Category Archives: Kingdom of God

The Jews Coming to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth will NOT be heaven on earth!

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Not ALL Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled with the coming of the Christ in the first century of our age. For instance, many New Testament prophecies of the end of this present universe are quotes from the Old Testament. For instance Heb 1:10-12, and 1Cor 15:54-55, and much more. So it is with many things concerning the Jews. Their conversion will be in a time of severe stress on both Christians (first), and then the Jews. Of the Jews it says,

“11 He will pass through the sea of affliction, …
12 I will strengthen them in Yahweh;
And they will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.”
Zech 10:11

Jesus will NOT be on earth again.

Instead we will meet Him in the air, 1Thes 4:16-17.

“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it.”
Mtt 24:26

You may or may not believe that, but that IS what Jesus says. In fact, Jeremiah tells us that no descendant of Jeconiah/Coniah will ever rule “in Judah.”

“Thus says Yahweh, Write you this man childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for no more shall a man of his seed prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling in Judah.”
Jer 22:30

However, Jesus is a descendant of Jeconiah/Coniah, Mtt 1:11-12. Now that fits 1Thes 4:16-17, but not premillennialism.

Jesus has NOW “ALL authority … in heaven
and on earth,” Mtt 28.18

Jesus NOW rules over the kings of the earth, Rev 1:5, from heaven!

In prophecy there are often subtle shifts in subject.

Prophecy commonly ties the immediate things talked about, with the ultimate things which will happen. A prophecy of Israel’s sins of old will often jump from ancient Israel’s punishments by Assyria and Babylon, to the ultimate punishments at the end of this universe. Also many prophecies of the good that will come from the church or the Jews being faithful to God, jump from temporal benefits in this world to eternal benefits in “the world to come” (Heb 2:5).

An example is Isaiah 65.

Jewish Chronicles, to be released Friday November 6, 2020, described how Ezekiel 37 (pictured from an engraving by Dore, on the book cover) will be fulfilled in world history, and the glorious results that will have. See your book seller.

God speaks of the new heavens and new earth, Isa 65:17-19. There will be no weeping or crying, Isa 65:19. That is only in heaven itself, Rev 21:4. But a child will die at age 100, and the sinner dying at age 100 will be considered cursed, Isa 65:20. But that does not fit heaven -or- this world so far. A shift of subject matter.

The faithful Jews will cause an astonishing extension of human life on earth. This will be the golden age of the church in this world, but it will not quite be heaven. The Jews will still just be men, converting to Jesus. Jew and gentile will truly be one in Christ, Eph 2:18-22. Even so, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,” 2Tim 3:13. Mystery Babylon the Great (Revelation 14 to 18), and the Mystery of Lawlessness (2Thessalonians 2) will still be biding their time.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: The Vineyard of “Israel” is given to the Gentiles

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The Messiah of the Jews, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth, also talks about God’s people as a vineyard. And yes! Jesus is frequently referred to as ““Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher),” Jn 1:38.

A man planted a vineyard and rented it out
to some farmers, Mtt 21:33a

Then he went on a trip “into another country,” Mtt 21:33b The man of course is Jesus, and did He go to another country? Yes! He ascended into heaven in a cloud in Acts 1. Paul says,

“He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.”
Eph 4:10

How far? “Far above all the heavens.” But He is coming back the same way, Acts 1:11.

The master sent servants for His due portion
at the time of harvest, Mtt 21:34

But the sharecroppers renters / the Jews, beat the servants and sent them away empty handed.

“The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.”
Mtt 21:35

Jesus in other passages comments on the Jews mistreatments of what God calls, “my servants the prophets,” 2Kgs 9:7, etc.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!”
Mtt 23:37

He sent other servants, with the same results. Finally the man said, I will send my son, surely they will respect him, Mtt 21:36.

“38 But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.”
Lk 20:14-15a

This last is of course Jesus forecast of how He would be thrown outside of Jerusalem and killed.

“When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” Mtt 21:40

The Jews gave the answer.

These issues are discussed in more detail in this upcoming book. To be released Friday November 6, 2020, Jewish Chronicles, $19.95, 350 pages, illustrated, outlines the spiritual history of the Jew. See your bookseller.

