The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Kingdom of God Is at Hand, #11

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:6,7)

The first three days are working simultaneously. The day of unveiling still is developing. The day of separation, of the calling out of the elect from the ranks of mankind, still is developing. The day of dry ground, of giving God's creatures the strength to live righteously, still is developing.

The Day of Revelation

The fourth day we have termed the day of revelation.

The concept of revelation is that of perceiving God and our relationship to Him.

John was not of the fourth day, the day of revelation. John was of the third day, the day of dry ground. John was of the Law of Moses.

John and Jesus were on the earth at the same time. There is a period of transition when one creative day is blending into the next. This is why the present hour is so significant: it is the period of transition from the fifth creative day, the day of life, to the sixth creative day, the day of image and union.

In the time of John there was the usual chaotic situation and time of preparation. The Roman Empire was governing the land of Israel. John was part of the Divine preparation for the introduction of a new era. The fourth creative day, the day of revelation, was at hand.

The two witnesses of the fourth day appeared. The two witnesses of the fourth day, the day of revelation, are the Father and the Son:

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (John 8:17,18)

The fourth day of creation, as described in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis, included the bringing forth of the sun, the moon, and the stars. These lights are for signs and seasons and govern day and night.

Speaking figuratively, Christ is the sun, the Church is the moon, and the conquering saints—those who turn many to righteousness—are God's stars. All this light proceeds from God in Christ in the saints.

Throughout the long night of earth's history it has been the saints, not the Church, who have guided men. The moon illumines the earth at night and sheds light on our pathway. But men find their direction from the stars. We think of Noah, Abraham, Daniel, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, James and others. These are God's eternal witnesses. They are the "stars" who have guided us through the long night that precedes the dawning of the Day of the Lord. They are the examples whom we use to teach people the righteous ways of the Lord.

The sun, moon, and stars remind us of the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation. The all-important issue of Christianity is the bringing forth of the Son, Christ, in the personalities of the members of the Body of Christ. The ministries of the Church are in travail today as Christ is being formed in us. Christ is the Light of the world. We shall become the light of the world, the eternal Light that the new Jerusalem is, when Christ has been formed in us.

To be continued.