*/Some are still confused with the post "The Virgins are not the Bride"
so here is a follow up with some more insights that are out there. Since
Matthew 25 has to do with the "Kingdom of Heaven", maybe this info will
help clear it up more.
/
The "Kingdom of God" has to do with the Church and our spiritual
relationship with Jesus Christ, (hence present right now), and our
eventual ruling and reigning with him in Glory from the New Jerusalem:*Romans 14:17 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b45C014.htm#V17> For the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
Luke 17:21 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b42C017.htm#V21> Neither
shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God
is within you.
Thessalonians 1:5 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b53C001.htm#V5>
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may
be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:*
We (the Church) have been given this spiritual kingdom, and the nation
of Israel lost it:*Matthew 21:43 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b40C021.htm#V43>
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you,
and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.2
<http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b53C001.htm#V5>*Although the Jews lost it, the Jews who remain through the tribulation
will get saved and also receive the "Kingdom of Heaven", which is the
_literal physical and political rule over this earth_, and eventually
throughout the universe ("of heaven"). The expression "Kingdom of God"
appears throughout the New Testament, but the expression "Kingdom of
Heaven" appears mainly in the book of Matthew, which was written for the
Jews (note how often Matthew makes reference to Jesus Christ's
fulfilment of Old Testament prophesies). *Matthew 11:12 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b40C011.htm#V12> And
from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Revelation 11:15 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b66C011.htm#V15> And
the seventh angel sounded; 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.*The Christian also gets to rule and reign with Christ, and that is why
so many passages in the gospels mention the "kingdom of God" in the
context of ruling and reigning over cities with Jesus Christ (both were
present at the time Jesus was on the earth when the "kindgom of heaven"
was "at hand" *Matthew 4:17
<http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b40C004.htm#V17> )*.However, the Christian might lose his "inheritance" in the" Kingdom of
God" by being carnal and sinful, and if so he will be unable to enjoy
the full status of rulership he would otherwise be entitled to, he will
get "disinhereted" or demoted from a position of authority and not get
what rewards he might have otherwise received as joint-heir with Christ
if he had been zealous to maintain holiness and good deeds:*1 Corinthians 6:9 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b46C006.htm#V9>
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,1 Corinthians 6:10 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b46C006.htm#V10>
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:21 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b48C005.htm#V21>
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
*This lack of "inheritance" is a loss of reward appears at the Judgement
seat of Christ:*2 Corinthians 5:10 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b47C005.htm#V10>
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
*
The lost inheritance cannot be equated with the loss of a Christian's
salvation, which is secured forever by Jesus Christ's once-for-all
payment on the cross, and is secured by the seal of the Holy Ghost:*1 Corinthians 3:15 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b46C003.htm#V15>
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Peter 1:5 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b60C001.htm#V5> Who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
*The Bible passages are therefore very confusing unless all of this is
separated out. There are many ways to get it wrong.
**For example:
**liberal theologians quote "the Kingdom of God is within you" and deny
the coming political kingdom of Israel.
kingdom-now theologians quote "the violent take it by force" to justify
political activism, wars, and crusades.
those on a works-trip will equate the Kingdoms with salvation, and
"prove" that salvation is lost if a person sins.*The command regarding "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2
Timothy 2:15 <http://www.justbible.com/Chapters/b55C002.htm#V15> ) means
that it is perfectly proper to DIVIDE it up, in fact me must divide it
up rightly. Part of that means understanding that not eveyrthing in the
Bible applies to the Church, and not everything that applies to the
Church applies to our salvation, as the "Kingdoms" demonstrate.
- M
*/(insights originate from the Bible Baptist Bookstore in Pensacola, FL)/*