The kingdom of heaven belongs to ....

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to...

First, what is the Kingdom of Heaven?

We know what a kingdom is, don't we? Sure, most of us don't live in a kingdom, and we surely don't live in a kingdom if we are living in the United States, but some people do live in a kingdom.   Here's a quick look at one list of kingdoms in the world today-

 Kingdoms and Monarchs of the World

Country     Monarch                 Type of monarchy
Bahrain     King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa         Constitutional
Belgium     King Albert II                 Constitutional
Brunei         Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah         Constitutional
Cambodia     King Norodom Sihamoni             Constitutional
Denmark     Queen Margrethe II             Constitutional
Japan         Emperor Akihito             Constitutional
Jordan         King Abdullah II             Constitutional
Kuwait         Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah...        Constitutional
Lesotho     King Letsie III             Constitutional
Liechtenstein     Prince Hans Adam II             Constitutional
Luxembourg     Grand Duke Henri             Constitutional
Malaysia     Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin...      Constitutional
Monaco         Prince Albert II             Constitutional
Morocco     King Muhammad VI             Constitutional
Netherlands     King Willem-Alexander             Constitutional
Norway         King Harald V                 Constitutional
Oman         Sultan Qabus ibn Sa'id             Absolute
Qatar         Emir Sheik Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani     Constitutional
Samoa         Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi         Constitutional
Saudi Arabia     King Abdullah                 Absolute
Spain         King Juan Carlos I             Parliamentary
Swaziland     King Mswati III             Absolute
Sweden q    King Carl XVI Gustaf             Constitutional
Thailand     King Bhumibol Adulyadej             Constitutional
Tonga         King Tupou VI                 Constitutional
United Kingdom     Queen Elizabeth II1             Constitutional2

1. Queen Elizabeth II is also the Sovereign of 15 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
2. Also parliamentary democracy.

Read more: Kingdoms and Monarchs of the World | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0775675.html#ixzz2imwQqeUV

*******

27 Kingdoms.  So, why aren't there kingdoms everywhere? Why are there countries without kingdoms?

Let's have a little current history lesson-

'A monarchy (or kingdom, when ruled by a King or Queen) is a form of government in which sovereignty is actually or nominally embodied in a single individual (the monarch).[1] Forms of monarchy differ widely based on the level of legal autonomy the monarch holds in governance, the method of selection of the monarch, and any predetermined limits on the length of their tenure. When the monarch has no or few legal restraints in state and political matters, it is called an absolute monarchy and is a form of autocracy. Cases in which the monarch's discretion is formally limited (most common today) are called constitutional monarchies. In hereditary monarchies, the office is passed through inheritance within a family group, whereas elective monarchies are some system of voting. Historically these systems most commonly combined, either formally or informally, in some manner. (For instance, in some elected monarchies only those of certain pedigrees are considered eligible, whereas many hereditary monarchies have legal requirements regarding the religion, age, gender, mental capacity, and other factors that act both as de facto elections and to create situations of rival claimants whose legitimacy is subject to effective election.) Finally, there are situations in which the expiration of a monarch’s reign is set based either on the calendar or on the achievement of certain goals (repulse of invasion, for instance.) The effect of historical and geographic difference along each of these three axes is to create widely divergent structures and traditions defining “monarchy.”

Monarchy was the most common form of government into the 19th century, but it is no longer prevalent. Where it exists, it now often takes the form of constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch retains a unique legal and ceremonial role, but exercises limited or no political power pursuant to a constitution or tradition which allocates governing authority elsewhere.

Currently, 44 sovereign nations in the world have monarchs acting as heads of state, 16 of which are Commonwealth realms that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state.

All European monarchies are constitutional ones, with the exception of the Vatican City, but sovereigns in the smaller states exercise greater political influence than in the larger.

The monarchs of Cambodia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia and Morocco "reign, but do not rule" although there is considerable variation in the amount of authority they wield.

Although they reign under constitutions, the monarchs of Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Swaziland appear to continue to exercise more political influence than any other single source of authority in their nations, either by constitutional mandate or by tradition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy

*******

A kingdom- ruled by a monarch. Up until the 19th century this was the most prevalent form of government. Kingdoms ruled by a single leader- a king (or queen).

When we speak of kingdom we typically understand that there is a king (or queen if the ruling kingdom allows females to rule.)

In the Old Testament Kingdoms were brought about by gentiles. The gentiles wanted a king to rule over them.  When God's chosen people, the people of Israel, grew tired of having no king... well, this is what happened, read it for yourself.

