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The Kingdom of God
By Mahlon Wickey December, 2012
We are all aware that all human governments (if NOT controlled or restrained) will GROW, and will be INSPIRED to make laws designed to increase its POWER and CONTROL over the masses of people. We are also aware of the external source and seat of POWER (located in a city) that is given the authority to ENFORCE these laws. But the "natural" minded man is NOT AWARE that "behind the scenes" is an ALL-powerful secret SPIRITUAL government that has absolute TOTAL control over the political affairs and agendas of ALL human governments.
This unknown source of the seat and throne of power of this ALL-powerful secret spiritual government is in HEAVEN; which is NOT of (yes, OF) this deceived world, and of course this is why this deceived world is NOT AWARE of it. This ALL-powerful secret spiritual government is called the "kingdom of God" that the Bible mentions many times. As we shall see, the kingdom of God is called a royalty (the status or power of a sovereign KING) that includes a ROYAL family, and it is possible for believers with the correct faith to "see", "enter into", and "inherit" this ROYAL government RULED by a sovereign KING.
The awesome secret POWER of the kingdom of God is all about control and regulation; not only of all human governments, but also EVERYTHING about "Mother nature". Yes, climate and weather, day and night, the seasons of the year, all plant life, all animal and bird life, and all ocean life HAVE to be carefully monitored and regulated. This very COMPLEX and unique physical creation was created to be the "home" for all mankind, and this "uniquely" proves that a sovereign God truly LOVES all mankind. But to most people it most certainly is NOT LOVE that a God who is called LOVE (1John 4:8) would allow major weather disasters and earthquakes, allow the recent supposed mass slaughter of school children, and would ALSO allow "out of control" corrupt deceptive governments (such as our own).
The major point is this; there is a divine PURPOSE being "worked out" in this evil deceived world/age, and all kinds of EVIL are a part of this "working out" process. These evils INCLUDE deliberate "political" LIES and deceptions from corrupt politicians that have deceptive INSANE political agendas of power and control over the masses of people. "Political" LIES and deceptions are a major part of this "working out" process, and "power-mad" wicked men will govern with "closed minds" simply because they are INSPIRED and compelled to FORCE their INSANE laws of CONTROL over people.
IF evil deceptive "out of control" governments (such as our own) are in power during this evil deceptive world/age it is because there is a divine PURPOSE for it! Yes, all governments controlled by wicked men that have "supposed" authority to use evil deceptive "political" methods of control are themselves controlled! Carefully read, study, and BELIEVE Acts 2:23….
(KJV) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
"Determinate counsel" means that God had "appointed" (G3724) by His OWN "advice" (G1012) wicked "Jews" that USED the wicked Roman government to do the MOST wicked act of the BRUTAL killing of Jesus Christ! This TRUTH would mean that wicked governments only "appear" to be controlled by wicked men. This is WHY I believe that everything in the political arena of man’s deceptive and wicked methods of governing HAS to eventually "work out" EXACTLY according to a DIVINE PLAN simply because this PLAN was ALREADY "worked out" by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God!
The kingdom of God is a controversial subject among many believers in today’s "christian" environment. Some believers take the theological position that the kingdom of God is to be taken as a FUTURE coming kingdom with resurrected saints in positions of authority and power to RESTORE the righteousness of God to an evil deceived world. In other words, it is believed that the kingdom of God is a future EXTERNAL kingdom that will "take over" and FORCE its rule on all nations.
Other believers take the theological position that the kingdom of God is the PRESENT reality of an INTERNAL (NOT external) SPIRITUAL kingdom that RULES and guides the hearts of TRUE believers to the truths of the TRUE God. But the kingdom of God could be NEEDED to function as a FUTURE coming kingdom with resurrected saints in authority and power. But in order to be truly effective it must function as an INTERNAL (within the heart) "kingdom" that governs and has the POWER to change and "regenerate" (renew) the carnal heart, as we shall see.
I do believe it is generally correct to refer to the kingdom of God as an internal (within the heart) kingdom, but certain modern churches believe and teach that the kingdom of God is ALWAYS to be taken as a future EXTERNAL coming kingdom.
