Heirs to the Kingdom, Citizens of Heaven

Tags

#Israel, TheMessiah

I had often questioned why God had a chosen people and why God was to give them the kingdom. We are all made by God. Why is this group of Israelites special? The answer is found when we study the word of God in context and realize that not all of the Bible is written to us or about us. We must realize that when God makes a promise, He keeps it. But He keeps it in His own time. And God made Israel a promise thousands of years ago. And that promise was the Kingdom.

True, God did make all of mankind. His “first fruits” were the people who we know as Israel (Exodus 6:7-8). Do not confuse these people with the country Israel today. Israel was the name given the Jacob (son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham) by God in Genesis 32:28. Jacob’s descendants became known as the children of Israel. There were twelve tribes, which came from each of Jacob’s sons. These people suffered many tribulations because of sin. The Israelites were eventually made slaves in Egypt for about 400 years. But they were promised to be delivered to the Promise Land. This promise was first revealed to Abraham, the father of many nations, then to his son Isaac and then to Jacob.

If you have seen the movie with Charlton Heston The Ten Commandments or peeked at the Prince of Egypt cartoon, this should be familiar. So, Moses delivered the children of Israel with the intent of bringing them to the Promise Land. (We are getting to the Kingdom. Stay with me.) Despite witnessing the wonders of God including the ten plagues on Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, the children of Israel began to lose faith. They turned against God and started to worship idols in the desert. So, God gave them the law. Yep, the Ten Commandments. (Hundreds more laws followed but for some reason most people only talk about the ten. Oh well.)

Now God has established The Law.

The Kingdom Prophesied

This generation of Israelites did not see the Promise Land because of their sin. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. However, God still fulfilled His promise. The next generation under the leadership of Joshua (Moses’s sidekick and general), made it to the Promise Land. Sadly, their reign did not last very long. You guessed it. Sin. The children of Israel became intertwined with the culture in this new land and many of them started to worship idols and committed all sorts of crimes against God. They fell under the influence of the Philistines. Because of this, the priests lost their authority over the people. The Israelites demand that the prophet Samuel find a king for them. Despite Samuel’s warnings against this, they insisted. So, they get Saul, who was a good king for a while. But Saul’s fate was sealed when he allowed jealousy of one of his generals, David, (yes that David—the one who fought Goliath) to take over his life. Saul turned on David and in a very sad turn of events, committed suicide. Now, in 2 Samuel 7: 13-16 God promised David the kingdom. David became king.

Again, this kingdom does not last very long. King David died and his son Solomon became king. Solomon was a wise, powerful and wealthy man. He built the temple of Jerusalem where the ark of the covenant was housed. His reign was long but started to decline when he married native women who worshipped idols and not God. Slowly, these sins worked their way into the lives of the Israelites. And again, because of disobedience, the children of Israel lost their blessing. The Bible says in 2 Kings that each generation became more evil than the last. After King Solomon’s death, the Israelites split into two kingdoms: the North and the South. (Sound familiar?) The South was the old kingdom in Jerusalem and the North was the new kingdom who worshipped the idol god Bael. The two kingdoms continued to fight, of course. The North lost their kingdom to Assyria. The original kingdom in the South tried to return to God and obey the laws of Moses. But they were invaded by Babylon and were forced into exile.

The Kingdom to Come

Now, the children of Israel, the faithful few, are waiting for the kingdom to be re-established. The prophet Amos tells of God’s promise to re-build the kingdom in Amos 9:11. This is why the disciples asked the resurrected Jesus in Acts 1:6 if he will now restore the kingdom. Jesus pretty much told him not yet and you will know when I do restore the kingdom. Can you see the answer in His words?

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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:6-8

But you will receive power after the Holy Ghost is with you. And, you will witness not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles! Don’t you just love how Jesus gives you the tools to answer your own question?

So, God promised the Kingdom to the children of Israel thousands of years ago. They got it, lost it but God promised to restore it. That has yet to happen. But, in the process, God offered the gospel of salvation to ALL people in the age of grace which is where we are now. Jesus said it in his answer to the disciples. The kingdom will not be established until His message of salvation has been witnessed to the “uttermost part of the earth”.

The children of Israel will have their kingdom on earth. That is promised to them and God keeps his promises. Where does that leave the rest of us? In Romans 11, Paul tells us that through Israel’s transgression, we are offered salvation through grace.

Yes, beloved. We will be in Heaven.

The Kingdom Established

Once those of us who accepted Christ as our Savior are taken back to heaven, the age of tribulation will begin on earth. This is when the anti-Christ will appear. During this time, there is still hope for the world because they can still be saved.
The Bible tells us in Revelation 7 that 144,000, twelve thousand from each original Israelite tribe, along with a group of Gentiles will be witnesses to the gospel of Christ during this time. Notice how God has a select few throughout the Bible who carry on the word of God despite the persecution? Oh, those faithful few!

These 144,000 are the original tribes of the children of Israel. Beloved, please do not fall for those religions who claim they are the 144, 000 or only 144,000 people will go to Heaven. Study the word of God in its context.

This group of people are clearly the Israelites. At this point God has ended the age of grace. The church has been raptured to Heaven and now this group, Gods first fruits, are sharing the gospel in these end times (Revelation 14:4).

These redeemed people will be with Christ here on earth where He will reign for 1,000 years. Here beloved, is where God fulfills his promise to restore the kingdom. In Revelation 14, John depicts the 144,000 as being seen standing with Christ on Mount Sion.