1Sa 8:1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
1Sa 8:2  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1Sa 8:3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
1Sa 8:4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
1Sa 8:8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
1Sa 8:9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
1Sa 8:10  And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

Do you see? God was to be their ONLY king! And yet they rebelled against God. God then allowed them to have what they wanted and kings were given to the chosen people as their leaders.

The first King of Israel was Saul.
The second King of Israel was Ish-bosheth (reigned 2 years).
The third King of Israel was David
The fourth King of Israel was Solomon.

And then this bit of history---

'Following Solomon's death in c. 926 BCE, tensions between the northern part of Israel containing the ten northern tribes, and the southern section dominated by Jerusalem and the southern tribes reached boiling point. When Solomon's successor Rehoboam dealt tactlessly with economic complaints of the northern tribes, in about 930 BCE (there are difference of opinion as to the actual year) the united Kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel, which included the cities of Shechem and Samaria, and the southern Kingdom of Judah, which contained Jerusalem; with most of the non-Israelite provinces achieving independence.

The Kingdom of Israel (or Northern Kingdom) existed as an independent state until 722 BCE when it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire; while the Kingdom of Judah (or Southern Kingdom) existed as an independent state until 586 BCE when it was conquered by the Babylonian Empire.'

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Israel_%28United_Monarchy%29)

There are a whole list of various kings of Israel (divided).

Israel knew was a kingdom was and they knew what it meant to have their own kingdom overthrown.  Once their kingdom was overthrown by Babylon it was taken by Medo-Persia, and then Greece and after that, Rome.

When Jesus began to preach about the Kingdom of Heaven, the people of Israel had no king.  There was however a client king appointed by Rome to rule-

'(73/74 BCE – 4 BCE) Herod the Great and Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea. He has been described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis","the evil genius of the Judean nation","prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition" and "the greatest builder in Jewish history".He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (Herod's Temple), the construction of the port at Caesarea Maritima, the fortress at Masada and Herodium. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus.

Upon Herod's death, the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons—Archelaus became ethnarch of the tetrarchy of Judea, Herod Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, and Philip became tetrarch of territories east of the Jordan.

Herod Antipater (Greek: Ἡρῴδης Ἀντίπατρος, Hērǭdēs Antipatros; born before 20 BC – died after 39 AD), known by the nickname Antipas, was a 1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea, who bore the title of tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter"). He is best known today for accounts in the New Testament of his role in events that led to the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.'

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas)

And while there were client kings-  Caesar the Roman Emperor was king over all Rome and Israel's kingdom was a part of Rome's now, conquered down through the ages.

Jesus began His preaching and teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven and everyone understood this to be a kingdom vastly different from the kingdom they were living under then. However, many believed that Jesus (if He truly were the Messiah) would usher in God's kingdom right then and there on earth replacing the Roman kingdom and all others in existence anywhere.

Read this--

Joh 6:11  And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
Joh 6:12  When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
Joh 6:13  Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Joh 6:14  Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Joh 6:15  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Do you see? People wanted to take Jesus by force and make him a KING!

Yes, Jesus was preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, but that was not going to ever be a kingdom established upon earth.

As far back as the prophet Daniel in Daniel 2 where the dream of Nebuchadnezzar was revealed we are told this--

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
Dan 2:32  This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:36  This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

God's Kingdom!

And we are told this--

Joh 18:33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Joh 18:34  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

So, if our Savior came and preached the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, what is the kingdom He speaks of?

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

There is a REAL place to be prepared for us by our Savior.

There is a REAL end to all sin, and once sin is ended all its effects, all its unrepentant offenders will be wiped away. This is a reality, not some pipe dream. Bigger than setting up a king on earth, something God didn't want to do ever for He is our ONLY KING, is our Heavenly King and the Heavenly Kingdom. People imagine our world changed as if by one man ruling, or several good men kings, presidents, rulers around this entire world could ever do away with sin. They can't, not ever. It doesn't matter how good a ruler they are, how upright and moral, they cannot rid this world of sin.  Only Christ can rid this world of sin, only Christ can be the King and His Kingdom most assuredly is not one that will ever exist for us until all sin can be wiped away completely and utterly gone forever and all time. The perfect Kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven that Christ came to preach and teach us. His Kingdom and no other, no earthly kingdom.

While we can comprehend what a kingdom is we need to comprehend what Christ's Kingdom is, what the Kingdom He spent His ministry preaching about truly is.  He tells us.

Now let me ask you... who does this Kingdom of Heaven belong to?

