The Kingdom Is at Hand

Now, the last time that I presented a seminar, I covered the prophetic timeline of events that Scripture records for us leading up to the return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints from the dead, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth. And so basically, my presentation today is going to be coming from the standpoint that that foundation's already been laid. What I would like to do this afternoon to begin is to look at an encouraging Scripture in Isaiah 46. You can turn it over there in your Bibles if you like. Isaiah 46 and verse 10. And I'm going to quote it for you today from the New American Standard Bible because I believe it gives a bit of a little bit easier to read, maybe a little bit more of a depth to the description of the Scripture here. But in the New American Standard Bible, Isaiah 46 and verse 10, speaking of God, it says, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things which have not been done, saying, my purpose will be established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure. Now, I have to admit that as a Christian, this particular passage actually gives me a great deal of encouragement, gives me a great deal of hope. Because, number one, it shows for us that God's purpose regarding the kingdom of God is prophetic. In other words, God has declared His intent from the beginning and down through the process of time, He has continued to fulfill that event. God the Father has the power, He has the will, and He has the resolve to carry this through to the end, just as He has declared it from the beginning. If we were to do a study of biblical prophecy as it's occurred down through the pages of the Bible, we will find as many prophecies that were declared from the beginning have already been fulfilled through the process of time. And also, there's many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled even in the future. And what we can gain from the fact that prophecies are in play, prophecies have been fulfilled as well, is we can gain a comfort from the fact that God, again, will do what He has promised He will do. Again, God does have the power to fulfill and bring to pass those things He has declared from the beginning. Now, as we look around us in society, as we look at the world around us, the various financial conditions, the various political environments in the world, you know, sometimes we can become discouraged, we can become concerned, but the reality is we need to remember that God is on His throne and He has the power to fulfill His plan just as He is established. Now, secondarily, the Scripture also gives us encouragement because God has called those things that He's going to accomplish His good purpose and His good pleasure. And so, when we read these words, they tell us that it's God's desire and God takes great pleasure in these things that He's accomplishing. God takes great pleasure in the plan that He's put into place in order to establish His kingdom on this earth. Now, as humans, when we do things that it's our good pleasure to do, we take delight in those things and we take joy and we're excited about walking through that process. And so, for God, it's the same thing. He takes great pleasure and it's going to be a great delight to Him to bring the kingdom of God to this earth and to bring His plan about in complete fulfillment. Again, He's declared it from the beginning. If we move forward in Scripture to Luke 12, we can see Jesus Christ's own words reinforcing this concept. Luke 12 and verse 32, here's the context leading up to this passage. Jesus Christ is encouraging His disciples to make the kingdom of God the top priority in their lives.

He's reminding them that if they seek God first, He's going to provide for their physical needs. He's going to see that all those basic necessities are met, but He said, you spend your time seeking the kingdom of God, making that a priority above everything else. So, in Luke 12, verse 32, here Jesus Christ says, do not fear little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. So, again, we see that the good pleasure that God the Father is accomplishing involves mankind. It involves the fact that He's going to bring many sons to glory that will serve alongside His Son Jesus Christ at the establishment of the kingdom of God.

Now, for me, when I look at Isaiah chapter 46, when I look at Luke 12, it actually, in my mind, solidifies the fact that the Word of God is continuous. It solidifies the fact that what we call the Old Testament and what we call the New Testament are actually one story flow. The fact that what God has declared from the beginning, He began that process at creation, and He is going to take it from Genesis to Revelation between these two covers, just as He has said, He fulfill His plan and He will establish His kingdom on the earth. Now, with that being said, in the way of introduction, what I'd like to do for us today is, first of all, turn over to Mark chapter 1, because this, again, is the springboard Scripture for which we've established the kingdom of God Bible seminars. Again, we've been here today already. Mark chapter 1, verse 14 and 15. Here's Jesus Christ. It's coming on the scene. Mark chapter 1, verse 14. It says, now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. Now, when we look at this message in this particular passage of Scripture, there should be certain key words that jump out in our mind as being significant. Specifically, the words time, fulfilled, and at hand. If you look at these words, they all indicate a sense of immediacy, a sense of urgency in the message that Jesus Christ brought. And the point of that urgency was to motivate a response from those that would hear the gospel and take it into consideration and respond. The response is contained in this passage. It says to repent and believe in the gospel.

