#520 –The Kingdom; The Divine Order
And Christ Jesus; The Divine Person
Knowing The Kingdom By Knowing The Person
Reversing The Rules Of Religion and Society
July 7, 2012
When we look at Matthew 5-6 and 7 it is clear that something is about to radically change from the traditional order of Israel and the normal activity of the natural man. When Jesus introduced the Kingdom message it appeared VERY radical and unreasonable, even as it does today in the church! This introduction to the Kingdom appears unnatural and impossible to Israel at that time, even as it does to the church today. Could Matthew 5-6 & 7 really be describing the NORMAL Christian Life? Of course, it probably is NOT normal for the AVERAGE Christian life. However, we must conclude that it is normal for the Kingdom Christian Life. The PROBLEM is that the Normal Kingdom Life is NOT the Normal Church life. It is becoming more and more clear these two are a common Life and, therefore, they must merge into one Normal Christian Church Life.
If we actually believe Matthew 5-6 And 7 is the Word of God for the church, it will obviously reverse how we see things as normal or as strange. It will reverse how we perceive fellowship. It will reverse how we view charity, compassion and faith and even the Christian life. It will certainly reverse how we interpret the source of our provision and how we view giving. Both lust and covetousness must be seen in the new light. Sin, iniquity and rebellion must be seen as our enemies rather than our friends!
In other words most of Matthew 5-6 and 7 appears to be abnormal for the religious person or a religious system in any generation. Therefore, these proclamations of Truth are widely rejected as NOT for the church age but for the Millennial age and only applies to and written for Israel. They are very adamant to declare these things are obviously in opposition to this time of “faith” and the “the abundance of grace” and time of reconciliation to God, through Christ! Therefore, they conclude, the Kingdom age must be for Israel in a new time of Law because Matthew 5 - 6 and 7 is certainly NOT about grace! For this reason these three chapters are mostly rejected as being even irrelevant for the church age. In fact a few commentaries, both Pentecostal and Fundamental, very boldly point out the “Kingdom now is error” and imply that the Kingdom is NOT for the church age at all. Their interpretation of Faith and Grace seems to eliminate any of the demands of the Kingdom or any need for a radical change of Life or life-style. The Gospel of the Kingdom we read in Matthew 5 - 6 and 7 would clearly condemn that “postponement theology” as ignorant.
If we can just see the Gospel of the Kingdom as defining the implementation of God’s Purpose for the church age, we should then see that “Salvation” must fit into the Kingdom dimension and be subjected to it. This is in sharp contrast to the concept that the Kingdom must fit into the Gospel of Salvation and be subjected to it. The Kingdom interpretation of “salvation” is that it is a necessary “part” of the Kingdom but, certainly, does not control or set limits upon the Kingdom. If we suggest that it is the Kingdom that is primary and our “Salvation” is secondary and subject to the Kingdom, we would surely be labeled as heretics.
Mat 10:21 “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 “And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23 “But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
This Gospel of the Kingdom still reverses what we want to think and accept today as the Normal Christian Life! For example, it appears that “salvation” comes at the end of the race that we are in now, rather than at the beginning.
Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Heb 5:10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Eternal Salvation is integrally linked to our obedience, and our obedience is linked to the one that died to provide this great salvation. However, now He is identified NOT just as “Savior” but now (within the context) our High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. This Priesthood is inherently linked to the Kingdom of God and HE, the divine person, is the Head of a Kingdom of Priests. “OUR SAVIOR” has now become the Sovereign Head of His Body of Priests who MUST obey the Head to be included in His Body. In the “gospel of salvation” our obedience is just optional. If we want to obey or do His will it is good but certainly not required.
Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he ( and only he) who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
Does this really say that only those who do his will can enter the Kingdom? Does this really mean that those who practice disobedience / iniquity / lawlessness will be thrown out? But, Brother, this does NOT fit into or agree with the Gospel I heard. That is exactly the problem we are addressing! The sissy pastors are preaching a different gospel in order to build up a big assembly of half-saved members. There must be SOME reason they refuse to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom!
Well, Brother, we have several scriptures that clearly refute what you imply. Yes, I know those scriptures also!
John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
To many pastors this scripture confirms that EVERYONE “who accepts Jesus as personal Savior” is eternally saved and is guaranteed the resurrection. Of course this is an interpretation of these verses but is this the Kingdom interpretation of these verses? Therefore, now, let us place these verses into the Kingdom dimension and modify them to fit into our growth and obedience and a Kingdom Life.
