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!
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