blessings of His people.)
- *Defeat for Joshua at Ai, including the death of some Israelite soldiers (Joshua 7:5),
and exposed sin in the camp:
"Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity."
~ Joshua 22:20
God also uses sufferings to bring us to repentance, earnestness and salvation.
"The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me."
~ Psalm 116:6
"I believed when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'"
~ Psalm 116:10
Hezekiah's warning of imminent death led to a humility and earnest introduction of reforms. (Isaiah 38)
It must be remembered that these were all believers. God used these afflictions to work out his will in the lives of believers, and he still does so today.
It was used of God to keep Paul from exalting himself:
but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus {Himself.}
~ Galatians 4:13-14
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
~ 2 Corinthians 12:7
Paul mentions in Romans that Satan had hindered him from going to see them in Rome. Yet we know that God had a way set out for Paul to reach Rome. In other words, the hindrances of Satan were all allowed from God in order to bring about God’s plan.
Jacob Prasch tells a story of a bible college student whose unfortunate pre-exam basket ball injury stopped him from sitting his exams. While in hospital however, the doctors detected the early stages of cancer. He received treatment early and recovered. The student may have died if it had not been for the injury.
God also uses sickness and death for his own glory.
The man was born blind, and Lazarus died in order to glorify Christ in their restoration:
And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "{It was} neither {that} this man sinned, nor his parents; but {it was} so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
~ John 9:2-3
But when Jesus heard {this,} He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."
~ John 11:4
In today's world, where the spirit of the age is humanism, (the end of everything is the happiness of man), it is difficult for people to comprehend that God has a greater purpose than the happiness of man. Thus our doctrines are affected by humanism rather than the biblical view that 'the end of all things is the glory of God'.
Yes, but not yet.
Romans 8:15 and 16 tell us that we have received the spirit of adoption. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God. Yet in Romans, Paul explains further that:
“having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
~ Romans 8:23
“You have been born again”
~ 1 Peter 1:23
But we still have to
“die daily {to self}.”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:31
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...
But,
...waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
~ Ephesians 1:7
We have it! But we have to wait for it. The same is true of all the blessings of salvation. The same is true of suffering and affliction. Paul did not promise the Thessalonians relief from their suffering and affliction at that time:
“you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to replay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire…”
~ 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7
Paul made no empty promises of relief from all suffering in this world. In fact he promised the opposite. If Christians could 'claim a healing', 'proclaim the victory' (as in the end of suffering) then why do they still die? Why don't they claim the resurrection now? And if these things are all available to every believer in this life, what is the hope of the next life? Instead we should preach the truth, as Paul told the Philippian church:
“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear to be in me.”
~ Philippians 1:29-30
Christians have a tendency to think that suffering should not be a part of the Christian life, and if it is it is because the person lacks faith. Biblically, suffering is a normal part of the Christian life. Paul said in the above verse we suffer (for Christ’s sake). It is our patient endurance through suffering that displays our true faith. When and how much we must endure is up to God. We certainly don’t desire it but we must respect it and appreciate its necessity in God’s greater plan.
“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed."
~ 1 Peter 3:14
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose."
~ 1 Peter 4:1
“...but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."
~ 1 Peter 4:13
What about the promises of divine healing?
Jesus still heals today. We know this from, among many other passages, Luke 13:32:
“And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third {day} I reach My goal.”
~ Luke 13:32
Christ's goal was not the cross, as many Christians imagine. It is the third day. The resurrection and His reign from Jerusalem. Until that day we have the promise that Christ will cast out demons and perform cures. But this must also be understood in the light of other passages:
“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn {us,} but He will heal us; He has wounded {us,} but He will bandage us. 'He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.'"
~ Hosea 6:1-2
Here the emphasis is not simply physical healing, but the resurrection. This involves renewing of the spirit, healing of the soul and then our ultimate physical healing, the resurrection. This is also true of other passages:
“As for me, I said, 'O LORD, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.'"
~ Psalm 41:4
Yes Christ heals both physically and spiritually, yesterday, today and forever. But does that mean we can ALL claim a healing EVERY time? Definitely not. Otherwise God's purposes in suffering which we have discussed so far would be to no effect.
