God calls those whom He chooses for His Kingdom, to reign with His son.

Where do they reign with Y’shua, in Heaven or on Earth?

As this is a question that each one must answer for themselves, I’ll present the following scriptures for consideration & discussion. This is also just an overview of the subject, as there is much more in scripture to support this view. This is just the starting point for a discussion.

The two accounts of the transfiguration, are a good starting point. NASB.

Matt.17:1-8;

1 “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”

Mark 9:2-10, describes this even in similar language.

It is apparent that there are two reasons for this transfiguration, firstly, to show conclusively that Y’shua was indeed the “Son of God”, secondly, that Moses & Elijah represented those from earlier/ancient times, who would be in “the kingdom with them”, as they were ALL together with the Lord.

The parable of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob in “the Kingdom of Heaven”.

Matt. 8:11,12; 11 “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Luke 13:28-30, once again, similar wording.

Jesus clearly states that, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (would be) in the kingdom of heaven”.

The “beatitudes” of Matt.5, have some very interesting wording.

V 3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

V 5: “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”

V’s 8-10: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

It is interesting to note that the “inheritance” for these “blessed ones” is said to be “the earth”, in V 5.

This raises the following questions; If they “inherit the earth“, how can… “theirs is the kingdom of heaven“; “they shall see God”; “called sons of God”; “theirs is the kingdom of heaven“? How does this all fit together?

The Lord’s prayer gives us a clue at Matt.6:10;

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

Please notice that the wording, God’s will, “be done on earth”,  however, “as it is in heaven”, is present tense, as already being done in heaven, indicating not yet being done on earth.

While most of us can “parrot” Rev.21:3-7, it may be profitable to have another look.

3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5,And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

Please notice that it is not man who goes to heaven to be with God, BUT God will tabernacle (dwell) with, “among men” on the earth.

Those who overcome, “will inherit these things“, & will be called “My son”, by God.

Further in Rev.21, we see the conditions on earth when “New Jerusalem” comes down from heaven to the earth.

V 22 “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

All the references made are pertaining to the “millennial age”, we are not given any indication what happens following the kingdom being handed back to the Father.

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Please feel free to discuss any points raised in this paper.

Amos

 

 

 

 

 

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10 Comments on God’s Kingdom-In Heaven or on Earth?

  1. Amos says:

    I must apologize for not including Rev.21:2, when I posted the original paper, it Reads;

    “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

    The point being,as discussed, “New Jerusalem” descends to the earth & this is where God will “tabernacle” with mankind. This agrees with Matt.6:10, when God’s will, “will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”.

    There are many questions & points concerning these things that should be discussed, to arrive at the correct understanding.

    Amos

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  2. andrew says:

    This theory I have considered as a possiblility maybe even a probability. What kind of bodies would we have? According to Paul’s argument in 1 cor 15:35-58 we will have spiritual bodies and be as Jesus is. Would this mean we would have bodies like Jesus did, after his resurrection?

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    • Amos says:

      Yes Bro. Andrew, I agree with this, with Y’shua even eating with His disciples after His resurrection.
      Luke 24:36-43;
      “While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.”

      It then only stands to reason that this is a good indication that we will have this same abilty/quality as our Master had, to appear before humans as required, during the restitution. I don’t think that we can know, “at this time” whether Y’shua was in the spirit & materialized as required, or that He was in the flesh for the entire forty days before returning to heaven.

      Regardless of what system we are in, or have come out of, to understand the truth of scripture, we need to look past the “traditions of men”. This is one thing that stood in the way of the Pharisee’s acceptance of Y’shua.

      Any thoughts?

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  3. andrew says:

    Rev. 14:20 seems to indicate that New Jerusalem will descend before Armageddon takes place. The order seems to be that Jesus will come in glory, all christians will be resurrected, the christians who proved to be goats will be destroyed (matt. 25) then the faithful christians alive at the 2nd coming will be raptured, the marriage of the lamb, then New Jerusalem descends, Armageddon happens.

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  4. Amos says:

    Yes Andrew, This is possibly correct. We see two alternatives,

    #1) as you have said above, or

    #2) that the anointed (including those resurrected) will all be taken to safety, “to be with the Lord in the air”, while Armageddon takes place. Then New Jerusalem will descend.

    We are still considering this & other passages associated with this event.

    Regarding #1, there are some examples in OT times where YHWH delivered His people without them going into battle themselves.
    (Jericho, 185,000 Assyrians, etc) So there is scriptural precedents that show this as a distinct possibilty, maybe even probable.

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  5. andrew says:

    In Rev. 20:9 the ones that Satan whips up to rebel after the 1000 yrs. have ended march across the earth to surround New Jerusalem this would appear to indicate it will be something visible to everyone. Could New Jerusalem be situated where physical Jerusalem is now? or perhaps nearby such as the mount of olives? Zech 14:5

    Also the word used in Rev. 20:9 for the dwelling of the saints (encampment or barracks or camp) might suggest a temporary dwelling place. After arranging things on earth according to God’s will, could this “city” go somewhere else? This is a speculation of course.

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  6. Amos says:

    I agree with your views Bro Andrew.

    There is so much information that is not given a clear understanding of. However I also think that somewhere in the vicinity of Jerusalem & possibly the mount of Olives, could be used as the safe haven for the “saints” at the close of the millennium when the last ditch efforts of Satan & his followers attack the “New Jerusalem”.
    I am distinctly viewing this as a very real possibilty.

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  7. Disappointed says:

    This is interesting. Many years ago I was surprised when one of the ‘anointed’ told me in private that she believed that Jesus and the 144.000 would come down to earth and materialise bodies like the angels,to direct things from the earth. Was she all that time ago one of the ‘Conscious class’?!!

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  8. scooby says:

    Yes, i tend to agree, that what you say takes us to the end of the 1,000 year reign and the handing of the kingdom back to the Father. beyond that we are not told.

    a well articulated account of a very error prone subject i think your spot on.

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  9. Amos says:

    Thanks for your reply Scooby, & welcome to the site.

    Amos

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