Tuesday, July 10, 2012


Question 10 -"Inherit the Kingdom Prepared For You"
"Then shall the King say unto those on His right hand, Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"(Matt.25:34).
Pastor, the purpose of this Blogsite is to establish whether Jesus will make this declaration at the beginning or the end of the Millennium. This is one of 64 perplexing Questions concerning Christ's Coming. This Author has examined Websites from many high profile Pre-Trib Ministers and has not found any that address the Question we  examine here. Pre-Trib Books and Study Bibles have much to say about there being a Kingdom here on earth during the Millennium, but as we look closer here we'll discover something very interesting and quite perplexing. Let's look.

Pre-Trib says that when Jesus declares,
"Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt.25:34), the "Kingdom" He will be referring to will be this planet earth. Pre-Trib ministers also teach that when Jesus comes at His Second Coming, this earth will be in utter and complete shambles in its worst condition ever, even worse than immediately after Noah's flood! In the entire history of planet earth there never has been, nor will there ever be such devastation. Pre-Trib admits that Earth will have been destroyed by seven Plagues, including a massive, worldwide earthquake such as has never occurred "since men were put on this earth" (Rev.16:18). All water on earth will be as, "the blood of dead men" (Rev.16:3-7). Billions of dead bodies will be scattered throughout the earth (See Isa.34:3 and Jer.25:33). Every city on earth will be in complete shambles! The entire planet will look worse than a war zone! Pastor, is it really possible that this is what Jesus will call, "the Kingdom Prepared from the foundation of the World?" Could this be the reward for those enduring the Tribulation and resisting Antichrist? Would it be even remotely possible for Jesus to call this planet in this condition, "The Kingdom Prepared for the Blessed of His Father?"  Underscore that word, "Prepared," because  Jesus promised to "Prepare" a place for His saved people, but the nexd day after making this promise, He told Pilot, "My Kingdom is NOT of this world (planet) (Jn.18:36).

The REAL Kingdom Prepared for the REAL Inheritors
On the night of His Last Supper, Jesus said, "I go to PREPARE a place for you... I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am, there ye may be also" (See Jn.14:2-3). So, if Jesus said He'd, "Come Again," and take His people to Heaven, why the confusion? Isaiah, Peter, and John say Earth will be destroyed by fire at the end of the Millennium. If Pre-Trib is correct, and the Kingdom of God is Planet Earth during this Millennium, then God's Kingdom will be destroyed by fire.

The REAL Inconsistency!
If the Reader is Pastor, there can be no doubt you've considered the inconsistency tucked away in the popular version of the Millennium. Let's compare two groups of people, that, according to Pre-Trib, will be here on this earth when Jesus comes to take His people to Heaven. One group, says Pre-Trib, will be the "Church," made up of saved Believers, and these go to Heaven with Jesus. The other group, says Pre-Trib, will be non-Believers made up of Jews and other "un-saved" people who are "Left Behind."  Now let's underscore the fact that, according to Pre-Trib, all of those "Left Behind" will be people that could have, and SHOULD have accepted Jesus as their Savior and been ready for Him to take them to Heaven when He came. We do not believe Pre-Trib is correct about these two groups of people, but we do believe there will be two groups when Jesus comes; the saved and the forever unsaved. However, Pastor, if there will be the groups Pre-Trib describes, which of these groups would really be, "The Blessed of His Father?" Would it be those who prepared themselves to go with Jesus back to Heaven; those who accepted Him as Savior and had given their hearts to Him, or, those who rejected Jesus as Savior and refused to prepare for His coming? Keep this in mind as we continue.

 Now let's examine Pre-Trib's two groups, remembering that this is Pre-Trib's interpretation of Christ's Second Coming, and not this Author's.

 "Grace Age Church Group" - Pre-Trib says these are only the people that became saved believers during the time from Christ's death up until the Rapture. Pre-Trib says there will be no Old Testament saved believers taken to Heaven at the Rapture. Old Testament people, says Pre-Trib, must wait seven more years till Christ's Second Coming. Pre-Trib says these "Grace Age Believers," are under "Grace" and not under the Law, thus they do not live under any specific standards. According to Pre-Trib, God is actually annoyed with any Grace Age Christians who believe and teach all of the Ten Commandments.  Pre-Trib says that God's reward for these "Under Grace" people will be to Rapture them;  "Snatch Them Away to Heaven," BEFORE He sends (or allows) the Tribulation upon the Earth. These "Church" people, says Pre-Trib, are then rewarded with the absolute highest position that will EVER be available for created beings! They, and they alone, will be the BRIDE of CHRIST! Also, these are granted immortality and given new glorified bodies they'll have throughout Eternity. But, says Pre-Trib, these, the Bride of Christ, are not the "Blessed of the Father" that Jesus referred to in our study text. We respectfully disagree. We believe the "Blessed of Christ's Father" will be the saved from every generation since Adam and Eve. Now let's get back to Pre-Trib's view of Christ's Coming.

