Salvation through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is central to the gospel message. The primary reason why He came to die, to be buried and resurrected is to save us from condemnation for breaking God's laws and commandments so that we could inherit everlasting life in the Kingdom of God (John 3:16). Without the privilege of ENTERING the Kingdom of God, there is NO SALVATION! That is why the Lord Jesus commanded us to 'seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness' (Matt 6:33) above all else in this life.
The Apostle Paul reveals that ALL (of mankind) will be made alive (1 Cor 15:22). But each one in his own order (verse 23) - meaning to say such resurrection will occur in stages. This is confirmed in Acts 24:15 when it records that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust (unbelievers). Christ is the firstfruits, to be followed by all those who are His true followers. This will happen in the FIRST RESURRECTION at His Second Coming for all the saints who are sleeping (dead) and also those who are alive at His Return (1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thess 4:13-17). They will be transformed into immortal spirit beings as sons and daughters of God's ruling family in the Kingdom of God (John 3:5-8). Their reign with Christ will commence from His Second Coming in His Millennial Kingdom and into eternity (Matt 13:43; 1 Cor 15:24-26). All of mankind who had ever lived since the the time of Adam and Eve but who failed to qualify for the First Resurrection will be resurrected as flesh and blood physical bodies (Matt 12:41-42; Acts 24:15; Ezekiel 37) in the Second Resurrection to occur at the end of the Millennial Age (Rev 20:4-6).
The immortal life in the Kingdom of God is made possible through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ' who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Such revelation is confirmed in Hebrews 2:10-12 for it is Christ 'who brings many sons to glory' and those who are made holy are of the same family of God, whom Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren (brothers), for whom He will declare God's name to His brethren. The Apostle Peter shares that those who enter the Kingdom of God (2 Peter 1:11) will even share God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Such is the awesome future to be part of God's family whom He has predestined for all those who would believe and obey Him. Romans 8:19 tells us that 'the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God' - which will happen at the First Resurrection upon the Second Coming of Christ. Then the kingdoms of this world - which are currently ruled or influenced by Satan - will become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever (Rev 11:15; 2 Tim 2:12). All the saints who are overcomers will sit with Christ on His throne (Rev 3:21). That incredible future is what Christ's message of the Kingdom of God is all about!
How then can we attain the goal of entering the Kingdom of God? First and foremost, we must repent of our sins for violating God's law and commandments (1 John 3:4). Then we must believe the good news of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14-15). The Lord warned of several obstacles that can prevent our entrance into the Kingdom of God. Self-righteousness (Matt 5:20), riches (Matt 19:23-26), greed and lust (Mark 9:47), pride (Luke 18:17), disobedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5) among many others. Simply put, to enter the Kingdom of God one has to be humble, teachable, adopt a childlike attitude with real repentance, baptism and receiving of God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Lord reminded us to keep the Kingdom of God in focus (Matt 6:33) and pray (Matt 6:10) in order to overcome these difficulties. When we do so, our outlook in life will be like those of the patriarchs of old as recorded in Hebrews 11. Their lives are centred on the coming Kingdom and not on their present physical well-being as they considered themselves as 'strangers and pilgrims' in the brevity of their mortal lives. Though they all 'died in faith', not having received their promises (of eternal lives) as yet till the First Resurrection (Hebrews 11:13, 39). For the patriarchs were dead and still 'sleeping' in their graves (Acts 2:29-30;2:34; 13:36) which God will reward them abundantly (Hebrews 11:6) in due time.
