ACTS 1 AND THE KINGDOM

[Doug]

1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

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:

1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ACTS:1-8


Jesus gave commandments to the apostles thru the Holy Ghost. He spoke of things concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus told them to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost.

The apostles questioned Jesus in regard to the kingdom of God. Their questions centered on the program of Israel in regard to the kingdom. They wanted to Know when Jesus would restore the prohetic kingdom to Israel.

Jesus did not correct them in regard to the coming kingdom but rather said that the time would not be disclosed at present.

Jesus gave the commission to the apostles to go out and preach faith in His name; to believe on Him as the Christ, the Son of God; to the uttermost parts of the earth.

 

[Episkopos]

Seek first the kingdom.

Jesus doesn't answer a question that is not correct to answer...IOW we need to get the questions right first.

The disciples needed to get a taste of kingdom life...and power. Then they would be good witnesses of Jesus.

 

[Jay Ross]

Jesus gave commandments to the apostles thru the Holy Ghost. He spoke of things concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus told them to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost.

Agree with this understanding.

The apostles questioned Jesus in regard to the kingdom of God. Their questions centred on the program of Israel in regard to the kingdom. They wanted to Know when Jesus would restore the prophetic kingdom to Israel.

Jesus did not correct them in regard to the coming kingdom but rather said that the time would not be disclosed at present.

If we are to preach unto the end of this present earth, within a time constraint, then when the times and the seasons occur is only a distraction to us concerning the great commission. If as the KJV states the commission, then the gospel has been taken to every part of the earth now so we could claim that the time of the great commission is over now, yet there are still those who are yet to be born that will not hear the gospel if we stop preaching the gospel now because we have taken the gospel to the very ends of the earth if we apply the distant rule of understanding to this verse.

Now concerning the revealing of the times and the seasons, they are still hidden as they are still bound up except to those who have understanding. The times and the seasons are all revealed in the Old and the New Testaments if we only have eyes to see. Sadly, when we look at the prophetic many see it only through the eyes of man and not through the eyes of a Son of God. Sadly, when the Sons of God begin to reveal the times and the seasons to the world, they are hunted down and drowned out by the masses who have no real interest in the things of God. This forum is a primary example of this occurring.

Jesus gave the commission to the apostles to go out and preach faith in His name; to believe on Him as the Christ, the Son of God; to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Those who will be still going out to teach and preach about the things of God and the salvation of people will be killed by the masses who chose to inhabit the influence and the controlling dominion of Satan as is recorded in the Book of Revelation, right up and until the decreed end of the ages of the Age, but God will raise up all of these Saints who have had not a care for their own physical life, but who are willing to gave their all for God's Glory and His purposes.

People who predominately inhabit forums like this tend to want to argue over everything like how big the eye of the needle is or the determined steps that people must take in the right order etc. to be save and how they will avoid any pain and suffering for their belief in a loving Father who has chosen them over the house of Israel. This is to our shame.

Shalom

 

[Enoch111]

The apostles questioned Jesus in regard to the kingdom of God. Their questions centered on the program of Israel in regard to the kingdom. They wanted to Know when Jesus would restore the prophetic kingdom to Israel.

Jesus did not correct them in regard to the coming kingdom but rather said that the time would not be disclosed at present.

Jesus gave the commission to the apostles to go out and preach faith in His name; to believe on Him as the Christ, the Son of God; to the uttermost parts of the earth.

This section of Acts 1 is frequently overlooked by Christians when they are trying to understand the Church Age and the gap between Daniel's 69th and 70th weeks, and what follows.

You are perfectly correct in pointing out that "Jesus did not correct them in regard to the coming kingdom". Why did He not correct them? Because their expectation and anticipation was according to the OT Scriptures. God spoke over and over again about the redeemed and restored kingdom of Israel on earth under "the BRANCH" (the Messiah) who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the Gospel Age, and the redemption of the Gentiles, and their grafting into the Church, was hidden from the OT prophets. However the first priority after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ was the Gospel going into all the world and being preached to every creature. That it would begin at Jerusalem, extend into Judea and Samaria, and then go out to the uttermost parts of the earth. And this is still in effect, since we are in the Gospel Age.

The Church began on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out from Heaven upon those who believed the Gospel. The Church began with thousands of Jews, and continues with millions of Gentiles. But once the Church is completed (and the "fulness of the Gentiles be come in"), the world will see the second coming of Christ, followed by the re-gathering of the Jews to Israel, their repentance, redemption, and restoration, after which the Millennial Kingdom of Christ will be established. That is when Christ will also restore the kingdom to Israel (as the apostles expected), and the 12 apostles themselves will receive 12 thrones in order to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

And 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. (Mt 19:28) [Note: Paul to replace Judas Iscariot] And David the son of Jesse will be prince over Israel, while Christ is King over the whole earth.

This one verse effectively demolishes Replacement Theology -- that the Church has replaced Israel. God has an eternal plan and purpose for the Church, and at the same time an eternal plan and purpose for Israel under Christ, extending from the Nile to the Euphrates.