Mat 8:12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Mat 25:29 “For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
If we understood that “outer darkness” is reserved for those who knew the truth and received Light but preferred darkness, we could understand the severity of the Kingdom consequences. Those who refused to walk in the light they have received are on dangerous ground. Now, we can fit these scriptures into the Kingdom dimension of reality. This is why interpreting “salvation” as something outside the Kingdom Reality may be a deception, very dangerous and could be leading multitudes astray. When we interpret “Salvation” as being within the Kingdom Government and its entire Reality, we can then bring ALL these scriptures together to establish Eternal Truth which is compatible with the demands of the Kingdom.
Some even remove “salvation” from the absolute Sovereignty of God and then assume that the Father MUST accept everyone that accepts Jesus as Personal Savior. Using isolated scriptures about “Salvation” as absolute Truth is very dangerous. Why? The Gospel of the Kingdom is primary and the gospel of salvation is secondary and MUST fit into the larger picture of God’s Absolute Government.
It is my opinion that those sissy pastors, that surely know this reality but refuse to preach it, will be in big trouble on that day of judgement. Then to know the Truth but refuse to live in it is VERY dangerous for the sissy pastors because of the threat of outer darkness.
The Kingdom is His Person, His Word, His Spirit and His Character universalized in an invisible government upon earth. This is to reveal the Father and His Eternal Purpose, which NOW is to form a Government for the world yet to come. When our revelation of eternity is refocused upon a progressive salvation, which includes our personal preparation or perfection, we can qualify to participate in that Purpose. His PURPOSE must incorporate His Absolute and Sovereign Government in our lives, which is essential to the fulfillment of His Eternal Purpose! His Eternal Purpose will be Governed by an Absolute Monarchy. Even God’s purpose for Israel was for it to be governed by a monarchy (NOT a human king) but an Absolute Divine Monarchy, with God ruling through man. First is was by the priesthood, then through the judges, then by a human king like Saul and David. Eventually this arrangement resulted in their captivity. After their captivity, the government was restored to the Priesthood which was appointed also as a Governor in Israel.
Now let us incorporate the Book of Revelation into this Kingdom Dimension to see how it fits. This Kingdom Dimension incorporates His Person, His Word, His Spirit, His Will, His Purpose, His Sovereignty and His Absolute Government. The rebellion seen the Book of Revelation begins at the Garden of Gethsemane and is seemly completed at Calvary. Of course the powers behind the conflict began in the world before this one. How could that be possible? Because this conflict of kingdoms began before this earth was restored in Genesis. It was this conflict of Kingdoms that we see in the temptation in the wilderness! Calvary was really the conflict of kingdoms in one aspect and the provision for our salvation in another.
Whether the opposition in this conflict is coming from the kingdom of man or the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of Satan, it has its fulfillment in the conflicts of kingdoms revealed in the Book of Revelation.
The opposing forces try to set up a counterfeit government on the earth that is an exact copy of the absolute Government of God. That means a totalitarian government in place of the Totalitarian Government of God. It is that counterfeit government that crucified the Lord Jesus on Calvary. This was prophesied in Psalms 2 and then brought into the Kingdom perspective!
Psalms 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed: 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart, And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury: 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
This clash of the kingdoms and the controversy of who is going to rule over us is as old as Genesis 3. It also led to the destruction of the world before this one. There always seems to be fallen wisdom that devises a vain thing and then the people who are in agreement counsel together against the Lord and His Christ (the anointed one). This was seen with Israel in the time of Saul and repeated through out the generations.
1Cor 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
It was the “rulers of the age” not the “rulers of Israel” that crucified Jesus. They attempted to crucify BOTH the King and His Kingdom. What they did NOT expect was that BOTH were resurrected and that remains the conflict of the kingdoms that we still see today. The Book of Revelation reveals many levels and dimensions of this rebellion of man and the rebellion and conflict with fallen angels and Satan. The conflict of kingdoms is to determine which one will rule over us and survive.
The Great Tribulation is the conflict of various kingdoms with the Kingdom of God. Of course this is a wide overview of the book of Revelation and a summary without the details. It is the summary that will help us understand some of the details. Psalms 2 is a kind of overall summary of conflicts.
