THE KINGDOM
In The Kingdom Part 4 we showed that Jesus preached a kingdom at hand, never saying anything that should lead us to believe that the kingdom was not on the earth. It was a form of government but it was not like the government of the gentiles that exercised authority and offered benefits1 which you could apply or pray for. It was a form of government that operated under the perfect law of liberty. It could operate anywhere without a central government or national bank, in the midst of tyrants, famine and catastrophe.
For centuries we have been told, taught and take in by the idea that the kingdom is not at hand, that it was not a form of government but a religion, that it was not of this world and that it was "only" a Spiritual2 thing that was some how related to going to church3. That is a great lie and a strong delusion4.
After the post 4 someone quoted 1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (KJV) Is this true? We can see that the statement changed the phrase to support what someone already believed to be true.
Verse 50 was clearly talking about not being able to "inherit" the kingdom because of flesh and blood . The Pharisees tried to say they had a right to the kingdom because their Father was Abraham. Jesus said he would take the kingdom away and give it to another5. By this we know the kingdom was there but not bearing fruit the way it was meant to. He did it take it away and appointed it to new men as the Bible also says.6 You can not inherit the kingdom because you were born a Christian or a Jew but you must repent and strive7 to enter by doing the will of the Father. You cannot earn it but saying lord lord8 is not enough either. You actually may have to do something.
Jesus clearly said in Luke 14:15 "And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."
Jesus is talking about eating bread in the kingdom. Some might say that is just a metaphor but Jesus also says in Luke 22:16 "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
He is telling us that the kingdom is about to be fulfilled and then he would eat with them. In John 21,12-14 we see, "Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Jesus is physically eating in the kingdom. I someone wrote me, clinging to his religious beliefs, that it does not say Jesus actually "ate". So, I showed him Luke 24:40-43 "And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them."
So, there you have it. Jesus is eating with them in the flesh in the kingdom which he had been teaching, preaching and appointing.
Jesus goes on to explain in Luke 24:44-45 that this is the fulfillment of those earlier words in Luke 22:16:
"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"
Wouldn't that be great if someone opened our understanding so that we understood that Jesus came in the flesh and ate in the kingdom in the flesh and appointed His kingdom of perfect liberty to men in the flesh, on earth and at hand. This is not discounting the spirit but nor should we discount the flesh that God created.
Remember to separate the flesh from the spirit is the very definition of being dead. Yes the spirit should lead the flesh and not the other way around but if the kingdom of heaven is within you then why isn't it, its righteousness and its perfect law of liberty around you? Remember also that his kingdom comes on earth as his will is done on earth. Is Jesus your king or are their other rulers in your life?
Yes, Jesus was proclaimed as king by the people and that fact was agreed to by the proclamation of Rome.
Yes, he was crucified but then he came back and he ate in the kingdom in the flesh.
Why did they want to kill him? Didn't everyone love this man of peace, this miracle worker?
Some did but not everyone.
Why not?
Because while he was king he fired some of the administrators at the national treasury who were forcing taxation upon the people ever since they passed a statute in 78 BC9 requiring that everyone who was a member of the Corban system of the national temple had to pay the tax or be arrested, taken to court, prosecuted and punished with fines and forfeiture of their legal property.
Jesus goes on in Luke 24:46-49 to talk about kingdom beginning in Jerusalem and going out to all the nations but first they had to go back to Jerusalem and wait. How long did he say they had to wait?
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:46-49
How long did he say they had to wait until they received the power? Question: 10 days? 10 years? 1000 years? 2000 years? We find the answer in another place. In Acts 1:6-8 this whole question of the power of the kingdom was asked and answered.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
They went back and tarried in Jerusalem10, the Holy Ghost11 came when they were in one accord on Pentecost12 and then they had the power. They went out with that power and preached to every nation under heaven13 and baptized people who accepted Christ as king by the thousands14 into his appointed kingdom15, they ministered to them daily in the temple receiving the charitable donations of the people instead of the taxes of the Pharisees16 and taking care of the daily ministration of the widows and orphans by the election and appointment of new ministers to take care of the business of the kingdom.17
They did this side by side with those who killed Christ and though they were persecuted the law was on their side for the most part18 because they were lawfully appointed to their office by the king who had the right to rule. Pilate agreed.19
So what was the answer to the question, "How long did he say they had to wait until they received the power?" Answer: They tarried ten days before they had the power and preached to all the nations under heaven. So why are people looking for the kingdom with observations? Well one reason is that they only know the gospel they were taught and do not look at it anew or as a child. They just don't know what a kingdom under the perfect law of liberty looks like. No one ever told them. Certainly not the modern churches.
The kingdom was always there and it was at hand and it was appointed and there was work to do in it as there still is work to do20. The kingdom is not edified or maintained by sitting around thinking spiritual thoughts or singing in Church. It was not for the dead but the living because he is God of the living not the dead.. We are supposed to be preaching that it is at hand and that it comes by doing his will not through observation.
The kingdom is a system where by two or millions people can come together in liberty and freedom as they tried to do in Israel before the kings. It was and is the superior system of government that can bar all tyrants and set the captives free. It is the system of God's government that operates anywhere by the perfect law of liberty for those who repent and seek the kingdom and its righteousness.
The kingdom of heaven comes to those who do the will of the Father, loving their neighbors rights as much as they love their own and are willing to strive in the righteous acceptance of their God given responsibilities as much as they are willing to demand their God given rights and the rights of their neighbor.
The Bible is about liberty and bondage or the government of God and those created by men and the difference between them.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand
http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/kingdom/1kifthen.HTM
Peace on your house
Gregory
and then he misquoted it saying, "As stated above - flesh and blood has no place in His Kingdom. "
Peace on your house
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Gregory
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Join the Living Stones NetworkChrist preached a kingdom at hand that that loved its neighbor, did not exercise authority and operated upon the perfect love of liberty with faith, hope and charity.... Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:5
Kingdom News
Intro Series
Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:
Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/polity/articlex.html
2 John 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
3 John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
4 2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
5 Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
6 Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
7 Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
8 Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
9 http://www.hisholychurch.net/pdfiles/ministers/clergy.pdf
10 Ac. 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem ..., which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
11 Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
12 Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
13 Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
14 Acts 2:38-41 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
15 Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
16 Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
17 Acts 6:1-3 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
18 Acts 26:28-32 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
19 John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. ... And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
20 Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. & Matthew 9:37