Millions of Americans were very saddened that this nation has re-elected a president that these millions of Americans believe is taking this nation in a very deceptive and wrong direction of division with policies DESIGNED to lead to a dictatorship. But the president himself is NOT the problem! The REAL problem is that there are millions of voting people in this nation that WANT division with policies that are designed to suppress the God-given freedoms of this nation’s so-called "free" people.
So the question is; why would people WANT and will VOTE for a government that will SUPPRESS their God-given freedoms and their God-given RIGHTS? It is called "brainwashing"; which is defined as a method of systematically changing attitudes or altering the beliefs of unsuspecting people. Candidates running for public office through campaign rallies, TV advertising, and with the HELP of our obviously prejudiced and biased news media these candidates are able to systematically convince unsuspecting people to vote ONLY for them. Brainwashing is very effective since it is done by a SYSTEM of mind-altering "techniques" that will "con" uninformed voting people to be "con"-vinced to BELIEVE misinformation and LIES!
We are a divided nation CAUSED by wicked men that are MASTERS of deception and deceit INSPIRED by their LUST for POWER. Jesus Christ said that every kingdom (or nation) that is DIVIDED against itself is brought to desolation….
Mat 12:25 KJV And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
The term "desolation" (G2049) means to "lay waste", and the greatness and the blessings of this nation is indeed being systematically WASTED! For many years this nation has taken for granted its God-given blessings, greatness, and prosperity believing that this greatness and all these material blessings of prosperity were somehow EARNED or deserved. We are a very UNTHANKFUL nation, and all our blessings are being systematically WASTED all because this nation is rejecting the TRUE God, and rejecting the TRUE source of ALL blessings. Yes, even our schools have rejected the TRUE God, and schools without GODLY teachings and values by definition are UNGODLY schools that will produce the UNGODLY "warped" and ignorant minds of many of our FUTURE leaders!
The solutions to this nation’s problems are NOT found in so-called "christian" beliefs, or in man-made laws, or in a two party political voting system. Our stalled economy, our HUGE national debt and financial MESS, our so-called "fiscal cliff", and other problems are only symptoms! This deceived nation has a spiritual problem, and the ONLY solution is an unknown secret source of power that will CHANGE and "regenerate" the deceived sinful heart of man! Yes, the source of all uncertainty, unrest, and stress of this nation (or any nation) is TRACED to the deceived sinful heart of man! If (I repeat, IF) enough human hearts in this nation are truly HUMBLED and INSPIRED to seek God and the POWER and RULE of HIS kingdom to be ACTIVE in their lives, then this nation will indeed start to truly HEAL itself, and solve its spiritual problem!
WHY does the "intelligence" of mankind NOT KNOW how to PREVENT all the woes, sufferings, and bloodshed throughout all the history of mankind? Why does an ALL-powerful God PERMIT mankind to CONTINUE in this destructive path of woes, sufferings, and bloodshed? There is a conflict and struggle of the forces of "good and evil", and these forces HAVE to CONTINUE in order to fulfill this evil world/age by the divine plan of God! These "good and evil" forces (spirits) are at WAR within the heart that CAUSES this conflict and struggle of the thoughts of man; which directly explains WHY all human governments are UNABLE to solve their problems!
Adam’s SIN was destined to sinfully affect ALL human governments in ALL of human history by the knowledge of "good and evil"; which INCLUDE the "seeds" of enmity (hatred, or to "oppose"). It was God (yes, GOD) that put this enmity to be ACTIVE in what is known as the "two seeds" of Gen 3:15. The source of this TYPE of enmity is from the "seed of the serpent" and from the "seed of the women"; which by the divine PLAN of God is to be a temporary source.
By reading Gen 3:15 in a "natural" way we naturally ASSUME that this is natural "seed" (sperm) that produces the natural offspring of TWO RACES of people that hate and oppose each other. Yes, Gen 3:15 is indeed about people that hate and oppose each other, but what TYPE of "seed" is causing this TYPE of enmity? The word "seed" (H2233 and H2232) means "fruit" and "to sow", but just WHAT is this "fruit", and HOW is it "sown"? This type of enmity is NOT caused by "seed" that is "sown" in the WOMB that produces physical "fruit" (human offspring). It is the spiritual "fruit" of enmity that is "sown" in the HEARTS of two CLASSES of people (NOT two RACES of people). These two classes of people are destined to fulfill Gen 3:15 in ALL of human history by the divine PLAN of God!