 "Tribulation Saints Group" - Let's look at what Pre-Trib says happens to 144 Thousand Jews who convert from non-believers to Christian Evangelists after Jesus comes to take His people to Heaven. These, says Pre-Trib, face Antichrist as he attempts to destroy them. They'll be hunted down like animals and tortured because they refuse to worship Antichrist or wear his Mark of the Beast. These 144 Thousand are such great witnesses that an "UN-Numberable Multitude" of non-Jews also convert to Christianity because of the preaching of the 144 Thousand. Towards the end of the Tribulation, God sends seven of the most devastating plagues earth has ever endured in order to punish those who've been persecuting His followers. Jesus described this time when He said, "For then shall be GREAT Tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt.24:21)! Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John, and many other Bible Prophets gave graphic, detailed descriptions of this "Tribulation." All of these Prophets make it clear that earth will be completely uninhabitable when the Tribulation is over. At least two prophecies clearly describe earth being covered with dead bodies (See Isa.34:3 and Jer.25:33)! But, Pre-Trib says that when Jesus comes, "Immediately after the Tribulation of those days" (Matt.24:29), instead of taking His people home, to the "Mansions He has prepared for them," He will turn to those 144 Thousand, and any other Jews left alive here on earth, after the Tribulation, point to this Earth in its totally devastated condition and say to the Jews, "Come ye blessed of My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt.25:34)! Pre-Trib says that after these "Tribulation Saints" endured massive persecution from Antichrist and his evil followers, as well as living here on earth during its utter devastation, instead of giving these brave people their new glorified, immortal bodies and taking them to the "Mansions He prepared for them," Jesus leaves them in their present, mortal bodies and insists they stay here on earth for another thousand years. And, who does Pre-Trib say must clean up the horrid mess this earth will be at that time. Pastor, Pre-Trib's silence is deafening! 

Pre-Trib's Version of  Christ's "Kingdom Prepared from the Foundation of the World"                    Pre-Trib says that, instead of going to Heaven when Jesus comes; instead of being given their glorified immortal bodies, and taken to Heaven, these Jews that have survived the Great Tribulation will still be mortals living here on this devastated planet. Instead of never again having to deal with sinners and sin, these Jews, and some Gentiles that had befriended them during the Tribulation, must stay on this planet as mortals for another thousand years. As to how this planet goes from being in its worst condition ever to becoming Paradise, remains one of the "Un-Answered" and actually "Un-Answerable Questions" for popular Preachers. A Pre-Trib believer that has not studied Pre-Trib carefully might say at this point, "Jesus could instantly clean up the devastation and turn earth into Paradise." Bible prophecy declares that Jesus will do exactly this, but at the end of the Millennium, NOT at the beginning. Pre-Trib Ministers and well studied Pre-Trib Laymen know that there is no Bible Prophecy that allows for Jesus to re-create this earth at the beginning of the Millennium, and no official Pre-Trib books or Pre-Trib Study Bibles allowing for it. Of course when Jesus completely destroys earth by fire at the end of the thousand years, the Millennium, and, "Creates a New Heaven and a New Earth" (Isa.65:17, 66:22; 2Pet.3:13; Rev.21:1), then Earth will be Paradise, and then it will be the completed "Kingdom prepared for the Blessed of His Father from the foundation of the world."

A Kingdom in an Utterly Devastated Earth?
Pastor, why does Pre-Trib insist that there will be a thousand year Kingdom here on earth with mortals? The answer Pre-Trib offers is that this is a reward given to the Jews because of certain Old Testament promises made to the Jews if they would follow God's plan for them. Underscore "if" because the Jews utterly refused to follow God's plan. They even killed Jesus.

 Jews Rewarded
Pastor, let's look at this a little closer. Jesus clearly told us there would be, "Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world" (Matt.24:21), and all Bible prophecies declare that those believers enduring this Tribulation will be completely faithful to Jesus while facing the worst persecution in the history of the world. When Jesus comes at His Second Coming, He could choose to take these faithful followers to Heaven, give them their eternal glorified bodies and let them live in the "Mansions He prepared for them" (Jn.14:1-3). Why, Pastor, would He choose rather to leave the most faithful followers here on this devastated planet for another thousand years to clean up the horrid mess? And let's not forget that Bible prophecy clearly says that, at the end of the thousand years Jesus will destroy earth with fire and then "Create a New Earth" (Isa.65:17, 66:22; 2Pet.3:13; Rev.21:1). Not only does this make perfect sense, it is exactly what the Bible teaches.

