What is Lacking ​o​f ​t​he Afflictions ​of Christ?

Sir,

Thank you for your previous correspondence. I am presently reading
“The biblical overview, 1st entry“ and the study on Revelation, ch #1.

Please help me to understand the scriptural agreement of Php 3:13 and
Col 1:24 in relation to the term “behind”.  They seem to be saying something
opposite, but could be that it is just where I am in my limited understanding​?​
Of course, I do know that the ‘​when​’ and ​’​what​’ of understanding is a factor of
God’s timing.

Thank you, D____​

Hi D____,

It is good to hear from you again and to hear that you have begun reading the Revelation commentary on iswasandwillbe.com. Be prepared to go through an “open door” in the realm of the spirit… the heavens of your heart and mind,​ because that is what ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’ is:

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

The two phrases​,​ “a door was opened in heaven” and “I was in the spirit”, are one and the same, both meaning that we are about to be given an exponential increase in our understanding of spiritual matters.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ” is much more than just the last book of the Bible. The revelation of Jesus Christ rests upon the prophecies of both the Old and the New Testaments. I know I wear this verse out, but I do so because it is a truth we must always remember when reading the Bible:

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.  (ASV)

The operable word here is ‘sum’ which is completely missing in the KJV, the translation ​with which ​I am most familiar. I have quoted the ASV instead. Virtually all of the literal translations include the word ‘sum’. It is ‘sum’, and it is not ‘some’, as so many today seem to think.

So, let’s look at these two verses ​about which ​you inquire and see what we can learn of the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I will quote them in the order they appear in scripture, and we will look at what “the sum of [His] word” reveals about these two different Greek words which are both translated in the KJV as ‘behind’.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind [Greek:​ ‘opiso‘], and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Here is a cut and paste out of my e-sword of Strong’s number and definition of the Greek word translated as ‘behind’ here in Philip​p​ians​ 3:13:

G3694
ὄπίσω
opisō
op-is’-o
From the same as G3693 with enclitic of direction; to the back, that is, aback (as adverb or preposition of time or place; or as noun): – after, back (-ward), (+ get) behind, + follow.
Total KJV occurrences: 36

Here are those 36 total entries, cut and pasted from my e-sword. If you read every entry,​ then you will know what the holy spirit intended by the use of this Greek word ‘opiso‘:

G3694
ὄπίσω
opisō
Total KJV Occurrences: 35
after, 22
Mat_3:11, Mat_10:38, Mat_16:24, Mar_1:7, Mar_1:17, Mar_1:20, Mar_8:34, Luk_9:23, Luk_14:27, Luk_19:14, Luk_21:8, Joh_1:15, Joh_1:27, Joh_1:30, Joh_12:19, Act_5:37, Act_20:30, 1Ti_5:15, 2Pe_2:10, Jud_1:7, Rev_12:15, Rev_13:3
behind, 6
Mat_16:23, Mar_8:33, Luk_4:8, Luk_7:38, Phi_3:13, Rev_1:10
back, 5
Mat_24:18, Luk_9:62, Luk_17:31, Joh_6:66, Joh_20:14
backward, 1
Joh_18:6
follow, 1
Mat_4:19

Now let’s look at:

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind [Greek​:​ ‘husterema‘] of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Here is Strong’s definition of this Greek word ‘husterema‘:

G5303
ὑστέρημα
husterēma
hoos-ter’-ay-mah
From G5302; a deficit; specifically poverty: – that which is behind, (that which was) lack (-ing), penury, want.
Total KJV occurrences: 9

Here are those nine occurrences, which I repeat, if you read every entry, you will know and understand what the spirit is actually telling you:

G5303
ὑστέρημα
husterēma
Total KJV Occurrences: 9
lacking, 3
1Co_16:17, 2Co_11:9, 1Th_3:10
want, 3
2Co_8:14 (2), 2Co_9:12
behind, 1
Col_1:24
lack, 1
Phi_2:30
penury, 1
Luk_21:4

I hope you can now see clearly that the ‘behind’ (forgetting those things which are behind [Greek​:​ ‘opiso‘]) of Philippians 3:13 is speaking of the position of time past, with all of its sins and struggles against the flesh,  whereas the ‘behind’ of Colossians 1:24, “behind of the afflictions of Christ”, is speaking of that which is lacking of the afflictions of “the Christ”, meaning you and I as “His body, the church”.

The ‘behind’ of Philippians 3:13 is the same as the ‘behind’ of this verse of:

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind [Greek: ‘opiso‘] me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

The ‘behind’ of Colossians 1:24, “…behind of the afflictions of the Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church”, is the “fiery trials” which are yet to come upon each of us who are faithful to the doctrine of Christ to the end.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is [yet] to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

The apostle Paul agrees with Peter, and I agree with both of them:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Your brother who is also filling up in my body that which is behind of the afflictions of the Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church,

Mike