| Author | Message | ||
| Bruce H |
A lot of us do not even know the gift that we have been given. Here is a little study of mine about us being in the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God. Matt 11:11-13 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Wow He who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, etc. The prophets and the Law were UNTIL John, then the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 17:20-21 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 "nor will they say, `See here!' or `See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." So the Kingdom of God is within you (Holy Spirit). Matt 13:11 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. We have been given the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt 16:17-19 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." We have been given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Gates of Hell will not prevail ugainst us. John 3:3-5 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. We have been Born Again into the Kingdom of Heaven. John 3:23-29 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, `I am not the Christ,' but, `I have been sent before Him.' 29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 "He must increase, but I must decrease. Her John the Baptist is saying He is a friend of the Bridegroom. We are the Bride. Matt 5:17-19 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus is giving HIS Commandments of the New Covenant he makes this statement. WHOEVER THEREFORE BREAKS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS, AND TEACHES MEN SO, SHALL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Since He is talking to those who are of the New Covenant with its own commandments given on the sermon on the mount. Notice that there is no Condemnation for those who are in Christ. Praise the Lord for I am Least in the Kingdom of Heaven and He Jesus Christ who DOES these commandments is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. BH | ||
| Bruce H |
Here is another one. Matt 12:1-6 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 "how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. What is Jesus saying here. He is NOT saying that it is all right for David to take the bread. He is NOT saying that it is OK for the disciples to break the Sabbath by taking the grain in the grainfields. No He is saying that He is the one who makes the rules on the Sabbath and it is fine if the Priests in the temple PROFANE THE SABBATH, and are blameless. The Bible states that those in the new covenant Died to the Law or Old Covenant or the Ministry of Death, and are the Temple of God and the one who is greater then the Temple is in us and we in Him. It also says this. Rev 1:5-6 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 2:5 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. So we in the Kingdom of Heaven are a Holy priesthood. We are priests, Wow that is almost to good to be true, God is awsome!!!!!!!!! BH | ||
| Bruce H |
Kingdom of Heaven or the Church Names for the Ecclesia Church: The Church, The Body of Christ, The Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of God, The living Temple, The Bride, The Virgin, His Sheep, The Saints, The Church of God, The Household of God, The Faithful, God1s New Creation, The New Persons, Fighters against Satan, Bearers of Light. (? Twenty Four Elders) and more. Other words to study, The Mystery, The promise. 1) When and why the Church? (the Kingdom of Heaven) The Messiah was prophecized to come and set up his Kingdom. The people of Israel were called out of the world by God who gave them ( Abram a Gentile) an unconditional Covenant of the Land (Gen 12:1-3, 13:15-16, ),(Gen 15:5-18) . Notice That God Alone walked through the carcass making it God's promise alone no conditions. Twenty five years later, the Covenant of Circumcision ( with Abraham now a Jew, Gen 17:7-14) this was conditional. Later, after the Exodus from Egypt , the Sinai Covenant with the Law (Deut 4:7-13) was given, this also was conditional, if you follow these Laws I will be your God. The Messiah was to come and set up his kingdom if the people of Israel accepted Him. And He would sit on the Throne of David and Rule (The Angel Gabriel told this to Mary Luke 1:30-33 ). The Jewish people would be his people to rule with Him. Here in Luke Jesus announces He is the Messiah Luke 4:16-21 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." NOTICE WHAT JESUS LEFT OUT IN ISAIAH 61:1-2 And the day of vengeance of our God. This is The DAY OF THE LORD, He knew the Jews would not accept Him if they had then the day of vengeance would have proceeded. Here Jesus announces that He has come for Israel alone. Matt 15:24 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Here Jesus announces that the Kingdom of Heaven is for the Jew if they accept him as the Messiah. Matt 11:11-14 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. HERE JESUS IS SAYING IN VERSE 14 THAT IF THE JEWS ACCEPT HIM AS THE MESSIAH THEN JOHN THE BAPTIST IS ELIJAH AND THEY WILL BE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Remember that it was prophecsized that Elijah would come before the Day OF THE LORD. Malachi 4:5 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. The Messiah was prophecsized in Daniel 7:25 to present himself as king on a certain date. Daniel 7: 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the King, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; 1. Cyrus, 537 BC, Ezra 1:2-4. 2. Darius, Ezra 6:1-5,8,12. 3. Artaxerxes, 458 BC. Ezra 7:11-26. 4. Artaxerxes, 445 BC. NEH 2:5-8,17,18. (1), (2), and (3): were to build the temple. Only the last one, (4), was to rebuild the city, the walls, etc. 69 times 7 times 360 ( Daniel used 360 day years) = 173,880 days So from March 14, 445 BC, to April 6, 32 AD. Neh 2:5-8,17,18. Artaxerxes, 445 BC - 32 AD = 173,760 days March 14 - April 6 = 24 days Leap Years = 116 days ------------- 173,880 days On several occasions in the New Testament when they attempted to take Jesus as King, He invariably declined, mine hour is not yet come. (John 6:15, 7:30, 7:44, etc.) Then on April 6, 32 AD. ( This was the 10th of Nisan, 32 AD) the day Jesus deliberately arranges to fulfill Zech 9:9 Luke 19:29-39 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 "And if anyone asks you, `Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, `Because the Lord has need of it.'" 