The motive of the misguided efforts of the government, the witches, and the scientists is the desire of Antichrist to place man at the center of the universe. To acknowledge the sovereignty of God is to remove from the brain and hands of man (the mark in the forehead and in the hand) the control over man's image.

The hypothesis of evolution, for example, which certainly lacks the credentials of authentic scientific law, is nothing more than an effort to thrust aside the Creator so man can be free to shape his own image as it pleases him without any interference from God, without any moral restraints. The attempt is ridiculous, given spiritual reality, but this is what is taking place in the world as we drift toward Antichrist, the great tribulation, and Laodicea.

God despises the image of the wicked. The wicked never will find peace or joy because God makes what they are and what they do desolate, corrupt, and miserable.

The Christian who would enter God's rest must cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the process of change from the lawless Adam into the holy, life-giving spirit who works righteousness and is godlike in appearance. We already have been called, justified, and glorified in the mind of God (Romans 8:30). There remains only our continuing trust and patience as we endure the battles designed to bring us to the state to which we have been called.

We must possess our soul in great patience, for it is the salvation, the re-creation, of our soul that is in the balance. It is possible to let our own soul slip from our grasp by not being true to God.

Male and female. Man has been given the characteristic of incompleteness. This incompleteness makes man significantly different from the angels.

The Lord Jesus is the Head, the Divine Male. The members of His Body are the female. This is the highest expression of the Divine proclamation that created man male and female in the image of God.

Only in union with God and with people can man find lasting joy. Joy is the one true eternal source of being, behavior, fruitfulness, and dominion. Joy is infinitely more than pleasure. Joy is the Divine, eternal motivation for personality and actions. Joy and peace can proceed only from love, that is, from union.

To die and go to Heaven is to be "gathered to our people," to be reunited with our loved ones. Heaven would be a dreary place indeed if we were not one with Christ and also brought into loving, joyous, and peaceful relationships with people.

The "treasures" we are laying up in Heaven are relationships. Isn't that true? Can you think of any other kind of treasure in Heaven?

The person who dies is welcomed by loved ones and friends. This is what makes Heaven "heaven." As we grow older we begin to look with joyous expectation toward passing into the spirit realm, not always because of release from dread and pain but because of the union with God and with people that we anticipate.

To be continued.