If you will bear your cross as patiently and as cheerfully as you can, laying down your life for the Gospel's sake, Christ will protect you during your hour of temptation. But if you wrench yourself from the prison in which God has permitted Satan to place you, you will be deceived. No matter how much you read your Bible and plead for righteousness, you will be deceived if you do not stay in the prison where you have been placed.

Be like the Apostle Paul. Count all you have gained as loss for Christ. Regard all of your personal ambitions, coveted enhancements of your personality and position, as so much garbage. This is your protection from the deceptions of Antichrist.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Do not kindle sparks and walk in the light of your own fire. This is what Abraham did and Ishmael, the wild man, is still, after thousands of years, attacking the descendants of Isaac.

There will be no peace in the creation of God, in the heavens or on the earth, until all rebellion and self-will have been removed, beginning with the nobility, the saints. The saints then will govern the creation forever, insuring that never again will a person, human or angel, act outside of the will of God.

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5—NIV)

The main point of the present essay is that God is preparing a governing priesthood, people who will rule all of God's creation for eternity.

In creating the Kingdom of God, God began with the King. The King had to be proven perfect in obedience and then had to make an atonement that would appease the justice of God concerning the behavior of every member of the Kingdom.

The Lord Jesus made an atonement not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world.

Next in order is the royal priesthood, the judges of the creation. This is the emphasis in our day. Every member of the priesthood is located for eternity at the right hand of God. No matter where he goes throughout the universe a part of him (to put it in our terms) remains at the side of God and is leaning on God.

A lot of time and effort goes into the preparing of a king, judge and priest. This is why God deals with us night and day, day and night, examining every nuance of thought, word, and action. We are brought into countless situations to call forth all that is in our heart.

To be continued.