The darkest of all nights, the prophesied period of unparalleled tribulation and persecution, is at hand. Every saint who prepares himself or herself now to serve Christ with a perfect heart, being ready to endure hardness as a good soldier, arming himself with the expectation of suffering and dying for the testimony of Jesus, will come under the total protection of the Thirty-fourth, Thirty-seventh, and Ninety-first Psalms.

The battle of the ages is at the door. We can be more than conquerors in this hour if we will seek Christ. But if we waste our preparation time on the tinsel of the world we will be crushed under the oppression that is appearing on the horizon.

The battle always is today. The flesh and Satan understand this well and work without ceasing to keep us delaying until tomorrow what we should be doing now. Let us arise and build. The Lord will strengthen and bless us if we do. We must take the first step toward Him. Then He will encourage and assist us.

Bringing the Body of Christ to the fullness of unity and glory will take place "on this side the river." The work has commenced already. Will you labor in Christ with your tools in one hand and your sword in the other? Or will you be among those who remain in the bondage of the flesh and the world, trusting that the work of restoration will be accomplished on the other side of the river (in Heaven)?

If you do not arise and seek Christ today, you will regret, when the Lord returns, that you passed up your chance to strengthen the Body of Christ in its hour of preparation.

Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. (Judges 5:23)

The Goldsmiths

Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. . . . (Nehemiah 3:8)

Jesus counseled the believers in Laodicea to buy of Him "gold tried in the fire" (Revelation 3:18). Laodicea is the church of the "rights of the people." The rights of people are of growing concern today and will mount in importance until they culminate in the worldwide rebellion against all rule, including the rule of God.

Gold, in the Scripture, symbolizes Deity. The true Church of Christ is Divine in Substance, having been born from above, being indwelt by the Father and the Son, being filled eternally with the Holy Spirit and anointed by the Holy Spirit, being the manifestation in the earth of the Person and will of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The true Church is that which is wrought in the "gold" of God's Being and Nature. The churches of the False Prophet are those that are wrought in the will and industry of human beings, being indwelt by Satan.

It is not enough that the gold of God's Divine Nature be in the members of the Body of Christ. That gold must be "tried in the fire." Therefore, before the Lord Jesus returns, the Church of Christ will be perfected through suffering.

To be continued.