“They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.””
Mtt 21:41

Jesus says that their rejection of the Christ was foreknown from ancient times.

“Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner.
This was from the Lord.
It is marvelous in our eyes?’”
Mtt 21:42

Then He says the Kingdom of God will be taken away from the Jews.

“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation bringing forth its fruits.”
Mtt 21:43

And it has been. And those in Christ are translated “into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;” Col 1:13.

The true Israel HAS ALWAYS BEEN “those who are pure in heart,” Psa 73:1

The true circumcision is of the heart, Rom 2:29, Deut 10:16, Jer 4:4.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Jews Coming to Jesus of Nazareth: God’s Plans Did NOT Fail at the Cross

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Some act as if this was a great mistake. That it messed up God’s plans. God’s Purpose was that His kingdom be established in the days of the Roman empire, as clearly prophesied in Daniel 2. However you can see that it was known that this would happen from the first, as you can see from the previous post.

Jesus could have easily set up a literal earthly kingdom of the Jews in the first century of our age.

Jesus could support an army out of nothing. In John 6 he fed 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with a mere five barley loaves and two fish, and at the end had over twelve baskets of broken pieces left over, Jn 6:9-13.

“14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.” 15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”
Jn 6:14-15

He could have had a literal kingdom in the first century, and such a worldly kingdom would have been accepted, but He rejected such! When He was on trial, He plainly said,

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
Jn 18:36

Almost every line of the gospel emphasizes this purpose.

If He was to be the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, that implies He would be slaughtered, Jn 1:29. He was asked for a sign for His authority for throwing the merchants out of the temple for the first time, early in His ministry.

“19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews therefore said, “Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.”
Jn 2:19-20

The Jews said they had been building this temple of 46 years. Herod’s temple was begun in 20 BC, and was still not completed. So this means this incident happened in 26 AD, very early in His ministry! So no, the rejection of the Jews was not an unanticipated “accident.”

And Jesus repeatedly tried to prepare his disciples for His coming murder at the hands of the Jews and Gentiles, but knowing that He was indeed the Christ, they didn’t understand what He was saying.

This was the determined plan and fore-counsel of God.

“27 For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.”
Acts 4:27-28

The kingdom was established, a kingdom not from here.

And we are translated / transferred into this kingdom, past tense, Col 1:13.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: David, Jesus and the Righteous in Psalm 69, Part 9 of 9

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Psalm 69 is explicit about those who reject the Messiah of the Jews.

“27 Charge them with crime upon crime.
Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
And not be written with the righteous.”
Psa 69:27-28

That means eternal death of course, if you are not in the Lamb’s book of life. That is of course is echoed in Scripture after Scripture, of both the Old and the New Testaments. Of the Christ it says,

“Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
For his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.”
Psa 2:12

And we also, Christians, are counted as sheep for the slaughter,
Rom 8:36

Jesus promises us,

“… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.”
Jn 15:2-

So this psalm is very relevant to the Christian and his struggles, Christian Age long!

Though in pain, the psalmist praises God, Psa 69:29-30.
The humble will see this and be glad!

This sacrifice He makes will be exceedingly pleasing to the Lord. It does indicate that God will in the end save Him from all of this unfaithfulness and treachery.

“31 It will please Yahweh better than an ox,
Or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
32 The humble have seen it, and are glad.
You who seek after God, let your heart live.
33 For Yahweh hears the needy,
And doesn’t despise his captive people.”
Psa 69:31-33

Ah! At last it specifically make an application that is wider than David and Jesus. “His captive people.” Are you among the humble who hear?

Lastly this psalm indicates that even the Jews
will finally recover from this rejection

Neal Fain’s new book Jewish Chronicles is to be relesed in the fall of 2020. It describes how the Jews will turn to their own Messiah in a time of severe persecution of both Christians and Jews, well before the second coming.