Now, in the first segment today, Mr. Mickelson covered the topic that the time is fulfilled. And again, those words indicate that the time has come or that the season has arrived. And God, again, as he carried out his purpose through Scripture, brought things into play down to this focal point that then Jesus Christ came on the scene and can further pave the way for the establishment of the kingdom of God. Now, this afternoon in my presentation, what I'd like to do is explore with you these words that the kingdom of God is at hand. I'd like to explain to you what that means. And I would like to also help us to see how we can make that prophetic event a very personal experience in our lives today. So to begin with, what did Jesus Christ mean in his statement that the kingdom of God is at hand? You know, for some, that can actually be a little bit of a perplexing statement. You know, the man wondered, well, has the kingdom of God already arrived? You know, if it was right around the corner in Christ's time, why, two thousand years later in our day, is the kingdom of God not established on the earth? So what did Jesus Christ mean when he said the kingdom of God is at hand? Well, certainly part of the meeting does indicate the fact that the kingdom of God is to arrive shortly. When we understand how God views time in the scope of eternity, we understand that when something is to arrive very quickly and at hand, for us, that might seem like virtually an eternity. But in the way God views time, it's certainly that this concept is true for us today, just as it was in the day of the apostles and the disciples. But in addition to the explanation that the kingdom of God will be established shortly, there's another understanding we can glean from this statement.

The word translated at hand from the Greek, which the Greek is the original text in which these words were written, it means to draw near to something. It doesn't mean that something has literally arrived, but it does mean that it is near, that it has at hand, and that it is close by.

Jesus Christ's statements show us that the kingdom of God had not literally been established on the earth, but it was at hand. Jesus Christ's presence actually brought the reality of that kingdom near to down. As king of kings of that kingdom, Jesus Christ was among men. He was establishing relationships. He was exemplifying the standards of the kingdom of God. And for some, his teachings were revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Now, Jesus spent his three and a half year ministry, again, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. But that wasn't necessarily a new concept. The reality was the gospel had been proclaimed in various ways by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began. But the fact was very few had understanding of what that gospel message really was until Jesus Christ came on the scene and declared it to the world.

Now, the message that he brought revealed that God one day is going to establish a literal kingdom of God on this earth. Jesus Christ will reign on this earth as king of kings and lord of lords. He also revealed the incredible destiny that's awaiting all mankind, who, when they're given the opportunity, will choose to respond and become a part of that kingdom.

And also, as we heard in the first message, Jesus Christ revealed the fact that he would be that sacrifice by which sins could be removed, by which mankind could be reconciled to God, and they could then enter into the relationship as a member of the family of God.

Now, it was Jesus Christ's intent, again, that those who heard the gospel message and those that would respond would repent and believe in the gospel. It was also his intent that they would accept him as their personal savior for the remission of sins. It was ultimately through that relationship that the kingdom of God was at hand. Again, the king of that kingdom, the one that had the power and the ability to pave the way through a sacrifice for a relationship between man and God. That individual was at hand. He was representing the kingdom of God.

Now, by extension, we need to realize that the kingdom of God can be at hand in our lives today as well. In other words, if we choose to respond to the gospel message with repentance, if we truly seek a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, and we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, then God will pour out his Holy Spirit on those who respond in that way. And literal entry into the kingdom of God will be made available at the return of Jesus Christ.

Now, in addition to that literal entry, what we need to understand is that we can also have a closeness in relationship. Again, we can draw near to the relationship with the king of that kingdom in our life today. Let me show you what I mean. Let's go over to Colossians, the first chapter.

