Because God intends to dwell in Christ in us forever, He first must cleanse our personality. The Jewish feast that immediately precedes the feast of Tabernacles is the solemn Day of Atonement. The ten days from the Blowing of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement represent the period when God judges the world, according to Jewish tradition.

Over fifty years ago, while in Bible school, the Lord spoke to me that He was ready to judge His Church, and that the judgment was symbolized by the Day of Atonement. As I have studied the Scriptures through the following years, it becomes increasingly clear that the Lord Jesus Christ will come to His Church and prepare her for her role as the eternal Temple of God, the holy city, the new Jerusalem. This preparation will take place, at least for a godly remnant, before Christ returns in the clouds of glory.

It seems, then, that John Fourteen, verses two through twenty-three, tells us plainly that the Lord Jesus will not leave us as orphans but will come to us through the Holy Spirit. We will learn to live by His Life. He will receive us to Himself so we may always be with Him where He is—in the very center of the Living Fire who is God.

I think this is taking place today. We are being baptized with the Fire who is God. Our sinful nature is being examined with a view to being removed from us.

We indeed shall be set free from sin if we are willing to follow the Spirit of God closely and cooperate with Him fully.

Malachi Three, and the Coming Salvation

The Prophet Malachi tells us of the coming of the Lord to cleanse the priesthood. We Gentiles may not think of ourselves as being the priests of God, but we are. The calling that is on us is identical with the calling on Israel.

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:9,10)

The expression "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God" tells us the Apostle Peter finally had come to recognize that Gentiles can be true members of the royal priesthood.

Malachi informs us that Christ will come to His Church and cleanse it that it may serve God in righteousness.

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,

To be continued.