THE ISSUE
CONT., page 2
THE REPEAT FATE OF THE KINGDOM
Now, we will see, the drama heightens. A very, very important question must here be considered. Let us first review the history of the kingdom. Yahweh created the earth in six days and placed man and woman in the garden which was His kingdom. Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, became naked, and were cast out of the garden, the kingdom having been corrupted. No longer was the kingdom of God upon the earth, yet through the messages of the prophets, men began to await the coming of the Messiah to bring His kingdom. The only problem was, the kingdom had been defiled and had to be restored first. Yahshua came to earth, and through His death and resurrection, specifically as a Nazirite, restored the kingdom. But now the highly important and very relevant question arises - What became of the restored kingdom?
The great significance of this question cannot be overlooked. For it is this sole question that determines the future of the church and what Yahweh will do in the immediate days before us. One can in no way, absolutely no way, perceive what Yahweh will do in the days before us without accurately discerning the answer to this most relevant and determining question. We thus ask again - What became of the restored kingdom?
First, clearly the church was given the restored kingdom of God. To Peter, Yahshua declared - "you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19). On this point of the church receiving the restored kingdom, I need not elaborate. This would/should be a virtually undisputed fact among Christians. The gospel of the kingdom then went forth; and over the next 2,000 years, wherever the gospel went, it had the power to change men's lives, even entire nations. The kingdom went forth, and men entering into that kingdom were transformed, but only in measure. While we note the wonderful power of the gospel to change men, we must equally note the power of Satan to once again corrupt the kingdom, as well as the weakness and vulnerability of man in the flesh, even Christian man. Let us read in Matthew 13 the words of Yahshua concerning the certain fate of the kingdom that He left with the church.
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away."
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened."
What happened to the kingdom of heaven which Yahshua gave once again to carnal man? Precisely the same thing that happened to the garden - it became corrupted by Satan through the flesh. I hope you will see now that what happened in the garden of God was a type, a picture, a preluding pattern of what would once again happen to the kingdom of heaven which Yahshua gave to man. Very importantly, everything pertaining to the destiny of the kingdom of heaven given to the church, is already laid out in prophetic patterns or accounts in the Scriptures. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says it this way:
"That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So, there is nothing new under the sun."
Thus we see:
That which happened in the garden with the kingdom,
Is that which has and will happen in the church with the kingdom.
So, there is nothing new under the sun.
The similarities are obvious. Again, the weakness of the kingdom thus far has been because of basically two things. First, man has been given the kingdom while in an earthly body. This is a major, major problem! That which is of the earth can never handle the heavenly. Yahshua declared to a bewildered Nicodemus - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." And when the two are united, there is certain conflict - Romans 7:23-25, Galatians 5:17.
This problem of the flesh was laid out very early concerning mankind. In Genesis 6:3, before the flood "when men began to multiply on the face of the land," Yahweh declared - "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because in his going astray he is flesh." Equally, and a most important point to realize, when the church began to "multiply on the face of the land," the conclusion of Yahweh remains the same - in its going astray it too is flesh! Anyone who knows church history would see this to be true. Anyone looking at the church today would see this to be true. Man has received the kingdom of God while still in the flesh; and even with the earnest of His Spirit in the church, the flesh has been that conflicting unsolved problem that leads to death.
And may we note here - this passage in Genesis 6:3 is very importantly parallel to the words of Yahshua in the garden: "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because in his going astray he is flesh," is the identical garden message - "the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." The great significance of this is covered in a subsequent writing.
Look what flesh man did to the prophets who delivered the heavenly messages. They rejected and killed them. And what did they do to the only man to come to us from heaven - Yahshua? They killed Him! The flesh can never handle the heavenly; and the church's possession of the kingdom of heaven while still in earthly flesh bodies has been and remains no exception. The problem inherent with the church was precisely the same problem inherent with Adam and Eve.
The second weakness existing in both kingdoms was the presence of Satan. Even as Satan was able to lie to and deceive Eve, so he has very effectively lied to and deceived the church - just as Yahshua foretold. "Good" church-going, "Bible believing," "Spirit filled" Christians are all seduced by many of Satan's leavening lies, and they do not even know it. They are so deceived that they think it is the lukewarm Christians that are deceived, certainly not them. But they are all blind, and are equally among those whom Yahshua said would be "all leavened." Like the Jews, their zeal is not according to knowledge. Like Eve, they are deceived and do not know it. Like the adulteress spoken of in Proverbs 5:6, Christians are equally characterized - "She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable, she does not know it." You who are reading this material, are more deceived by Satan than you could possibly know. If you would ponder the "path of life" - the path of the kingdom of heaven - you would soon see the dire pattern and plight you are in. You have the keys of the kingdom of heaven promised to Peter, yet you equally, like Peter, do not know what is taking place. Most significantly, only a mere two verses after receiving the promise of the keys, Peter rebuked Yahshua in error. Even as Peter did not understand the destiny of Christ, so the Christian does not understand the destiny of the body of Christ. The key-possessing Peter church could equally be rebuked as Satan - "You are a stumbling-block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (Matthew 16:19-23). The church is in trouble, and it does not even know it. Satan has blinded it.