This counterfeit government is seen today in its skeleton form in rampant immorality, sin, iniquity, rebellion and lawlessness which has been with us since Genesis 3. The Book of Revelation reveals this conflict of kingdoms as it comes to fulness and finality for this age. The summation from the Kingdom viewpoint is “ He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs them. Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury: But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” All this conspiracy against the Lord and His Christ is irrelevant simply because it is powerless and doomed to fail. Regardless of what evil men conspire, God has ALREADY installed His King on Mount Zion. All these conspiracies will fail and “God will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury.” Since God is Absolutely Sovereign, it is hopeless for man to rebel against God and His Christ. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is for man to surrender to the Gospel of the Kingdom and His Kingdom Government because ALL other plans will fail. This is why this church system has become totally irrelevant after it lost the stability of the Kingdom and surrendered to the government of man in the hierarchial system. It is doubtful if the visible church system can return to the Absolute Monarchy of the Kingdom.
The visible church systems will be unaware of the great danger when the counterfeit government becomes visible in the end times. Then this clash of kingdoms brings to an end this age becomes final during the Great Tribulation. The anti-Christ, the false prophet and the beast set up a totalitarian government in which there is no God, no morality, no compassion, no purity, no love, no humility and accept none of the qualities demanded in the Kingdom of God. These “men” have NOTHING behind them except the kingdom of darkness and their goal is to destroy anyone who refuses to live within the confines of that perversion. This is “man’s” ultimate revolt against God, against His Christ, the Redeemer, and against His Absolute Government. This is the “created”rebelling against the Creator and the outcome is easy to predict. The CREATOR laughs because He will always win. Just knowing that much should convince every Christian to get with the program and the various preparations necessary for the Kingdom life. This is essential for us to be on the winning side. How do we begin? By begging Christ Jesus to come and unmercifully correct us and rule over our lives until we become Kingdom people.
Luke 19:27 “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
Having Him REIGN OVER US NOW is NOT optional if we want to survive this age! What does that really mean? His Kingdom Reign is now and its really dumb to try to delay it until another age. The Kingdom of Christ is in full force today because God has already “ installed My King Upon Mount Zion, My holy mountain.”
1Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
1Cor 15:27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.
The point we are making is that Jesus is NOT “our soon coming King” but our current King who is already ruling from Mount Zion. How do we know that? He is RULING NOW until every enemy is put under His feet. This is the “Kingdom of the Son”, the man, Christ Jesus but that Kingdom will be united with the Kingdom of the Father and both Kingdoms become one Kingdom so that God might be all in all.
By the end of this church age, in the unfoldment of God’s plan, there is NO MORE CONFLICT of Kingdoms. When the age of the great tribulation has ended and the kingdom of darkness has been defeated and destroyed, then the Kingdom of God is in full force. Satan and his forces will locked up for 1000 years. This begins the 1000 year reign of Christ Jesus that is called the Millennial Age. We could call this the age of the Divine Monarchy.
During the church age EVERYONE in the Church He is Building will be fully reconciled to fact that Christ IS THE KING of His Kingdom and ALL members of His Body, which is the Body of the High Priest of that Kingdom, will be in full submission to the Head and doing His Will. Christ Jesus, the High Priest, will be in full submission to the Father and will have the Authority and Power of heaven behind Him. ALL those who do NOT want him to rule over them will be brought to His Presence and slain.
But, Brother, where is the Love of God in that? Isn’t He a God of Grace, Mercy and forgiveness? What about the MERCY SEAT. We must soon realize that this is not about the Love of God but now it is about the judgement of God. Now we see the reality of the Sovereign Kingdom of God coming in its full force and dominion. The love of the Kingdom is expressed this way; “If You Love Me Keep My Commandments!”
But, Brother, we just do NOT believe that is the way it is! Well, I doubt that your faith is going to be able to overpower the Authority and the Plan of God.
All those who were part of that Counterfeit Totalitarian Government that tried to rule the earth during the Great Tribulation will be killed or locked up for 1000 years. Now the Opposition Government of the powers of darkness will be powerless to oppose the Kingdom of God for 1000 years. Nevertheless, those who still do not want Him to rule over them during that thousand years will be given the opportunity to rise up in full rebellion. Satan and some of his companions will be released to lead this final rebellion against the Sovereign and Totalitarian Government of God.
We might think it logical that ALL those whom NOW remain in rebellion against God, and those in every previous generation, must be of the old creation, after the genealogy of first Adam. However, It seems Jesus includes those “slaves of mine” in that rebellious group also.