Jesus said--



 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.   (Matt 5:3)



Jesus said--



 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  (Matt 5:10)



The kingdom of heaven belongs to- the poor in spirit.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to- those who are persecuted for righteousness.
Poor in spirit, persecuted for righteousness-  more on this tomorrow- all by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

All through HIS power, HIS love, HIS glory, HIS honor, HIS praise!

In Him!

The Kingdom Pt 3

Mat_4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of THE KINGDOM, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Jesus TAUGHT.
Jesus PREACHED.
Jesus HEALED.

Where did Jesus teach? In THEIR synagogues. The synagogues  were places of teaching and worship for those who could not get to the Temple in Jerusalem regularly.

Dictionary Definition-  Synagogue

1. A congregation or assembly of Jews, met for the purpose of worship or the performance of religious rites.

2. The house appropriated to the religious worship of the Jews.

Jesus went ALL about Galilee, He did not stay in one place, but moved about going from one  synagogue to another. He entered their places of worship, their places of religious rites and taught them. He wasn't a preacher by occupation, he wasn't a priest, He had no training, no education to teach and yet He was in there teaching.  In order to teach you need students to teach, you need someone to learn from you, you have to have something to teach and Jesus did. He came and taught the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM to ALL.

That gospel- that good news- was NOT being taught prior to Jesus' arrival.

Jesus wanted people to learn of the KINGDOM.

Salvation in HIM.

There is no way to the kingdom except through the salvation He offers, salvation found in Him.

Jesus did a lot of teaching, and He, in all His teaching was revealing God the Father and His love, His truth, His way.

In truth, it was all about the KINGDOM. It was all about understanding that there was a better  world, a world to be desired, a world without sin, a world without pain, something ALL should desire.

Can we speak of our Savior and not speak of His kingdom? Should we speak of our Savior without speaking of His kingdom? Jesus went about teaching and preaching the gospel of the KINGDOM, a real kingdom, a real thing to be desired. 

And while Jesus taught and preached, He healed.

He brought truth, He brought miracles to all those around Him.

How many people were healed and listened to the truth, believing the truth, witnessing the truth.  Today we want people to believe without miracles, today by the word of faith people are to believe.  Some might say they too would believe if they had a miracle of healing performed for them, but in truth, even those who witnessed and experienced these miracles of our Savior did NOT all follow Him.  Five thousand people witnessed the miracle of being fed and they were ready to make Jesus their king, their leader, but He spoke truth to them and ALL of them left, none stayed.  Witnessing miracles is NOT a guarantee of faith. Faith is believing WITHOUT seeing. 

The kingdom is real!
The kingdom was preached and taught by our SAVIOR.

We must LEARN.

All by His grace we must learn!

Please LORD through YOUR TRUTH, YOUR LOVE!

The Kingdom Pt 2

Mat 4:11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Mat 4:12  Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Mat 4:13  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mat 4:14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus' ministry didn't fully begin until after He was tried and tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Angels ministered to Jesus after His trial.  What do you suppose they did in their ministering? Fed Him, made sure He had something to drink, helped Him to rest and recover from the ordeal?  All of that? Ministering angels.

Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Angels- all ministering spirits.

Angels ministering to their Creator, their Lord, their God.

Jesus was ministered to and then time past, how long, I don't know. At some point Jesus heard that John, His baptizer, was cast into prison and He left where He'd been to go into Galilee.  Traveling the path foretold, our Savior began to preach.

When He began to preach He preached- REPENTANCE.  Repent, why?  For the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN was at hand.

Repent- John told his followers to repent.  Jesus is preaching repentance because repentance is necessary for those who are looking for the Kingdom of Heaven.  The kingdom of heaven is only for those who repent. People know that they are unworthy of heaven. People know that they are sinners. The Jewish people were raised learning about the Sanctuary and its services. They were raised to believe in a coming Messiah. They knew their lives were to be dedicated to God. Their way of life was all about submitting to God, confessing their sins and repenting of them.  In repentance they truly regret what they've done and they strive to keep from committing the offense again.  Yearly they would afflict their souls on the day of atonement and the High Priest would go into the Most Holy Place, the Holy Place, and the Altar and in each place He would symbolically cleanse the Sanctuary of all the sins that had been placed there during the entire year. That was a very High Holy Day for the Jewish people. They absolutely knew that all of the their confessions, all their repentance, all their seeking of forgiveness was so they could be at one with their Creator, their God again.  They knew their Creator had promised through their prophets that there would be a Messiah, a King, the Son of God was to come and they would live in God's kingdom.  So when John the Baptist came, they were hoping that this was the sign of that prophecy's fulfillment. Then Jesus came and some were confused but Jesus picked up where John left off, and Jesus preached REPENTANCE, just like John had preached.  Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, John preached preparing the way.  Jesus was that way.