“For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah.
They shall settle there, and own it. “
Psa 69:35

One could argue that “Zion” applies to Zion above in Psa 48:2, and Gal 4:24-26, and Heb 12:22. But God building “the cities of Judah,” seems clearly to speak of Judah of this earth! Likewise Zechariah, after the first return from captivity pictures says,

“… “‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and cattle in it.”
Zech 2:4

But that has never happened … YET! And that is NOT Jerusalem above, because it has walls, Rev 21:1-2, 12-15. And Jesus says not one jot or a tittle of prophecy will fail until ALL of it has been fulfilled, Mt 5:18. So there remains a rebuilding by God of Jerusalem in Judah.

And who among the Jews will share this blessing?

“The children also of his servants shall inherit it.
Those who love his name shall dwell therein.” Psa 69:36

Of course these last verses are yet to happen. It is not that Jesus will at last relent and have a worldly kingdom. Rather that in a later time of distress, the Jews will repent, and will become a strong Chistian nation, Deut 4:30, Deut 30:6, Rom 11:11-12.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Common Pitfalls in Interpretation, Part 4

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And More Naive Assumptions: Thinking we know
what God may want or desire.

Without realizing it, we as men may read into what God says what is really human desires and objectives. We can do this in prophecy and also in many other things.

Take for instance food.

God speaking by the mouth of Paul has said,

“for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Rom 14:17

Still some may think, it is about how you eat, and what you eat. That is part of what righteousness is all about, and blithely ignore passages like,

“But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.”
1Cor 8.8

So much for God telling us plainly.

Or thinking if we like something for worship,
God must like it too!

Now you may like big band music, or rock music, or whatever, and that is your prerogative. But does that mean that God also likes what you like, and you should introduce it into worship? Really? This listen to what God says by the mouth of Isaiah.

“8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isa 55:8-9

It is foolish to introduce worldly entertainment into worship, confident of God’s acceptance. So how would we know how to correctly worship God? He would have to tell us.

“For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit.”
1Cor 2:11

And it very simple things which God’s commands.

“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
1Cor 14:15

There is more to say, but that is the gist of it.

And what is God’s kingdom all about?

We have already seen that it is NOT about food and drink, Rom 14:17. But further even from that, we can see clearly that it is not really even about this world at all. Not ultimately! For when we see Jesus was on trial for His life before the Roman governor Pontus Pilate. Pilate asked Him, “What have you done?”

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.””
Jn 18:36

No, it is about a new heavens and a new earth after this present universe is burned up, 2Pe 3:10-13.

The premillenialists have it all wrong. They are confusing verses about heaven, with verses about this present world.

Once again, so much for God telling us plainly.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Keys to Prophecy: The Most Powerful Institution on Earth

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Now you and I are entering a section of inferred evaluations of our situation here on earth.

Regardless of the opinions of many, God clearly prophesied in Daniel 2 that in the days of the Roman Empire that,

“In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty of it be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
Dan 2:44 WEB

That was a clear prophecy, which is also repeated in Daniel chapter 9, giving more details of the timing of these thing, all of which is dealt with in more detail in Prophecy Principles.

Then at the very right time both John the Baptist and Jesus came saying “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Mtt 3:2 WEB and many other verses. Lastly Jesus told his disciples that the kingdom would come with power before some of them died, Mk 9:1, etc.

Incredibly, some very conservative Bible believers
teach that the Father and the Son blew it, just
didn’t foresee what would happen, and
that these prophecies FAILED!

That is foolish, and ignores the clear testimony of the kingdom being in existence (Col 1:13, etc), and that Jesus is now the ruler of the kings on earth (Rev 1:13), and that He has now ALL authority in heaven and on earth, Mtt 28:18.

What authority supports the Christian?
ALL authority.

It is true that we are counted as only sheep to be slaughtered (Psa 44:22, Rom 8:36), but in all of these thing we are MORE than conquerers (Rom 8:37), and in this same section it names many of the many things which cannot overcome us in Christ (Rom 8:35-39).

The church is the most powerful institution
in the entire world.

Paul preaching in Athens. These simple things have had staggering effects on history.

It seems small and fragile and about to pass away, but it will never pass away, and will in the end overcome ALL of its adversaries. The prayers of the saints ascend to God in heaven, and at the end of the day, judgment is poured out on God’s enemies, and the saints are still around (compare for instance Rev 5:8, 16:1, etc.)

