Standing Up
A Vision of the Kingdom
First there will be trouble, alot of it, enough to pretty much end the effective rule of earth's governments. Israel will be the only nation left standing with any functional organization. God's ancients, the patriarchs and fathers of Israel will be visibly asserting their authority and leadership. Christians will have been translated or gathered up with Messiah in the air, they won't be like other people, exactly how they will appear to humanity isn't spelled out in the Bible.
The government of Israel will have righteous leaders who will have the abilities to start the necessary healing process that will extend from Jerusalem to all of the nations. Many of the nations won't be the mood to cooperate, they will frozen out of the offered blessings until they decide it's the best way to get ahead. The earth's peoples will increasingly recognize the good leaders that will then be present, leaders who aren't selfish or dictatorial but helpful and honest.
Micah 5 tells about the start of this process, the raising up of the shepherds, truely good leaders. They will lead Israel through the tribulation. They will continue expanding their influence. See Daniel 2:44 the mountain will fill the earth. Daniel 12:1-3 they will shine as the stars. The vail of darkness over all of the people will be lifted as it hasn't been in the present age. Isaiah 26, 35 and 49.
What's really going to blow people away is the resurrection of the dead. People will start coming back, they will be standing again as living human beings. It won't be like the old days, the times of their deaths that may have been filled with suffering and pain, filled with darkness or despair at the approach of death. Instead they will be filled with the vitality of health, of peace, of justice all tied together in genuine love for each other. It won't be love rooted in any organization, in any dictator or self serving social movement. It will be love that is productive and desirous of reaching out to less fortunate, to those who need help.
Who will be restanding in this process? How about Sodom and Gommorah, those awful people that God destroyed in the days of Abraham? How about Nineveh, the inhabitants of Assyria that Jonah wanted to see God wipe out? And the queen of the south alng with the pharisees that Jesus talked to? Read the gospel accounts about who Jesus said would be present in the future kingdom of God. It's also the time of judgment as well and that isn't bad. If there's anything our world needs today, it's justice and fairness to all people. That's what the kingdom will provide. A chance for education and growth will also be included in this kingdom's bill of rights.
This is simply a natural continuance of the kingdom hope that was always present among the Jews, recall what Martha said to Jesus concerning Lazarus, that she knew he would be raised in the last day. That's God's book of life that Moses talked to YHWH about as they pondered the impact and consequences of Israel's sins at Sinai. God continued to work with Israel, whatever their imperfections he intended to bless his chosen people come what may. That intention extends into the age to come as told to Daniel in 12:1-3. That intention extends to all of the nations as told to Abraham "all the families of the earth". It's the role of the seed, Israel and Messiah to bless the other peoples of the earth. Ezekiel in chapter 16 expected this same time of re-standing, it will involve Judah and Israel first, then the cities of Sodom, the bottom of the human barrel.
Paul told the pagan Greeks on Mars hill that God has appointed a day that he has in store to judge the nations. It will be a righteous judgment, one completely full of light and life. Then people will get a good clear look at what God desires for them. The good news of the kingdom and of Messiah will extend to everyone. 1 Tim 2:5-6 it will be the culmination of "the testimony in it's own times".
First there will be trouble, alot of it, enough to pretty much end the effective rule of earth's governments. Israel will be the only nation left standing with any functional organization. God's ancients, the patriarchs and fathers of Israel will be visibly asserting their authority and leadership. Christians will have been translated or gathered up with Messiah in the air, they won't be like other people, exactly how they will appear to humanity isn't spelled out in the Bible.
The government of Israel will have righteous leaders who will have the abilities to start the necessary healing process that will extend from Jerusalem to all of the nations. Many of the nations won't be the mood to cooperate, they will frozen out of the offered blessings until they decide it's the best way to get ahead. The earth's peoples will increasingly recognize the good leaders that will then be present, leaders who aren't selfish or dictatorial but helpful and honest.
Micah 5 tells about the start of this process, the raising up of the shepherds, truely good leaders. They will lead Israel through the tribulation. They will continue expanding their influence. See Daniel 2:44 the mountain will fill the earth. Daniel 12:1-3 they will shine as the stars. The vail of darkness over all of the people will be lifted as it hasn't been in the present age. Isaiah 26, 35 and 49.
What's really going to blow people away is the resurrection of the dead. People will start coming back, they will be standing again as living human beings. It won't be like the old days, the times of their deaths that may have been filled with suffering and pain, filled with darkness or despair at the approach of death. Instead they will be filled with the vitality of health, of peace, of justice all tied together in genuine love for each other. It won't be love rooted in any organization, in any dictator or self serving social movement. It will be love that is productive and desirous of reaching out to less fortunate, to those who need help.
Who will be restanding in this process? How about Sodom and Gommorah, those awful people that God destroyed in the days of Abraham? How about Nineveh, the inhabitants of Assyria that Jonah wanted to see God wipe out? And the queen of the south alng with the pharisees that Jesus talked to? Read the gospel accounts about who Jesus said would be present in the future kingdom of God. It's also the time of judgment as well and that isn't bad. If there's anything our world needs today, it's justice and fairness to all people. That's what the kingdom will provide. A chance for education and growth will also be included in this kingdom's bill of rights.
This is simply a natural continuance of the kingdom hope that was always present among the Jews, recall what Martha said to Jesus concerning Lazarus, that she knew he would be raised in the last day. That's God's book of life that Moses talked to YHWH about as they pondered the impact and consequences of Israel's sins at Sinai. God continued to work with Israel, whatever their imperfections he intended to bless his chosen people come what may. That intention extends into the age to come as told to Daniel in 12:1-3. That intention extends to all of the nations as told to Abraham "all the families of the earth". It's the role of the seed, Israel and Messiah to bless the other peoples of the earth. Ezekiel in chapter 16 expected this same time of re-standing, it will involve Judah and Israel first, then the cities of Sodom, the bottom of the human barrel.
Paul told the pagan Greeks on Mars hill that God has appointed a day that he has in store to judge the nations. It will be a righteous judgment, one completely full of light and life. Then people will get a good clear look at what God desires for them. The good news of the kingdom and of Messiah will extend to everyone. 1 Tim 2:5-6 it will be the culmination of "the testimony in it's own times".
posted by J B | Friday, November 18, 2005
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