Entering the Kingdom of God

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The Gospel of the Kingdom of God has not been preached since the first century, apparently. What is preached now is the Gospel of Heaven, that is, the Good News that when we die we will not go to Hell but to Heaven. There is a Heaven where God, Christ, and the saints are. But this is not the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is God in Christ in the saints inheriting and governing the works of God’s hands.

(10/24/2005) The original Gospel of the Kingdom was preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles of Christ. After the Apostles died, the Spirit of revelation lifted and men began to write commentaries. At some point the Gospel of the Kingdom of God changed to the Gospel of going to Heaven when we die.

Considerable spiritual darkness prevailed for several centuries. Then, a few hundred years ago, it appears that the Spirit of God began the work of restoring what had been lost since the days of the Apostles. Many aspects of the new covenant have been added to the Christian churches since then, including the role of faith in the work of justification; the priesthood of the believer; water baptism by immersion, the born-again experience; the importance of holy living, and finally, during the twentieth century, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in gifts and ministries.

Now, in our day, the original Gospel of the Kingdom is being restored. The goal of salvation now is seen to be entering or inheriting the Kingdom of God, rather than escaping Hell and entering Heaven when we die. Since this change in Christian thinking is so radical, so profound, it seems to me that it will take another twenty-five years before even a dent is made in "Heaven thinking."

Is there a Heaven where God and Christ are? Indeed there is. Is there a Hell where wicked people are sent? Indeed there is. But neither of these places is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has only to do with Jesus Christ, not with Hell or Heaven.

If you will take a marker of some kind and go through the New Testament and highlight passages that use the word "kingdom," you will be amazed at the number of occurrences. It is the Kingdom that is emphasized in the New Testament. The expression "go to Heaven" is not mentioned one time in the New Testament. The frequency of mention of the Kingdom should be enough to cause the devout reader to change from Heaven thinking to Kingdom thinking. But it is likely no such change will take place. Although scriptural, it may be too much for us to handle at this time.

Is there a practical purpose for teaching the Kingdom of God rather than being saved to go to Heaven? Indeed there is. Supposedly we go to Heaven by grace, meaning that a change in our personality and behaviour is not absolutely required. Also, we do not attain our goal until we die physically, often resulting in a passive belief in Christ throughout our lifetime.

But to enter the Kingdom of God takes place right now. We can say "enter" or "inherit" the Kingdom of God. Both verbs are true, although one stresses the battle that is required to enter the Kingdom while the second verb, "inherit," makes us know that Christ is ready to give us that which He Himself has inherited from the Father.

The reason we have to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God is that it is the Kingdom that is born in us. Jesus Christ Himself is the King of the Kingdom and the Kingdom itself. As Christ is formed in us we perform the will of God while on the earth just as it is performed in Heaven.

The reason we have to overcome our sinful nature through the Holy Spirit before we can inherit the Kingdom is that there is no sin in the Kingdom. Sin began in Heaven around the Throne of God. But there is no sin in the Kingdom of God. As Jesus pointed out, when unclean spirits are cast out, then the Kingdom has come to us.

As Christ is formed in us we begin to practice righteousness, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Such transformation takes place now—today—while we are alive on the earth. However, there also will be a coming of the Kingdom to the earth when Christ appears with His saints and installs the Kingdom by force.

The Lord told us the Kingdom is entered forcibly and forceful men take hold of it. In order to enter the Kingdom today we have to be very determined. Numerous forces oppose us, including the demons and our own corrupt nature. We have to take ground by continual prayer, faith in Christ, obedience to the Spirit, patience, and courage. It is city by city as Satan gives ground before us and we being to practice iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father.

Many in our day are destined to become members of the nobility of the Kingdom. The nobility are tested constantly. They have to drink the cup of suffering until they have learned total obedience to Christ. They are the rulers of the age to come, being brought forth in a period of enormous temptation to sin. Many who are last in time shall be of first rank in the Kingdom.

If you have been chosen to rule with Christ you will have to overcome every enemy that comes against you. You indeed can overcome through Christ; but He will not do it for you and you cannot do it by yourself. Please keep this balance in mind, for it is necessary if you would live the victorious life in Christ.

We are in marvellous days—days of great danger as well as days of great opportunity to enter and inherit the fullness of the Kingdom of God. Many, many pastors and members of congregations will lose their first love because of the pornography that is available. To resist physical lust now and in the future will require much more dedication than ordinarily is true of Christian believers. We have been given a space of time in which to prepare ourselves. If we do not, we will fall into spiritual destruction in the coming age of moral and physical horrors. If we succeed in standing in Christ we will save ourselves and our loved ones.

Remember, as you make the change from Heaven-thinking to Kingdom-thinking, Heaven is a place. It is our term for Paradise which at one time was on the earth, is now in the spirit world, and when the Lord Jesus returns will once again be on the earth.

But entering and inheriting the Kingdom of God is independent of Heaven or Paradise. It is a change in us in which our natural, adamic life is destroyed and in its place is created the very Life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Life of Christ is formed in us as we keep choosing to walk in the Spirit of God and refuse to yield to sinful behaviour. As we do this we are given the hidden manna, which is the body and blood of the Lamb of God fed to our inner nature.

Remember—you can live a victorious Christian Life. Christ will provide you with all the wisdom, strength, and courage you need to be completely successful. But it is up to you to keep pressing into Christ each moment of each day and night.

It is kingdom against kingdom, the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of Satan. There are more for us than those who are against us. On whose side do you choose to be? The forces are too great for you to remain neutral.

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