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:" `Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Now Jesus Held them accountable to recognize this day (Daniel 9:25). Luke 19:41-44 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." Because they did not accept Jesus on this day as the Messiah, Jesus proclaims National blindness on Israel ( But now they are hidden from your eyes) and then prophecized what would happen to them. So Jesus then turned to the Gentiles on this day. So why the Church? Jesus needed a Kingdom of people to Rule with him on the Throne of David here on Earth as he promised Israel. Since the Jews rejected him they could no Longer rule with him. Is Jesus finished with the Jews? No, The promises with Israel were unconditional. (Read Romans chapter 9, 10, 11) Rom 11:25 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. So national blindness will come to an end (notice the UNTIL) when the fullness of the Gentiles come in (or the Kingdom of Heaven or Church is selected by Christ). So Paul states that this is a mystery and he is making it known to them. Eph 3:1-6 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, So this is the Dispensation of Grace, which the Old prophets did not Know or it was not made known to them. That the Gentiles would be fellow heirs with Christ. Rom 8:16-17 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 2. So what was the Purpose of Israel God knew Israel would fall and Israels falling is to be an example for us, That the Law cannot save anyone. We must all have a change of Heart or be Born Again. We must have the indwelling Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide who gives us eternal Life. Rom 9: 30-32 30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. The Jew asked this question in the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15. If the gentiles do not have to circumcise and keep the Law of Moses, Then what of Israel and its promises (Rom 9:4 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;). What was the purpose of Israel then. Acts 15:14 14 "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 `After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; Now the Prophet say1s After this, that is after the Church or the taking of a people for his name. After he takes out a people for his name, He will REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID. So God will take his Kingdom of Heaven to rule with him on Earth on the Throne of David, with the Jews in the Land that he has promised them. | ||
| Timo K. |
Bruce, I found your article "Kingdom of Heaven or God" interesting. Only the part of Israel, in an eschatological meaning, is not clear to me. Do you think that after the Christian era there will be "Jewish" era again? The Old testament Tabernacle of David will be built?? In other words "old testament" times are arriving again. Maybe I didn't follow your thoughts about Israel, that's why I hope you can clarify. Do you believe the Church is "raptured" before the "Jewish" era? Hope I can make the questions understandable in English (foreign language to me). Also do we need another Temple, since Jesus Himself is Our Real Temple? timo | ||
| Bruce H |
Timo K Kingdom of Heaven. This concept of Christ reigning on the throne of David here on earth (2 Sam 7:12-17, 2 Sam 23:5, 2 Chron 13:5, Ps 89:3,34, Ps 132:12) is called Premillennialism (premil) and it depends upon a literal interpretation of prophecy (Daniel always took prophecy literally), taking the words in their ordinary meaning. This was the prevailing opinion in the 1st and 2nd centuries of the Christian era (it was also the teaching of the Jewish people at the time of Christ that the Messiah would sit on the literal throne of David in Jerusalem). The first significant challenge to premillennialism was by the liberal school of theology at Alexandria led by Origen (185 AD-254 AD) and Clement of Alexandria. They advanced the interpretation that the millennium should be considered as a symbol and that it would be fulfilled in a spiritual sense in the present age in the two advents of Jesus Christ (called almillennialism). Although early considered a heresy not acceptable to orthodox interpreters, almillennialism (almill) gradually replaced premil because of Augustine in the 4th and 5th centuries. Following Augustine, almill became the dominant doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church as it is today. Adventist as well as 75 to 80 percent of Christian churches teach almill. I myself prefer the literal interpretation like the Early Church let me give you an example why I do in the Bible. Isaiah 65: 17-23 17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. 24 "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD. So the Almill will say this is in Heaven for the 1000 yrs but you have a problem, verse 20, (20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed). So you have death and sin in Heaven. No this is just another dispensation where Christ will reign on the throne of David with the Jews in the Land that he promised to Abram forever. Here is another point notice verse 25, ( 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain), Notice that the Lion shall eat straw like the Ox. Now turn to Isaiah 35:8-9 8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, Notice that it say1s, No lion shall be there, So now you have a dilemma is the Bible in error for one text teaches there are lions in heaven and the other says that there is no lions. Well Premill teaches that there are two destinies one for the Church which is Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (Highway of Holiness), the other is for Israel to have the Land. I will give you more examples later. This is just a different view remember Act 17:11. Bruce H bh Bruce | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Dear Bruce, just want to add that I appreciate your studies on the kingdom of God/heaven. I always learn from you. Thanks, Jude. | ||
| Bruce H |
