Spring 1999
Preparation of the Church for the End-time
Edited
Richard Pleasant

The Lord will have overcomers, who know His voice and operate under the direction of their Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the final days of this dispensation.

These who will be a part of this overcoming Church will be free from any desire for personal gain or recognition, and will have unconditionally submitted themselves to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. They will be melded together in one Body under its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When any Church body comes into the understanding of the Kingdom of God, it is as though they come under a canopy; a special provision for safety such as the Israelites experienced in the desert with the cloud and pillar, or the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, or Daniel in the lions' den.

"Go in through the narrow gate ... because narrow is
the gate and constricted is the way which leads to
life, and there are few who find it.” Matt 7:13-14.

Jesus was not referring to those who are traveling the road toward heaven, but rather to this special place of safety, which is to be found in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. There is a choice among believers as to how far they will trust the Lord each day. Those who choose the "narrow gate" will enter the Kingdom of God through faith in what Jesus said we are to be,

"Therefore be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven
is perfect." Matt 5:48.

We have been taught that this cannot happen here on earth, but only after we enter heaven. If this were so, then the Lord could not present to Himself a glorious Church, "without spot or wrinkle ... holy and without blemish." Eph 5:27.

Our vision must expand to embrace the truth that the Lord will have a Church in which He has “made us kings and priests to God and His Father." (Rev 1:6).

The role of a priest was to minister first to the Lord from behind the temple veil, then come out and minister to the people. The Church must minister first to the Lord, and then be empowered as kings to minister to others as a result.

Jesus prayed in John 17 (Amplified) that "they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know (absolutely recognize) that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

This will be the final witness before the door closes. The Church will be the only witness the world will have, that this Word is true. We have not been about our Father's business and have failed to grasp the fact that we are called to become Sons of God!

In these last days, the Lord is preparing a people who will see with pure vision the desires of His heart, and perform according to His directions. Before Jesus was revealed as the Messiah, John the Baptist came crying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

From our viewpoint, this appears to be long overdue. But the Lord is never late with his promises, so we must believe that He is timing the coming events in accordance with the counsel of His perfect will.

What manner of men ought we to be with this coming of His Kingdom in view.