When will the coming of the Father and Christ to the believers take place? It is our point of view that it will take place in the period of time just prior to the return of Christ from Heaven.

We know that Antichrist is coming, bringing great tribulation and desolation. Man seeking to make himself God always is an abomination that creates desolation.

What will Christ do for His Church in response to this "maturing of the tares"? Christ will enter His people to such an extent they will be more than conquerors. Christ who is dwelling in the saints always will be greater than Antichrist who is dwelling in the world.

The Old Testament prophets spoke of the Day when God enters into Zion, into His people, and destroys His ancient enemy.

The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)

And the God of peace shall bruise [crush] Satan under your feet. . . . (Romans 16:20)

The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)

The above passage is God's response to Antichrist through His Church. It is the power of Christ's resurrection abiding in the saints that finally will destroy Satan and his works.

We must pass from an external fellowship with Jesus to an inner knowledge of Jesus if we would attain the resurrection from the dead.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (John 16:20)

Today the world goes on its merry way rejoicing. Christ is not the focus of concern of earth's peoples.

The saint who would know the eternal abiding of God and Christ in him must pass through a season (sometimes prolonged) of sorrow and weeping.

Why is that? It is because our personality, even though we have been saved through the blood of Christ, has not been totally reconciled to God.

In order for us to come to the fullness of the Tabernacles experience we must submit to the Lord's judgment on us. There is no other way. Judgment always begins in the household of God, in those who are nearest to God. Much of the Christian Church of today remains unjudged.

There is an observance that comes before the feast of Tabernacles. It is the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27). The Day of Atonement is the Day of Reconciliation. Our total personality must be reconciled to God through Christ. This is the aspect of the marriage of the Lamb that is to take place now.

Christ must become central to our security, our pleasures, and our goals and achievements, plans and ambitions. There must be no part of us in which Christ is not central.

God deals strictly with each person with whom He would make His eternal dwelling. This fact is emphasized throughout the Scriptures. It is in sharing Christ's sufferings that we are brought to the power of the resurrection.

To be continued.