In the previous posting I listed the “fruits of the Spirit” as found in Galatians 5:22. This fruit is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit abiding in and working through  God’s true saints. This is the fruit by which they are known (Mat. 7:16). This fruit is manifested only by obedience to God’s Word/Truth (Jn. 17:17). Fruit-manifesting, Bible-obeying saints are what God calls His “firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:23): “Christ the firstfruits, then they who are His at His (2nd) coming.” Beginning with Abel, all who have died and who are living “in Him” upon His return to earth are called His “firstfruits.” Note that Jesus is called God’s “firstfruits,” the same as those who obey His Father. This reveals an important fact: He was a man like any other man; He, as do we, had to exhibit those holy traits in order to accomplish what God sent Him to accomplish. In order to join Christ the firstfruits we–also called God’s “firstfruits,” must “walk as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6), purify ourselves as He is pure (1 Jn. 3:3) and overcome (Satan) just as He overcame him in order to enter God’s kingdom (Rev. 3:21). There is no other way.

Chapter one verses six through eight: While the disciples were meeting with the resurrected Christ on the Mount of Olives they asked Him when He would restore the kingdom TO ISRAEL “AGAIN.” To “REstore” means to bring something back to its original condition. Jesus did not address the question of kingdom characteristics, but spoke only about the time when He would restore the kingdom to its original Israelite condition. He noted that only God the Father knew when that would occur. Note two things about this scenario. 1) The coming Kingdom of God would be an Israelite entity and 2), the resurrected Christ did not know when that would happen. Anyone doubting that the coming Kingdom of God will be David’s (Israel’s) tabernacle restored (Isa. 16:5/Amos 9:11/Acts 15:16) should cosider the following Biblical Truths: The gates of New Jerusalem will be inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the foundation of the city will be inscribed with the names of the 12 disciples of Christ (Rev. 21:12,14). The Kingdom of God of the future, like the Kingdom of Heaven (His church) in the present, is ISRALITE, as is its Messiah. Gentiles will be allowed inside only if they have obeyed the Israelite Law of the God of Israel with faith in His Israelite Son.

Another Truth put forth in the focal passage is found in verse 8: GOD’S MINISTERS OPERATE UNDER THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. They, like Jesus of Nazareth, have no power in and of themselves, but are totally dependent on the Spirit of God that inhabits them. They would need this power when fulfilling the Lord’s commission to preach “This gospel of the kingdom” throughout the world as a witness (Mat. 24:14). In the secular world a witness speaks the truth as he/she knows it. This is what God’s messengers have been doing since Noah, “a preacher of righteousness,” spoke to the men of his day who, as do men today, ignored his words and his fruit and, as a result, found themselves in a watery grave. Mass death will occur again, and for the same reason. Only next time God’s wrath will not involve water, but rather war. I grow saddened when I recall the words of Thomas Jefferson who said that he cringed when he recalled that God is just. God is “no respecter of persons.” His cause and effect system of rewards and curses has not changed (Leviticus 26/Deuteronomy 28). Note that in both chapters, as well as throughout the entire Bible, blessings and cursings hinge on one word: “IF.” L.J.