As we began today, I prefaced our Bible study with a couple of statements:
The Bible is axiomatic...it is self-evident and undeniable. It explains itself. Comparing scripture with scripture is the key to unlocking the truths that are waiting to be uncovered. After all, we are the stewards of the mysteries that were delivered to Paul!
1 Corinthians 4:1-2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The second statement I made...Not everyone wakes up at the same time. It is our job to be the alarm clock, and keep ringing the alarm till all are awake to the truths of right division. We divide truth from truth and put the truth of scripture in its proper place dispensationally, in order to understand how scripture profits each of us in doctrine, in reproof, in correction, and instruction in righteousness!
As we are moving into the study of the harvests, it was necessary to have a review of the two kingdoms – the kingdom of God (spiritual from everlasting to everlasting), and the kingdom of heaven (physical pertaining to the earth and man's stewardship of it from Adam).
After the fall of Lucifer, who was the original steward, God created Adam. Both kingdoms were under his authority, as directed by God. When Adam sinned, he died spiritually, and brought death upon the entire human race (Romans 5:12).
The kingdom of God was no longer was no longer in the equation until the second Adam came into the world through the virgin birth in Bethlehem. The kingdom of heaven (physical kingdom) was Adam's responsibility and his descendants from Seth to Noah to Abraham to Moses to the kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon. But, when idolatry destroyed the kingdoms, Satan once again was given control of the physical world. (Luke 4:5-7)
1 Corinthians 15:19-22: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
When the Lord Jesus Christ began his earthly ministry, he was tempted by the devil concerning the kingdoms of this world. He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews, as well as the kingdom of God. They were both “at hand” and available to the hearers. He was the Messiah to Israel and the Son of man, the Savior to the whole world. (Luke 19:10)
Next Sunday, we will tie all the harvests together, and see how they come to fruition at the 2nd Advent which occurs at the end of the tribulation, beginning the millennial reign of Messiah King Jesus. Please take the time to watch the video from this morning (rdtw.org) to get a better understanding of the kingdoms and where we who are of the Mystery, the dispensation of the grace of God, fit in all that is going on, as the world runs headlong into total chaos.
