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| Man's Big Three Grace Periods Part III |
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| THE KINGDOM AGE BEGINS | |
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:14-30. |
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| THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD WILL AND MUST BECOME THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST! | |
| According to Matthew 4:7-11 and Luke 4:5-8, the kingdoms of this world were delivered unto the devil and to whom he could give them, which was described by using such words as power and glory. According to the third chapter of Genesis, in verses 1 and 14, it is clear to me that the beast was upright in stature and was being used and empowered by the fallen angel, Lucifer (son of the morning). This is according to Isaiah 14 and referred to in the New Testament as the Angel of Light (II Corinthians 11:14; II Peter 2:4; and Jude 6). But after he (the upright beast), by the power of Satan, won the victory over Eve and then Adam was cursed by God, he became the crawling serpent eating the dust of the ground all the rest of the days of his life. The fact is, when Adam and Eve were tempted (and overcome!) by Satan in the Garden of Eden, they both sinned against God. By doing so, they lost their power and authority to have dominion over all of God's creation. At that point in time, God permitted the devil, to have power and authority (under God's Super power, of course). It is clear to me that our Great God uses Satan to purge His people, that we may come closer to Him. When Satan was permitted this power and authority, he warranted an entrance back into Heaven to accuse the brethren as in Job's day. So God gave His Son. His Son gave Himself that He might destroy the devil and all his works. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8. Christ began His great ministry by preaching "The Kingdom of God is At Hand! Repent and Believe the Gospel!" He (Christ) tells us His Kingdom is power to believe, which is to receive His Grace that we might be saved. |
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| GOD GAVE HIS BEST. OUR GOD IS GOOD -- OUR GOD IS GREAT! | |
| Something old, something new; the best gift ever! Yes, He is from old to everlasting. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2. The Prophet Isaiah said His name would be Immanuel: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14. The government would be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6)-this is yet to be. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end...to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. Isaiah 9:7. Most of this is still yet to be. He also said, ...This man shall be the peace... Micah 5:5. We now look again at the eleventh chapter of Isaiah: ...The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him... Isaiah 11:2. The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in Matthew 3:11-27 and Luke 4:1-21. Please also see John 20:1-31. The angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21. Jesus is the Best Gift! Man receives power by and through the Best Gift: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8. (bold is mine) |
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| THE WISE MEN | |
| Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1, 2. Who told them about the star? Please read all about the star in the Book of Numbers, chapters 22, 23, and 24. The Prophet Bailaam refused to curse God's people even after Balak, the King of Moab, promised to promote him to great honor if he would: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Numbers 22:17, 18. After such dedication, God gave him a word for the last days. You can read this in Numbers 24:1-17. Verse 17 says, in part, ...There shall come a Star out of Jacob... So the wise read prophesy and believe. Now the Wise Men from the East had read where Jesus would be born, as recorded in Micah 5:5. I would say that all of us need to read and hear the Bible's Road Map to follow Jesus, for He is the Way. ...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6. Remember this: Not only is Jesus Christ the Way, but He and only He, shall be the peace (Micah 5:5). |
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| JUST WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST? | |
| For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17. ...Behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. I Corinthians 4:20. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth... Romans 1:16. So we see the Gospel is not just words, but power over sin, which gives to us His righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (bold is mine) |
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| AS CHRIST WAS AND IS, SO ARE WE | |
| Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. I John 4:17. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. John 20:21. ...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38. So we are the recipients of Grace and Power. We also have within us His kingdom and we are looking for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to come and set up His Kingdom Age of 1,000 Years, over which our Lord shall reign. He shall bring peace and prosperity to this old troubled world. During this period of time, the old devil will be given a blackout, bringing him under God's feet. Also during this 1,000 years, Satan will be bound with a great chain and cast into the bottomless pit. (bold is mine) |
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| WITH FAITH IN GOD, WE FACE OUR PROBLEMS | |
| David, after Samuel the Prophet anointed him to become King of Israel, went back to the field as a shepherd boy to keep his father's sheep. As you know, both a bear and a lion came out of the woods and took for himself one of the flock. In each case, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon young David and he delivered out of the paw of the bear and out of the mouth of the lion, the lamb and then killed the enemies of his father's flock. With these two great victories behind his back, his father called him from shepherding his flock and sent him to the front lines to take the pledge of his three older brothers who were in Saul's army. He arrived there just in time to save the battle. If you will recall, for forty days the giant, Goliath, had challenged Israel for a man to fight with him, and found none. David went out to fight with his sling and five smooth stones. With just one stone, he slew the giant and delivered his Heavenly Father's flock, Israel. David was unlike most of us -- we want to turn from our problems and run away. But God challenges us: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. (bold is mine) |
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| JESUS COMES TO JUDGE THE NATIONS | |
It won't be a matter of Jesus judging the Nations as a whole; each person will be judged, one by one. Let's look at the scriptures that bear this out:When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:31-46.Now, let's take a closer look at verses 31-34. It is in these scriptures that we will find the seed from all nations that will inherit the Kingdom for 1,000 Years without a devil: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31-34. Please be sure you understand this truth: Those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior, both Jew and Gentile, are going to go to Heaven to be with Him. Anyone who does not believe on Jesus Christ, no matter his or her heritage, will not be leaving this world with the redeemed in Christ, when Jesus comes back to claim His Own. They will be left here to go through the Tribulation Period. Now, come. Let us reason together. Let us remember back in the recorded Word of God, back to the Garden of Eden. Our God cursed the devil, in the guise of a serpent, and he has been crawling (instead of walking) and eating dust ever after. Evil, hate and death has reigned since Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Yes, sin, evil and death have been overcome by and through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was, for sure, nailed to the Cross of Calvary. However, the devil has not, as yet, been put under His feet. So the devil will be allowed to reign until it is all put under the feet of Jesus. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ...Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. II Corinthians 11:14. (The devils had to have some light at least to believe and tremble.) ...The devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19. But they could not obey, as you and I can, and must. Because of sin in the world, Satan was in command (but only as far as God would permit him to be). Satan was allowed to have "dominion over". That means power over all flesh-both man and beast. In so far as that goes, he was further granted the ability to use any and everything to tempt man with. The same man that our God had made and had said was good and very good. Also, Satan became the prince (power) of the air which permitted him and all his fallen angels back into the heavens-even where God was and now is. |
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| THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD - THE DEVIL | |
| Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2. (Now this has to be the spirit of the devil himself.) Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. John 14:30. ...The prince of this world is judged. John 16:11. Please read the first and second chapters of the Book of Job regarding the days of Job. Christ came to defeat the devil and through you and me, the believers, to completely destroy the devil. ...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8. (bold is mine) |
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| THE DEVIL DID NOT SHAKE OR FRUSTRATE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! | |
| First, the devil worked on Christ at His weakest point (while He was physically hungry). Secondly, he challenged Christ at the point of pride. Thirdly, he challenged Christ at the major point on the mountain.Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:8-11. Other scriptures use a little different wording and tell us a little more, such as the devil departs from Him for a season. It is of great interest to me, and I am sure to you also, to note in Christ's teachings of the Word of God how much He had to say about the devil and just how He dealt with him. Christ spoke directly and positively to him. He called him by name-both Devil and Satan. Christ told him exactly what he was supposed to do. There were no shouting matches-if anyone asked anything, it was always the devil asking permission of Jesus, the True Authority over him, to do something. The devil can operate only under the power God has given him. (bold is mine) |
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| End Part III, "Man's Big Three Grace Periods" Continued... | |
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