Jesus preached and His message was for all time, for all time until His return to take His, those who CHOOSE Him, those He KNOWS, those His lives In and those who live for Him.

The kingdom of heaven at hand.

Up to this point the promise of the Messiah who would herald the kingdom of God was just that, a future promise. That promise was now becoming a realization.  And that promise was preaching REPENTANCE.

How important repentance truly is, do we even realize?

Repent.  (Dictionary)

1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken; as, to repent that we have lost much time in idleness or sensual pleasure; to repent that we have injured or wounded the feelings of a friend. A person repents only of what he himself has done or said.

2. To express sorrow for something past.

3. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct.

Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return. Exo 13.

4. Applied to the Supreme Being, to change the course of providential dealings. Gen 6. Psa 106.

5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13. Acts 3.

REPENT', v.t

1. To remember with sorrow; as, to repent rash words; to repent an injury done to a neighbor; to repent follies and vices. [See Repentance.]

2. With the reciprocal pronoun.

No man repented him of his wickedness. Jer 8.

[This form of expression is now obsolete.]

*******

Repentance.

May God help us repent as we truly need to repent, to feel the sorrow for our sins that we need to feel. Satan will try to keep us from repentance any way he possibly can. Please Lord, keep us from evil, and from the evil of not repenting as we know we must. 

By Your GRACE, Your LOVE!

May Your Kingdom come!

Are you waiting for the Kingdom?

The kingdom.

Mat 3:1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

When someone says this today, what comes to your mind?

Some loon is spouting the end of the world stuff again. Crazy religious fanatics.

Did Jesus tell us to stand on the street corner shouting that His kingdom is at hand? No. But preaching the kingdom of heaven is truly what it is all about, isn't it? Salvation in Christ, this is the word we are to preach, isn't it? It's the word Jesus Himself preached, salvation. This is the message, the whole message.  Our Savior's message, our message.

When John the Baptist preached saying- Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand- what do you imagine those listening to him thought?

Not what we think today that's for sure.  John baptized a lot of people, they BELIEVED his message! They were Jews who believed what John was telling them. They repented.  They wanted the kingdom of heaven to come.  They wanted the promised Messiah to appear.  They weren't happy with their lives, and why would they be. They lived under the oppressive thumb of the Roman empire. They were not in possession of freedom to rule their own lives. Yes, they were allowed to practice their religion which was an integral part of their entire lives, but they had restrictions. They had to keep the ruling faction content as much as possible.  People don't like living under the thumb of others. People crave freedom. People crave the ability to own their own land, their own home upon that land, to build and to make a living for themselves and their families without anyone holding restrictive reins over them.  When people are oppressed they feel that weight. The people of John the Baptist's day felt the oppression. The people of John's day wanted to be free, they wanted to be saved by the Messiah, they wanted the kingdom of heaven to be at hand. 

John was preparing the way. John was opening the eyes of the people. People who had been  lulled by life into the rut of living day by day hoping but burying that hope suddenly heard one who was voicing the hope and bringing it to the surface.  They reached for that hope, they grasp that hope of the coming kingdom when they held tight to John as he dipped them below the surface of the water baptizing them as they repented of their sins.

Mat 3:1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

How many of us are ready for the kingdom that is to come?

Christ Jesus is going to return and there will be people waiting for Him, waiting for the kingdom to come. Are YOU waiting for the kingdom to come? Really waiting for it? Or is it something that is on your mind just occasionally?

We are not told by Isaiah that there will be a voice of one crying in the wilderness, that voice already cried out, that voice was already heard and Christ came! Christ was here! Christ is now in heaven and Christ will come back to take us to heaven with Him! 

We are told so much about the kingdom and by the grace of God we will continue to study about this, learning all He would have us to know.

We long to be ready for you, Lord! We want Your kingdom to come!  We want Your will to be done!

Please LORD, help us be YOURS, for we are only Yours through YOU and YOUR LOVE!

The Kingdom

The Kingdom …  we are all striving for the kingdom aren't we?  We know this world is NOT the world we comprehend should exist.

