Kingdom Come

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.“ (I Corinthians 15:24)

We must connect “the end” with “the beginning” of this era, when one of the two humans who had been granted dominion instead chose the Serpent as master triggering the battle between the god of death and the human ruler appointed by the Creator and Sustainer of life.

“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household?…

that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing…” (Luke 12:42-43)

We understand that the kingdom of heaven and earth could not be established until the perfected Only Begotten Son of God took his place.

“he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten [declared my heir is] thee…in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death…Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:5-9)

Can we not understand that the instructions he authored are not

• for spiritually immature children or adults to ask him to “come into my heart” to guarantee they go to heaven regardless of their behavior and lack of belief as adults,
• or to recite a creed,
• or even to maintain a righteous way of life?

“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast [relinquish all the distractions of this world’s materialistic way of life], and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me [my spiritual way of life]. (Matthew 19:21)

Trust me, this turns into an extremely lonely way of life. But isn’t that a maxim? “It’s lonely at the top.” That’s because leaders have so few peers to turn to for support and advice. Harvard’s solution? Forge relationships with a new set of peers—other frontline leaders.

And that’s also our spiritual leader’s solution.

“he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints” (Ephesian 4:11-12)

Can we not understand that the kingdom of heaven cannot be established until appointed leadership is also perfected through suffering?

Surely we understand this on the lesser level of human government. When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, his existing staff – trained to his specifications – made it possible for him to immediately take over the government. They had studied his book, trained, fought battles, were imprisoned and stayed faithful to their Germanic Messiah unto death.

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection…we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” (Hebrews 6:1,12)

Christians love to vilify the Pharisees, but there were some rulers very high up in Judea’s theocratic government who were able to serve as Jesus’ ministers only because of their standing in the current Jewish administration. 

“Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple [John]: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest...and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.” (John 18:12-16)

When we put this incident in context of the entire evening, we realize that Jesus had specifically asked John and Peter to give him peer support earlier that very day. 

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and [moving away from the main group] he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], and…saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye [three] here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:36-40)

Spiritual growth and development are no different from growth and development of any physical or social skills through mastering self-control through ever higher levels of practice, practice, practice. 

There may only be a remnant of Jews who are elected to positions of leadership in God’s eternal kingdom but the Bible states that there must be Jewish witnesses to the Jewish Christ’s resurrection.

 ^“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, [not anymore!] besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave…

And there came also Nicodemus, [a ruler of the Jews] which at the first came to Jesus by night, [now in broad daylight] and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight [so he is evidently either personally extremely wealthy or well-connected to collect this from a group]. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” (John 19)

And who can overlook Paul? Apostle to the Gentiles he may be, but no-one could reach the rulers of the Jews better than him.

“[Paul] cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question…And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” (Acts 23:6-9)

“Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, [they wouldn’t gather for just anyone!] he said unto them, Men and brethren…for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him…we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest…And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” (Acts 28:17-24)

Surely we understand that twelve Jewish apostles rule with Christ in a hierarchy of leadership.

“Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:27-28)

“Until the day in which he was taken up…he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…ye shall…be witnesses unto me…unto the uttermost part of the earth…in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said…Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled…Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1)

I don’t find scriptural support for Peter’s hasty assumption of leadership and appointment of a replacement for Judas, whereas Jesus most evidently appointed Saul/Paul, who as a Pharisee was undoubtedly at the baptism of John as well as the stoning of Stephen. But regardless of this side note, the indisputable fact is that there are not just twelve, but twenty four elders sitting on thrones in heaven.

“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Revelation 4:4)

The End comes when the last two of the total of 24 witnesses of the God of life performs their assigned role of witnessing to the whole earth  – following Jesus’ authorship / authority – of resurrection from death.

October 21, 2024: “Americans are starting to see violence as “part of the way politics happens,” said Nealin Parker, who heads Common Ground USA…Robert Pape, a University of Chicago professor who studies political violence, expressed concern over the prospect of post-election violence in battleground states, where the margin of victory could be a few thousand votes. He likened it to “a wildfire season” with lots of “dry combustible material” and the “potential for lightning strikes.” Trump himself has declined to rule out the possibility of violence if he loses in November…

Can we not recognize the signs of the times?

“I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy / speak in My Name…standing before the God of the earth.” (Revelation 11)

Standing before the God signifies that they are not bowing but are invested with the identity and power of the Almighty himself.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph…Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou…

• And Pharaoh took off his ring – authority! – from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand,
• and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen,
• and put a gold chain about his neck…
• and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt...
• HE stood – NOT BOWED!! – before Pharaoh king of Egypt.” 

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them…And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Proof of death – exactly like Lazarus and Jesus!

And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Proof of resurrection – exactly like Lazarus and Jesus!

“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” (Revelation 11)

The ultimate witness of faith in Jesus the Christ, God’s appointed ruler of the earth, is own’s own death / disconnect from this material world and resurrection to new spiritual life. 

“and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Finally! The essential calling out “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.“!! (Matthew 23:37-39)

And [immediately!] the seventh angel sounded…“in the days / eras of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets…and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” (Revelation 11, 10:1-7)