This world is a valley as far as the saint is concerned. It is a valley covered by the shadow of sin and death. If we attempt to turn it into Heaven by pampering our flesh and soul we will fall into deception. But God insures that the faithful saint is blessed each day with numerous goodnesses and mercies. We must endure hardness, but the goodness of the Lord is with us.

The hope of the Kingdom of God is a hope for the future. It is a message of suffering in this life and glorious joys and pleasures in the future. We can endure the cross if we will keep our eyes fixed on the pleasures that are at the right hand of God.

If we are experiencing joy and pleasure now in the things of the world we will experience mourning in the future. If we are weeping and carrying our cross now we will receive indescribable joy and pleasure in the ages to come. This is the way of the Kingdom of God.

As we have said previously, the wall of the new Jerusalem is emphasized in the vision given to the Apostle John. This is because there never again shall be an unwalled, unprotected glory.

Never again throughout eternity shall sin and rebellion be allowed to rise up in the Presence of the Father.

Every person who is permitted to enter through the gates into the holy city will be a doer of the commandments of the Lord (Revelation 22:14). The new Jerusalem is not a city of imputed (assigned) righteousness, that is, of right standing with God given to us legally on the basis of the righteousness of the blood of Jesus.

The new Jerusalem is a city of actual righteousness, an actual righteousness brought about by means of the Divine Substance and Nature of Christ working in us, being wrought within us, causing us to hate sin and to love righteousness (I John 3:6).

Every member of the holy city is holy. He practices righteous behavior. No person who is sinning shall be allowed into the holy city, for it then would become the unholy city.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)

We do not enter the holy city by grace or election but by doing the commandments of the Lord. Election and grace provide the opportunity for doing the commandments of the Lord. Election and grace are not an alternative to obeying the commandments of the Lord, which currently is being taught.

God's conquering saints will stand guard around the Divine Glory throughout eternity, just as they are learning to stand guard today. No rebel against God shall get past their post.

The work of restoration is for the purpose of bringing about obedience to God, and the worship of God, in the earth. God has many eternal purposes, eternal desires, that He has spoken into being. Now He is resting.

Our task is to enter that rest, into that finished work of God. We find our rest in His rest. We find our personal restoration as we enter the restoration of all that is important to the Lord God of Heaven.

Let every one whose heart stirs him to do so, enter now into the glorious work of the Lord. There is a part of the work that has been assigned to you. Will you place your stone in the wall? Will you come to the help of the Lord against the mighty? Will you stand in your place round about the camp? (from The Work of Restoration)