Christ: that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath

done, whether it be good or bad".

We shall find that these three features are true of the hope of the one body. These,

therefore, while receiving any necessary adjustment will remain in essence the same.

So far we have noticed things which are common. There are distinctions too that are

indicated, quite apart from the peculiar hope of the one body. The believer, during the

time when the kingdom was in view, hoped "to inherit the EARTH'.  During the

transitional period of the Acts, the believer hoped to meet the Lord in the AIR, the living

to be changed in a moment in the twinkling of the eye. Some, the overcomers, looked for

a CITY which hath foundations, the new Jerusalem. ALL, whether to inherit the earth or

the heavenly city, must enter by the way of resurrection, and find the center of their hope

in the glorified Christ, either as David's greater Son, or the Lamb in the midst of the

When we turn to the epistles of the mystery, it is to find the few points of difference,

all else remaining as taught throughout Scripture. Col. 3: 1-4 presupposes that our hope

must be via resurrection, and be consummated when with Christ personally, the

difference being in the sphere of its enjoyment and the mode of its attainment, "For ye

died and your life is hid with Christ in God: When Christ Who is our life shall be made

manifest, then shall ye also be made manifest with Him in glory".  Here is (1)

Resurrection, and (2) Personal presence, the difference being indicated by the words,

"With Him in glory". This manifestation of the Lord takes place in heaven before He

descends to the air of the earth, and the hope of the one body is that whenever the

moment comes for the Lord to be made manifest "IN GLORY", then that church will be

made manifest with Him.

This indicates that the church of the one body must be removed before the Lord's

return to the earth, and before the hope of I Thess. 4: or I Cor. 1: is realized. There is

no indication given of any manifest ascent into heaven. Nothing that would be noticed by

the outside world, as it must be when the saints are "caught up in clouds to meet the Lord

in the air". The professing church is in ignorance that "the mystery" has been revealed,

or that such a company as "the one body" exists, and when that company has ceased on

earth they will not be missed. The church of the one body has never formed a separate

sect or denomination. Its inception was a secret. Its annunciation was within the four

walls of a Roman prison. Its course through the age has been purely elective in character

and has never found a place in the general evangel. Its consummation will equally be

What we do know is this, that just prior to the descent of the Lord to the air and to the

earth, the complete church of the one body will be "manifested with Him in glory". Their

blessed hope is "the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus

Christ", and for this they "live.......looking". The references in the prison epistles to

prize, crown, inheritance, and reward must be studied in order that the earlier teaching

concerning the bema or judgment seat may be re-adjusted to the altered dispensation.