The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Eternal Purpose of God, #17

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3:13)

The Eternal Age, which will commence with the coming to earth of the new Jerusalem, is an endless era of love, peace, joy, and glory for God and man. It is life as God intends life to be. Life on the earth during the Church Age, and during the thousand-year Kingdom Age, is subnormal. These two ages are periods of introduction and preparation for true life—for life as it will be enjoyed during the Eternal Age.

Those who obey God during their time of probation will be brought into eternal life and will enjoy the Eternal Age. The meek will inherit the earth.

Those who turn away from God and grasp this present evil world will never, unless they repent, be trusted with the light and glory of the new world. They have embraced imprisonment and darkness, and imprisonment and darkness will be given to them. They have chosen Satan over God, and Satan will be given to them. They have chosen spiritual bondage over spiritual liberty, so spiritual bondage will be given to them. God opens His hand and satisfies the deepest desire of every living creature.

The eternal destiny of saved people is eternal life on a new earth under a new heaven. The new earth will be filled with love, joy, and peace.

Best of all, God and His Lamb will be ruling over the nations of the saved. The Throne of God and of the Lamb will be located in the saints who make up the holy city, the new Jerusalem.

Holiness is spiritual purity. Holiness is the absence of unclean spirits. To be holy is to be reserved to God for His own purposes.

The term "saint" means holy one. The members of the Church have been called out of the world in order that they may belong to God in a special way. They form a holy priesthood.

We are not made holy by imputation (assigned righteousness) except in the sense that those who receive Jesus are counted as holy because of their faith in Him. But we must continue in the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. If we do not we soon lose the initial holiness that was given to us when we received the Lord.

The true saints continue to be washed in the blood of the Lamb. The Christians continue to be delivered from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the abiding Presence of Christ Himself.

Each member of the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, will be perfectly holy. Inside the walls of the new Jerusalem there will be nothing that defiles—no unclean spirits of any kind whatever. There will be no lust, no lying, no fear, no unbelief, no violence, no hatred, no malice, no idolatry, no covetousness, no sorcery, no drunkenness, no stealing.

The Lord Jesus is perfectly holy. He will judge every spirit of the members of His Body until each saint is as He is—holy and free from unclean spirits.

All that is unclean will be outside the walls. Nothing unclean will be permitted to enter the new Jerusalem unto the ages of ages. The kings and priests of God must be holy for they will stand in the Presence of God for eternity. They, along with the seraphim, will cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts."

To be continued.