The symbolic "serpent" (H5172) is an evil SPIRIT with a "hiss" (whisper) DESIGNED to whisper a "magic spell" as a DIVINE "enchanter" so as to "magically" deceive all mankind about the TRUE God. Carefully read the link, "Satan" on my web site.
I believe the symbolic "woman" was Israel; the old covenant "wife" of God (Isaiah 54:5-6), and I also believe this old covenant "wife" represented the redeemed BRIDE, the "Lamb’s wife" (Rev 14:4, 21:9). Evil spirits that deceive are "sown" by the serpent, and good spirits that REDEEM (re-purchase) are "sown" by the woman. These spirits are NOT spirit BEINGS, but are "spirits" that INSPIRE the thoughts of ALL mankind that inherited certain knowledge (to KNOW) what is "good" and what is "evil". Carefully read the link, "Devils" on my web site.
The kingdom of God is of profound significance and importance simply because in the New Testament the terms, "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven" are found over one hundred times! The term, "kingdom of heaven" is found ONLY in the gospel of Matthew, but of course the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are the SAME kingdom, but with TWO inspired applications. The kingdom of "heaven" applies to the "heavenly" REALM, and the kingdom of "God" applies to the PERSON of God. So please understand; the EXPRESSED love, nature, and character of the PERSON of God is (yes, IS) the expressed love, nature, and character of the kingdom of "God"! But the authority and power of the PERSON of God comes FROM the "third heaven" (2Cor 12:2); which is the "heavenly" REALM of the throne of POWER, and the DWELLING of God.
As we shall see, the spiritual realm of "heaven" is NOT an unknown secret planet somewhere in "outer space", but some modern churches believe and teach that it is! It is generally believed that "going to heaven" means that ONLY a very few saved saints will LEAVE earth, and live forever in bliss and happiness with God the Father and Jesus Christ on this unknown secret planet that some modern churches call "heaven". The King James Bible "seems" to say that the city of Capernaum was exalted unto HEAVEN….
Mat 11:23 KJV And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell:
But notice that the CORRECT wording is found in the Concordant Literal Version….
Mat 11:23 CLV And you, Capernaum! Not to heaven shall you be exalted! To the unseen shall you subside.
The term, "heaven" (G3772) means "through the idea of elevation", and the CLV says correctly that Capernaum shall not (yes, NOT) be exalted (elevated) to HEAVEN. Capernaum was an UNGODLY city that was indeed exalted (elevated), but in the CORRECT context of Mat 11:23 "heaven" was a GODLY spiritual "elevation" to the spiritual realm of "heaven". But the UNGODLY city of Capernaum COULD NOT be exalted (elevated) to the spiritual realm of "heaven". But for some "strange" reason the King James Bible states that the ungodly city of Capernaum was indeed EXALTED unto HEAVEN! Yes, we need to be very careful with our beloved King James Bibles!
As explained in the CLV, the ungodly city of Capernaum shall subside (be brought down) to the "unseen". This is the UNSEEN (imperceptible) realm of "hell/hades" (G86) that this ungodly city was CONDEMNED to. But this hell/hades is the "unseen" state of death for ALL souls (yes, ALL souls) when they die. But the difference is that when believing souls die "in Christ" they are NOT condemned, and therefore their souls do not REMAIN in hell/hades waiting for their judgment of "fire". Please understand; the spiritual realm of "heaven" is NOT a "location", and "hell/hades" is also NOT a "location", but certain modern churches believe and teach that they are. ALL unbelievers shall be brought down to hell/hades (G86); the "unseen" (imperceptible) state of death that is NOT PERCEIVED (maybe for thousands of years); which would mean that they did NOT KNOW they were in "hell".
