One reason for a temporary joining of Heaven and earth might be that the Character of Christ, who was made perfect in the world, and the character of the sons of God could be forged in God's image and likeness, developing obedience, faithfulness, courage, faith, patience, perseverance, trust, and other virtues necessary for the proper conduct of the universe. We know that the tribulations of this life work patience—a mark of perfection in the Kingdom of God.

How could overcomers, conquerors, an eternal wall against sin and rebellion, be created in the spirit paradise where, it appears, there is nothing to overcome? The creation of kings and priests certainly must be one reason that man is born of woman on earth and not created in Paradise (although it appears that Melchizedek, a priest of God, was not created on the earth of human parents).

Another reason that may be advanced for a temporary union of Paradise and the earth is that the physical body is an excellent tool for teaching us humility and dependence on God. From the standpoint of what will be true of the overcomers in the future, the frail physical body of today is ludicrous. We could consider our animal body to be a joke that God has played on us, shutting us up in prison like this.

But God is serious about our behavior in our physical body. Our body is a perfect arena of testing, a means of challenging and evaluating our character in terms of righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, obedience to God, courage, understanding, compassion, and other attributes and virtues. The Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal that which we have done in our body.

Our physical body is the temple of God, of the Holy Spirit. Our body will be redeemed through means of the extension of the resurrection life that currently is dwelling in us and thus be brought into the Kingdom of God.

The redeeming of our mortal body by resurrection life signifies our adoption as sons of God, and so we understand that our body is of great importance in the Kingdom of God. The resurrection from the dead has to do only with our body, our spirit and soul already having been received of God.

But we have stated that the Kingdom of God is not a temporary but an eternal union of Paradise with the earth. Why an eternal union? Why is the Lord God of Heaven transforming the purely spiritual into that which internally is spiritual but externally is material? Why is God clothing Paradise with a robe of flesh?

Perhaps for the pure joy of creating something new. God is the great Creator.

A central emphasis of the Scriptures is the construction of the house of God. It appears that God no longer is content with His temple in Heaven. He now is constructing for Himself a living temple, of which the conquerors are pillars. This is not a temporary abiding place. It is God's house forever. It is the new Jerusalem, eternal Zion, the holy city, the Wife of the Lamb.

To be continued.