Hi,
It is so wonderful to be called out and placed into the Kingdom of God's Beloved Son. Being apart from God and trying to live life by scratching in the dirt like everyone else, and living off the pickings left behind by faster and better folks, is depressing. I am amazed at how well people cope with everyday living, in spite of not having a relationship with God. Still, we are surrounded by those who do not do so well. In times past, I could be found feeding at the bottom of the barrel too, having no clue as to what was coming next.
To be a citizen of the Heavens, ruling and reigning with Christ, that glorious expectation we have, cannot be compared to what Israel and the Kingdom of God on earth will be like. They will enjoy the land promised to them for a thousand years, while we remain in the heavenlies as the Body of Christ, reconciling the universe- the powers and principalities and juristictions that will also learn obedience to the Lord of All through our ministry there with Him. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:... And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell;AV Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. AV Col 1:18,19
And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,AV Eph 3:9-10
Entrance into the Kingdom on earth, during His thousand year reign, will be based on repentence and baptism, and will be preached and evidenced by the faithful ones out of Israel, who will excercise rule and priesthood over the nations. Though they failed to do this during His earthly time, when He returns and puts a new heart and mind in them, they will once again proclaim the Kingdom, only this time knowing Him as the One Whom they had pierced, their Messiah.
We, on the other hand, as the Body of Christ, His complement in the heavens, will not see corruption or physical life during that time, having been transformed in the twinkle of an eye, and being changed into immortal beings like Him.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.AV 1C 15:51-52
This is grace, this is mercy, this is honor above and beyond our deserts. What love is this that we should be set for this glory? To rule and reign with the Christ of God in the heavelies! Unbelievable!
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?AV Ro 8:29-31
God know those who are His, His elect; and grace and mercy with faith is the key to entrance into either the earthly Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of His Beloved Son. It is all the work of a sovereign God, Who...
"who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will":AV Eph 1:11
We must believe God.
fivesense
