We believe that the work of the "second goat" has begun and that it will extend to the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. It is time now for the Lord Jesus to purify His Church. All unrighteousness, whether worldliness, the sins of the flesh, or self-will and rebellion, is to be removed from us in preparation for the return of the Lord to gather us to Himself.

The raising of Lazarus is a type of the removal of the bondages of sin from the believers.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (John 11:44)

Jesus called Lazarus forth from the dead. Then Jesus instructed those standing by to "Loose him, and let him go." God sends all kinds of messengers and helps—often other people—to assist in the work of delivering us from sin.

Let us repeat, if we are not faithful in the work of purification taking place now, then we are not candidates for the future redemption. If we are not faithful in the lesser we will not be entrusted with the greater. Our goal is a crown of righteousness and the Holy Spirit is preparing us today.

There is no greater joy than that of following the Lord Jesus as He leads us in the change from unrighteousness to righteousness. We are only dust. We cannot change ourselves except as the Lord leads us to use our will in obeying His directions. The good news is that there is unlimited power and wisdom in the Godhead to change us from our chaotic moral condition to the image of Christ and to union with God through Christ. God has said this change shall take place. It shall take place if we believe and obey.

God is intent on creating righteous people. All the inhabitants of the new world will be righteous in behavior. The inhabitants of the new world include the elect, who compose the new Jerusalem, and then the members of the saved nations.

There will be no person in the new world of righteousness who continues to sin against God.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (II Peter 3:13,14)

"A new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Think of it! Of course, it will not be a new world of legally assigned (imputed) righteousness but of actual righteousness of behavior performed by transformed people. Christ will be the Center and the Circumference of the new world wherein dwells righteousness.

If we hope to be a citizen of the new earth we must be diligent to always be found in the Lord Jesus "in peace, without spot, and blameless."

But does not "accepting Christ" do away with the requirement of having to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Christ"? If it does, then God has given us a new covenant that is decidedly inferior to the old covenant; for the old covenant at least required righteous behavior!

To be continued.