Take a look at the words of the Apostle Paul.

Colossians chapter 1 and beginning in verse number 13. Colossians 1 verse 13, it says, He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. So what that's telling us is what God will do for us through the blood of Jesus Christ, is that he'll redeem us from the slavery to the kingdom of darkness. Now that's a counterfeit kingdom. That's a kingdom that's ruled over by Satan the devil, the God of this age. And again, I say God with small g.

And he's going to take us then and establish us under the authority of the kingdom of God.

Again, the kingdom of God isn't physically here yet, but the opportunity to have relationship with it and the opportunity to have it reign over our lives is at hand. I'd like to turn also to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 50, because we want to establish the fact that here it's talking about being translated into the kingdom, but I want us to understand that the kingdom itself is not literally here. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 50. Here again, the apostle Paul speaking. He says, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. And you know, the last time I checked, I was still flesh and blood. I was still corruptible. I was still able to get out of bed and feel aches and pains and various issues in my life. I'm not spirit yet. He says flesh and blood can't inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Again, this is at the return of Jesus Christ. These individuals are the saints who have accepted the gospel message, have repented, and have come under the blood of Jesus Christ at this time.

Verse 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So before we can be established literally in the kingdom of God, we must see the return of Jesus Christ. We must be changed from physical, fleshly beings into spiritual beings in the same glorious nature as God the Father and Jesus Christ. So again, the point is the kingdom is not literally here, but in our lives today we can have relationship and we can come under the authority of the kingdom of God. Now at this point I'd like to actually take a minute and refresh our minds. The last time around I did cover four points that consist to establish a kingdom. Four points that have to be in place in order for something to be considered a kingdom. Those four points are government, territory, laws, and subjects. Again, those four things need to be in place. And the question I'd like to have us consider in relation to the kingdom of God is, in this life today, do we have opportunity to have relationship with those four elements?

And the answer is yes. If we respond to the gospel message that Jesus Christ brought, and again we come under his sacrifice for our sins and receive the Holy Spirit, we can have a relationship with the kingdom of God now. The first point being government.

In Revelation 19 it describes Jesus Christ's role in the government of God and the kingdom of God as king of kings and lord of lords. The point is we can have a relationship now with that governmental head by establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ as our king and relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal savior. The second criteria was territory. And the verse we just read in clause in chapter one shows us that through the blood of Jesus Christ we can be delivered into the kingdom of the son of his love. And what that means is that through our relationship with Jesus Christ we can spiritually come out from under the dominion of this present evil age, and we can come under the authority and the reign of the kingdom of God in our spiritual lives today.

Again, the spiritual scope, the spiritual territory of the kingdom of God can extend into our lives now.

The third point is laws. Laws have to be in place in the construct of a kingdom. And again today we can have relationship with godly laws. There's actually certain laws that govern right and proper living. There's laws that God has established from creation that are for the purpose of all mankind and the creation. And the fact is they are laws and standards that will be in place to govern the kingdom of God and those who live in subjection to it when it's established on this earth. So the point is now people who have come into that relationship will be living by that standard. They'll be living by the standards of the laws of the kingdom of God. And finally, we have subjects. Every kingdom has to have subjects, has to have individuals that come under the authority and the direction of the king and of the laws. Does God offer us the opportunity to be subject to his kingdom now? I think again we agree the answer is yes. Let's go to Philippians the third chapter. Let's take a look at what we can discover here. Philippians chapter 3.

Beginning in verse 20. Again the apostle Paul is speaking to converted Christians here in Philippi.

Philippians chapter 3 and verse 20. He says, For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. So what Paul is showing us is that our citizenship can be registered in heaven where the coming King of Kings Jesus Christ now resides. And it means that we can experience some of the results and some of the benefits of living under the authority of that kingdom now.

