The Holy Spirit's lessons follow one after the other and they accumulate, each lesson depending on the mastery of the discipline gained previously. It is not possible to skip over one of the areas of instruction.

When our patience brings us to the fullness of time we step forward in faith. We go out with joy and are led forth with peace. The miracle takes place before our astonished gaze. The waters part by a miracle. The Lord does for us what He promised.

Truly, "hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

When we march forward in God's time, we are "right against Jericho." The enemy is in plain view, and we have been prepared to overcome him.

We will conquer in God if we do what God says, in God's time, and use the methods God says to use. We cannot fail if we obey God faithfully.

And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. (Joshua 3:17)

Those of us who are called to "stand firm" in the midst of death to our pride, self-centeredness, self-seeking, lusts, and personal ambitions, who are permitting the Lord to use us as He will so His glory may be performed in the lives of other people, will remain on "dry ground." The "waters" of death will never be allowed to flow over us.

All those who "hear us" will also remain on dry ground. We shall succeed in saving ourselves and those who hear us.

The struggle will not last for ever. One day, God will be able to say, "It is finished. Behold, I have made all things new."

What God commences He also finishes to perfection.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. . . . (Revelation 21:6)

The Church, the new Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb, is made up of a multitude of people. The spirits of those of the Church who already have passed away are in Paradise, in the garden of God. The remainder of the Church is being made new creatures by the Lord. Step by step, detail by detail, the Lord is creating the new Jerusalem, the holy city. When the new Jerusalem has been completed in Heaven it will descend to the earth as the eternal dwelling place of God and Christ.

When God is finished the Church will descend from Heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. The nations of saved peoples of the earth will marvel at the stunning beauty of the new Jerusalem. The Church will be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish of any kind whatever. It will be one in Christ in God, an eternal manifestation of God. It will be Emmanuel—God with us.

There will be no unrighteousness in any member of the Wife of the Lamb. There will be no uncleanness in any member of the Wife of the Lamb. There will be no rebellion or disobedience to God in any member of the Wife of the Lamb.

Every one of the elect who is part of the new Jerusalem will have "passed clean over Jordan."

It is time now to begin to take the Kingdom. (from Kingdom Instruction From the Book of Joshua)