Monsma’s Comments: What a way to close this series: "Be blessed and glad!" The believer rises up from the darkness, turmoil and persecution of his times. Stripped naked and without worldly possessions, he reaches out to the heavens, realizing he is not from this earth but a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. The believer is prepared to leave everything he had and was behind, friends, wealth, reputation, yes even family, thereby lining up with the nature of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. He has finally discovered what it means to be part of the gathering of the elect - the prophets, the martyrs, the apostles have all gone before him. By reaching out the believer is able to touch the foundations of their belief, faith, trust, and finally finds the Sabbath-rest in God. He now understands that peace, persecution, gladness, can be overpowering elements all happening at the same moment in and during difficult circumstances. The believer has reached his/her destination!