Again, I want to make it clear that the kingdom of God is at hand. It's not literally here. It's not literally established in us. We're not literally in the kingdom of God. But the point being we're given opportunity to live our lives under the brain and under the authority of the kingdom of God now. It will respond to the gospel message and the calling that God will extend to certain individuals. Again, we'll cover that in just a moment. Again, 1 Corinthians 1550. I'll just remind us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Now, we do see the result of living in faithful submission to the kingdom of God. It's carried on here in verse 21 of Philippians chapter 3. If you're still there, Philippians 3 verse 21. Here, speaking of Christ, it says, "...who will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." So when our Savior Jesus Christ does return to the earth and he does establish the kingdom of God, he will subdue all things unto himself. And it's by that same power that he is able then to give us the faithful individuals to submit themselves to God the Father and himself eternal life. And again, that eternal life is not in the flesh. It is in the Spirit, in the same glorious nature as Jesus Christ. Now, the reality is for today, God, through the gospel message, is offering those who would respond accordingly the opportunity to partake in these things. He's offering them the opportunity to be representatives to the kingdom of God now.

In 2 Corinthians 5 verse 20, the Apostle Paul called himself and others who would preach and respond to the gospel message ambassadors for Jesus Christ. That's a pretty high standard. To be an ambassador for Jesus Christ means that a person will live their life before all men as representatives of who and what Jesus Christ is. And they'll live as representatives of who and what the kingdom of God is. You know, the way that Christ lived, the way that Christ walked, is going to affect how we live our lives today. Again, Jesus Christ brought the message in Mark chapter 1 verse 15. He said, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. He said, repent and believe in the gospel. And in many ways, that seems like a simple and a straightforward message.

You know, it seems like a message that anybody reading it should be able to comprehend. You know, you would think that's a message that anyone would have their mind open to if they really wanted to.

But the reality is, much of this world is blind to the message of the gospel that Jesus Christ brought. And it's blind for a specific reason. Let's go to 2 Corinthians 4.

2 Corinthians chapter 4. We'll look at verse 3 and 4.

2 Corinthians 4 verse 3 says, So, Satan the devil, the God of this world, he's blinded most of this world to the light and to the truth of the gospel. Now, we need to understand that Satan can't do anything that God won't allow him to do. He can't carry off anything in this world, carry out any of his processes that God doesn't give him just enough lead to be able to do. So, again, this blindness, which covers much of the earth that is brought to us by Satan the devil, God has allowed to be in place. He's allowed this to occur for a very specific purpose. The point is, this is not the only day of salvation for this entire world. We need to understand that God's ultimate plan is not to call everybody right now. God's plan is to call all men to salvation, all men to have an opportunity to participate in his kingdom, but not all at this time. God has a plan, and he has an order in which he's carrying out that plan. And what we need to understand is that in this day and in this age now, blindness covers the earth. And only God can remove the blinders. Only God can extend the calling to someone and draw them to Jesus Christ. Only God can give an individual the opportunity to seek the kingdom of God in that way in this age. Follow me, please, over to John 6, verse 44.

Actually, we'll pick that verse up in a minute. Let's go to John 6, verse 64.

See what the words of Jesus Christ are in this case.

John 6, verse 64. Jesus Christ speaking to a multitude of individuals that were following him, and he says, But there are some of you who do not believe, for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray him. And he said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my Father. And from that time, many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. So there apparently had been a pretty good-sized crowd that was following him along and was wanting to see what he was going to say and what he was going to do. And why not? Jesus Christ came on the scene, and it appeared he was a pretty interesting guy to follow around. He did amazing miracles. He could heal people.

He could walk on water. He could feed thousands of people with just a little bit of bread and fish.

Probably a lot of these individuals were just waiting to see another great sign or another great wonder. Some of them were maybe waiting for another free meal. But the fact is, many didn't truly understand, many didn't truly believe, the gospel message that Jesus Christ brought.