The terms, "exalted to heaven" and "brought down to hell" are NOT meant to bodily and literally be taken to different "locations". The difference is that "heaven" can be a Godly conscious state of mind, and "hell/hades" is an unconscious state of DEATH! Yes, ALL unbelievers are condemned "TO HELL" to wait for their judgment, but judgment from a God of mercy and LOVE means that God in mercy and IN LOVE will "make things right" for all unbelievers, and by the judgment of "fire" God will in mercy and in love CORRECT the sinful FLAWS of ALL unbelievers.
Yes, TRUE believers can be "elevated" (G3772) to the spiritual realm (NOT a "location") of heaven. Notice what Christ said….
John 3:13 KJV And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Christ said that He was IN HEAVEN when He spoke these words. TRUE believers that are "in Christ" are ALSO "in heaven" simply because they have the "heavenly" mind of Christ within their hearts, and therefore are "elevated" to the spiritual realm of heaven as Christ was WHILE living on earth.
As we all know, the general THEME of Jesus Christ’s message was the "gospel of the kingdom of God". When John the Baptist started his ministry he preached to the Israelites of his day to REPENT for the kingdom of heaven was "at hand" (Matt 3:2). Jesus Christ also preached that the "time is fulfilled" and the kingdom of God was "at hand", and to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). "Gospel" simply means good news; so WHY was the kingdom of God good news AT THAT TIME? We will soon see the prophesied "time" that was FULFILLED.
The term "at hand" (G1448) simply means that the kingdom of God was approaching and was near. But wasn’t the kingdom of God always "at hand" in ALL of human history? Sure, but it was NOT YET "at hand" to DO a certain FUNCTION, but in all of human history the kingdom of God had certain functions since the PLAN of God depended on these certain functions!
The preaching of John the Baptist "paved the way" for Jesus Christ to preach about a NEW function that was approaching and was near that would SOON change and "regenerate" the carnal heart. But the potential rule of the kingdom of God is already WITHIN the carnal heart, and this RULE would SOON be a reality to guide and INSPIRE the carnal heart. Yes, Christ did say that the kingdom of God is WITHIN, as we shall see.
The term "repent" (G3340) means to "think differently"; not only on MORAL issues, but to "think differently" on the kingdom of God as doing a NEW function that was "at hand". On this premise, could it be that Christ told the Israelites of His day to "think differently" on the kingdom as NOT "external", but NOW as an "internal" kingdom designed to change and INSPIRE the carnal heart? They were told to "think differently" so that they would be ABLE to accept and BELIEVE IN this NEW function WITHIN the heart of the love, nature, and character of the PERSON of God. It was indeed good news that the kingdom of God was "at hand" that had the authority and power to SOON change and "regenerate" the carnal heart of man! So please understand, this was WHY the message was to REPENT and to BELIEVE the "good news" of the kingdom of God!
The Israelites of Christ’s day believed in and were fully expecting the kingdom that was spoken of in Daniel 2:44….
KJV And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
So was this the "good news" that the Israelites of Christ’s day were NOW to believe IN; which was the kingdom that the God of heaven was to set up? On that premise the questions would be this; was the kingdom "at hand" during Christ’s day the SAME kingdom of Daniel 2:44, and would Daniel’s kingdom SOON "break in pieces and consume" all other kingdoms? But would this also INCLUDE the Roman kingdom at the time of Christ that would also SOON be broken in pieces and consumed?
Daniel said that this kingdom "shall NOT be left to other people" (other than Israelites), and of course the name "Israel" (H3478) does indeed mean, "he will rule as God". But I believe physical Israel under the old covenant was used to represent spiritual TRUE Israel of the spiritual (NOT physical) kingdom of God. Of course, it is ONLY this spiritual TRUE Israel that will be ABLE (yes, be ABLE), and be qualified to "rule as God". Carefully read the link, "Israel" on my web site.
I also believe that the 69 weeks (of years) spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27 was the TIME that was fulfilled to the very day that Jesus Christ STARTED His ministry! But the final "one week" of the 70 weeks prophecy was NOT YET fulfilled, simply because at the START of Jesus Christ’s ministry the kingdom of God was NOT YET changing, "regenerating", and INSPIRING the heart!