Many Christians look to Mark 16:17 and 18 to justify their teaching that all Christians can perform signs and wonders:
“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly {poison,} it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
~ Mark 16:17-18
Notice that this does not say that all Christians will perform these signs, or that all the sick will recover. It says that these signs will accompany those who have believed. Indeed the early church and the missionary church in all ages has experienced these things to a certain degree. They have played a part in emphasizing the power of the gospel over other religions. However, even Paul who certainly performed these miracles did not do them all the time:
“Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.”
~ 2 Timothy 4:20
He did not perform the same healings on himself:
“...but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus {Himself.}”
~ Galatians 4:13-14
Paul, in defending his ministry to the Corinthians, says:
“The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”
~ 2 Corinthians 12:12
To those people who believe that divine healing, miracles, etc. can be done by every believer I ask this question:
If every believer can perform healings and miracles, how does Paul say these are the signs of a true apostle? The statement only has meaning if miracles and healings are a 'special' sign. If any believer could perform or claim at any time, how could Paul or the other apostles be recognized as true apostles. Surely this mark characterized their ministries in an age where their authority as founders of the true faith needed to be recognized by all.
If all believers can perform miracles and healings, then why does James tell the people:
“Is anyone among you sick? {Then} he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”
~ James 5:14-15
Why go to the elders if you can claim it yourself? Why go to the elders if every believer can perform healings and miracles? They cannot. The Spirit gives gifts of healings (or not) as He wills. We may seek earnestly the greater gifts, but ultimately we must leave it in God's hands. We can pray for healing. We can believe God for healing, but whether it comes now or in the resurrection is for God to decide. His word does not oblige Him to raise us up until the 'third day'. We cannot claim the healing at this time. We cannot demand that Christ speed up our long slow process of sanctification.
The next thing which must be considered is the ministry of Christ. Physical healings were performed to authenticate the ministry of Christ in his first coming, and will be characteristic of the great blessing in his second coming. For a greater, in-depth explanation of this point, please read the corresponding article: 'By His stripes I am healed.' (Mike Oppenheimer).
Finally there is the one characteristic which is greatly under-emphasized in the church today. That is the sovereignty of God.
“For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”
~ Romans 9:15
Have you experienced physical healing? Praise the Lord. Have you prayed but the Lord has not answered your prayer yet? Praise the Lord. He certainly will, in His time. God is the one to decide, not us. Is God pouring out his Spirit upon your church or ministry with true healings and miracles? Praise the Lord. Is he blessing you without the healings and miracles? Praise the Lord. Remember John the baptist did no miracle. He had a wonderfully prosperous ministry all the same. We ought to be content to let God decide when and where he performs his special signs.
“Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While {there were} still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.”
~ Amos 4:7
To whom much is given, much is required. Great signs requires great judgments.
What do we have now?
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of {God's own} possession, to the praise of His glory.
~ Ephesians 1:13-14
Now we have the Spirit as a pledge of the inheritance we will one day enjoy. The gifts of the Spirit and the signs and miracles which accompany them are simply a foretaste of what is to come. But not the thing itself.
This pledge is explained further in Heb 6:
“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come...”
~ Hebrews 6:4-5
The communion we enjoy in church is a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb. The peace in our hearts is a foretaste of the peace in the world in the millennium. The divine healing we may experience now is simply a foretaste of the resurrection. But these are not the powers of now, but the powers of the age to come. We cannot demand now what is promised for us in the millennium.
In that day with such great blessings will also come great fear of God. With the pouring out of God's Spirit will come quick judgment upon those who do evil:
“In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. It will come about in that day," declares the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, 'You shall not live, for you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD'; and his father and mother who gave birth to him will pierce him through when he prophesies.”
~ Zechariah 13:1-3
God poured out His Spirit on the children of Israel with great signs and wonders in Egypt. A child who cursed his mother was to be put to death. The state of the church today is so low that were a true outpouring to come, how many of us would stand?
Let us pray that through suffering and trials we may be purged according to God's plan in order that in the last days God may once again pour out his Spirit upon the church. When and where is not for us to choose. Though we may pray for miracles and wonders, let us not place them before the message of the cross, the kingdom of God to come and the resurrection.
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