Kingdom of Heaven or God What about the Rapture? As I said before a study of the Rapture is a study of Ecclesiology and not Escatology. What extra privileges does the Church have over the Old testament saints. Matt 11:9-13 9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 "For this is he of whom it is written: `Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. So verse 9 says John is more than a prophet. Verse 11 says that among those born of women there has not risen one greater that John the Baptist, But He who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven (Church) is greater than He. So why are we the Church greater than the Old Testament Saints like Moses, Jacob, Abraham etc. Let us look at some more texts Luke 17:20-21 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 "nor will they say, `See here!' or `See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." So the Kingdom of God is within you? Does He mean the Holly Spirit. Matt 13:11 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. So It has been given to Us to Know the The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to others it has not been given. Could this be the Holy Spirit John 16:13 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 1 John 2:27 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. Abides. 1. remain, last or reside 2. endure So the anointing which we received or the Holy Spirit abides in us. John 3:3-5 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. So when we are Born Again we enter the Kingdom of Heaven or God. So when Did this difference take place and how are the Saints of the Old Testament Different from the New Testament Saints or the Church. Well Jesus stated that He would first have to go away before the Indwelling Spirit would come. John 16:7 7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. So who is the Helper? The Holy Spirit. So when did he send the Helper or Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49 49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Acts 1:4-6 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Notice that they are asking about the Kingdom of Israel (this is not the Kingdom of Heaven for Jesus said it is within you) and Jesus does not give them an answer. They are taking about Jesus sitting on the throne of David here on earth. So they were to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with the power on High. They shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW. When was this? Eph 1:13,14. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. So this Promise is the Holy Spirit, and we are sealed as a guarantee. Well the day that Jesus was telling them about was Pentecost. This was the day the Kingdom of Heaven started this is the Birth of the Church. Acts 2:1-4 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 2:14-21 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 `And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' Notice that the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord, Has that happened yet, no. So there is that term again Day of Lord. So the Last days are know and have been for the last 1900 or more years, but things will start to happen before the great DAY OF THE LORD. Day of the Lord, Day of vengeance of our lord, Day of Wrath, Time of Jacobs trouble. (Matt 24:43-44, Luke 12:39-40, 2 Pet 3:10, Rev 3:3 16:15. Isa 13:9-13, Amos 5:18-20, Zeph 1:14-18, Joel 2:1-3,10,11,15,16, Mal 41-5. Well I thought that the Old Testament Prophets had the indwelling Holy Spirit. Nowhere in the Old testament does it say the believer is dwelled by the Holy Spirit. It says that He dwelled in the Temple and the Tabernacle ( Ex 25:8 29:45, Num 5:3, 35:34 2 Sam 7:5, 1 kin 6:13, 8:12,13, 2 Chr 6:1). It says that the believer1s were filled with the Holy Spirit or that God walked with them, but never in dwelled. Dwell 1. To live as a resident; reside. 2. To exist in a given place or state. 3. To fasten ones attention Psalms 51:11-12 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. So David prayed take not your Spirit from me? So this implies that the Spirit of God could leave the Old testament saints. Verse 10 says create in me a clean Heart. He know that that is yet future. He is not speaking in the past tense. He is saying God will create in me a clean heart. Ezek 11:19 19 "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, In the New Testament it say1s it in past tense, in other words it had already been done This is also future, THEN I will give them one heart, and I WILL put a new spirit in them this is speaking future. This was to come, when, at Pentecost after Jesus death. 1 Sam 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Sam 18:12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. This show that the Spirit of God did actually leave the Old Testaments Saints. That is because they did not have their hearts Changed to become a New Creation (Gal 6:15). That is because God did not actually dwell in their heart until after his Death. We are also sealed by the Holy Spirit. Nowhere in the Old Testament does it say that they were sealed by the Holy Spirit. So in the Old Testament God in dwelled in the temple made with stone that had a Veil over the Most Holy Place. Matt: 27:51 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Her Matthew is saying that this is the End of the Old Testament. Now God needs a place to rest. Acts 7:48-51 48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 `Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?' 51 "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. verse 48 say he used to dwell in the Temples made with hands but know he dwells in us. He needs to REST in us. Eph 2: 21-22 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. So this is Salvation and it happens at one time when you accept the Gospel and God gives you eternal life with his Spirit. Doesn't everybody have the Holy Spirit. Yes the Spirit works on all men to draw them to God but he only in dwells those who accept the Gospel. Heb 13:5 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Here Jesus is saying if I dwell in you I will never leave you. Rom 8:9,11 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. next study will be the rapture. I must caution you that I am not a theologian. I Have the Best teacher money can buy, you know who He is. B |