The church whose foundation is Peter - "you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church" - is built upon and manifests the very nature of that rock, the building being a mere reflection of the very foundation. Peter, the church. Peter who rebuked Yahshua in ignorance and under the influence of Satan. Peter, who sank in the waters of the raging sea. Peter, who slept on the mountain while Yahshua was transfigured. Peter, who slept while Yahshua prayed and beckoned him to do likewise so as not to enter into temptation. Peter, who cut off the ear of the high priest's slave. Peter, who although having zeal denied Yahshua three times. Peter, who was questioned three times by Yahshua whether he loved Him. Peter, who in the end was led where he did not wish to go (John 21:18-19). This was Peter, the founding rock, who reflects the true condition, the state, and the destiny of the Peter, key-possessing, kingdom occupying church.
If you are being honest with this observation concerning the kingdom, if Yahweh has begun to open your eyes, you will realize, or now at least be open to the possibility, that the church is indeed in great trouble. Adam and Eve became naked, death was to be a reality to them, and they were cast out of the kingdom. Equally, for 2,000 years the church has died. Like the prophetic 2,000 swine that all rushed down the steep bank into the sea of death following Legion's entrance into them (Mark 5:13), throughout 2,000 years of Satan-occupied church history in which Christians keep going back to the mire (the flesh ways), these kingdom inhabitants equally in the end have all gone to the sea of death. Where are those members of the kingdom today? Do we hear their voices or sing with them in song? Do we see their faces or share in their discourse or embrace in their affection? No, they are all dead and gone. As spoken by the prophet Zechariah concerning the sheep of the Shepherd (i.e., clearly the church) - "two parts of it (2,000 years) will be cut off and perish" (13:8). Christians have perished in the sea of death for "two parts" or 2,000 years, cut off from the kingdom which is placed here on earth. As Adam and Eve were promised death for violation of the kingdom, even so the church for 2,000 years has died for violating His kingdom. Will the church be restored? Yes, in time. But first, even as Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, in equal pattern fulfillment, the "third part" of the church (those living when Yahshua returns - Zechariah 13:8-9) will be cast out of the kingdom into outer darkness, being sent among the nations. This material does not allow (once again) expounding on this last point, but be it understood that Yahweh's principle of sowing and harvesting, sowing and harvesting (which is addressed in Seedtime and Harvest) will see the church remaining in earthly bodies at Yahshua's return, removed from the restored kingdom of God, and sown among the nations.
If you doubt this, read Yahshua's words for those who receive the kingdom (i.e., the church).
"but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12).
Who are the "sons of the kingdom"? They were not the Jews at and before the time of Yahshua. We have already seen that the kingdom could not have been given to man until He restored it with His death and resurrection. This fact is concurred when He declared concerning John the Baptist - "I say to you, among those born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Luke 7:28). How could Yahshua say this about John, who was most worthy of entering the kingdom, if he was indeed in the kingdom period? The obvious fact was, John did not live in the kingdom period, and never had the opportunity to enter into the kingdom, as did any man prior to Yahshua's resurrection. Those to whom Yahshua was speaking at that time were not "sons of the kingdom," any more than was John. They were Jews by religion who did not have the kingdom. In fact, they even wholly rejected the King of the kingdom. The "sons of the kingdom" are only those who are Jews by faith in the King of the kingdom - "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; ... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly ... by the Spirit, not by the letter ..." (Romans 2:28-29). Thus, Yahshua could not have been addressing Judaism when He said this. His warning is clearly addressed to those who have the kingdom - the Peter, key-possessing, Jew by faith church.
Equally, as a second witness, Yahshua warned the kingdom-receiving church -
"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it" (Matthew 21:43).
Once again, even though Yahshua was speaking to the chief priests and Pharisees at that time, this statement can only apply to the church. What did He say concerning John and the kingdom? And both John and Yahshua equally declared - "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (i.e., it was approaching). This is the kingdom of God that Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb for Yahshua's burial, was said to have been "waiting for" (Luke 23:50-52). He was a member of the Counsel of the Jews and certainly would have had the kingdom if the Jew indeed had it. But the kingdom of God was not with those scribes and Pharisees - only "approaching," something absent but awaited.
