What we have described previously is the method by which we enter the Kingdom of God. We begin to enter the Kingdom when we are faced with the spiritual fulfillment of the Blowing of Trumpets, because we enter the Kingdom of God only as the rule of Satan is driven from us.

We understand, therefore, that there is a whole lot more to the Divine salvation than just being preserved in the Day of Wrath. There is a race to be run. There is a good fight of faith to be fought.

In the days of Israel, God separated His chosen nation into priests, Levites, and then the remainder of the tribes. The priests, the descendants of Aaron, were especially holy. This means they were closer to God than was true of the other Israelites. The entire nation was a holy nation, but the descendants of Aaron were more holy than the other members of the tribes. They were brought closer to God. This does not mean they were of better character. The kind of holiness we are referring to has to do with the calling of God, with the budding of Aaron's rod, so to speak.

The priests had no inheritance among the children of Israel. God Himself was their inheritance.

The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites." (Numbers 18:20—NIV)

Next in the order of holiness were the Levites. The tithes of Israel were their inheritance.

As God was establishing the priesthood and the Tabernacle of the Congregation He placed great emphasis on the degrees of holiness. Even though the Levites were holier than the remainder of the Israelites, even they could not ever, even one time, look at one of the five furnishings within the Tabernacle building. If they saw even by accident one of the holy furnishings while it was uncovered the penalty was death.

We see from this that when God is dealing with people, even with His chosen race, He is careful to reserve some individuals to Himself. Their role then becomes to draw ever nearer to God, worshiping Him and partaking of His holy nature.

For some who thus are called, knowing God becomes the end in itself. They are content only as they are pressing into God.

We see one example of this in the description of the twenty-four elders.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:9-11—NIV)

To be continued.