Many may gather against God’s people

“15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whoever shall gather together against you shall fall because of you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness which is of me, says Yahweh.”
Isa 54:15-17 WEB

The most powerful institution on earth is the church/kingdom of the saints. It has the full power of God behind it. This is no exaggeration, and the Satanic enemies of the church fully realize these things, and try to seduce it from trusting in Jesus the Christ. Also clearly, this power is often unrealized, even among Christians.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Keys to Prophecy: The Kingdom will come!

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Even now the kingdom exists and Jesus has ALL authority, Mtt 28:18. Even now He rules over all of the kings of the earth, Rev 1:5, and if they do not serve His purposes, He may shatter them, Psa 2:9; or He may destroy in their way, Psa 2:12.

Just the same, there are future aspects to the
kingdom which are yet unseen.

Mankind has yet to see the kingdom in its fulness. So near the end of his life, Paul says,

“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
2Tim 4:18 WEB

There is a future sense to this kingdom which is yet unseen, and Paul expects to be there. These things are to happen when Jesus comes again.

“20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.”
Acts 3:20-21 WEB

So there are times of restoration which are yet to come. It is also called “times of refreshing.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,”
Acts 3:19 WEB

When does this restoration, this renewal happen. At the Second Coming of Christ, as seen above in Acts 3:21.

Then this present universe will pass away.

“… ”the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
2Pe 3:10 WEB

Then a new universe will come, a new universe where sin and death and entropy (things run down!) are no longer operating principles. So Peter notes,

This universe will pass away, and a new universe not subject to death and decay will be created.

“But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.”
2Pe 3:13 WEB

So also it says in Revelation that the apostle John says,

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.”
Rev 21:1 WEB

“He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.””
Rev 21:5 WEB

It is called “heaven,” or a new heavens and a new earth. It is called the heavenly kingdom. It will be an everlasting rule.

“Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end …”
Isa 9:7 WEB

At that time, Jesus will say to
one Christian,

““‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’”
Lk 19:17 WEB

And to another, “‘And you are to be over five cities.’” Lk 19:15. There will be cities there. This will be a real place. These things have not happened yet, but they will.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Keys to Prophecy: The Kingdom is Growing Even Now

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The kingdom has been established, that is not a this-earth kingdom, Jn 18:36, and as discussed in the previous post.

Jesus has all the attributes of a king.

He has sat down on His Father’s throne in heaven.

“He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Rev 3:21 WEB

The “sat down with my Father” is a Greek aorist-active-infinitive, and is correctly translated as “sat down,” a past event.

Besides having a throne over Israel, and indeed over the entire earth, Jesus has all of the authority He needs.

“… “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.””
Mtt 28:18 WEB

This power is verified in more than one place. The Father has given Jesus authority over ALL flesh, Jn 17:2. Further, “The Father loves the Son, and has given ALL things into his hand,” Jn 3:35 He can do anything He wants with anyone or anything.

He rules NOW until …

“24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
1Cor 15:24-26

The phrase “must reign” is a Greek present-active-infinitive, indication actions going on continuously in the present, until all of His enemies have been put down.

And Jesus making men citizens of His
kingdom NOW.

We Gentiles were at one time alienated from this kingdom.

“that you WERE at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, …”
Eph 2:12

The word translated as “ commonwealth” in many translations, is the word politeia, which is talking about citizenship, being part of a certain political unit. We gentiles (the nations) are now a part of the political unit, this kingdom of which Christ is the King, this commwealth if you will.

“13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments …”
Eph 2:13-15 WEB

Jews and Gentiles in Christ are now citizens
of the same political unit.

“19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;”
Eph 2:19-20 WEB

Jesus is leading all of his sheep to be part of one flock, Jn 10:16.

You “are” “Fellow citizens” sum-polites a word that is a combination of sum with, and the word for citizen polites.

The kingdom is NOW!

Men are getting in on the ground floor of the only eternal kingdom. The kingdom which will rule over ALL of the New Heavens and New Earth, Isa 65:17, Rev 21:1-2, 2Pe 3:13.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901