Daniel’s kingdom was NEVER to be destroyed, and it was to stand "for ever", and the terms, "never" and "for ever" are BOTH linked to H5957; which means a remote and indefinite period of past or future TIME. The "time" of Daniel’s kingdom would last for a remote and undefined period of time (yes, TIME), but "time" is NOT what we would call ETERNITY! Notice the CORRECT wording in the Concordant Literal Version….
Daniel 2:44 CLV In their days, that is, of these kings, the Eloah of the heavens will set up a kingdom that for the eons shall not come to harm. His kingdom shall not be left to another people. It will pulverize and terminate all these kingdoms, and it shall be confirmed for the eons."
The term, "eons" is how we get the term, "ages". This kingdom of Daniel 2:44 would remain in POWER through the coming AGES, but it would NOT rule for the duration of what we would call ETERNITY! Could it be that the kingdom of Daniel 2:44 was used to represent the spiritual kingdom of God that was approaching and was near at the START of Christ’s ministry to SOON do a spiritual function within the carnal heart? Yes, this spiritual kingdom that expresses the love, nature and character of the PERSON of God WITHIN the hearts of the SAVED saints will indeed eventually "pulverize and terminate" (CLV) all the kingdoms spoken of in Daniel 2:44.
I want say again, the kingdom of God is of (yes, OF) the love, nature, and character of the PERSON of God, and it is the WILL and intention for the PERSON of God to eventually destroy ALL enemies known to mankind! Yes, when all enemies have served their divine PURPOSE they will all be destroyed including the LAST enemy (DEATH), and Christ will THEN deliver (surrender) the kingdom to the Father. This TRUTH is clearly explained in 1Corinthians 15:24-26….
KJV (24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
The term "put down" (G2673) means to render entirely idle and useless. ALL rule, ALL authority and power will be rendered entirely idle and useless simply because it will NO LONGER BE NEEDED! This is WHEN Jesus Christ will deliver (surrender) the kingdom to the Father since the kingdom has NOW FINISHED its divine PURPOSE in preparing all mankind for salvation!
The kingdom of Daniel 2:44 is destined to destroy all PHYSICAL kingdoms of man, and the kingdom that was "at hand" during Christ is destined to destroy all SPIRITUAL enemies of man, including the state of DEATH itself. But BOTH kingdoms only rule until the "job gets done", and NOT rule for eternity! Their authority and POWER is needed only UNTIL all physical kingdoms of man are destroyed, and only UNTIL all spiritual enemies known to man (including death) are destroyed. The rule and POWER of the kingdom of God is ALSO the rule and POWER of the "kingdom of his dear Son"….
Colossians 1:13 KJV Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The word, "translated" (G3179) simply means to transfer or to exchange. TRUE believers can be "transferred" and be "exchanged" from the "power of darkness" (deception) INTO the kingdom of His dear Son (Christ). The point is; this is NOT an external kingdom, as explained in Luke 17:20-21….
KJV The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
It cannot be observed (by eyesight), and also the word "within" (G1787) means INSIDE. It is assumed by certain modern churches, and also by the FLAWED thinking of certain Bible commentators that "within" means that the kingdom (in the person of Christ) was "among" or in "the "midst" of the people. Of course, Christ was among or in the midst of the people, but why is it IGNORED as to WHAT Jesus Christ truly said!
You see, it is ASSUMED that Christ did not mean that the kingdom was "within" the Pharisees that Christ was speaking to. It is also ASSUMED that "within" could NOT mean that the POTENTIAL rule and POWER of the kingdom of God is already INSIDE the carnal heart. I say it means exactly that!
Yes, INSIDE the carnal heart of man (internal) is the ONLY way that the kingdom of God can eventually destroy all spiritual enemies known to man, which is done by CHANGING, "regenerating", and INSPIRING the carnal heart of man! Yes, INSIDE the hearts of ALL mankind are "built-in" LAWS of perception, belief, and faith divinely designed to INSPIRE the carnal heart. But a sovereign God HAS to open the hearts to "activate" these built-in LAWS of perception, belief, and faith.
Most modern churches IGNORE that man is NOT ABLE on his OWN power to choose by his so-called "free will" to "activate" these built-in laws INSIDE the carnal heart. The carnal heart is NOT ABLE to truly express GODLY built-in laws that are "locked up" INSIDE the carnal heart, and it is only by the POWER of the Holy Spirit of a sovereign God that will UNLOCK and "activate" these GODLY built-in laws INSIDE the carnal heart.
