8) The Coming of the Kingdom

The Rapture Trap … (Part 8)

(The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments, are written in Blue) (May we all have ears to hear)

Luke 17:20-23 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he (Jesus) answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (The Kingdom cannot be seen with our eyes) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, BEHOLD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and YE SHALL NOT SEE it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. (Let’s remember, the words in bold black italics were added by the translators) 

Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. In other words, let me paraphrase it, or say it in modern day English. For as the Understanding of the Word of God’s Kingdom is spoken out of one person (part) under heaven … is revealed and understood by another person (part) under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in His day. The revelation of God’s Word will advance God’s Kingdom in earth, through ‘word of mouth’, as we used to say; that is unto those who have ears to hear, and to whosoever will receive, accept and choose to follow Christ Jesus.

Back in the days when Christ Jesus lived on the earth in the flesh, there were no books, magazines, newspapers, radios, televisions, computers nor internet services, etc. There were no technologies of any kind, like we have today. Back then, public speaking and passing information by ‘word of mouth’ was the common method of the day, for publishing any type of message.

So, Jesus was simply telling them back then, that after He went to cross and died, rose again and then ascended unto the Father … that afterward, in His day, (which has been going on since year 30 AD and is still going on today) He would advance His Kingdom, by the Spirit, using various messengers and believer’s by publishing the understanding of the Christian Gospel through ‘Word of mouth’.

Sometimes, the perception of certain passages of Scripture can be confusing, until the Holy Spirit reveals them unto us. The understanding of this particular passage in Luke 17:20-24 is really just that simple. I pray this clarifies the understanding of this one, for all of us who study’s God’s Word. 

The Apostle Paul understood it well. Look at what he says in Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

... and in Ephesians 4:10-16 He (Christ Jesus) … is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, (That is to say the word ‘perfect’ meaning ‘mature’; or ‘complete’ in labor, growth, mental and moral character … Strongs G5056) (We do not cross a certain line, then all of a sudden, we become perfect. 'Perfect' as Jesus used it, is meant for us to become mature adults in Him, or mature as He was mature. Remember in Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. ... that is to say unto a 'mature man.'), unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ (Again the Apostle Paul is stressing ‘perfection’ or ‘maturity in Christ): whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part (Notice the word ‘part’ here … pointing to each member or 'person' of the body), maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (This is what the advancement of God’s Kingdom through ‘Word of mouth’ is really all about, and precisely what Jesus meant in Luke 17:24 in relation to His day)

Love to you all … In Christ Jesus!!

J Stone Grant

By Their Fruit, You Shall Know Them

A Tree and Its Fruit

(The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments, are written in Blue) (May we all have ears to hear)

Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, (Feel free to keep this Scripture in mind when discerning the spirit of anyone, especially those who call themselves Christian, but are not true followers of Christ Jesus) which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. EVERY tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM. 

Let’s look at what our LORD spoke in: Jeremiah 17:7-10 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a TREE planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, NEITHER SHALL CEASE FROM YIELDING FRUIT. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart (center: H3820 Strongs … of the innermost being), I try the reins (mind: H3629 Strongs … of the interior self) in other words the LORD even searches out and sees the very motive of our hearts. He not only sees what we are really and truly thinking and doing … He also sees our innermost motives for the choices and decisions we make and exactly why we do what we do, even to give every man ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF HIS DOINGS.

Hebrews 4:11-13 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. NEITHER IS THERE ANY CREATURE THAT IS NOT MANIFEST IN HIS SIGHT: BUT ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPENED UNTO THE EYES OF HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO.

1Corinthians 12:1-11 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given BY THE SPIRIT the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

All of us should especially seek the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. We are then enabled to receive these gifts. I highly suggest seeking the gift of discerning of spirits. Ask our LORD for it. Until then … By their fruits, you shall know them

Ok … What do we mean ‘by their fruit’ you shall know them? Well there’s a couple of things we need to discuss. Let’s first look at what the Apostle Paul says in: Ephesians 5:8-11 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the FRUIT of the Spirit is in all GOODNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (teach, warn, admonish … G1651 Strongs) them… and in: Galatians 5:19-24 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS.

We are all now in a time of trouble and need to be aware of what’s going on around us. Let’s all pay attention! Listen carefully, what comes out of the mouth of others. Whatever comes out of their mouth, came from their heart, whether they meant to say it or not. Listen to what they SAY, and listen to what they DO NOT SAY! Are they in line with God’s Word, or are they out of line with what Christ Jesus taught? Watch what they DO, and don’t forget to watch for what they DO NOT DO! Ask yourself, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Is it in line with HIM. This is why it is so important to study and know God’s Word for yourself. We need to be able to discern others as well. Remember … By their Fruit you shall know them!

J Stone Grant