And that's because Jesus Christ said here, no one can come to me unless it's been granted to him by my Father. Again, reinforcing the same concept, we'll just drop back a few verses to John, chapter 6 and verse 44. Again, Jesus Christ said that no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. So the Father has to draw a person to Jesus Christ in this process. According to the Thayer's Greek lexicon, the word translated draw from the Greek means to draw by an inward power. And so we can actually process this and think about it in much the same way that a magnet would draw or attract steel. It could pull it to itself. God, through the power of his Holy Spirit, draws those who he chooses by inspiring them, by motivating their heart to have the desire to respond. Again, it's something that's not been poured out on the entire earth at this time. Now, again, God does draw people. He does give them the calling and the opportunity to respond. But that individual still has a choice. They still have a choice whether or not they want to respond to God's calling. Now, the individual who is responding and who is desiring to follow God the Father and Jesus Christ and to understand more the light of the Gospel, they're going to be looking to seek the understanding and the truth that Jesus Christ offered. They're going to be seeking to understand what is truly accomplished by his sacrifice and why he did come to this earth. They're going to want to discover the purpose of their own creation. They're going to want to know what is my destiny? Why has God created me? What is the ultimate fulfillment of all these things? And what is the future of myself and the rest of mankind?

An individual that's being drawn by God is going to desire to develop a personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. They're going to pray, which is communication from us to God. They're going to Bible study, which is God's word communicating back to us. That communicates his intent, his purpose, his will, his desire for us in our lives. They're going to draw closer to him through through math, fasting, and meditation, which were set in example by Jesus Christ and his disciples. Again, those who are seeking God, as was mentioned in the first session, are going to be seeking the truth so that they can worship God in sincerity and truth. The fact is, much of the standards that have been set by this society, much of the way that modern Christianity worships God, is not according to the way that God said he wanted to be worshiped. If somebody is being drawn into a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, they're going to seek the truth about how God desires to be worshiped, how he desires to have us come into a relationship with him. Again, Jesus Christ said, in vain, they worship me, teaching his doctrines the commandments of men. There are so many customs, there are so many religious practices that go on in the world around us for the name of Christianity, but the fact is, they're not being carried out and worshiped to God in the way that God desires to be worshiped.

If God is the supreme God, if he can declare the end from the beginning and bring those things to pass, surely he has the authority to declare the relationship we will have with him, and surely he has the authority to declare how he desires to be worshiped. So again, someone who's being drawn in that truth is going to seek those things out. Now, the Scripture shows that those who respond to that calling, who again develop that relationship and remain faithful until the end, are going to receive eternal life with Jesus Christ at the return of the kingdom of God. When Jesus Christ comes to establish that kingdom to this earth, as we read in 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection of the faithful saints will take place, and they will become part of the family of God.

Now, during his ministry, Jesus Christ told many stories called parables.

And generally, when you think of a parable, it's a story that's given to illustrate a point, so a person can understand clearly what's being said. Except when Jesus Christ gave a parable, very few understood. And that was by design and intent. And again, it's the purpose being that not everyone's mind was opened to understand at that time. I'd like to look at one example, Matthew the 13th chapter. This is the parable of the sower. It's one such example, but I think we can glean some important understanding as to the process of the opening of an individual's mind.

Matthew 13, beginning in verse 1, it says, On that same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea, and a great multitude were gathered together to him, so that he got into a boat and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore. So again, apparently he has quite a few followers coming to hear what he's going to say, coming to see what it is that he will in fact do.

Verse 3, Then he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, they sower went out to sow.

And in the following scriptures, Jesus Christ lays out this parable. Let's jump down to verse 9.

Jesus Christ says he's concluded speaking this parable. He says, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. In other words, he's saying, if you hear what I'm saying and you have understanding as to what it is that I'm saying, listen up. Verse 10, And the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? And he answered and said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Again, there are things which are referred to as mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. And they're a mystery because they have not been revealed fully to mankind at this time. The fact is, the message goes out, but the understanding to process these things and to understand these things and to respond in these things is not there. To those that would understand by God's calling, it would be clear, but to the rest it would be a mystery. And Christ said, It's not been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it's not been given.