Mat 25:26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Within the context of this parable, the judgement is upon His slaves. Some were faithful and some were not but the ones that were not faithful were rejected and they were cast into outer darkness. They jeopardized their eternal security by their casual lifestyle.
But, Brother, what about the mercy of God and forgiveness? Some we have met are very bold to declare, “The God we know is a God of Love and He would NEVER do that.” This foolishness is the result of this counterfeit gospel that hides the facts of the Kingdom from the believers and substitutes another gospel that sets the love of God, the mercy of God and the forgiveness of God outside the Sovereign Government of the Kingdom of God. These things function freely and correctly WITHIN the Government of God! However, these foolish pastors make “forgiveness” a gospel in itself which is in opposition to the Gospel of the Kingdom, and then give random verses as a proof of its validity.
The Millennial Reign of Christ will be that 1000 years when the Father, the Ultimate Creator, will rule the earth through His Perfected Son / Man and His Obedient Body. This will be a time of the full discovery of the EXPERIENTIAL King and His Kingdom and how it works out daily in our lives. It will be 1000 years of peace and tranquility and lived under a completely Righteous and Sovereign Government.
It is amazing that this counterfeit totalitarian government of man was permitted to manifest and precede the Millennial Reign of Christ. Nevertheless, this has provided a clear contrast between these two Totalitarian Governments, which is so tremendous, that it should settle for all time who it is that should rule over us. It is clear that any unredeemed man, who is not a new creation, is totally unfit to rule over anybody. Anyone who has not brought their life under the Absolute Sovereignty of God and His Totalitarian Government is not fit to rule in the church now nor in the Millennial Kingdom nor in the world yet to come. It other words “NOT FIT to rule anything, not even over one square foot, not even over themselves!” But isn’t that too harsh? Probably, for the casual church people but NOT too harsh for those who are pressing their way into the Kingdom dimensions of God.
Just the Kingdom demands eliminate the natural man from the Kingdom. These demands prove that “man” has no “natural ability to rule righteously.” This can also be proved by visiting Washington, DC or any human government in the world. Why? Only God’s Totalitarian Government, His Kingdom, can possibly work. When we eliminate His Kingdom Government from the visible church, it automatically becomes irrelevant! Any pastor that sets up an independent authority or government in “his” church becomes an enemy of God’s plan and purpose. He becomes a worthless slave that refused to permit the Lord to rule over him or “his” church. This has resulted in a multitude of worthless slaves who think they are “in the ministry” and should be supported by the tithe. They might be amazed to learn that God doesn’t even know them.
But, Lord, we have been doing the “ministry,” prophesying, casting out demons and doing miracles, and ALL in your name! That may be true, but that was YOUR ministry, not mine, and you were doing it in lawlessness and NOT under My authority or government. What you did was “BUSY” but had no Life Giving Spirit supporting “your” ministry because it was OUTSIDE the Kingdom. No, Lord, you don’t understand because it was NOT that way! But, Lord, if it offended you, why didn’t you stopped me? I trusted in you to finish the good work you began in me for the day of Christ! Lord, you failed me so it is your fault! No! I NEVER failed you!
Jer 7:25 “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. 26 “Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did evil more than their fathers. 27 “And you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.
You can not even speak truth from your mouth. Therefore, judgement has come. Depart from me, you who work outside the Kingdom Government of God and refuse its laws! Therefore, the ONLY option left to you is to commit lawlessness. But, Lord, what about forgiveness, mercy and grace. That was granted for you to come to know Me and submit to my Government but that time has now passed and now this is the time for consequences. You knew all this already and had Light but you preferred the darkness so your destiny is the outer darkness!
But Lord, I appeal to the blood of Passover. Well, son, that was provided for you to escape from Egypt and NOT as an excuse for lawlessness. Then I appeal to the blood of Calvary. Well, son, that was for your forgiveness of sins, but it was not given as a covering for a disobedient life nor for high handed and rebellious sins. But, Lord, that is not the gospel I was taught. Yes, I know son, but that other line to my left is for those goats that stood in the pulpit and fed you that garbage. They refused to give you proper food at the proper time. They will receive greater judgement than you.
Mat 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
But, Lord, we did preach a Sunday Message! Yes, but to a people who were starving for truth and you gave them garbage instead of Kingdom food. My body was hungry but you gave ME nothing to eat or drink. Since you didn’t do it to My body, you didn’t do it to ME!
But, LORD, ETERNAL FIRE? Isn’t that too harsh? Well, son, you must judge that!