 Pastor, if after reading all of the above you have Questions you are Pondering, if you are wondering how this present earth, in its worst condition ever, could be called, "The Kingdom Prepared for the Blessed of Christ's Father," then consider what we have presented here. We suggest it has no Un-Answered or Un-Answerable Questions to Ponder. Again, please pray for God's Spirit to be your ONLY Guide:

 Real Kingdom Prepared From the Foundation of the World

Let's illustrate how the Parable of the Sheep and Goats points to the Great White Throne Judgment instead of Christ's Second Coming. Note the following: "Marvel not at this; for the HOUR is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (Jn.5:29). Pastor, there is no way to read this and declare there are two resurrections unless we have additional information from Jesus. And, of course, we have exactly that. About 50 years after Jesus spoke these words, He met with John on the Isle of Patmos and explained that there will be two resurrections; one at the beginning of the Millennium and one at the end. The same is true concerning Christ's Second Coming and the parable of the Sheep and Goats. Just a surface reading of Matthew 24 and 25 would cause us to think Jesus is speaking of the same event, His Second Coming. He even introduces the Sheep and Goat parable by saying, "When the Son of man shall come in His Glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the Throne of His Glory" (Matt.25:31). Underscore "Throne" and now let's look at Revelation 20:11. "And I saw a Great White THRONE, and Him (Jesus) that sat on it." John then wrote, "And I saw the dead, small and great, STAND before God" (vs.12). "And before Him shall be gathered all the nations" (Matt.25:32). Notice the Goats are cast, "into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." In Revelation, after the Great White Throne Judgment Scene, those not found in the Book of Life will be, "cast into the Lake of Fire" (Rev.20:15). Also, "And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone" (Vs.10) Will the Devil and his angels be cast into the lake of fire twice? At the beginning of the Millennium, at Christ's Second Coming, Satan, the devil, is not cast into the lake of fire, but is cast into the "Bottomless Pit." He is cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of the Millennium, immediately after the Great White Throne Judgment.

Pastor, if we accept that Jesus is filling John in on details about the parable of the Sheep and Goats, it all makes perfect sense.
And now let's look at the "Kingdom Prepared from the Foundation of the World."


Creation Week
Creation Week was the Foundation of the world, so, when Jesus said,"Come ye blessed of My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt.25:34), shouldn't we assume that the Kingdom He will be referring to will be like the one at the Foundation of the world? The Bible is perfectly clear that Jesus will destroy this earth by fire at the end of the Millennium and create a New Earth. "The Day of the Lord (the Millennium) will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; and the earth also, and the works that are in it, shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). Peter then told of Jesus creating a "New heavens and a new Earth, in which dwelleth righteousness" (vs.13) (see also Rev.21:1; Isa.65:17). Pastor, if you doubt that Peter is referring to the end of the Millennium, check your Scofield footnote under 2 Peter 3:10. It reads, "The expression 'in the which' refers to the close of the Day of the Lord at the end of the Millennium, when the destruction of the heavens and the earth ends the Day of the Lord (Rev.20:11; 21:1)"

 So, when Jesus says,"Come ye blessed of My Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt.25:34), He is not speaking to Jews who rejected Him when He came to earth to take his people to Heaven; Jews that, after He went back to Heaven with His Church, He will be speaking to every saved person from Planet Earth, from Adam and Eve to His Second Coming. When Jesus says these words, He will be pointing to His New Earth He has just created, not a utterly devastated planet destroyed by seven plagues and a worldwide earthquake.

Paul's description of the Kingdom of God: "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1Cor.2:9). If Paul is describing a Glorious Heavenly Everlasting Kingdom, his description makes perfect sense. If we try to say he's describing earth after it has been decimated by horrid plagues and a world-wide earthquake, and saying this is what God has "Prepared for Jews from the foundation of the World," we'd better Ponder this over. 

So, what's the answer to this Pondered Question? The Words of Jesus can settle it all. Place His following Words alongside any and all Prophecies about the Kingdom of God, and we need not Revise, Reverse, or Revoke a single Bible Verse. "Let not your hearts be troubled. Ye Believe in God? Believe also in Me! In My Father's House are many mansions! If it were not so, I would have told you! I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE  for YOU, and if I go and PREPARE a PLACE for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn.14:1-3)!
Before we close this Blogsite, we must make one more point. Pastor, as you know, Pre-Trib says that, instead of Jesus referring to two groups, the Sheep and the Goats, He actually references three Groups; the Sheep, the Goats, and the "Brethren." Pre-Trip says the "Brethren" are Jews who survive the Great Tribulation. We have an entire Blogsite examining this. See, The Sheep and Goats - and Jews.
 For more,  see God's Heavenly Millennial Kingdom and Satan's Earthly Millennial Kingdom. To see whether the God's Kingdom is temporary of everlasting, see "The EVERLASTING Kingdom of God."

Thank you, Dear Reader, for your time!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr. 
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Check Our Other Blogsites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
 
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