Mankind has constantly strived towards a kingdom that is good, just, and right. Laws of all sorts have been made in every kingdom that has ever existed. Laws to control the behavior of people according to the one or the ones making the laws of that particular kingdom.  In every land the kings, the rulers, the leaders whoever they are want the best possible kingdom to exist under them.  Do they always succeed, actually they never have. There has not been a single king, ruler, leader of any kingdom, land, people that has been able to produce perfect peace and harmony throughout their land. Some kings and rulers have done better than others, but none have achieved perfection.  Perfection will NOT exist until Satan is destroyed.

Let's study more about the kingdom. We're going to start out by reading through almost all the verses on the kingdom in the New Testament.

Then tomorrow, by the grace of our God we will study them more in depth.

*******

Please read this compilation of verses about the kingdom, God's kingdom, Christ's kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat_3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand.

Mat_4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand.

Mat_4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of THE KINGDOM, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mat_5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_6:10  THY KINGDOM come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat_6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is THE KINGDOM, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mat_6:33  But seek ye first THE KINGDOM  of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat_7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat_8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in THE  KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of THE KINGDOM, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Mat_10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand.

Mat_11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is greater than he.

Mat_11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat_12:28  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then THE KINGDOM OF GOD is come unto you.

Mat_13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but to them it is not given.

Mat_13:19  When any one heareth the word of  THE KINGDOM, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat_13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field

Mat_13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field

Mat_13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Mat_13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of THE KINGDOM; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Mat_13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in THE KINGDOM OF THEIR FATHER. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat_13:44  Again, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Mat_13:45  Again, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls

Mat_13:47  Again, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind

Mat_13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat_16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat_18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest inTHE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

Mat_18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_18:23  Therefore is THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Mat_19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN'S sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Mat_19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Mat_20:1  For THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

Mat_21:31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the KINGDOM OF GOD before you.

Mat_22:2  THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son

Mat_23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up  THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Mat_24:14  And this gospel of THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat_25:1  Then shall THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mat_25:14  For THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Mat_25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world

Mat_26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's KINGDOM.

Mar_1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Mar_1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and THE KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mar_4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of THE KINGDOM OF GOD: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables

Mar_4:26  And he said, So is THE KINGDOM OF GOD, as if a man should cast seed into the ground

Mar_4:30  And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the KINGDOM OF GOD? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Mar_9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen THE KINGDOM OF GOD come with power.

Mar_10:14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Mar_10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the KINGDOM OF GOD as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Mar_10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD!

Mar_10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD!

Mar_10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Mar_11:10  Blessed be THE KINGDOM of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Mar_12:34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Mar_14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Mar_15:43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also WAITED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Luk_4:43  And he said unto them, I must PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Luk_6:20  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in THE KINGDOM OF GOD is greater than he.

Luk_8:1  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of THE KINGDOM OF GOD: and the twelve were with him,

Luk_8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the KINGDOM OF GOD: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Luk_9:2  And he sent them to preach the KINGDOM OF GOD, and to heal the sick.

Luk_9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the KINGDOM OF GOD, and healed them that had need of healing.

Luk_9:27  But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, THE KINGDOM OF GOD is come nigh unto you.

Luk_10:11  Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the KINGDOM OF GOD is come nigh unto you.

Luk_11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. THY KINGDOM COME, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Luk_11:20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt THE KINGDOM OF GOD is come upon you.

Luk_12:31  But rather seek ye THE KINGDOM OF GOD; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luk_12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you THE KINGDOM.

Luk_13:18  Then said he, Unto what is THE KINGDOM OF GOD like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luk_13:20  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

Luk_13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luk_13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_14:15  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time THE KINGDOM OF GOD is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luk_17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when THE KINGDOM OF GOD should come, he answered them and said, THE KINGDOM OF GOD cometh not with observation

Luk_17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, THE KINGDOM OF GOD is within you.

Luk_18:16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_18:17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive THE KINGDOM OF GOD as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Luk_18:24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

Luk_18:25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_18:29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for THE KINGDOM OF GOD'S sake

Luk_19:11  And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that THE KINGDOM OF GOD should immediately appear.

Luk_19:12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a KINGDOM, and to return.

Luk_19:15  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the KINGDOM, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Luk_21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the KINGDOM OF GOD is nigh at hand.

Luk_22:16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk_22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until THE KINGDOM OF GOD shall come.

Luk_22:29  And I appoint unto you a KINGDOM As my Father hath appointed unto me

Luk_22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in MY KINGDOM, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luk_23:42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into THY KINGDOM.

Luk_23:51  (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Joh_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Joh_3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Joh_18:36  Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is MY KINGDOM not from hence.