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1

The kingdom is restored, the saints saved during the age of grace are in Heaven, Satan is defeated, and Christ is on the throne.

Amen.

An Unconditional Salvation

Tags

payforblessings, truthaboutsalvation, wordfaith

I came across a post from one of my family members a few days ago that asked people to Cash App him for a blessing. At first, it saddened me to see this. I felt tears stinging my eyes but then I became angry, no I was livid. I started fussing about it out loud in my room alone. I asked God why do they do this? Do they not know, or do they not care? The answer may very well be both.

So, I sent my family member some information about tithing from a teacher who shares directly from the Bible. I hoped that my family member would at least try the video. It’s a quick listen. So far, the message has not resonated with him. I read his social media page and saw more of the same. And all the worst, many are following him, sending him money, asking him for an old-fashioned revival with tarrying and purging. One of the comments I read stuck with me.

There was a woman asking for dates and times for this “revival”. She was sick of people teaching “this ‘get it quick’ salvation. This woman did not have to explain what that means. Everyone on that thread was fully aware and I am sure completely believes that salvation comes from the work you do and not the death and resurrection of Christ.

I had to put my phone away. Yes, I was crying that hard. It felt like a death. It is a death. Because once you trust in yourself for salvation, trust in the things you must do for it, you have rejected the sacrifice of Christ as if it is not good enough.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:8

For those of you who do not know, tarrying is a ritual that was once common in the black Christian and a few Southern white communities. Tarrying is accomplished when the church brings the unsaved individuals to the front of the congregation, sit them in chairs or on their knees and make them clap their hands and call the name of Jesus until the Holy Ghost came. It was no doubt passed to slaves by their “Christian” owners as part of their effort to fulfill their Christian duty and “spread the gospel”. The practice started to fade some years ago when people started to either read the Bible in context or just left the Christian faith altogether.

Yep, I know. Sounds like witchcraft, right?

Anyway, I have never been quite clear on how they knew the Holy Ghost came. I know when I did it as a child, I just screamed ‘thank you Jesus for saving me’ because my friends said it. The truth was I wasn’t saved because I had not trusted in Christ alone. I was just doing what was expected.

Now, I will not pretend to know what’s in anyone’s heart. But my family member and his followers who are asking for this tarrying service to work for their salvation are probably not saved.

My dear family and friends, Jesus said, “It is finished.” What more do you need? He literally gave His blood and if you or I could do better, He would not have had to get on the cross.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Hebrews 10:10-11

As for the Cash App requests, you cannot pay or “sew a seed” for a blessing. If you know anything about the Bible at all, you know that the blessings and miracles over time have been to show people the evidence of the presence of God. Can God work miracles and give blessings? Of course! He is GOD. But the Lord has given us everything we need to survive here until He calls our souls home.

I have heard a lot of churches use Philippians 4:19 (But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus) to claim that God wants us to be rich. But, read this scripture in its context. The excerpt “according to his riches in glory” does not mean Jesus is concerned about any of us storing the paper our government prints or anything on this earth. (Remember, He plans to destroy the earth in the end anyway.)

Beloved, you give to ministry but you give what your heart desires and what your budget allows (2 Corinthians 9:7) and not 10% or any other set amount that was required of Israel when they were under the law and had to pay their priests (before grace) or what your pastor or priest requires. God is not at all concerned with anything material. He is concerned for your soul, the one thing that will not die.

Again, our works do not produce our salvation; they are evidence of our salvation. Once you accept this, the Holy Spirit gives discernment and dear heart, you will see the word of God in all its truth and love. And I would say to the face of anyone who teaches differently: How dare you lead these people down a path to an eternity without God!

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:23

Beloved, when Jesus died on the cross, He took your sins with him. When Jesus was resurrected, He conquered death for all who believe in Him. Jesus has done all of this, yet you believe that sitting in a chair and screaming His name over and over until you foam at the mouth, tops that and secures your salvation. Do not be fooled. Trust in His completed work, not your own.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

No Strings: The Lie About Salvation

Tags

false prophets, God's Love, how to be saved, salvation

When one of my friends came to me and shared that a lot of believers in her circle split over whether or not Jesus died to save everyone or just the people who believe, the first thing I thought was “You idiots!” ( Side Note: I’m a big House M.D. fan.) Seriously, I have to wonder why people sit around and think these things and then spread their philosophy to others and mask it as gospel. Beloved, please remember that the Bible says in 2 Timothy that people will turn away from the truth and instead to those who teach what they want to hear. Watch carefully for these false prophets. They have been placed among us disguised as believers when in truth, they seek their own agenda.

As for the latest, I’ve heard here is the argument:

Salvation is not for anyone until after they believe. God doesn’t save anyone from their sins until after they believe.

Meaning, Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected only for those who believe it. Sounds like these foolish mortals with their flawed flesh are so desperate for exclusivity that they have forgotten that Christ died for all.

ALL.

It’s almost laughable and it would be if it weren’t so sad. My beloved friends, God gave His Son Jesus Christ to save the WORLD. That means EVERYONE has access to salvation. We only have to BELIEVE that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, died on the cross and was resurrection for the remission of our sins! Period. How hard is that?

There is so much Biblical evidence to dispute this claim. Here are a few from the text.

Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

See a pattern? This gift of salvation is for ALL.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Grace and peace,

Blessings and Love!