The Cross of the Church at
the End of the Age
We know about the cross of Jesus of 2000 years ago, but we do not know about the cross of the church waiting at the end of this age. We think the first cross has done it all, and all we have left is but to wait for the rapture. But what the first cross did was set in motion God’s plan for the redemption of His creation which very much includes the cross of the church at the end of the age. Some will argue that takes away from the fullness of what Jesus did. But the involvement of the church is God’s plan, not the plan of men, and it is actually Jesus doing the work through His church. It does not take away from what Jesus did; it is Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth.
If you study the Bible for reasons why Jesus came to earth, you will find that He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Further investigation reveals that He intends to do that through His church (Luke 10:19). This is the Father’s plan, and He will be glorified in carrying out this plan. The Father will demonstrate His wisdom through the church (Ephesians 3:9-11). The essence of God’s wisdom is the wisdom and the power of the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:18-24)
People ask, “Didn’t Jesus defeat the devil at the cross?” Yes, He did, but they don’t realize that the defeat of the devil is a process that Jesus began 2000 years ago that He will finish up through His church at the end of the age.
We so poorly understand this that the majority of Christians still believe that the church won’t be on earth during the last years of the age. But as you read the books of Daniel and Revelation, you realize that the fulfillment of this destiny takes place on earth during the last 3-1/2 years of the age.
Those are the few years of the last lap of the battle between good and evil, and it takes place on earth between the antichrist system and the saints of God who believe in Jesus Christ.
It is only after the saints emerge victorious from great tribulation that Satan is judged. That is the way God has set things up.
Many people are searching for solutions to the world’s problems, but the only solution has already been set in place. Creation will be restored as the church walks out the wisdom of the cross at the end of the age as detailed in the prophetic scriptures. It will be Jesus walking in His corporate body testifying and laying down His life again through His saints. This is the prerequisite to the restoration of creation and the emerging of a bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle.
And yet most of the church expects not to be here during these crucial years, having been raptured before the birth pains start. This false understanding does not serve the purposes of God. The cross is at the center of God’s end-time plan for His church.
There is nothing good in us that brings this victory about. It is only as Jesus indwells His body that anything good can come forth out of her. This is about a laid-down selfless church that recognizes as Paul did that there is no inherent good thing in her. But Jesus working through her is more than enough. We can only be clean vessels set aside for noble purposes.
Please do not be among those who discount this message. It is important that we understand these things in order that we do not fall away in the days ahead. Jesus warned us of these things specifically so that we would not stumble (John 16:1). We need to set our faces like flint and prepare to endure the coming birth pains. We need to understand that this is our loving Father’s plan to restore His creation and birth us as a bride without spot or wrinkle.
Vernon Kuenzi
restoringthevision.com