If we have to die before we go to heaven, why did Jesus say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17 KJV)
Heaven - When?
- Thread starter Bob Estey
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Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
When Jesus announced that- He was not referring to heaven but to the prophesied and promised kingdom god would give to Israel.
Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
You have to remember that this was written in Matthew. Matthrew wrote his gospel to the Jewish people and would not have used the word God!
Israel knew the prophecy of the 770 weeks of Daniel and at the time of Jesus' arrival there was a real Messianic fervor in Israel waiting for the promised kingdom to come for Israel. The first half of Jesus' ministry was devoted to announcing to Israel that the long awaited for kingdom was at hand!
Behold
Well-Known Member
Jesus is the Kingdom...
When we are born again, we have entered the KOG, by being "in Christ".
Also, He was telling the House of Israel, your verse. He's not talking to the Bride of Christ who are already born again, "in Christ" and one with God.
Notice that the OT Jews were told to "repent" and the NT Gentiles are told to BELIEVE and be saved.
There is an idea that they didn't go straight to heaven prior to the resurrection. There is the belief they went to Abraham's bosom, a good side partitioned off in hell for the Old Testament saints. That comes from the story of the rich man and Lazarus. I'm not definitively saying that's what Jesus was talking about, just food for thought.
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You say Jesus is the Kingdom. Is he accessible now, or do we have to wait till we did to access him? And if he said we have to wait, then why did he say, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"?
Do we have to wait till the resurrection to go to heaven? Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Behold
Well-Known Member
1.) "the Temple of the Holy Spirit" is every born again Believer...... = right now
2.) "Christ IN YOU, the hope of Glory"""" (Glory is Heaven) is right now, regarding all the born again.
3.) "seated in Heavenly Places IN CHRIST", is happening to all the born again right now.
God is the Father of all the born again Spirit's, I(Sons & Daughters of God) and God told us to "come boldly to the Throne of Grace"....
So, this means that the born again, always have access to all that God is, all that God has, and all that God can do.
= 24/7 eternal spiritual union with God and Christ. is to be born again.
Hallelujah !!
Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
Matthew did not misquote. It is you locked into a misunderstanding of how they spoke in the culture of the day. A good Jew would not write GOD in HIs writings, especially iof He is trying to evangelize Jews! Remember what Paul said, "Tot he Jews I became as a Jew in order to win some. to teh Romans I became as a Roman..." Matthew was just being sensitive to the people he was trying to reach and win to jesus.
Also the Kingdom on earth is subject to enormous amount of OT prophecy concerning Israel. So that was the kingdom of God and that was the kingdom Jesus offered to that generation and then revoked it to that generation and said He would give it to another generation of Jews.
I take the words of Jesus at face value. He says the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That leads me to conclude that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Rockerduck
Well-Known Member
The Kingdom of Heaven is here right now, Jesus is King. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is in us.
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
Now if you took them at fiorst century face value instead of a 21st century mind set and keepiong the kingdom in light of all OT prophecies concerning the king and kingdom, you would come up with a much different answer.
Jesus spoke to 1st century Jews, not 21st Century gentiles.
Using that reasoning, it would seem to me you could interpret the Bible any way you want
The "Kingdom " of Heaven is different than a mere location.
The meaning was that God is at hand...near...within arms reach.
Jesus, our King, is not here to be face to face with us now.
He will...but not just yet.
