Here is another misconception concerning the Kingdom of God. It is believed commonly that people can enter the new Jerusalem, the center of government of the Kingdom of God, on the basis of being forgiven through means of the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Christ. But this is only partly true. It is a fact that whoever would enter the holy city must be forgiven by the blood of the Lamb. It never will be possible for an individual to come into the Presence of God apart from the Lord Jesus.

But, as we have stated previously, the Christian redemption does not stop with forgiveness. It includes the total rehabilitation of the individual.

Adam and Eve were denied access to the tree of life because they had sinned. God in His mercy thrust them out of the garden. In order for them to get back into the garden they must be delivered from the guilt of their sin, from the compulsion to sin, and from the effects of sin.

In order to go through the gates in the city of God the individual must keep God's commandments.

The wall is one of the most important concepts of the Kingdom of God. The wall of separation from all sin and rebellion against God is being constructed now in the personalities of the victorious saints. It is the wall that is stressed in the description of the new Jerusalem. God has determined to have no more unwalled Edens, no more undefended glory. One rebellion against the Lord God of Heaven is enough.

Building the wall against sin is of extreme importance in the present hour. The believers who are dwelling in carelessness, as far as the development of resistance against sin is concerned, are missing the current move of the Spirit of God. The purpose behind the current deceptions, such as the overemphasis on grace, the overemphasis on the love of God, the overemphasis on the ascension of the believers, is to prevent the building of the wall against sin. Satan knows he has access to the work of God until the wall has been constructed.

God requires that each saint today become a reinforced bronze wall (Jeremiah 15:20). Such victorious Christians will play an important role in the days to come. But the believers who continue in their carelessness and lukewarmness will suffer much in the near future. They will not be able to stand in the midst of the spiritual darkness hovering over the world.

Around the Kingdom of God is a jasper wall. It is high and impenetrable and its gates are guarded by angels. Sinners cannot enter past the gates whether or not they name the name of Jesus. It is the holy city and the holy city it shall remain. Neither the person of Satan nor any of his works will ever enter through the gates. The sinner cannot enter through the gates. Only those who have actually washed their robes (conduct) in the blood of the Lamb, making themselves pure as He is pure (I John 3:3), can enter through the gates into the holy city.

Blessed are those who do the will of Christ. They will be permitted to enter through the gates into the city of God.

To be continued.