From The Bishop's Desk Image
“The Coming Glory”
     Grace and peace from God our Father, even the Lord Jesus Christ. I am happy and blessed to have another opportunity to share a few minutes by the written word with all of God’s people in O’Fallon Apostolic Assembly and beyond.

   We have recently completed our Annual Visions Conference (our church anniversary celebration) using the theme, Visions of the Bridegroom. The daily themes were, “Anticipation, Preparation, Activation and Celebration”. The seminars and services did a marvelous job in fleshing out the depths of these profound concepts all relating to the coming of Jesus in the Rapture for His Church. Kudos and thanks to Pastor J. Andrew Romaine, who taught the exceptionally illuminating seminars on Thursday and Friday and to Elder David Hollis, our opening night speaker. I personally believe that Elder Hollis unfolds the Bible narrative unlike any other preacher I know. He was followed on Friday night by Suffragan Bishop Julian Johnson, the First Vice Chairman of the Midwestern District Council. He did a marvelous job highlighting the importance of the preaching, teaching, hearing and believing of the Rapture. On Sunday morning, Assistant Pastor Derrick W. King did a wonderful job from the theme, “The Activation”. He read a portion of the writing to further explain what was meant by the “Activation.” The Grand Finale came on Sunday evening. Our speaker was Suffragan Bishop Ron Stephens. I refer to him as the “Master of the Illustrated Sermon”. His subject was, “Don’t Mess with The Bride”. In his delivery, he spoke on all four daily themes and then tied together. The culmination was in presentation of “The Bride” (a young lady dressed in full bridal ensemble) but as the preacher stressed, more importantly the appearance of the “Bridegroom”. The congregation was not just regaled by the mock ceremony but more importantly to the thought of Jesus, The Bridegroom coming for the Church, us, His Bride.

All of this made me think that while it is unarguably wonderful to know that God dwells among us, how beyond words to think about His glory come down to us. Remember in 2 Chronicles 7:1,2 “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.” His glory came down. As He accepted the prayer and sacrifices of Solomon sanctifying the Temple, fire came down and devoured the sacrifices. Then His personal presence is manifested in the “Shekinah Glory” the Cloud of His presence. It was so powerful that the priests couldn’t enter the newly completed Temple. Every created thing is in awe, a kind of suspended animation, whenever the glory of God comes into creation. “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” Hab 2:20. His powerful presence overwhelms creation and even time is suspended as a day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. His Bride was born on the Day of Pentecost of long ago, as His presence came down and it was represented by cloven tongues of fire. The coming of God’s glory is more powerful than anything we can imagine. Let us plan to be in proper spiritual standing when His glory comes down. Remember the words, St. Paul, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Let us prepare without fear or reservation. The glory of the Lord is coming. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13.
 
Maranatha,
Bishop Wells, Sr., D.D.