When He Is Come - Media Sabda Org

WHEN HE IS COME
by
Joshua Stauffer
Chapter 25
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE AGE TO COME
It is a misconception that only God worked in creation; that the Son only works in redemption,
and only the Holy Spirit works in relation to salvation. It also is a misconception that only the Father
worked throughout the Old Testament period, and the Son in the New Testament period as recorded
in the four Gospels, and that now only the Holy Spirit works in this dispensation. In every
manifestation of the work of God, whether in creation, redemption, salvation, glorification or the
ages to come, each Person of the Trinity alike has been and will be actively engaged.
The Millennium, that is, the succeeding age will greatly concern Christ, His return and reign; the
glorified church with her relation and position at the side of Christ; Israel and her redemption and
restoration; the Gentile nations and their conversion; the animal kingdom and its restoration to
Edenic conditions; the vegetable kingdom, and also the mineral kingdom. The benefits of redemption
will be enjoyed greatly, from man, down to the ground. The Holy Spirit will be the Dispenser of
these blessings.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit will not cease with the ending of this age. He, with the Father and
the Son, will perform an active part in the age which is to come. As He has worked in harmony with
the Father and the Son in the past, even so He will in the future. As the Spirit has labored in harmony
with the Son and the Father in the creation of the world, in the creation of man, in the
accomplishment of redemption, and in the gathering of the church, so in the future, He will take an
active part in relation to the rapture and glorification of the church, in the redemption of Israel as a
nation, in the conversion of the Gentile nations, and in the regeneration of the lower creation, which
includes the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral kingdoms.
It was essential that the church age be preceded by Pentecost, even the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit to become the birthday of the church, to qualify men to preach, and to evangelize. This
outpouring of the Spirit must be continued throughout this entire age, even until the body of Christ
will be completed. There will also be the need for a great outpouring of the Spirit to prepare the
world for the Millennium, and this outpouring will need to continue throughout the entire age of the
reign of Christ. Such an outpouring of the Spirit will take place, for it is prophesied in the Old
Testament. The great outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost was but a partial fulfillment of the
prophecy which Joel prophesied. In answering the question of the people, "What meaneth this?"
Peter stood up and said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." He did not say "it
fulfilled that which was prophesied by the prophet Joel." Several Old Testament prophecies have a
near and a far fulfillment. These are called telescopic prophecies. The Old Testament prophets saw
the first and the second comings of Christ blended, even as one coming. Between the two comings
of Christ comes the church age, and when the church is completed and caught out the Lord again will
deal with Israel and inaugurate His earthly reign. Immediately before His coming to set up His throne
on earth, there will be a period of tribulation such as the world has never known. Joel saw this time