The Kingdom has Come and Jesus is Here!

Back from a long hiatus! After observing all of the crazy things going on in the world, it is back to the Word and study the Truth. The Kingdom came in 70 AD and Jesus is here!

References: William Bell at allthingsfulfilled.com & Don K. Preston at www.eschatology.org/

Matthew 13 - Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 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. Matthew 13:41-44. 

Jesus explained to His disciples that at the day of Judgment (which was 70AD) the angels of God would separate out the fruit-bearing wheat from the weeds or tares. The tares would be bound together and thrown into the lake of fire, whereas the wheat would be allowed to flourish and grow.

Jesus went on to explain that the wheat represent the sons of God, the offspring of good seed (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), whereas the tares represent the sons of the enemy, the offspring of the enemy's seed. He had warned the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees of this to their face, declaring that they were of their father, the devil, always speaking lies, asking for signs and failing to believe. If they had really been the offspring of Abraham as they claimed, they would've done what Abraham did - believe.

Jesus used other wonderful parables to explain the nature of this new kingdom being ushered in. It would not be an earthly, powerful kingdom like what Israel had experienced under King David and Solomon, but a spiritual kingdom that would start out very small. Like a mustard seed, it would begin very tiny, then would grow up as an herb, and then later become the greatest of trees.

This kingdom was a mystery that had been buried away, but like treasure in a field or a costly pearly in an oyster, it would be dug up and exposed for all the world to see. And that's exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did when He sent to the cross, died, and was raised up. He is the man in the parable who found the treasure in the field and the merchant who discovered the pearl of great price, and we, His body, are that treasure and that pearl. We, His offspring, make up this wonderful kingdom! Selah!

Matthew 7 - Judge Not, but Ask, Seek & Knock!

Judge not, that ye be not judged.For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.

Under the Old Covenant, righteousness was based on works, particularly keeping the law. Anyone seen bearing the effects of sin and the curse, such as sickness, etc., and/or blatantly violating the law was guilty and subject to judgment. And yet, Jesus is instructing His disciples that those who have sin cannot truly judge others who likewise have sin, because, in that circumstance, the same judgment meted out to the accused will turn around and be applicable to the accuser.

Therefore, a new system was in order. Sin and judgment must be handled in a different way. This is where Jesus Christ came in as savior. He fulfilled the law, removed sin and the curse, and opened a way for mankind to be restored to the heavenly Father. That generation living during His lifetime would need to accept this new and living way of righteousness or they would experience the wrath of God which came in 70 AD. We too need to accept this truth.

As new creations on the other side of the cross, we are not to judge the world of sin but instead spread the truth of the Gospel, issuing the invitation to lost and dying people to get born again. However, in the church, we are to judge those claiming to be Christians by their fruit; basically we are to test what comes out of their mouth and observe their actions. If their words and behavior don't line up with God's Word, we need to confront in love.

This area of church judgment is hard at times, but it is so important. We cannot let God's standards slip for a moment. This Gospel must be guarded from the wolves in sheep's clothing who lurk in our congregations, desiring to destroy the beauty of the freedom Jesus brings!

Under this New Covenant, we are to ask, seek, and knock, and all good things will be given to us by the heavenly Father. He has given us His son, Jesus, His Holy Spirit, His very self. What greater gift is there?!