Our eternal ministry. What will be our employment when the Lord Jesus comes and our mortality is swallowed up by the house from Heaven?—when we are filled, spirit, soul, and body, with the eternal resurrection life that has been created from our afflictions?

Our assignment will be threefold: to restore an earth that has been destroyed by sin; to lift the curse from the earth; and to be the source of eternal life for the nations of saved peoples of the earth.

As to restoring a ruined planet:

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:4)

As to lifting the curse from the earth:

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. (Isaiah 65:23)

As to giving eternal life to the nations of saved peoples of the earth:

And the Gentiles [nations] shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:3)

And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Ezekiel 47:9)

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. (Numbers 14:21)

As soon as the Bride of the Lamb has been filled to overflowing with eternal Divine Life she desires to share this Life with whoever will come and drink.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)

Thus far we have:

Pointed out that two different gospels are being preached today: one that presents the Lord Jesus as the means of gaining all we desire in the world; the other that requires we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow the Man of Sorrows.

Mentioned the task of giving eternal life to the believers in Corinth.

Defined eternal life as the Divine Presence and energy that makes it possible for us to attain the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Kingdom of God.

Set forth the goal of salvation as the gaining of eternal life in spirit, soul, and body.

Discussed two ways in which Divine Life could have been given to the believers in Corinth.

Described why God chose to give life by means of Paul's sufferings.

Stated that God is creating His throne in the personalities of the saints.

Explained that God is creating sources of His Glory, choosing to issue life through Christ—Head and Body rather than in Pentecostal downpours of rain.

Mentioned the process of creating the house from Heaven by means of our afflictions—the body of life from Heaven that will enable us to be the source of eternal life.

Stated that our resurrected flesh and bones will be clothed with the consequences of what we did during our life on the earth.

Announced our assignment (as soon as we have attained eternal life) of restoring the earth, removing the curse, and issuing the Glory of God until the whole earth is filled with the Divine Presence.

To be continued.