The two kingdoms of God involve two distinct yet eternally connected ruling governments that at present have different names and are located in different places. They will become one kingdom (government) following the return of Jesus Christ to earth. As was noted in the first two postings, the Kingdom of Heaven is God’s earthly church comprised of His Elect whom He calls by His name, who know His Truth and profess to live by it. This does not include those self-proclaimed “churches” collectively known as Catholicism and Protestantism. “The church,” as this consortium is known within religious circles, is not part of the Biblical Body of Christ in that it rejects much of the Holy Bible and therefore “despises” both the Father and the Son (Lk. 10:16). The Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God in embryo. Following the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ on earth, the Kingdom of God will descend from Heaven accompanied by God the Father. This kingdom will be ensconced in the Holy Land with its headquarters (New Jerusalem) located where Old Jerusalem now stands. At this point the two kingdoms will become one and those within her–God’s Very Elect–will rule both the earth and the entire universe from Jerusalem. See God’s Very Elect–Future Caretakers of the Universe. Until the return of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of Heaven will exist as God’s true church on earth while the Kingdom of God will remain with Him in the northern heavens.

As stated, in order to enter and become a part of the Kingdom of God in the future one must be part of the Kingdom of Heaven now. Those who do so are called Christ’s “brethren” and His “friends.” Contrary to popular opinion, being His brethren and friends are not statuses that are ours for the believing. These exalted spiritual positions must be earned, fought for and protected by those who truly seek Him. Let us see what Jesus said about the price of admission into the Kingdom of Heaven now and the Kingdom of God later.

Peter’s letter to the churches found in 1 Peter 4:17,18 gives us a powerful indication of what one must do in order to inherit eternal life. Here he remarks that, among those in the church–the Elect–only a select few will make the spiritual cut and be awarded salvation. He notes that only the Very Elect will be welcomed into kingdom headquarters, and that they will have just barely (“scarcely”) made the grade. Note it: NOT EVERYONE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN NOW WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD LATER AND SPEND ETERNITY WITH FATHER AND SON AS FELLOW RULERS OF THE UNIVERSE.  The Kingdom of Heaven–God’s earthly church–is the proving ground for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Only the Very Elect will have chosen to enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way that leads to eternal life (Mat. 7:13,14). Let us allow God to teach us what separates these people from others in the Kingdom of Heaven at the present time.

Note that one must “strive” (struggle, fight) to enter the strait gate which one must “find” (search for) among many other religious “gates.” The struggle continues as one walks the narrow (very selective) way of the Lord. Note that “few” do so. “Many” choose instead to enter the “wide” gate and walk the “broad” way of Institutional Christianity. Why? Because that gate is easy to find (look in the phone book under “churches”) and that way is easy to walk (“we’re just sinners saved by grace”). For this reason, “many” choose the wide gate and broad way that Satan’s false prophets proclaim to be “the way of the Lord.” The church masses, having their itching ears scratched (2 Tim. 4:3), follow them like lambs to the slaughter. L.J.

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