Yahshua also declared concerning the kingdom that it "is within you." How could the kingdom of God be within the Jew when Yahshua had not yet been crucified and resurrected to make that presence possible. The fact is, once again, the defiled kingdom had not yet been restored to man, though it was indeed "approaching." The Jew thought he was going to receive the kingdom through the coming Messiah, but it only came by believing in Yahshua. Though the Jew thought he had the rights to the kingdom as a Jew, in reality the kingdom belonged to those who believed. They only had the rights in picture or type; they were the first to have the opportunity (even as Paul preached to the Jew first); but the kingdom, when it did come, went to those who are Jews inwardly (Romans 2:28-29). And even as the physical Jews were a type of the church, so the church has its "chief priests and Pharisees" as well. Then what could Yahshua be saying here? The kingdom of God will be taken away from the true Jew, the church, and given to someone else.
As a third witness, it is written in Hosea 4:6 concerning those who are His people, the church, the priesthood of Yahshua -
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Satan having deceived the church concerning truth).
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
The church, His people, lose their rights to priesthood (through death and by failing to reign in the Millennium).
And in prophetic picture fulfilled not only on the natural Levite priesthood level with the house of Eli, but also, more significantly, at the spiritual kingdom priesthood level, Yahweh equally declares to the church in a fourth witness:
"'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever;' but now Yahweh declares, ' Far be it from Me - for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's house so that there will not be an old man in your house'" (1 Samuel 2:30-31).
The priesthood rights of the sons of the kingdom church will be taken from them, even as Yahshua also forthrightly warned in Revelation 2:5 concerning the church's lampstand, and in 3:15-18 concerning the warning of being lukewarm - witnesses 5 and 6.
And just as natural Israel was taken into captivity in Assyria, then led through the Caucus Mountains, and dispersed or sown throughout Europe to form many nations, so spiritual Israel (the church) has equally been in captivity to the lies and deception of Satan, and at the return of Yahshua will be dispersed into the nations. Again:
That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So, there is nothing new under the sun.
As went Israel, so will go spiritual Israel - witness seven, for the seven churches.
But while these statements are dire and even difficult to apprehend; remember, Yahweh's mercy triumphs over His judgment. While being the subject in other writings, including A Fresh Look at End Times, we must note here that the dire consequences deserved by the church will be greatly lessened because of His mercy. These consequences for the body of Christ and what Yahweh will do with the body, are evidenced in the final moments surrounding Yahshua's own death. Once again we see - that which happened to Christ, is that which will happen to the body of Christ. This will be very brief for such profoundly important points.
At the time of Yahshua's crucifixion, we read that soldiers were sent to break His bones; but upon their arrival they found Him already dead. Therefore, instead of breaking His legs, they thrust a spear into His side and "there came out blood and water" (John 19:34). Very importantly, here we see evidenced the fate of the church.
For 2,000 years kingdom man has died. This should not be the case in the kingdom of God, but it is (see Death and the Passing of Christianity). Kingdom man's death testifies to the legal fact that the church is "dead" - death evidencing death. Even as Christ died, likewise the body of Christ dies. And backing up one picture, even as the "first man, Adam" was put to sleep, likewise the "last Adam" (Yahshua) was put to sleep. But herein we find two most marvelous consequences and even necessary acts concerning this death/sleep.
Following in the pattern of Yahshua (for a follower is not greater than his master), at the fullness of time when the church is weighed in the balance, legally the church is found dead. This death or "sleep" turns out to be to their salvation though, for because of it their bones will not be broken. Their identification with Yahshua, even in death, is their deliverance.
What do we mean when we say their bones will not be broken? First, what are bones? Bones are the structure or government, if you would, of the body. Also, most importantly, bones are the source of the blood, and we know from the Scriptures that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). Yahshua's bones were not broken, as evidence that He has the power of an indestructible life - the grave could not hold Him. And of great and celebrated marvel and wonder, the power of an indestructible life which Yahshua has, equally resides with the church, His body! The promise and power of resurrection abides with the church, and that inherent power is not broken - their bones are not broken. This is the first benefit to the church's sleep/death - identification with Yahshua in death keeps their bones from being broken.
Next we see that, instead of breaking the church's bones, there will be another exceptionally important act - a spear will pierce its side. When Adam was put to sleep, a bride was taken from his side. When Yahshua was put to sleep, as with the first Adam, the soldiers equally opened His side and out came "a bride" - blood and water. Now, what do we see here? A second point of immense importance!
