The Daily Word of Righteousness

Your Redemption Draws Near, #11

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (I Corinthians 15:20)

But again we ask the question: If the spirit Paradise is marvelous beyond our most extravagant dreams, and indeed it is, what then, is the purpose of raising us from the dead?

Obviously we are raised from the dead so we can live once more on the earth. But why take the trouble to redeem the earth? Why not permit us to enter the spirit Paradise where we can dwell in bliss forever?

There is only one possible answer. The redeemed earth will be a more joyous, more loving, more satisfying, more wonderful environment than ever could be true of the spirit Paradise. Even Satan must have felt this way and left the spirit realm in order to walk about in the earth.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:7)

When God emerged from the spirit realm and brought forth the material realm, He pronounced it very good. The material realm is very good, as far as mankind is concerned. The spirit realm is very good for the angels. The material realm is very good for mankind.

Rebellious spirits entered the material realm and brought corruption and death into it. The world of today is an abominable environment, not because the physical realm is bad of itself but because of the evil spirits that inhabit it.

Our Redeemer has come to drive the evil spirits from the material realm so the earth once again may be a wonderful garden.

We must possess a physical body if we are to aid the Lord Jesus in driving out the evil from the earth and rebuilding that which has been destroyed. Also, physical bodies are necessary for all saved peoples if they are to enjoy their future life on the earth.

The Kingdom of God is Heaven wrapped in flesh and bones.

This is why there will be a resurrection from the dead. We shall be raised in order that we may dwell on the redeemed earth—an infinitely superior environment when compared with the spirit Paradise, as marvelous as the spirit Paradise is.

We are to lift up our heads. The Kingdom of God is coming to the earth. God's will shall be done in the earth as it is in Heaven.

To be continued.