The Lord Jesus told us that the 'gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come' (Matt 24:14). God's festivals and Holy Days are special observances (Leviticus 23: 2,4) for His people to help us understand Christ's part in the plan of salvation and the eventual establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. Those who fail to do so are in clear and present danger of losing the inheritance of the Kingdom which God is glad to give it to those who will believe and obey the message of the Kingdom whom Christ was sent to preach (Luke 12:32; 4:43). For one must be diligent to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:11) - meaning that the seventh millennium (The Millennial Kingdom) is God's plan for mankind to reclaim all that was lost to Satan (Acts 3:21) who will be bound for one thousand years (Rev 20:2-3)during the reign of Christ, but one must work to enter it (Acts 14:22b). The choice is yours - but my advice is to be diligent to bear fruits (John 15:8-9) to be among the chosen and enter the Kingdom of God. For there is no other higher purpose and goal for man in the whole of the universe!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY (2)
Throughout the centuries, man has devised all kinds of nuances on the gospel about Jesus Christ. Instead of focusing on the gospel of Christ (the message of the good news of the Kingdom of God) which He was sent by the Heavenly Father to preach to mortal man, beginning with the Israelites (Mark 1:14; Luke 4:43), many believers including well-intentioned bible scholars have mistakenly interpreted the Kingdom of God to be the church, or some kind of spiritual experience that is 'in your heart', 'in your soul' or 'in your mind'. But my previous blogs have already explained that this just do not square with the Holy Scriptures! The Person of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God are two separate matters, albeit they are related, because the Lord Jesus Christ will return at His Second Coming to rule and reign the earth in a physical,corporeal Kingdom for one thousand years as the King of kings and Lord of lords. That is why we (Christians) are told to pray 'Thy Kingdom come' (Matt 6:10).
The Kingdom of God is a ruling body of God Beings (the firstfruits of the resurrected believers to be sons and daughters of God) who will consist of true disciples of Jesus Christ awaken in the first resurrection at the last trumpet call - or if they are still alive at His Return, transformed into spirit beings. These are the chosen and predestined ones who will rule and reign with Christ come the Millennial Age.
Let us look briefly at why Jesus came to earth some 2,000 years ago. While it is true that He came to save mankind from their sins so that they can be reconciled back to God the Father, there are more. Jesus Christ came as the 'second Adam' to qualify to rule in the coming Millennial Age where the 'first Adam' had failed due to disobedience and deception from Satan. That was why He was tested three times in the desert by the evil one. We all know that He passed the test with flying colours (Matt 4:1-11), hence making Him qualify to rule in the coming Kingdom. Following that he preached, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is at hand" (Matt 4:17). He came to announce the 'good news' of the coming Kingdom of God and establish the church to train disciples to rule with Him in the SuperGovernment of God. Jesus did not come to dethrone Satan's world who was, and still is the ruler of this age (2 Cor 4:4). He will come again to save the whole world with His saints who have qualified (overcomers) to rule and reign with Him as He did at His first advent. That is why the church is currently being 'judged' to be so qualified (1 Peter 4:17). Meanwhile, the world will continue with its problems while Satan is still on the throne. But the good news is this - it will not be much longer. This is the hope and future of all mankind which will materialise in the soon coming Millennial Age with the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne!
During the time of the Roman Empire when Jesus walked the earth, the Jews and Pharisees were looking for the Messiah to rescue them from the oppression of their pagan masters - the Roman Government. Many of the Pharisees, including Nicodemus knew who Jesus was (John 3:1-2). However, they were civil servants of the Roman Government called to do their master's bidding. They were afraid that Jesus would be installed King of the Jews and threaten their positions, power and prestige. But they failed to understand that Jesus was not coming as King of kings and Lords of lord then, but probably two millennia later. They thought He was a subversive out to set up a kingdom by the use of force, and they be found guilty of subversion. Though they understood the message of the Kingdom, they misunderstood the nature and timing of it, just like modern theologians. That is why even right up to the time of His ascent to heaven, some of His disciples are still asking Him, "Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). His reply - "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority". For if the Kingdom of God is the church, then this statement is superfluous as the church will be born at Pentecost ten days hence!
The Pharisees knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they failed to understand that there are TWO Messianic appearances - the second to appear some two millennia later. That was why Jesus told Nicodemius that the Kingdom of God will only come after the spiritual rebirth upon resurrection. That was why Jesus made plain to Nicodemius in John 3:5-6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". Sadly, many theologians spiritualised away as 'that which is in your spirit, in your soul, in your mind' kind of explanation. The Pharisees were familiar with water baptism as they had used it to baptise gentile proselytes converted to Judaism. Continuing from there, Jesus went on to explain about the wind, meaning to say that those born again in the Spirit into the Kingdom of God are invisible and immortal spirit beings (1 Cor 15:53-54). That is why flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50), only spirit beings (born again of God's Spirit) can. And this will only occur to the true disciples in the first resurrection (firstfruits), which is yet in the future (Rev 3:20-21). Hence, the teaching that the church is the Kingdom of God cannot be true.
