The Spirit and the members of the Kingdom cry to the nations: "Come and drink freely of the waters of eternal life."

The name of the holy city is engraved in the personality of each saint for the saints themselves are the new Jerusalem. It is a living city, a living, eternal house for God. The throne of God and of the Lamb are in it.

The practical aspect of understanding the difference between Paradise and the Kingdom of God is as follows: If you view the Christian salvation as a way of entering Paradise when you die, and God's forgiveness through Christ as your free ticket, a ticket that you can never lose, then the great majority of the passages of the New Testament will make little sense to you.

How can you work out your salvation with fear and trembling if salvation is a ticket to Paradise and you are going to get there by forgiveness?

Do you see there is nothing you can do after you "make a decision for Christ" except wait to die? Of course you can enter Christian service. But how many church-attenders that you know are presenting their body a living sacrifice to God so they may prove His will?

The truth is, the Christian churches are backslidden, and part of the reason is they do not understand the Kingdom of God.

If you view the Christian salvation as your entering the Kingdom of God then there is a challenge that must be met every day. Also, you can tell right now if you are entering the Kingdom whereas in the Heaven model you can't tell how well you did until you die.

God is forming His Kingdom today in those who will cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Each day the Lord will give you a portion of evil and a portion of Divine good wherewith to overcome the evil.

Each day you make a basic choice. Every time you choose to overcome the spiritual darkness of the day with the Divine good of God you have the Kingdom formed in you. Every time you choose to fool around and dabble in sin, not taking advantage of the grace being offered you, you lose ground in the Kingdom.

Entering the Kingdom is a fight. Entering the Kingdom is a race. Entering the Kingdom is a continual struggle.

God sees us perfect in Christ with the understanding we are fighting the good fight of faith each day.

The horrible error of our day is the teaching that God sees us perfect in Christ independently of whether we are following the Spirit in putting to death the deeds of our body.

Are you having the Kingdom of God, the rule of God, formed in you today right now? If you are not sure, ask God to show you. He will.

Then determine every remaining day of your life to seek God with all your heart.

The Kingdom of God soon is to come to the earth. The nobility, the governing priesthood, is being formed now. The precious stones of the wall of the new Jerusalem are being created by the intense heat and pressure upon us. The gates of pearl leading to the tree of life and the Throne of God result from the irritations we are experiencing.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord! The King of kings is coming with His lesser kings. See them on the horizon! It is the rising of the sun of the Day of the Lord.

The drums of El Shaddai are beating to the attack. The trumpets sound louder and louder, clear, piercing, deafening, penetrating every barrier. The thunder of the hoofs of the war stallions is terrible.

The slain Lamb will soon appear overhead, ready to draw up to Himself those who live by His body and blood. The powerful of the earth as well as the slaves will try to hide from the face of God and the wrath of the Lamb. "Mountains, rocks, fall on us. An avalanche. Anything! We can't stand this!"

The sun may not rise tomorrow morning, but one thing is certain: you and I will see the events of the Day of Wrath when they take place. Where will we be?

Change your way of living. I've changed mine! The Kingdom of God is at hand! (from Paradise and the Kingdom of God)