Act_1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the KINGDOM OF GOD

Act_8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act_14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Act_19:8  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Act_20:25  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD, shall see my face no more.

Act_28:23  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the KINGDOM OF GOD, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Act_28:31  Preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Rom_14:17  For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

1Co_4:20  For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not in word, but in power.

1Co_6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind

1Co_6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD.

1Co_15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the KINGDOM OF GOD, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Co_15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Gal_5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Eph_5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND OF GOD.

Col_1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON

Col_4:11  And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the KINGDOM OF GOD, which have been a comfort unto me.

1Th_2:12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto HIS KINGDOM and glory.

2Th_1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the KINGDOM OF GOD, for which ye also suffer

2Ti_4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and HIS KINGDOM

2Ti_4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his HEAVENLY KINGDOM: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Heb_1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy KINGDOM.

Heb_12:28  Wherefore we receiving a KINGDOM which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

Jas_2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of THE KINGDOM which he hath promised to them that love him?

2Pe_1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

Rev_1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the KINGDOM and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev_12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the KINGDOM OF OUR GOD and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
*******

By God's grace and mercy, may we study more of His Kingdom, the kingdom we desire through Jesus Christ His Son, our Savior, our Lord, our High Priest, our King.

In HIS LOVE!

Envious - of the prosperity of the wicked

We all, or rather most of us, get that feeling that the wicked are the only ones who seem to prosper. It's those who are corrupt who are rich and seem to lead happy lives, lives free from want. All seeming necessities of life are met without any worry. The lure towards corruption is strong because of this, and you know what, even those known to be close to God seem to feel this way too. Read the following-

Psa 73:1  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Psa 73:2  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Sound familiar? Envious of the foolish seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

Psa 73:4  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
Psa 73:5  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psa 73:7  Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psa 73:9  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Psa 73:10  Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Psa 73:11  And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Psa 73:12  Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

The ungodly who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.

Psa 73:13  Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psa 73:14  For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Psa 73:15  If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Psa 73:16  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me

Psa 73:17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

UNTIL I WENT INTO THE SANCTUARY OF GOD THEN UNDERSTOOD I THEIR END.

What happens in the sanctuary?  What dwells in the sanctuary? Why did going in to the sanctuary give understanding?

The entire plan of salvation is laid out in type in the sanctuary. The ark of the covenant with the ten moral laws was in the Most Holy Place. The sacrifice for sins, daily sacrifices being made, and a yearly day of cleansing of all sin. The sanctuary revealed God's way, life in Him, with His laws and the promises of a future with Him. The sanctuary revealed that there was a plan of salvation.  We read this-

(Talking of the city- the New Jerusalem brought down from heaven to earth after 1000 years of the saints living in heaven with Christ.)

Rev 21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

The Lord God Almighty AND the Lamb are the temple.  

This is truth!

God gave His sanctuary to His people to teach them, and then God gave His Son as the ultimate Sacrifice, and it is to the Son we look to now for forgiveness not a sacrificed lamb in the temple. It is our Savior who LIVED the ten moral laws perfectly who is our example! 

Truly when we look into the Sanctuary we understand that only those who live for Christ and His righteousness, only those that live for heavenly treasures are truly rich.

*******

Psa 73:18  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20  As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Psa 73:21  Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

We are foolish to think the wicked are truly prospering. They are NOT prospering in matters of eternity, in matters of everlasting life, in the matters of heaven. They are on the road to eternal death.  We shouldn't envy their prosperity now because their end is God-less.  They don't know God who alone is true life, true living, true love everlasting.

Psa 73:23  Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Psa 73:24  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psa 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Psa 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Praise God!  God must be our strength! Nothing else truly matters, not really. EVERYTHING is temporary to eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord! He alone is our prize, our hope, our riches, our glory, our thanksgiving, our life, our LOVE. All else is but distractions trying to keep us from Salvation in Christ, trying to keep our minds on our lives now and not letting us live for the future with Christ that we are promised.

Psa 73:27  For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

The end of all who live for earthly treasures- be they many earthly treasures or a single one- will be destroyed, their hearts are NOT with God, they will perish.

Psa 73:28  But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Our trust must be in the LORD GOD! We must draw near to GOD! We must declared HIS wonderful works, His works which matter more than any other.

Please LORD, help us to understand Your truth. Let us look into the sanctuary and understand the end of the wicked. 

Please help us not to envy those wickedly prospering- whether it's in health or material possessions, please let us realize that no matter what our lot in this life, YOU are our end! YOU are our EVERYTHING! Our glory! Our praise!

