Then there are the firstfruits from among men who will follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

None of the Bible descriptions of the present state of the dead fits the concept of living in a mansion or walking on golden streets while we chat amiably with our friends and relatives.

The Book of Ephesians informs us that the gifts and ministries given to the Body of Christ will operate until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.

If Paul meant what he wrote in Ephesians, and the Bible has a way of meaning exactly what it says, then ministry and growth must continue after we die. Or else how could we all come to the unity of the faith, to the knowledge of the Son of God, to the stature of the fullness of Christ?

How could the entire Bride of Christ develop until she is without blemish unless work continues in the spirit realm? In fact, our development may continue for eternity as we continue to grow in the image of our Father. Maybe God Himself will continue to grow. Why not? The Bible says, concerning Christ, that of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.

If we are to make sense of the New Testament we must give consideration to the fact that there is continuity from this life to the next. That which begins in us now will continue without our physical death interrupting the process in any manner whatever.

Let us always keep that in mind when Christ presents to us a new challenge to moral transformation. We must press forward in Him. We must continue to walk in the light of God's perfect will if we expect the continual cleansing of the blood of the cross. I think this remains true whether we are on earth or in the spirit realm.

The biggest problem God has is with our will. The Kingdom of God is the doing of God's will in the earth as it is in Heaven.

For two thousand years the Christian churches, while they attempt to build the Kingdom of God, do so largely according to their own understanding. If this were not the case the Catholic Church would never have murdered those they regarded as heretics. The Lord Jesus Christ does not murder people just because they do not understand correct doctrine.

The fact that the Catholic Church murdered heretics proves beyond doubt that the leaders were not obeying the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus does not act toward people as the Catholic Church has done in time past. This has been true also in the case of some Protestant endeavors.

Today, in our time, there is a deeper challenge to our will than ever before. As we approach the appearing of the Lord we must realize we are destined to appear with Him. However, no individual absolutely no individual will appear with Jesus Christ whose will has not been made one with the will of God.

It is time now for the candidates for the first resurrection, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord appears, to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus to the crucifixion of their own will. Until we are ready to say "not my will but Yours be done" in every aspect of our life, it is not possible we will be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord when He appears.

To be continued.