But seek first the kingdom of God… Matthew 6:33[i]
Your kingdom come…Matthew 6:10[ii]
Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16: 28[iii]
Why would any Christian seek the Kingdom of God if he already has it? Why would the Lord Jesus Christ teach us to pray “Your Kingdom Come” if it’s already here? Why would the Lord say that He will be “coming in His Kingdom” if it was already here? The answer is that it’s not already here.
When the Lord was in the world proclaiming these things, He was speaking to a saved Jewish nation, the Israelites.
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, Deuteronomy 33:29[iv]
O God of Israel, the Savior!… Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever. Isaiah 45:15, 17[v]
When Christ was in the world, and speaking to a saved Jewish nation, He was offering them salvation into the kingdom of heaven/ the kingdom of God, not salvation from eternal damnation.
But the Jewish nation as a whole rejected the message, and rejected the Messenger. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven was taken from them, and given to a new nation, yet to be born. a holy nation,
(1 Peter 2:9) Christians[vi]
“Therefore I say to you, [the Jewish Nation (added for clarification) ]the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. Matthew 21:43[vii]
Had the Jewish nation received their King and His message, they would have received the salvation He was proclaiming to them and He would have them set up the Kingdom, but they rejected it.
Today, through the Holy Scriptures, Christians, who have already been saved, just as the saved Jews in past time, are being offered the same salvation that Christ offered the Jews, the same salvation they rejected and was taken from them, salvation into the kingdom of heaven. And just as saved Jews in time past rejected the kingdom, most Christians are rejecting it today, and it will be taken from them.
“20 you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. romans 11:20-22[viii]
The Spirit of God is in the world today searching for a bride for His Son Jesus Christ. When the search is complete, all Christians will be removed from the world, and appear before the judgment seat of Christ to “receive the things done in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10)[ix]
Faithful Christians who denied themselves in this present world, will be given positions of power and authority in the world to come, the Kingdom of Heaven. Unfaithful Christians who loved this present world, will be denied positions of power and authority in the world to come, the Kingdom of God.
This salvation into the Kingdom of heaven is the salvation of your soul, and can be gained or lost. Christians cannot lose their present salvation, the salvation of your spirit. Man, is a tri-part being: spirit, soul, and body, and Christians have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5:23[x]
and through Christians cannot lose the salvation they currently possess the salvation of their spirit, they can lose the salvation of their souls, salvation into the Kingdom of heaven.
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life [“in this world” John 12:25] will lose it, but whoever loses his life [“in this world” John 12:25] for My sake will find it. [the world to come, Hebrews 2:5] For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28[xi]
[i] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
[ii] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
[iii] Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16: 28
[iv] Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.” Deuteronomy 33:29
[v] Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! Isaiah 45:15 But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever. Isaiah 45:17
[vi] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;1 Peter 2:9
[vii] “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. Matthew 21:43
[viii] 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. romans 11:20-22
[ix] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
[x] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5:23
[xi] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”Matthew 16:24-28
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. Hebrews 2:5
