The concept we are presenting is in contrast to the prevailing doctrine that is, as we see it, incorrect and misleading. The prevailing doctrine conceives of the Lord Jesus as leaving the earth and journeying to a land beyond the stars. When we die or are "raptured," we also go to that far away place. One day the Lord will return from that distant star and set up a physical kingdom among the Jews.

The current teaching does not appear to be clear as to whether we will return with Him or whether we will remain in our "mansions" beyond space and time. It doesn't matter whether or not it is clear. It is all a fable.

The prevailing doctrine conceives of salvation as a "ticket" to a land in the outer reaches of the universe. We accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and our reward is to be taken away from the "devil's earth" and relocated far, far away. A moral change in us, while it may be desirable, certainly is not essential; for where we are going there is no sin. Such is our tradition.

The Scriptures, in decided contrast to our fables, present redemption as our spiritual, and then bodily transformation. The work is performed on the earth but is hidden. It cannot be seen. It is not "present." The Lord Jesus is here. The elect angels are here. We are here. But very little of the Kingdom glory is visible or present as far as the nations of the earth are concerned. The Kingdom is veiled. It is not a part of the world system or understandable to the world system.

When the Father has determined that His Kingdom is ready to be revealed, what He has wrought through Christ for two thousand years will be revealed: it will become "present" to the nations of the earth.

What we have become will be manifested in the Day of Christ. All persons will be manifested before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the Lamb and His Wife will be revealed to the nations of the earth. The essential work of redemption takes place now—on the earth. What is accomplished during our discipleship is what will be revealed.

It is the product of Christ's working in us that is the Kingdom of God. If we choose instead to wait to be glorified "by grace" we will have missed our salvation. The Lord's people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge.

When the Lord Jesus is manifested every eye will see Him:

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

The expression "they also that pierced him" is interesting. Those who nailed Christ to the cross, the Jews who cried for His blood and the Romans who performed the execution, are in the spirit realm today. Is it true that the Lord will be revealed in the heavens as well as in the earth? This is not unlikely.

To be continued.