~ The Blessed Celestial Abode that is Governed by the King of Glory; The Realm of YHWH and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, where all of the Saints will dwell ~
The Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:20-23 wrote, "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. *But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming."
Jesus is the beginning “Chief Corner Stone” of the Heavenly Kingdom that will one day be set-up on this earth.
It would behoove the reader and those that hear this message to pay close attention to this 23rd verse of 1st Corinthians 15. Because It sheds light on the timing of when a Soul enters into the Heavenly Kingdom.
You will want to note that the Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus is the only one that has at this time entered into the Heavenly Kingdom. He also wrote that the Saints DO NOT enter into the Heavenly Kingdom until the Second Coming of Jesus when Time shall be no more.
See also: Acts 26:23, where It Is Written that “Jesus” is, The first that should rise from the dead; The Apostle Paul agrees with that which is written in Acts in Colossians 1:18 where he wrote, The “Jesus” firstborn from the dead; A third witness to that which was Written in Acts is found in Revelation 1:5 where it states that Jesus is, The first begotten of the dead;
In 1st Thessalonians 4:17, the Apostle Paul wrote, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The Apostle Paul didn’t leave anything to chance or speculation. He said that Jesus was / is the First Fruits from the dead, that those that physically die before Christ Second Coming would be the next to enter in and that those that are alive until the Second Coming of the Lord would be last.
He did not say that any of the physically dead Saints enter into the Heavenly Kingdom prior to His Second Coming.
See also: St. Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
St. Matthew concurs that the Saints will Inherit the earth. The reason for this is that the Kingdom of Heaven is scheduled to come down out of Heaven and is to be set-up on earth.
We read in Revelation 5:10, "And “Jesus” hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
The Heavenly Message to John by the angel of the Lord is that the Saints will reign on the earth as Kings and Priest ~
In Revelation 20:4, we read in part, "They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Again, the angel of the Lord tells John that the Saints lived and reigned with Christ on the earth.
We read in Revelation 21:2, "I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
John saw in the vision while on the Isle of Patmos that the Kingdom of Heaven, the New Jerusalem comes down out of Heaven and is set-up on the earth.
Note also verse #10 of Revelation 21, where John wrote, "He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that Great City, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."
See also Psalms 37:22, where King David wrote: "For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth;"
King David, a long time before Jesus was born, died and arose again foretold that the Saints would inherit the earth.
In St. Matthew 27:52-53, we read, "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose, *And came out of the graves after His Resurrection, and went into the Holy City, and appeared unto many."
Other than the fact that these that arose after the Resurrection of Jesus went into the Holy City “Jerusalem” and appeared to many, there isn’t anything said of them.
We know from what is Written in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible that NO ONE has entered into the Heavenly Kingdom yet but Jesus. Therefore, we must conclude that these folk must have later died and are now awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus like everyone else.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 2:11 wrote, "For there is no respect of persons with God."
God “YHWH” is not prejudice “a respecter of persons”. What He has done or will do for anyone, He is willing to do for you and I and everyone else.
If the Saints that are physically dead are in the Heavenly Kingdom right now then, God “YHWH” and Jesus would be a respecter of persons.
If the Saints that are physically dead are in the Heavenly Kingdom right now don’t you think every Saint would be praying to die so that they too could be in Heaven with Jesus right now? I don’t know about you, but I sure would.
See also: Proverbs 24:23, where King Solomon wrote, "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment;" In Acts 10:34, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;" and in Ephesians 6:9, "Your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him;"
The above Scriptures validate that God “YHWH” and Jesus is not prejudice or a respecter of persons ~
We read in St. John 3:13, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
The Apostle John witnessed the Words of Jesus saying that NO ONE has ascended up to Heaven but He “JESUS” Himself.
See also, 1st Timothy 6:16, where the Apostle Paul wrote, "Who “Jesus” only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."
Jesus alone dwells, abides, and lives where the Light, God “YHWH” is.
In St. John 6:39, we read, "This is the Father’s Will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
If Jesus said that He, according to the Will of the Heavenly Father, was to raise up the Saints at the Last Day, why would He do that if the physically dead Saints are already with Him in Heaven? That just doesn’t make no sense!
Note also: verse #40 & #44 of 6th Chapter of St. John, "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have Everlasting Life: and I will raise him up at the last day. *No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
Jesus said that He always only did the Will of His Father ~
See also: Hebrews 11:13, where It Is Written, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off; "
This Scripture is referring to all the Faithful Patriots like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that died and is awaiting the Resurrection of the Righteous at Jesus’ Second Coming.
We read in St. John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life: and they are they which testify of Me."
Jesus said that we are to search the Scriptures that testify of Him so that we will know the Truth. We cannot afford to just think that we know Him but we must be sure that we know that we know Him.
In Romans 14:5, the Apostle Paul wrote in part, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
Let me pose this question: By what are we to be Persuaded? Are we not to be persuaded by the Written Word of God “YHWH” the Bible and not by the ideas or words of man?
If we allow ourselves to be persuaded by the ideas and words of man, we risk missing the Mark of the High Calling of Jesus. Therefore, we should only allow ourselves to be persuaded by the Written Word of God.
One Scripture say that the Bible is of no private interpretation, 2nd Peter 1:20. Therefore, it stands to reason that the Bible Must interpret itself, here a little and there a little, by two or three witnesses “Biblical Writers” like Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Peter, James and John, just to mention a few of those Holy Men of Old that were moved by the Holy Spirit to write what we now call, the Bible.
We read in Hebrews 11:1, "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
We can have the evidence of Faith hoped for in our hart if we believe ~
The Apostle Paul in Romans 4:17, wrote (in part), "Even God, who quickeneth “maketh alive” the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."
By the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus, those of us that were once dead in our sins has God “YHWH” given Ever Lasting Life and that more abundantly. Praise His Holy Name!
Now are we the Sons of God ~ This is a profound statement because we do not seem to have the ability that we surmise that a Son of God should demonstrate. Perhaps, if we were truly willing to apply ourselves and follow the example of Jesus and His Apostles, we would begin to Change from Glory to Glory and see more clearly the Blessings of the Lord in our lives. Praise His Holy and Righteous Name!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org