All in You LORD, all in YOU!

By Your grace, Your mercy, Your righteousness, Your LOVE! Always!

Image to the Beast Study Concluded

Mat 22:17  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21  They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Yesterday I made mention of the separation of Church and State being a Christ given mandate.

Let's look at a few more verses than those above.

Mat_19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mar_10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luk_12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Mar_13:9  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Act 14:4  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Act 14:5  And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Act 14:6  They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about

1Ti 3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 3:14  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

*******

In all these verses there is never a mention of God's people forming their own political realm on earth. They may have formed churches- groups of believers who believed in Christ and desired to live for Christ spreading the good news of Salvation in Jesus Christ- but they did not start ANY sort of governing power over people in a political manner. None were appointed KING, not a single one!

The papacy has claimed Peter as the first pope(king-like figure, a leader, a head of the whole body of Christians), but NO where in the Bible are we given this papal power, this papal authority, and told it is a good thing, no where! Jesus was and always will be THE ROCK upon which the church is built, not any man. There were apostles - 12 of them, and Paul. There were disciples. There were those made Bishops, and those made Deacons, but no where is there a KING, a single leader above all the others. Christ, Himself said the greatest among the apostles would be the least, meaning their perception of having to have one greater than the other was distorted, and His church, His followers would NOT have such a thing, there would be NONE greater but all servants to Him, and Him alone. The preachers, the teachers, the bishops, the deacons all would be equal, the authority would be Christ's alone. The Holy Spirit led the new followers of Christ and many writings were made through the Holy Spirit, not to exalt one prolific writer above another.  The idea of a hierarchy where a man could EVER claim to have the authority of Christ on earth is preposterous!  There is only ONE CHRIST, and there are Christ followers.

Do you see what I'm getting at here?  The followers of Christ were not to go off and form their own kingdom, but rather minister to those in other kingdoms all the while pointing everyone to the kingdom of HEAVEN and ONLY the kingdom of HEAVEN. Earthly gain was to be completely shunned! Desire for earthly power and authority completely rejected all the while looking to Christ and His power, Christ and His authority! 

The Papacy did not do that. You can read their history, you can watch movies, shows, and even fictionalized has many elements of truth. You can read the non-fiction and see where they get their stories from. The corruption was not made up, the corruption existed and still does even though it is being covered in a blanket of humanity, a blanket of humility. Beneath that blanket, no matter how thick, no matter how many layers of bedding, lies a rotting corpse of a religious/political system, the Beast.

History proves it, prophecy proves it.

For people to think that today we need to bring religion into our politics, to force our religion or any religious beliefs upon another is wrong. Christ would NEVER force any of His beliefs upon anyone! To force someone to pray- WRONG! To force someone to acquiesce to others including them in their prayer- WRONG!  To pray and do so that nothing is forced, no one included that doesn't want to be included, this is good. You can go to your closet and pray for those who shun God, but you don't FORCE them to join you, or into being an unwilling participant. You never ever force.  If a prayer is said in a political assembly it should be done so that all who do not wish to take part are given an opportunity to leave, not forced to endure. The same with schools. Already I can hear outrage, because so many people believe taking prayer out of schools has brought God's wrath down upon them.  You can't force God on anyone in any way, Christ never would!  He didn't once force His prayers on others!  No, we are NOT to deny Christ, not ever! But we are not to force Christ, not ever! Those who believe forcing Christ onto people through mandated prayer and such, are not believing the same Christ I believe.  Does it sadden me to think how many instances there are where people want  anything to do with  Christianity taken off public /government owned lands? Yes. But to use that public land, where religion is supposed to be separated from government, to force our religious tokens upon others… no, Christ would not force them on anyone.  If they are lands that belong to Caesar, give them to Caesar all of that land every bit of it.

That brings me to this…

No matter where you are, no matter where you live, where you visit, where you go to school, where you work- you should have the freedom to live your religion.  To live as Christ would have you live. And we know, those of us who have read Christ's Word, we know that Christ would NOT make a spectacle of His belief, never. Jesus would preach, but He would leave off preaching when things grew tense, He did not incite riots. Yes, He raged in the temple against the moneychangers, but did He instruct His apostles to do the same? No. There were many times those spreading the gospel knew it was time to leave, not stay and face certain death.

If you feel compelled to pray- you can do so silently, or in hiding. If you feel compelled to preach- if your audience is receptive, you preach. You don't force people to listen. You can be a Christ follower rendering to God the things that are God's.  And also to be a Christ follower you must render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. This was spoken by Christ, this was dictated by Christ! If we are His true followers we will listen to Him.

