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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 4 - THY KINGDOM COME (REVELATION 10:1 - 12:17) – The two witnesses of the last days and the expulsion of Satan from heaven
PART 4.3 - SUPPLEMENT: THE MYSTERY OF GOD IN ITS COMPLETION THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

2. The Unfolding of the Mystery of God in the Words of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of His Father


The Reception of the Kingdom Filled With Grace: The one desiring to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God, should listen and hear how Jesus calls out to all of humanity, which suffers under the burden of their sin and spiritual homelessness: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

The King of heaven and earth invites all to come to the wedding of His only Son. He will provide for all of the guests a wedding garment (Matthew 22:11). Most of the invited, however, do not want to come. They are too occupied with their financial transactions, sex affairs, their pride and other ties. They have no time for God! Only wretched, despised, handicapped, beggars, foreigners and people from the lower classes of society allow themselves to be persuaded to take part in the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24; James 2:5). In the context of this Jesus spoke the following sentence: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

Salvation has been prepared for everyone (Luke 14:17), but only few of those addressed receive it by faith with thanksgiving. The door to the Father's house is wide open for everyone, but hardly a person will bend down to enter in through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

What hinders people from entering into God's kingdom? Why don´t they come running in droves? Jesus laid His finger on an open wound in our lives when He spoke:

“It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-26; Mark 10:20-27; Luke 18:24-25). “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Whoever relies upon his money, his health, his work, his relations and his savings account, (unknowingly) worships idols (Exodus 20:3).

Another tie that often hinders upstanding citizens from turning to the Lord and to His kingdom is their religious hypocrisy. Many consider themselves to be decent and acceptable people. But Jesus tears the mask from our face and says directly: “No one is good but One, that is God” (Luke 18:19).

Paul writes: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5 etc.).

In addition, Jesus said: “I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother (without a cause) shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother ‘Raca’! (empty head) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you” (Matthew 5:28-29). “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye, than having two eyes , to be cast into hell fire” (Mark 9:47).

Jesus further said: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

The God-King further pressed upon the spiritually responsible: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13). “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord’, ‘Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Jesus has to break, cleanse and newly form our arrogant self-centeredness; otherwise we remain unworthy to enter into the kingdom of God. Therefore, He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, (the beggars in spirit) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the (imaginary) righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31; Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17).

Jesus directs us to a spiritual self-awareness, until we can say and sing with Dr. Martin Luther: “There was no good in this life of mine, to hell must I sink!”

In this sense Paul writes: all men lack the “glory” of God: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

No road can bypass the shattering of our “supposed” honor if we want to enter into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Man must recognize and confess his profound depravity before he can experience his cleansing: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The pardon of all sinners has been completed on the cross. Whoever accepts and trusts in the “representative” who has taken his place in judgment is justified (Romans 3:23-28). God loves those who are of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). In them justification by faith can be realized. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Whoever believes and thanks the crucified God-King for His atoning death in our place, experiences what John wrote: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Jesus assured the distinguished counselor Nicodemus: “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5). By saying this Jesus pointed Nicodemus to the baptism of repentance of John the Baptist in water, as well as to the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). Justification accomplished through the death of Christ, together with our faith, produces a new creation in us, a new birth, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Head knowledge alone is not enough; sooner or later there must come a heart renewal through the power of Christ and His sacrifice. We have the privilege to be able to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, because our King acquired this right for us on the cross (Luke 11:9-13).

The vital event of the new birth requires a child-like faith, and a heartfelt gratitude for the completed work of redemption. Jesus declared: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Mark 10:15).

On the other hand, the one who loves and trusts Jesus, also trusts in the promise of His Savior: “Son (daughter), be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2).

Through faith in the redeeming word of Jesus peace begins with God the Father, and the one who trusts enters into the kingdom of His love.

To the inquiring one who asks further questions regarding the when and where realities of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Lord answers: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20).

Wherever Jesus Christ is present, there the kingdom of heaven on earth has begun. Wherever He sinks His good Spirit into the hearts of believers through faith, there the kingdom really exists. If we remain unbelieving, it is “beside” us. When we open ourselves to His grace and power, it is “in” us (John 14:23, 26-27).

So, also, testified Paul: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13), and continues: And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18).

The kingdom of God is being realized today on every continent through faith in the completed work of redemption of Jesus Christ.

Muslims recognize no “representative” in judgment, and they know nothing of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their hearts; therefore, they experience no kingdom of God. Instead, they experience and suffer the deceit of Satan and much violence in a political kingdom.

PRAYER: Eternal King, we worship You with praise and gratefulness because You established Your kingdom on Your atonement in Your shed blood and in the power of Your Spirit, and no one could enter Your kingdom unless they had repented, confessed their sins, received Your forgiveness, and had the Spirit of Your love in them. Do not reject us from Your expanses. Grant our relatives to repent truly and return with deep faith in You.

QUESTION:

  1. Who cannot enter the kingdom of God? How do we actually enter it?

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