For whoever has to him more will be given, and he will have abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. So again, the process was intentional. Some would understand by design, by the calling of God. Some would not.

Verse 14, and then the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand, and seeing you will see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have been clothed. Lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them. Verse 16, But bless their your eyes, for they see, and your ears for they hear. For surely I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Again, it was to be a mystery for those that it wasn't given to understanding. Jesus Christ's disciples were to understand it. Those of us today who have had our minds opened by God are to understand it, and were to apply these things in our lives, were to understand what it means to be called and drawn by God. But again, that message, it has gone out, but the understanding is not there on a global scale at this time. God is calling who He will in their own time.

Now again, this process as we understand and as we see here from Scripture, it's not just a free-for-all. It's not just open to anybody that wants to say, pick me, pick me, I would like to be in the Kingdom now. The fact is, God extends a personal invitation. But now what's interesting is, in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 4, let's quote it for you, it says that it shows us that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So how do we reconcile that with Matthew 13, and the fact that there would be mystery surrounding the gospel message? The fact is that God is calling all men to salvation, but not all at this time. He's calling each person according to His will in their particular time and order. Again, God the Father is in charge, He's all-powerful, it's His plan that He's declared from the beginning, He's going to bring to pass in fulfillment all the way up to the end, and He has the ability, He has the desire, and He has the authority to do as He will. Again, God is going to reveal His truth to those He chooses, and in the timing He chooses. Now, it's not because of some great accomplishment that people are called, and it's not because of some great status that somebody can stand up and say, God has called me because I've done X or Y in my life. A person can't be perhaps a famous movie star and consider that God called them because they were something great. The fact is very few notable people have actually been called down through the ages and for a good reason. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 26. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 26 says, The things which are despised God has chosen and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. Verse 29.

Again, God is called various individuals in this day, ...not because of any stature or status that they had, and not because they have anything to glory about. And the fact of the matter is, when pride enters into the picture, it's because man is comparing themselves with man. In the reality of comparing yourself with God, we really have nothing to be proud about, other than the fact that when God calls an individual, he gives them his spirit.

And there is a sense of, again, God calls us and gives us those things so that we can respond to him. And in our life, that is really the only thing perhaps that can give us a sense of real accomplishment in the face of God. Again, that's his calling and his understanding.

Again, Romans 6.23, it says that the wages of sin is death. That's the just compensation and the fair wage that sin earns us. And every person on this earth has sinned. Every individual has earned the wages of sin, which is death. So again, standing before God the Father and Jesus Christ, we have nothing to boast about of ourselves. But Jesus Christ came to be the sacrifice, so that sins could be forgiven, and we could be reconciled in relationship to God.

Now, if you do believe that God is in fact calling you, it's not something that you can afford to take lightly. The prophet Isaiah offered this advice in Isaiah 55 verse 6. He said, seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. So when God extends a calling to someone, they're well advised to respond accordingly.

Now, when we come to this point, we need to stop and ask the question, and we need to answer it. What is the destiny of all those individuals that receive a calling from God and respond accordingly? Meaning they've repented of their sins, they've believed in the gospel, which we can describe as faith, they've come under the blood of Jesus Christ, and they've developed that relationship with God, and have received the Holy Spirit.

What is the destiny of those individuals called out in this age? Let's go forward to 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3, we'll look at verses 1 through 3. 1 John chapter 3 and verse 1. It says, Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

So those that have come to that point in their relationship with God, and that they are reconciled to God, they're called children of God. Therefore, the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. We don't have eternal life at this point. We're still flesh and blood. It has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. So one day that individual that responds to God's calling and remains faithful will be able to look upon God, will be able to look on Jesus Christ. You'll be able to see Him as He is because they will be as He is. Those individuals will be in the same glorified Spirit form as God the Father and Jesus Christ. They'll be children of God.

