A glorious thing has come to me recently.  I have called myself to remembrance of a statement made by one of the former General Overseers of the Church, A. J. Tomlinson.  As I stood in front of him...he was sitting in his chair at his desk...he looked straight at me and there seemed to be a choking coming to his throat, and tears gushed forth from his eyes, and he said to me, 'Brother Kent, some kind of a new experience has taken place inside of me.  Some kind of a love has come over me.  Oh! it is glorious...I am thinking of THE HOPE OF GLORY.'  These were just about his words.  

Now let me say with those words, I too, know what he meant, not only me, but hundreds of others are receiving that glorious experience and all that are taking a stand with this move of God are expressing themselves; that they never in all their lives experienced such glory working in them, and such a love that has come over them.  Persecutions and hard words and mean things spoken against us does not stop the great joy that God gives us in that wonderful and definite experience in THE HOPE OF GLORY.

It seems that we have arrived to that experience that he made an effort to reveal when he found the people too carnal to receive it in the year of 1943, but with the perfect  move...we find this glory in coming to the knowledge of the Son of God through the understanding of the revelation of the Son of God.  Let me quote you one of these Scriptures in Colossians 1:27-28, "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you; The HOPE OF GLORY.  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present ever man perfect in Christ Jesus."  In these two verses of Scripture, there is an extra glory revealed and an extra glory received to those who grow up in Christ.  These words might explain it more fully.  We that have taken a stand are no more children, but we have grown up and become mature sons of God and are now ready to be placed in what shall be the Perfect Church.

The 28th verse points out that this HOPE OF GLORY which is connected with the vision or knowledge of the sons of God, is that experience that enabled us to be perfect in Christ, and for people to be qualified to reach this high call and glory that is referred to in the 4th chapter of Ephesians of coming to the knowledge of the son of God unto the stature of the fulness of Christ, and with this experience it does not mean a perfect man..."unto the measure of" that we will leave the world at His arrival but it only points out that we have reached the mark and that we henceforth be no more children.  According to the 14th verse, this simply means we will become mature sons of God; then we are worthy to be found in the pattern of the last days to be that glorious Church...The Bride and Wife of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Scripture clearly points out that the Church does not leave here when it reaches the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ, but it becomes one of the greatest powers on the face of the earth.  To all of you out there...whatsoever you be or are connected with, it is necessary to strive to obtain this wonderful and glorious experience of the Church of Glory, and be a stone worthy to be in the Bride at His coming.  Every member will be in his place.  There will be no conflict, no schism in the body.  Overseers will be in their places, pastors in their places, evangelists in their places, teachers in their places, prophets  in their places, deacons in their places, everyone in their place, every member to be in the body to where he belongs.

I have often wondered why you could never be before, but in obtaining this experience of THE HOPE OF GLORY; I can now say that it takes men and women qualified to the extent that they be no more children, but grown up in the Lord, not jealous of others, not wanting others' places, but every man, sweet in his soul with THE HOPE OF GLORY; only wanting to work in the place that God has prepared for him.

Let me say, I can see the most beautiful and glorious Church that has ever been on the face of the earth.  Why don't I have a right to say this when the Scripture backs me up; that the glory of the later house shall be greater than that of the former...the light that lights the whole world.

And all people of the earth shall see the glory of His wife which is Church Now, Bride later, and Wife beyond the resurrection and Queen during the thousand year reign.  

I only wish I had space to write; then I would be happy, for my soul bubbles with that glorious experience...Christ in you...THE HOPE OF GLORY, the fulness of the experience of a son of God, Hallelujah!  I am convinced.  I am not the only one who has this glorious experience for they are coming to me daily telling me about the most glorious thing that has taken place in their life.  They say they have never felt so wonderful and glorious, and anything anyone would say about them; has no effect on them.  I tell them this is the way I feel...a love has settled abroad over the face of the earth.

I want to help man see this glorious light and to reach forward for this glorious experience.  Hallelujah!  I think I shall write a tract on this glory that it would be sent out, and I want everybody to share with us in this measure and stature of the fulness of our joy.  Oh! I could go on and on, for I am happy, I am rejoicing.  Now I know what Peter meant when he said, 'it is joy unspeakable and full of glory'...full of glory.  This is what he meant, I am full of glory.  

Let me sign off for a moment, not quit, I shall tell you more later.  

A brother in the tribulations of His Saints...Bishop Grady R. Kent.

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* Article Written By:  The Late Grady R. Kent, St. John II, Chief Bishop of The Church of God, 1957-1964. This sermon was taken from The Vision Speaks, Volume 1 : Number 4 : June 1957.

All grammatical and typographical errors have been corrected except for direct quotations from the Author.  Thought content of said article has not been changed.