As we said, at one time Paradise was on the earth. The memory of total peace and joy in a beautiful surrounding is still in the subconscious mind of people. Today we call this wonderful place "Heaven."

Christians believe "salvation" means we are qualified to go to live forever in Heaven when we die. Let's think about this concept.

Heaven, or Paradise, is what the inhabitants make it. Even on earth we can get the family ready and go on a picnic. We may find a park that is just right. The weather is perfect. Everyone is in good health. There is plenty of food and wide open spaces for the children to run and have a good time.

What happens? A member of the family will become irritated about something. Soon there is arguing. Before long the children are crying, people are angry and they get up and go home.

Why is this? It is not that we are not in beautiful surroundings, the problem is we are sinful and self-willed.

We desire to return to Paradise. God desires that we return to Paradise. But God knows if He brings us to Paradise it will not be Paradise any longer. We will bring our love of the world, our lusts, our anger, our lying, stealing, arguing, fighting, drunkenness, witchcraft, gossiping, slandering, personal ambition and love of preeminence until Paradise has become Hell.

Do you want to bring your corrupt nature into Paradise and ruin it for everyone else? I do not want to go to Paradise until I am ready. Do you?

We see, then, that the issue of salvation is not to go to Paradise. The issue of salvation is deliverance from sin.

All of the actions of God of all history to the present hour are working together to bring to perfection His sons, the brothers of the Lord Jesus. When they have been made in Christ's image and brought into untroubled rest in the Father through Christ, then the Lord Jesus will appear with them and in them. He will be crowned King on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

Now the thousand-year Kingdom Age will commence. The Word and Law of God will go forth from Jerusalem. The sons of God will move throughout the earth lifting the curse. People will go up to Jerusalem to hear the Word of the Lord and to receive God's blessing.

As sin is lifted from the earth, justice and peace will follow. Soon it will be possible for the child to play near the poisonous serpent without danger. The earth will be filled with the Glory of the Lord. Paradise slowly but surely will be restored to the earth. Sickness and death will be a thing of the past.

Can you see that all depends on the destruction of sin from the personalities of God's rulers, and then from the saved peoples of the earth?

Can you see that salvation is deliverance from sin? A beautiful surrounding is not difficult for God to create. The garden of Eden will be restored when sin has been removed.

To be continued.