They'll be eternal sons of God, members of the divine family of God. Now what we need to realize is that for those who have responded to God's call now, this is their day of salvation. This is their opportunity to live up according to the calling they've been given. If they've received the calling of God, they have responded. They've been baptized. They come under the blood of Jesus Christ. This is their day of salvation. They're being given the opportunity to become first-roots in the harvest of God.

The first-root harvest is the early harvest. It is a harvest that is generally a very small harvest and is dedicated to God. Those who are first-roots in the harvest of God, again, in the resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ, they'll be in the first resurrection from the dead. They'll be given the opportunity to reign alongside Jesus Christ for a thousand years on this earth.

During that time, they're going to reign as kings and priests. They're going to be spreading the news, and they're going to be spreading the teachings of the Kingdom of God to the rest of humanity. Let's take a quick look at that process. Someone with me, please, forward to Revelation, the 20th chapter. Revelation, chapter 20. The time frame here is after the time of the end, after the day of the Lord, after the resurrection of the saints. Revelation, chapter 20, beginning in verse 1. It says, Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand, and he laid hold of the dragon, and that serpent of old who was the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were finished.

But after these things, he must be released for a little while. So again, Satan the devil, the God of this age, is going to be removed. His influence is going to be removed from reigning over and influencing mankind. The blinders will then be removed. The opportunity for mankind to come to understand the Gospel of the Kingdom of God will be unhindered, again by Satan's influence. Continuing on in verse 4, it says, And I saw thrones, and they that sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus in the word of God. Again, these are the faithful saints, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has pardoned the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with them a thousand years.

So again, this is the result of those who have been called by God in this age, have remained faithful, have been part of the first fruit harvest. They will be in the first resurrection. They will reign with Jesus Christ on this earth for a thousand years. Notice again in verse 5, it said, the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years are finished. Now, the rest of the dead consists primarily of those individuals and those generations down through time who were not called by God, and who did not have opportunity to come to know the gospel or to have a relationship with God.

They will live again in a physical existence as the prophet Ezekiel shows, and they'll have opportunity to enter into a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. They'll have a calling extended to them, and they will one day have opportunity to become members of the family of God. Again, each in his own order. God's calling all men to salvation. He desires that all would be saved. Again, the choice has to be made on that individual's part, but each in their own time.

Honestly, for me, looking at Revelation 20, seeing the process that God has in play, understanding his plan for mankind, it should give us encouragement. It should give us encouragement to know the fact that not all those down through the ages who have never heard the gospel or had opportunity to have this relationship, it gives us encouragement to know that they're not lost. They're not eternally burning in a hellfire, as 1 Corinthians 15 called them, the state of the dead, it called the state of the dead asleep. When you're in the grave, you're asleep, there's no conscious awareness until the resurrection. And so again, this should give us comfort that God does have a plan for all those who have never had the opportunity to respond to a calling and have a direct relationship with them. So ladies and gentlemen, hopefully we've all been able to see today that God has a plan. And the fact is, if you've been called by God today, you've received the greatest invitation that a person can receive in this life. And if you are being called today, the question is, what are you doing with that opportunity? Are you allowing the relationship with the Kingdom of God to draw near to you? The Kingdom of God is at hand. That's what Jesus Christ said. If God has opened your mind and is drawing you, the opportunity is there. Revelation 1, verse 3 says, And those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near. You know, the events that are prophesied in the book of Revelation as well as other places leading up to the time of the end, they're so much closer in our day now than they've ever been at any point of history. When He walked the earth, Jesus Christ said, the time is fulfilled. He said, the Kingdom of God is at hand. It was true in His day, and it is true in our day as well. And for those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, what should their response to these things be? Well, again, 2,000 years later, the answer hasn't changed. The answer in Jesus Christ's own words are the same today. He said to repent and believe in the Gospel.