We all have wondered from time to time, what exactly is the kingdom? The NIV version of the Bible explains the Kingdom of God as Gods rule on earth. Both present and still future. Began with the arrival of Christ and will be consummated when Christ comes back to earth for the second time. Now lets see what the Bible says about the Kingdom, who shall enter, and what one can do to enter it. First we must understand God made everything in the earth and the earth itself. Look at Genesis 1:1 it says In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Look at verse 9 it says And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so. God called the dry ground land, and the gathered waters he called seas. And God saw that it was good. Now look at Exodus 19:5 it says Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. Look at Matthew 13:24 it says Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owners servants came to him and said, Sir didnt you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? An enemy did this, he replied. The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; them gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. Now look at Matthew 16:19 it says I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven. Look at John 20:21 it says Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Now look at Revelation 3:7 it says To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens on one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liarsI will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Look at Matthew 25:34 it says Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Look at Mark 10:13 it says People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Now look at Luke 16:19 it says There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury everyday. At his gate was laid a beggar name Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich mans table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm (pit) has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. Look at John 3:5 it says Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. Now look at John 3:10 it says You are Israels teacher, said Jesus, and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heavenSon of Man. Look at Proverbs 30:4 it says Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Look at John 6:38 it says For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Now look at Acts 2:34 it says For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this; God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Look at Ephesians 4:7 it says But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says; When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men. (What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Look at John 18:36 it says Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. In closing look at Revelation 11:15 it says The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and greatand for destroying those who destroy the earth. Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mellody Davis |