There are many people, many Christ followers all over the world that cannot be Christ followers openly.  They don't deny Christ when confronted, but they don't go out taunting their government officials with their Christianity.  They remain ever dutiful to their government as long as it doesn't ask of them anything contrary to the laws of Christ.

When this commandment was given--

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

God meant it. 

No government can compel a person to serve them as if they were serving God. No government can take the place of God. People have been, and even now, are being tortured as they are told to renounce God, to renounce Jesus Christ and believe in Him no more.  This is WRONG.

Forcing anyone when it comes to God- either to give Him up or to take Him up- is WRONG.

And when a government creates laws forcing people to uphold any one person's religion, it is wrong. 

The nature of force when it comes to faith is impossible. You cannot force faith on anyone. You can try and that will create a lot of fake faith, but nothing more than that.

So to all who are crying out that God is being forced out of our country, remember this, our country's government was truly formed with God and all religion separated from all government.

THOMAS JEFFERSON -- Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. (Thomas Jefferson, Writings, Library of America, p. 510).

JAMES MADISON -- The civil Government, though bereft of everything like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success, whilst the number, the industry, and morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State. (James Madison, letter to Robert Welsh, March 2, 1819)

Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together. (James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822; emphasis supplied)

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.

Pasted from

Jefferson and the Bill of Rights

Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, whose letter to the Danbury Baptists Association is often quoted in debates regarding the separation of church and state.
In English, the exact term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state", as written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. In that letter, referencing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Jefferson writes: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion and vice versa.
The Bill of Rights was one of the earliest examples in the world of complete religious freedom (adopted in 1791, only preceded by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789) but it was interpreted as establishing a separation of Church and State only after the letter of Jefferson (see section United States for more details). At the time of the passage of the Bill of Rights, many states acted in ways that would now be held unconstitutional, some of them with official state churches. All of the early official state churches were disestablished by 1833.

Pasted from

*******

Our government - lamblike with two horns- a separation of church and state.
The Beast government- a single horn possessing politics and religion- Pagan and Papal Rome.

The Image to the Beast form by the government that lays claim to a separation of church and state- is in the making and as our history can prove, there has ever been forces at work in an attempt to bring religion into politics. The forming, the making of this image of the beast government has been on going for some time. The deadly wound of the beast has been healed, all the world wonders after that beast. And there has been a winding, twisting, push towards and retreat from, an ebb and flow of the forces to bring religion into politics. They stay behind the scenes and then jump in front of them as they strive to be formed. We must watch and rather than cheer blindly as victories for religion in government matters are made, we must note that the image of the beast is such an animal.

Satan truly has pulled the wool over the eyes of millions, and yes, those who take a stance against religion in government will stick out as being ungodly by those who believe it must be a part of our government. It will be unpopular to claim to be a Christian, to belong to Christ, and yet also say that Christ should not be forced upon others, because those people for this mingling don't view their stance as force, but rather as a right of their freedom to practice their religion.

People should be allowed to believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The Roman centurion- whose duty was to Caesar who fancied himself a god along with all the other Roman Gods- found Christ.

Act 10:21  Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
Act 10:22  And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Act 10:23  Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Act 10:24  And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Act 10:25  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Act 10:27  And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Act 10:28  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Act 10:29  Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
Act 10:30  And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
Act 10:31  And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Act 10:32  Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Act 10:33  Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37  That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Act 10:39  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Act 10:40  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Act 10:41  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Act 10:42  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Act 10:43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

A Roman- a gentile- called to believe.

As stated earlier, a government may try to force a person not to believe, but in truth they cannot take away belief. However, belief can be surrendered, belief can be denied. Satan would have us all deny Christ. Satan would have all try to FORCE Christ on others knowing the Christ they force is NOT the true Christ who would never be forced upon another.

I believe this concludes our study on the Image of the Beast. We know it is in the making, we know that once it is finally finished (completely made) that our probation is up, the time for us to have made a decision for Christ is over. We know that the image must reflect the true beast. We've been warned. We must watch and pray! Watch and pray always!

May God bless us as we seek ONLY HIS TRUTH and no others! May our eyes forever be opened to discerning all truth, in discerning all prophecies as they unfold nearing completion so that the warning is shouted loud and clear.  Please LORD save us! We believe Lord, help thou our unbelief!

All in YOUR LOVE, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOUR MERCY, YOUR GRACE!

Amen.