The church escapes from their bones being broken (having the power of an indestructible life), but a sword will pierce its side and a bride will come out. A bride will be taken out from the sleeping body of Christ (the body of the last Adam), even as a bride came out of the side of the sleeping first Adam. Yahweh will not sorely and destructively judge the church as He planned and as they deserve (He will not break their bones); but instead, He will pierce its side and take out a Remnant bride. This Remnant bride will be the "new" recipient of the kingdom of God when it is taken away from the church that man has known for 2,000 years. This is the second benefit to the church's death/sleep - it obtains a bride.
Before proceeding, for we must further address this matter of the church's judgment, let us summarize what we have seen up to this point. First, we saw that giving the kingdom to Adam and Eve while in carnal flesh with the presence of Satan, resulted in their defilement of the kingdom, death, and the loss of the kingdom. This was the pattern for those who would receive the kingdom of God while in the same circumstances. Yahshua restored the kingdom and once again gave it to carnal men with the presence of Satan. The consequences for the church are the same, the original pattern thus being followed - defilement of the kingdom, death, and the church's loss of the kingdom.
Yahshua spoke in various similar parables of a master who would leave his kingdom in the hands of others, go on a long journey, and then return to take inventory and judge his kingdom. When He returns, it is not the world of unbelievers He is returning to inventory; it is those who possessed His kingdom which He will examine. And the church - which in truth is "mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Revelation 17) - would equally be in great trouble if Yahweh did not show greater mercy toward it! As Babylon did not receive the wrath promised by Yahweh (Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 50 and 51), so mystery Babylon Christianity will mercifully escape Yahweh's wrath and judgment. But even so, like Babylon of old: MENE - its days have been numbered and its kingdom put to an end; TEKEL - it has been weighed on the scales and found deficient; and PERES - your kingdom has been divided and given over to the two-part Remnant.
Even as Babylon was given to a two-part kingdom (the Medes and the Persians), so the kingdom of God will be given to a two-part Remnant. Basically, the Remnant is the bride that is taken from the side of the sleeping church. It is the "two sons of fresh oil" olive trees seen in Zechariah 4 (vs. 14). It is the product of the two rains of the Holy Spirit - the former and the latter rains, the waters from the first rock and the waters from the second rock in the wilderness. It is the glorified Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration, while the three-part church sleeps. And it is more, oh so much more!
The Remnant is a two-part work at the beginning and at the end of the church, the alpha and the omega. As it was in the beginning under the former rain, so it will be in these last days under the power of the latter rain - men and women will sell all to follow Yahshua, will hold all things in common, and will be daily devoted to studying the word of God and to fellowship with one another. The two-part Remnant is a highly unique work of the Holy Spirit. This two-part Remnant bride is the first among man to receive their "born from above" imperishable bodies in the first resurrection, and will reign with Yahshua in His restored Millennial kingdom for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6). The "third part" church (the third 1,000 year period of the church), having lost the kingdom rights and sent to the nations, will remain in their earthly bodies to pass "through the fire" and be refined as silver and gold (Zechariah 13:8-9). They will receive fire according to their own words - their threat of an eternal hell fire for the unbeliever. Thus, fire have they threatened, and fire they will receive, reserved for those who do not believe (though they will find the fire to be neither literal nor eternal and very cleansing).
So much more could be said here concerning the Remnant, but the purpose of this writing is not to show you all the answers; but rather, to show you that there is a problem - a very grave problem - and one should wholly ponder the issue of the kingdom of God, its defilement, and the consequences thereof.
Yahweh will do a new thing in these last days, but it cannot be under the name "Christian." It is the Remnant Bride to which Yahweh will give His latter rain new wine. This is the wine He promised He would drink new in His kingdom. Our Master has been on a long journey, but when He returns He will take the product of the latter rain waters, and have a people for whom He will have turned the water into wine - the latter rain produces the new wine kingdom for the wedding of the Lamb. Yahshua declared - "no one puts new wine into old wineskins" (Luke 5:37). The 2,000 year old wineskins of corrupted rigid Christianity will not hold His new wine. His new wine will go to a new work - His Remnant bride.
Summary of the Kingdom
Given to Adam and Eve -> Corrupted by them and Satan -> Removed from them ->
Restored by Yahshua ->
Given to the church -> Corrupted by them and Satan -> Removed from them ->
Given to a resurrected Remnant bride who will reign with Yahshua, whose kingdom will never end.
Continue to final page of THE ISSUE for YAHSHUA, THE GREAT INTERCESSOR