“They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. – Malachi 3:17-18 (NAS)

In the “sunset portion of the prophetic day” (the end of the end-times), a day was coming when the Lord would begin preparing His “possession” for … what? I believe the answer is — His return!

In our own lives, we always make preparations for THE Big Day … no matter what that big day, or big event, might be. As we draw near to it, the more attention we give to it and our preparation for it. It could be a vacation … or the visit of a friend … or a party … Whatever it is, we always make preparation for its arrival because it’s different and (at that moment in time) more important than anything else that surrounds it.

For that “last” generation spoken of by Jesus in Mat. 24:33-34, special attention will be given to their preparation like none other that has ever gone before. This principle is addressed throughout end-time Bible prophecy.

It is in the context of this realization that I prepared and taught this series by this title. As the Lord prepares the world for His soon return, His “highest priority” is the holiness of His saints. Again — His highest priority is holiness! Why? Because He is coming for His bride who, because of her love for her King, has “has made herself ready” for His appearing (Rev. 19:7-8). He is holy and, therefore, she is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).

So, what is holiness exactly? Believers have long believed (and non-believers as well) that “holiness” has something to do with being “sanctimonious” (a “holier-than-thou” mentality). Ask someone to describe “holiness,” and you are given descriptions of what holiness looks like and what holiness does. Attitude, behavior, conduct, presentation, conviction. While “holiness” may be depicted in each of these attributes and patterns, it’s not in any of these where is found the starting point for “holiness.”

Holiness begins in identity … not activity!

And this is where our study begins … (Click HERE for the Study Index page)