“The LORD God says to His people: ‘My providences shall cooperate for your good (Romans 8:28). The cross winds shall blow you sooner and more swiftly to your harbor. You shall be preferred when you seem to be the deepest losers.
I will most effectually promote your good when you seem most to deny it (2 Corinthians 4:17; Mark 10:29-30; Philippians 1:29). Things to come are yours: the perfecting of your souls, the redemption of your bodies, and the consummation of your bliss.
When you have glorified Me for awhile on earth and finished the work I have given you to do, you shall be caught up into paradise and rest from your labors, and your works shall follow you (Revelation 14:13; Luke 23:43).
I will send My own lifeguard to bring home your departing souls (Luke 16:22), and will receive you among the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). And you shall look back upon Pharaoh and all his host, and see your enemies dead upon the shore.
Then shall be your redemption from all your afflictions, and all your corruptions (Luke 21:28; Ephesians 4:30). The thorn in the flesh shall be pulled out and the hour of temptation shall be over, and the tempter out of work forever.
The sweat shall be wiped off your brows, the day of cooling and refreshing shall come, and you shall sit down forever under My shadow (Acts 3:19; Hebrews 4:9). For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed you, and lead you to the living fountains of water (Revelation 7:17).
The tears shall be wiped away from your eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away, and, behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:4-5).
I will change Marah into Naomi, the cup of sorrow into the cup of salvation; and the bread and water of affliction I will change into the wine of eternal consolation (John 16:20-22; Luke 6:21).
You shall take down your harps from the willows, and I will turn your tears into pearls and your penitential psalms into songs of deliverance. You shall change your Ichabods into hosannas, and your sobbings of sorrow into hallelujahs of joy (Revelation 19:1, 4, 6).
The cross shall be taken off your backs, and you shall come out of your great tribulations and wash your robes, making them white in the blood of the Lamb; and you shall be before the throne of God, and serve Him night and day in His temple.
He who sits on the throne shall dwell among you, and you shall hunger and thirst no more, neither shall the sun light upon you, nor any heat (Revelation 7:14-16). The load shall be taken from your consciences.
Sins and doubts shall no more defile or distress you (Revelation 22:17; Hebrews 12:23). I will make an end of sin, and will knock off the fetters of your corruptions. And then you shall be a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish.
Thus shall you be brought to the King all glorious in raiment of needlework and clothing of gold; with gladness and rejoicing shall you be brought, and enter into the King’s palace (Psalm 45:9; 13-15). So shall the beloved of the Lord dwell safely by Him, and you shall stand continually before Him, beholding the beauty of the Lord and hearing His wisdom (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Then will I open in you an everlasting spring of joy, and you shall break forth into singing. You shall never case nor rest, day or night, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy’ (Revelation 4:8; Psalm 16:11).
Thus shall the grand enemy expire with your breath, and the body of death be put off with your dying body. The day of your death shall be the birthday of your glories’ (Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43).”
–Joseph Alleine, The Precious Promises of the Gospel, Ed. Don Kistler (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Publications, 1665/2000), 31-33.
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