The Lord whom we seek is coming now. His fan is in His hand. He is baptizing with a baptism of fire those whom He chooses. Baptism with Divine fire is not an enjoyable experience but it brings us to the peaceable fruit of righteousness. It leads us into the knowledge of God as our Father. After we have been tested and refined we come forth as pure gold. Only our bonds are burned, as in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Of all the needs of the Christian churches of today, the greatest may be for Divine judgment. If God can find a person who will separate the precious from the vile, who will distinguish between what is righteous and what is unrighteous, who will stand and announce to the present generation the righteous ways of the Lord, then God may be entreated for our land and not destroy it.

Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. (Jeremiah 15:19)

If any individual will step forth and show God's people their sins, God will bless him and those who hear him. But such a prophet will be persecuted viciously by those who are making money from the flock; those who speak smooth words, pleasant promises, in order to gain a following. However, the Lord God always strengthens and protects His prophets even when the rest of the people perish.

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall [a fortified wall of bronze]: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 15:20)

One man is more powerful than a nation if he will stand with the Lord and explain to God's people the difference between holiness and uncleanness, righteousness and unrighteousness.

The Day is coming when many Christians will flee in terror from the Lord. They did not realize He was not dancing to their piping or playing their religious games.

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14)

How many of us are ready to "ever be with the Lord"? Are we certain we want to be that close to Jesus? Do we want to be that close today?

Who will stand in His burning Presence? The answer is the same today as it was in the days of Adam and Eve. God's eternal moral law never changes.

God does not change. New-covenant "grace" is not a means whereby the sinful and rebellious can stand in the Presence of the consuming Fire of Israel and not be judged for what they are and what they do. Divine grace that operates through faith is the means whereby the sinful and rebellious can become righteous, holy, and obedient to God, being able to live and move and have their being in the Divine fire.

To be continued.