The Church: Militant and Triumphant

To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
(Charles Wesley, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”)
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It can get lonely thinking you are all alone. That is why a big perspective on what the Church is vitally essential. It reminds us that if we are in Christ we are part of a great cloud of witnesses.

The Church militant describes believers who are still alive and still battling on for the Lord in this life.

The Church triumphant describes those who’ve won the battle, fought the fight and finished the race, those whose spirits have gone to be in the presence of the Lord and who await the final Resurrection. Here are all of those whose faith was in the promises of God, which point to Christ and are Christ: Abel, Noah, the Patriarchs, Gideon, David, the disciples and all believers since.

We pick up this distinction from places such as Rev 7 where John witnesses fellow believers worshiping the Lord in heaven.

How encouraging a thought it is to know that we are not alone. Not only is Christ with us in Word and Spirit, but what is more, we are part of a great company of believers, far greater than our isolated geographic distribution allows us to fathom, not only here on earth, but in heaven above. In the words of Heb 12:1 the Church triumphant grace the side-lines of our race and cheer us on as it were.
May we be encouraged that as a Christian we are part of the Church militant and triumphant!
 
It can get lonely thinking you are all alone. That is why a big perspective on what the Church is vitally essential. It reminds us that if we are in Christ we are part of a great cloud of witnesses.
The Church militant describes believers who are still alive and still battling on for the Lord in this life.
The Church triumphant describes those who’ve won the battle, fought the fight and finished the race, those whose spirits have gone to be in the presence of the Lord and who await the final Resurrection. Here are all of those whose faith was in the promises of God, which point to Christ and are Christ: Abel, Noah, the Patriarchs, Gideon, David, the disciples and all believers since.
We pick up this distinction from places such as Rev 7 where John witnesses fellow believers worshiping the Lord in heaven.
How encouraging a thought it is to know that we are not alone. Not only is Christ with us in Word and Spirit, but what is more, we are part of a great company of believers, far greater than our isolated geographic distribution allows us to fathom, not only here on earth, but in heaven above. In the words of Heb 12:1 the Church triumphant grace the side-lines of our race and cheer us on as it were.
May we be encouraged that as a Christian we are part of the Church militant and triumphant!