But woe to those who are making merry in Zion in the present hour! Such merrymakers have no idea whatever of the fearful judgment that awaits them when God turns His attention toward their condition. The coming of Christ will be a terrible surprise to the churches of today unless they repent. For those who do not repent, the terror of the Lord will be their portion as soon as they die. They are sitting in the seat of the scornful now but weeping and gnashing of teeth is soon to come.

In the fourteenth and sixteenth chapters of the Gospel of John, Christ speaks to us of revealing Himself to us but not to the world. It is our opinion that He is referring to the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles and that Christ will enter the members of His Church to a great extent before He appears in the clouds of glory for all the world to see.

His coming to the Church in celebration of the feast of Tabernacles will cause a "casting out of the moneychangers"—which always takes place when Jesus enters "His Father's house." Jesus' coming to us in this present hour will produce a baptism with fire.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: (Malachi 3:1,2)

When we seek the Presence of Christ in our life we are asking to live in the consuming Fire of God's holy Presence.

There is an aspect of the Kingdom of God that needs to be made clear to God's people. The sinner is justified by the blood of the cross—this we understand. What is not as clear is that the purpose of the atoning power of the blood is to bring the sinner's prayer before the Throne of God so he may obtain mercy and Divine grace in his time of need. The mercy and Divine grace are needed if the disciple is to be able to follow the Holy Spirit in the rigorous work of sanctification.

Being justified initially by the blood is one matter. Walking with God in the program of sanctification is another matter. In order to walk with God, to dwell with God, we must walk in righteousness and holiness. If we choose to walk with God in holiness and obedience the blood of the cross will continue to cleanse us from all sin.

But if we are not seeking the Lord and obeying Him we then are candidates for fiery judgment.

To be continued.