Hello again, Gerald,
John 14:3, was again, spoken to the twelve.
The parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) was spoken in answer to the question of the disciples in Matt. 24:3, ...
'And as He sat upon the mount of Olives,
the disciples came unto Him privately, saying,
"Tell us,
- when shall these things be?
- and what shall be the sign of Thy coming,
- and of the end of the world?"
... therefore should be interpreted accordingly. It begins, 'Then at that time, the kingdom of the heavens will become like ten virgins.' This is not descriptive of the Church which is His Body, but of, 'the kingdom of the heavens'.
With the greatest respect, you do not appear to understand the difference between the Kingdom and the Church. By mixing the callings together, like you have, your reasoning loses validity, Gerald.
May God give you grace to bare with me in love.
In Christ Jesus
Chris (Complete)
The kingdom of the heavenS? . While not wishing to start another branch of thinking I will have to address the rendition you used for we are clearly reading from different Bibles .
In mine it si the kingdom of heaveN.
For good reason .
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaveN and the earth .
Gen 2:1 thus the heavenS and the earth were finished ......
The heavenS of chapter 2 speak of the heavens of EARTH . As is the heaven where the birds fly or the firmiment between the waters above and below and the heaven where the stars are "for he made the stars also " Both these heavens are from gen 1:2 onwards where God is ONLY speaking of the EARTH .
For "in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth"
HEAVEN EARTH
verse 2 ) and the EARTH was without form and void ........
Verse 3 onwards is only speaking about the earth .
Thus in verse 8 of chapter 1 we have the heaven of earth as it were . then later when he "made the starrs also we have the other heaven of earth .
The first "heaven" then of chapter 1 verse 1 is the heaven where Gods throne was and is .
For it was not heaven that was in darkness but the earth .For that heaven "needs no sun or moon for God is the light thereof ."
Thus it is the kingdom of HEAVEN not heavens . For if we are BORNagain we are born of that heaven and not another .
and it that heaven that we desire and pray "thy will eb done on earth as it is in heaven "
I needed to answer that because if I did not then it will lead to confusion as to what heaven we are talking about .
Our bodies are a kingdom where Christ must rule .
For what makes a good citizen of any kingdom?
If not one by which its laws ,precepts and constitution is written in the heart of its people?
For if we do give lip service to it and only obey the externals (if we can) then we do so out of fear of the consequences rather than for the love of them.
Is not Jesus both saviour and King? is it not written that we are no longer debtors to the flesh but to God?
That the Spirit must rule not the flesh? Then our bodies are a kingdom as much as we are part of a body which is Christs body as much as we are a temple of the Holy Spirit .
Your church or my church is not THE whole church but it is the church whereever God has placed us as a church . But it is also part and member of that church which is His body the whole church and we are if His members one of another both as individuals and as individual churches.
"Then the kingdom of God is with in you "said Jesus Luke 17:21
It is inconceivable then that the kingdom of God that is within me will have different precepts and constitution than the one that is to come .Indeed shall we not be recognised if not by the world then by God when it is so manifested in our lives?
"By their fruits shall ye know them" From whence cometh this fruit? If not from the seed that is sown?
Have we not been translated from one kingdom to another ? "From the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Gods dear Son"?
I would even say from one predestination to another predestination also . But many would not agree.
But the Gospel of God is more radical than we think.
and the world has yet to see "the Sons of God" "for the whole world groaneth waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God "
But there is coming a day when the Word of God "will be glorified among the heathen" For they will not like it ,they will hate it they will even seek its destruction and others will kill them "and think its Gods will" But that kingdom of God of heaven will be manifested clearly in the lives of Gods people .
For what is a true revival if not when the kingdom of God is manifested in the lives of Gods people ?
You may argue that the kingdom of God is not the kingdom of heaven.
Well I doubt it .
For whether you have the kingdom of heaven in heaven or the kingdom of God on earth they have but the same KING! and each in their part and function will glorify God .
and if by that verse you quoted as of a city descending from heaven as a Bride the new Jerusalem .Then Where is the Groom?
Will He not sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rule his people Israel ? and the nations with a rod of iron?
This is a glorious Gospel and our so great a Salvation has ;but it seems not gone far the letter 'S'.
in Christ
Gerald