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As is the case with many of the “headlines” the Almighty proclaims in the Holy Scriptures, their true meanings can be discerned only by searching out, studying and believing the “fine print” He has provided which explains His headlines.  Relative to the title to this series, one must follow God’s rule for Bible study in order to bring together the Biblical Truths–fine print–that allows the seeker to understand the Truth–headline.  This rule is found in Isaiah 28:9-13.  Note that He repeats the rule for emphasis.  Read God is in the Details.  Key word–Details.

Such is the case with the title (headline) I have chosen for this series.   How many times have people complained about being confused by the messages in the Bible?  Which is understandable when one does not search out the details.  For example, how can two kingdoms be one?  I will add more fuel to the confusion fire: THERE IS A THIRD KINGDOM–A “TEMPORARY” VERSION OF THE KINGDOM(S).  AND ALL THREE ARE ONE IN THE SAME.  Now let us allow the Source of all Scriptural knowledge to explain the title of this series.  A hint to eliminating the confusion is found in the fact that, prior to the Lord’s death, references to “the kingdom” involved heaven–as in “the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Following His death references to the kingdom involved God–as in “the Kingdom of God.”  This important distinction will become clearer as we delve ever deeper into the “mysteries of the kingdom” (Mat. 13:11).

We will begin our study with the Words Jesus spoke while praying to His Father as recorded in Matthew 6:10: “Our Father Who is in heaven, holy is Your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven ….”  Note that Jesus said that God’s kingdom in heaven would one day come to earth, and in that (future) kingdom His will would be done exactly as it was then being done in His heaven-based kingdom.  Here we are told that God’s kingdom was at that time in heaven, that it would one day come to earth and that in both locations GOD’S WILL WAS BEING DONE AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DONE.  Though not specifically mentioned, God’s will would also be done in the third kingdom.  Mini-summary: the three kingdoms are in reality one kingdom located in two different places at three different times.  It is vitally important to understand that GOD’S WILL IS DONE IN THE KINGDOM REGARDLESS OF TIME, LOCATION OR NAME.   Christ’s Words let us know that God strictly governs those in His kingdom.  He governs according to His Word–the Holy Bible–at all times, in all places and under all names.

In Matthew 3:2 we find John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  The words, “… is at hand” indicated that the kingdom which was then in heaven would soon be relocated to earth.  This gives us a hint as to the identity of the third kingdom mentioned earlier that would be one with the other two (one heavenly and one earthly) kingdoms.  John knew about the Kingdom of Heaven and that it would soon come to earth.  And He also knew that in order to enter that earthly kingdom people would have to repent of their sins, be converted and, with maturity and the power of the Holy Spirit, remain clean of sin.  Note that he did not tell the people to repent of their inevitable sins after being converted.  Recall that Peter told the people at the Temple to: “Repent and be converted, that your (past) sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).  Jesus said that unless one was converted he could not enter the kingdom of heaven (where the kingdom was at that time).  Notice that Jesus, John and Peter all used the word “repent” in a singular sense.  They did not mention serial repentance following serial sin.  The Apostle Paul would later explain the singular reference in Romans 3:25 he wrote that Jesus came to die so that we could be forgiven of our PAST SINS.  This act on the part of the Lord would result in justification–the removal of all PAST sins.  God promised to send His Holy Spirit that would empower justified people to defeat Satan and remain justified (Act 1:8).  Those who obeyed the Spirit would be true children of God (Rom. 8:14).  Serial sinners-serial repenters would not.  These are those who call themselves Sinners Saved By Grace, by which Jesus makes all of their sins go away with no effort on their part.  Like Jesus and John, Paul would go to his grave fighting against the sin-repent, sin-repent cycle that was being touted as “Bible truth” by many of those who professed Christ.  While Paul did battle in the churches he had established, the other apostles were waging the same war against those in other congregations who had embraced Satan and his prophets’ sin-repent theology.  Peter was referring to this phenomenon when he said that judgment was at that time ongoing in the church, and that only those who resisted Satan’s sin-repent version of grace, whom he called “the righteous,” would be saved and they “scarcely”–just barely (1 Pet. 4:17,18).  Jude noted that sin-repent people had turned God’s grace into a license to sin.  He called them “ungodly” men whom God had “condemned” for “denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs 4).  This perfectly describes the Institutional (Catholic/Protestant) Church.  In Luke 10:16 Jesus said that such people “despised” both Him and His Father.

As noted earlier, regardless of what name the kingdom is operating under at any given time or in any given place, GOD’S WILL IS DONE.  At this time I will explain the three kingdoms that are in fact one and the same kingdom.  When Jesus was praying to the father and referring to the kingdom that was then in heaven would but would later come to earth, and when John was telling people that the Kingdom of Heaven was “nigh,” meaning that it would soon descend to earth, they were referring to the location of the kingdom.  Bible Truth tells us that the Kingdom of (that is in) Heaven would one day cover the entire earth.  The global kingdom will be transferred from heaven to earth by Jesus Christ upon His return to earth following the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.  That eternal time period will begin with the Millennium–the first 1000 years following Christ’s return.  During the Millennium the multiplied billions of people who never heard God’s Truth during their previous lives–including those all Catholics and Protestants –will be taught His gospel and given the opportunity to believe and obey it.  Those who embrace the Lord and His way will have their sins forgiven and will be given eternal life on planet earth.  Read: The Millennium: What is it? When is it? Where is it? Key word–Millennium.  This brings us to that third kingdom that I mentioned earlier.  In the next posting we will learn what it is, where it is, and most importantly, why it is.  L.J.