Folks, do not be deceived by false teachings orchestrated by Satan himself (Rev 12:9). For he does not want you to know the truth or else you be set free (John 8:32)...free from his influence and control over your lives. It is absolutely important to get the truth right from Scriptures firsthand as your eternity destiny and crown (reward) are in clear and present danger (2 John 8)!
The Kingdom of God is a ruling body of God Beings (the firstfruits of the resurrected believers to be sons and daughters of God) who will consist of true disciples of Jesus Christ awaken in the first resurrection at the last trumpet call - or if they are still alive at His Return, transformed into spirit beings. These are the chosen and predestined ones who will rule and reign with Christ come the Millennial Age.
Let us look briefly at why Jesus came to earth some 2,000 years ago. While it is true that He came to save mankind from their sins so that they can be reconciled back to God the Father, there are more. Jesus Christ came as the 'second Adam' to qualify to rule in the coming Millennial Age where the 'first Adam' had failed due to disobedience and deception from Satan. That was why He was tested three times in the desert by the evil one. We all know that He passed the test with flying colours (Matt 4:1-11), hence making Him qualify to rule in the coming Kingdom. Following that he preached, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is at hand" (Matt 4:17). He came to announce the 'good news' of the coming Kingdom of God and establish the church to train disciples to rule with Him in the SuperGovernment of God. Jesus did not come to dethrone Satan's world who was, and still is the ruler of this age (2 Cor 4:4). He will come again to save the whole world with His saints who have qualified (overcomers) to rule and reign with Him as He did at His first advent. That is why the church is currently being 'judged' to be so qualified (1 Peter 4:17). Meanwhile, the world will continue with its problems while Satan is still on the throne. But the good news is this - it will not be much longer. This is the hope and future of all mankind which will materialise in the soon coming Millennial Age with the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne!
During the time of the Roman Empire when Jesus walked the earth, the Jews and Pharisees were looking for the Messiah to rescue them from the oppression of their pagan masters - the Roman Government. Many of the Pharisees, including Nicodemus knew who Jesus was (John 3:1-2). However, they were civil servants of the Roman Government called to do their master's bidding. They were afraid that Jesus would be installed King of the Jews and threaten their positions, power and prestige. But they failed to understand that Jesus was not coming as King of kings and Lords of lord then, but probably two millennia later. They thought He was a subversive out to set up a kingdom by the use of force, and they be found guilty of subversion. Though they understood the message of the Kingdom, they misunderstood the nature and timing of it, just like modern theologians. That is why even right up to the time of His ascent to heaven, some of His disciples are still asking Him, "Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). His reply - "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority". For if the Kingdom of God is the church, then this statement is superfluous as the church will be born at Pentecost ten days hence!
The Pharisees knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they failed to understand that there are TWO Messianic appearances - the second to appear some two millennia later. That was why Jesus told Nicodemius that the Kingdom of God will only come after the spiritual rebirth upon resurrection. That was why Jesus made plain to Nicodemius in John 3:5-6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". Sadly, many theologians spiritualised away as 'that which is in your spirit, in your soul, in your mind' kind of explanation. The Pharisees were familiar with water baptism as they had used it to baptise gentile proselytes converted to Judaism. Continuing from there, Jesus went on to explain about the wind, meaning to say that those born again in the Spirit into the Kingdom of God are invisible and immortal spirit beings (1 Cor 15:53-54). That is why flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50), only spirit beings (born again of God's Spirit) can. And this will only occur to the true disciples in the first resurrection (firstfruits), which is yet in the future (Rev 3:20-21). Hence, the teaching that the church is the Kingdom of God cannot be true.
Folks, do not be deceived by false teachings orchestrated by Satan himself (Rev 12:9). For he does not want you to know the truth or else you be set free (John 8:32)...free from his influence and control over your lives. It is absolutely important to get the truth right from Scriptures firsthand as your eternity destiny and crown (reward) are in clear and present danger (2 John 8)!
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