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Kingdom now versus the kingdom to come Jesus told those who wanted to see a sign or wonder ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matt 12:39) The sign of Jonah is the resurrection showing all that he (Jesus) had power over death, therefore his death in our place for sin really took place. This becomes the gospel that is to be spoken for people to believe to be saved and be in the spiritual kingdom that is now present as Christ is the head of the Church. There are many views of Eschatology some are valid, some are not. This is the one that has now become popularized by false teachers in our day, “kingdom now” is what was once known as triumphalism. Which is part and parcel of the Latter Rain teaching Ps 2:8 “ Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.” The dominionists say that we inherit the earth, we inherit all things. That we are given all authority, so let’s start using it. Where does the Bible say we have all authority as Jesus does? It was Jesus who was given back the authority (after his resurrection) He put aside when He left heaven to become a servant (human) on earth. (Phil. 2:5-8) all authority in heaven and earth were given to him ONLY in Mt. 28:18-19. Are then nations our inheritance? We are to read the Scripture in context to understand its intent. When reading the previous verse Ps 2:6-7 Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me,'You are My Son,Today I have begotten You.” This was said the Jesus, the only begotten Son. After the inheritance promise it says of him “ You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'(Ps.2:9) again an application to the Son of God, not the Church. (Rev. 2:27,12:9,19:15) In Dan 7:13-14: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom , that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” Some teach this dominion was transferred to the Church. Not according to the Scripture. He never gave this kind of authority to the Church. In fact it says we will serve him. We will be his representatives in the Millennium, we serve the king. Ps. 2:1-3 “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” The people are united together against the Messiah. It is called a vain thing, empty because they will not succeed. Is the dominionism without the Messiah present. Ps. 22:28: “For the kingdom is the LORD'S, and He rules over the nations .” The Church does not rule the nations but Jesus does as king. We may co-rule and reign but it certainly will not happen without Him being present on earth. Rev. 14:12-13: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus .” Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'“ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them .” The Saints are not ruling, they are dying as the mark of the beast is instituted and the woman who is a counterfeit for the true Church, (the bride of Christ) that worships the false Christ kills the true saints. When John sees this woman he is awe struck as he describes in Rev. 17:6: I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. ” The “kingdom now” promoters are not much different than the prodigal son that wanted his inheritance now, they are not willing to wait for it (Lk.15). Notice that the prodigal son joined with the pigs, he fed them; but in the end he realized WHAT HE HAD DONE was willing to be like one of the hired servants. Servanthood is what God wants, not leaders ruling over the people like the world, the very thing Jesus warned us not to do. We build the kingdom, I don’t think so! This is the essence of the Kingdom Now, take it by force (or by politics if possible). Jesus told us to pray for his kingdom to come, not take it for him without his being here physically. If we build the kingdom who is going to rule it? Us? Not too comforting a thought. The Kingdom is fully coming into the church independent of the physical return of Christ? How wonderful! Jesus, stay home we’ll call you when we need your help. The “kingdom now” promoters are like the prodigal son that wants his inheritance now, and are not willing to wait for it. (Lk.15) Notice that the prodigal son joined with the pigs, he fed them; in the end he realized WHAT HE HAD DONE was willing to be like one of the hired servants. Servanthood is what God wants, not leaders ruling over the people like the world – like those in the restoration kingdom movement now who claim to be apostles and prophets. Acts 1:6 they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" It is Jesus when he returns that brings the kingdom on earth, Israel is essential for this to be filled. people are being prepared to meet a “Christ” on earth who will reign over the kingdom they have established in his name. We also read in Daniel 8:23: “ And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.” Jesus came as a servant of all to set mankind free; the antichrist comes to enslave men. Both have a kingdom and the false messiahs comes before the true Messiah. What about THE VIOLENT TAKE THE KINGDOM---BY FORCE! Taking the kingdom by force was never a good thing in Jesus mind and He told us it would be INHERITED, the meek would inherit the earth. If you have to take the kingdom by force you have proven you are not in his spiritual kingdom or ruled by Christ who is humble, meek and peaceful. Do we need to be aggressive to have the things of God that are freely given (1 Cor. 2:12; 2 Pt.1:3). This is indicative of the mindset being taught to the church today, to be authoritarian, fight for what you think you deserve as his child. So whose kingdom is taken by force? For if the church is ruling before Jesus returns whose kingdom is he destroying? The prophet Daniel gives us the answer, “ And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed…it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms” (Daniel 2:44). It is the anti-Christ’s kingdom that will be destroyed by the word of His (Christ’s) mouth and glory (Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). A social religious system that includes the Church that has left its faithfulness to Christ is being formed. If you believe that the church establishes this kingdom you will have no defense against the deception that is now developing. It is not God’s plan for the Church to take over and implement dominion over this present evil world before He returns. |
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