ALL human souls will worship "something" simply because they are INSPIRED to obey SPIRITS that are already INSIDE their carnal hearts. A sovereign God during this evil world/age has given mankind over to worshipping and obeying FALSE and deceptive spirits to KEEP mankind in the "power of darkness" for a divine PURPOSE! Yes, the POWER of "darkness" is the power of deception caused by evil deceptive SPIRITS that ALL mankind has INHERITED.
When we are "in the dark" we are "blinded", and we cannot SEE (perceive) the truths of God! We only get a CORRECT spiritual "vision" if (I repeat, IF) a sovereign God has "translated" us from being in "darkness" (deceived) INTO the kingdom of His dear Son. As we know, this truth was previously explained in Colossians 1:13.
Jesus Christ said that the ONLY way to "see" (perceive) the kingdom of God is that we MUST be "born again"….
John 3:3 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
To "see" is with the mind’s EYE that NOW has a spiritual VISION to "perceive" (to KNOW) that a certain FUNCTION of the kingdom of God can be "active" INSIDE the heart! Jesus Christ also said that in order to "enter into" the kingdom of God we MUST be "born of water", and ALSO born "of the Spirit"….
John 3:5 KJV Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
I do NOT believe "born of water" means a physical birth by the breaking of the "waters" of a mother’s womb. I believe "born of water" means a symbolic WASHING that points to the "washing of regeneration", and "renewing" of the Holy Spirit….
Titus 3:5 KJV Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The terms, "regeneration" (G3824), and "renewing" (G341) simply means a "spiritual rebirth" and a "spiritual renovation"; which means a spiritual "repairing". The carnal heart can ONLY be "repaired" and "renewed" by the spiritual WORK of the Holy Spirit. Notice how the 1912 Weymouth NT explains Titus 3:5….
"the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit".
Yes, we all need a spiritual BATH! When our carnal NATURES are REPAIRED (renewed) by the WORK of the Holy Spirit we are then ABLE to "enter into" (OCCUPY) the kingdom of God (John 3:5). When we truly become an occupant of the kingdom of God (in this life) we will truly experience the love, nature, and character of the PERSON of God! But in Matt 21:31 Jesus Christ ALSO said this "unbelievable" statement; "that the publicans and harlots GO INTO the kingdom before you"....
Matthew 21:31 KJV Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
The key words that Jesus Christ used are the words, "before you". Publicans (G5057) could be called tax-collectors, and harlots (G4204) means a "strumpet", which is another term for whore or loose woman. Jesus Christ said that tax-collectors and whores could "go into" (occupy) the kingdom BEFORE the Pharisees could, simply because tax-collectors and whores knew WHAT they were, and they believed John the Baptist….
Matthew 21:32 KJV For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Many of today’s IRS agents KNOW that they are involved in "legal" THEFT on so-called "income", and whores also know WHAT they are. Therefore they will BELIEVE the TRUE gospel and repent BEFORE modern-day "Pharisees" will believe and repent! Based on Christ’s OWN words it is "safe" to say that IRS agents and whores have a BETTER chance to OCCUPY the kingdom of God than do some of today’s "ministers of God" that have the SAME stubborn hearts as the Pharisees of Christ’s day, and they will NOT change their beliefs, no matter what!
We CANNOT "inherit" (take ownership) of the kingdom of God with flesh and blood bodies….
1Corinthians 15:50 KJV Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God simply because it is a SPIRITUAL kingdom! We are in training to prepare our SPIRITUAL bodies (1Cor 15:44); NOT our flesh and blood bodies! In Gal 5:19-21 the apostle Paul named ALL the harmful "works of the flesh" (and blood) that will NOT INHERIT the kingdom. But Paul also said we serve God with our MIND (Rom 7:25), and if (yes, IF) our MIND "gives in" to DO these harmful "works" then our mind is NOT RIGHT, and we are NOT qualified to INHERIT something so great and so precious!
