The day of life. We now are in the day of life. Much Gospel work is being carried forward in our time. There is considerable chaos and confusion as the "fish" are subjected to the teachings of one group and then another. Some are entertaining the fish. Others are warning them of the wrath to come.

There also is a return to the concept of true, cross-carrying discipleship. This is part of the Divine preparation of the saints who will give the worldwide testimony, and also of the army of Christ that will invade the earth in the Day of the Lord.

We have a better understanding today of the message of eternal life. The traditional goal of salvation has been eternal residence in Heaven. Now we can see that the message of Christ and His Apostles is not eternal residence in Heaven but eternal life. Our eyes are fixed on the coming of the Lord and the day of resurrection rather than on dying and going to Heaven. The emphasis is on the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth, not the flight of the Church to Heaven.

There is the awesome realization that we are entering a period of transition that will bring mankind from one creative day to the next. Such a transition means we can expect much Divinely appointed preparatory work, chaos, confusion, and also murderous opposition from people who are deriving satisfaction from the old day. Some of us will gain an appreciation for the people of past eras who stood firm during the uproar that always accompanies climactic changes in the Kingdom of God.

Can you imagine how the Jewish fishermen felt when Jesus informed them they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to live? They had been taught from childhood that it is an abomination to the Lord for people to drink blood.

Can you imagine how Paul felt when the Holy Spirit impressed him that circumcision no longer was part of God's covenant with man? Or how the other Jews felt when they heard Paul teach?

As undoubtedly was true of the people of past time, we never thought we would be faced with radical change.

But the transition from day five, the day of life, to day six, the day of image and union, is beginning now. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

In order to keep from being shipwrecked during a period of transition we must be careful to stay close to the written Word of God, the holy Scriptures.

Perhaps the first concept we need to establish from the Scriptures is the coming emphasis on God's Kingdom, rule, and will. The work of the two witnesses who announce the day of image and union will be different from the type of Gospel ministry to which we are accustomed. The stress will pass from how people are being benefited to how God is being benefited, how His will is being brought into view in the earth. The two witnesses will proclaim a total change of the government of the world.

To be continued.