The first assumption is, as we have said, that dying and entering Paradise will remove sin from us. We have pointed out that this point of view is not supported by Scripture.

The second major assumption is that at the coming of the Lord sin will be removed from the Church and the Church will instantly become an unblemished bride for the Lamb. There is no scriptural basis for this belief. In fact, the Scripture informs us that it is appointed to people once to die and after this comes judgment, not deliverance.

We are told that we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that each may receive the things he or she has practiced while living in the body. Nothing is said about deliverance. It seems the judgment that will take place at the coming of the Lord will reveal what we have done, not cleanse us from unrighteousness.

Then there are those who believe that in Heaven we ought to try to do good but grace will cover our sin and self-will. God will see us only through the Lord Jesus. This is a horrible thought. Let us pray that such never takes place because the believers would soon turn Paradise into Hell with their gossip, slander, jealousy, self-will, arrogance, haughtiness, pride, bitterness, immorality, love of pleasure, covetousness, love of money, seeking preeminence, and so forth. It would not help us at all if God ignored such behavior and saw only the righteousness of Christ.

So we see plainly that we expect Heaven, and the new world that is coming, to be totally free from the sin and rebellion that have brought the curse of God upon the earth. Yet we are unsure how such deliverance will take place. It is evident that the assumptions we have just discussed do not have clear, solid, scriptural support.

We would like to advance several concepts concerning how God has planned to remove sin from His creation.

Salvation is deliverance from sin. This is what salvation is.

The Scripture teaches that salvation, or redemption, will come at the end of the age. Salvation will come in the future.

There are passages of Scripture that point toward the cleansing of God's people in the last days.

After sin has been removed from God's people they will judge and govern the nations of the earth until sin has been removed from the creation.

Redemption will include the clothing of our present body with a robe of righteousness provided we have sown to righteousness while on the earth. Physical death is the last enemy to be overcome. The other enemies of our soul must be overcome first.

We will be required to fight if we are to enter the future salvation.

We must accept the program of judgment and deliverance when it is presented to us.

Heaven and the Kingdom of God are related.

No sin whatever will be permitted in the Kingdom of God.

The earth and the heavens shall be shaken.

Declaring war against the enemies of God and the reconciling of every aspect of our personality to God are the spiritual fulfillments of the feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement of the Old Testament.

To be continued.