It is a matter of having the correct humility and the correct state of mind, and if (I repeat, IF) our mind is right (yes, IS RIGHT) we will RESIST these harmful "works" of the flesh! To INHERIT the kingdom of God we become part owners; which is much GREATER and precious then just to "see" (perceive) or to "enter into" (occupy) the kingdom of God.
The term "government" in the Old Testament (H4951) was taken from H8280; which means "to prevail and have power as a prince". I want to mention again that the name "Israel" (H3478) means "he will rule as God", and it is ALSO taken from H8280. Isaiah 9:6 says, "the government shall be on His shoulder" (H7926); which means the "place of burdens". The major BURDEN of government is placed on Christ, but THROUGH Christ a people called "Israel" will prevail and have power as a prince to rule as God (H3478 and H8280). But is this "Israel" determined by a physical genetic family, or does this "Israel" have a SPIRITUAL family determined by TRUE "Israel" of the spiritual realm of HEAVEN? We shall see.
"Kingdom" is the Greek word G932 that means "royalty" (rule or a realm). G932 is taken from G935 that means "through the notion of a foundation of power" of a sovereign KING. The key word is "foundation", which means that the kingdom of God is the BEDROCK of all power (yes, ALL power), and is FOUNDED on the royalty and rule of the sovereignty of the KING (GOD) over ALL creation and over ALL nations. Royalty also means "people of royal BLOOD", and the status, dignity, and power of the sovereignty of the RACIAL linage of a ROYAL family.
"Royal" (G934) is also FOUNDED on a sovereign kingly rule because it is linked to G935. But the status, dignity, and power of PHYSICAL "Israel" is inherently flawed, and does NOT have sovereign power on its OWN merits and by choices made by so-called "free will". More important, this type of royalty is NOT founded on the genetic racial ancestry of a certain human family, but is FOUNDED on the sovereignty of God; the KING over ALL creation! TRUE royalty has a spiritual lineage of a "heavenly" FAMILY that is "born again" of our heavenly Father and of heavenly Jerusalem above; the MOTHER of us all….
Galatians 4:26 KJV But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
It is common knowledge today (but strangely never talked about) that the line of kings of the British ROYAL monarchy can be traced back to King David. Yes, there is indeed in today’s world a ROYAL family, and the physical racial ancestry of this royal family has a pedigree of PURE BLOOD with an unbroken line of kings from David on through the centuries.
I believe the "glorious" physical kingdoms of David and Solomon that ruled during the Old Testament were SET UP by God as a TYPE that represented the TRUE glorious rule of the kingdom of God! This TRUE glorious RULE of the kingdom of God is NOW ruling and INSPIRING the true royal family that is being TRAINED to RESIST all the harmful "works of the flesh" in order to qualify to inherit the TRUE glorious spiritual Kingdom of God.
But MUST this TRUE royal family first (yes, FIRST) have the pedigree of pure blood before (yes, BEFORE) they can qualify to INHERIT this glorious spiritual kingdom? This question could also be asked in this manner; is TRUE royalty determined by the PHYSICAL ancestry and the RACE of a certain family going back to a man called Jacob/Israel? Or does the spiritual family of HEAVEN determine who will qualify to inherit TRUE royalty that would include people of ALL nations that indeed have hearts with built-in LAWS of perception, belief, and faith divinely designed to INSPIRE their hearts? These are very VALID questions that we should answer within our own hearts!
In conclusion, we should all agree that the kingdom of God is an internal (inside the heart) kingdom. We should get "past" the concept of an external kingdom, which would mean that the love, nature, and character of the PERSON of God would be OUTSIDE of our hearts. IF we sense a RENEWED interest in the kingdom of God, and IF we sense a certain PEACE and FREEDOM from ALL "feel good" emotional "snares" and deceptions of ALL "christian" churches; then we will "see" (perceive) the REALITY of the kingdom, and if (yes, IF) we spiritually GROW in the knowledge of the TRUE God we will "enter into" (OCCUPY) the kingdom, and we might qualify to INHERIT (become part OWNER) of the kingdom owned by a sovereign KING, and also OWNED by a ROYAL family!
By Mahlon Wickey December, 2012
Questions or comments?... Email: mrwickey7@gmail.com