Godsloveandlaw's Blog

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”(Matt. 19:14)

One of the most joyful images is that of seeing young children, their faces aglow in the kingdom of God.But this subject of young children can truly give the present truth proclaimer a powerful tool in proving that there shall indeed be a kingdom of God , starting in our existing world. Let us show this most useful and persuasive proof, so that should you as a defender of God’s plan of a premillennial kingdom be asked to show your case you’ll be armed with a “Thus sayeth the Lord”.

This week in our work in His vineyard on one of our Elijah message sites on Facebook, we ran into an adamant non-believer. He lambasted the idea of a premillennial kingdom and provided his “proof”. As I read the ongoing conversation with him and some other brothers, I was led to enter in.

The area I chose to show him, in hopes of awaking him to his error was Isaiah 11:6-12. Let us read–

Point 1-   Scripture and SOP both confirm that we are to “grow up like stall-fed calves”(Mal. 4:2) in heaven.

“The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will “grow up” (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord.”(Great Controversy, p.645)

In close reading of the above, some have pointed to the words “the tree of life in the long lost Eden” as evidence that this growth would take place in the new earth where the tree of life will be. However, there is a tree of life in heaven as the following shows.

“Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver.”(Early Writings, page 15)

Further, if the growth takes place in the new earth then all the children and babies would have to remain stunted for 1000 years in heaven then come down to the new earth to grow. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Point 2- The little ones are transferred to the “heavenly courts” in heaven to grow up. No births in heaven or the new earth.

“In the resurrection they neither marry; nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matt. 22:29)

“There are men today who express their belief that there will be marriages and births in the New Earth, but those who believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The doctrine that children will be born in the New Earth is not a part of the “sure word of prophecy.” The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the question of marriages and births in the New Earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family.” (Maranatha, p.369.)

“This promise is yours. You may be comforted and trust in the Lord. The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts. Put your trust in the Lord, and be not afraid.” (Child Guidance, p.566)

So during the time in heaven with the “tree of life” there is growth. So Isaiah’s mentioning children playing with the snakes and the lion laying down with the calf cannot be a description of heaven or the new earth, but of this existing earth. Remember it says, “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Some have said that Ellen White saw little children “with wings” in the new earth but that is incorrect. She saw them in heaven. A link to Early Writings commentary to prove it was seen in heaven–

http://www.whiteestate.org/vez/jul08/from%20the%20pen.htm

The message also warns us that we had better learn the true interpretations of the prophecies, lest we be left not knowing how, when and where the upcoming kingdom of God begins–

“No one, say the Scriptures, can privately (without Inspiration) unfold the prophecies, for, reasons the Apostle, as prophecy came not by private effort — not by the will of men, but by holy men and the Spirit — neither can it therefore be of private interpretation, but only by holy men led by the Holy Spirit. Moreover, even after prophecy is thus interpreted, only to the righteous (the penitent) is given the gift of understanding it (Dan. 12:10).

Since we as a people know some of the signs of Christ’s second coming, and none of the signs of the Kingdom, we had better now concentrate on the signs of the latter.

Matt. 13:24-30 — “Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the Householder came and said unto Him, Sir, didst not Thou sow good seed in Thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto Him, Wilt Thou then that we go and gather them up? But He said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

This parable of the Kingdom, you note, contains three periods of time: First, the period of sowing the seed — the time of Christ’s ministry; second, the period of growing — the time from the ascension of Christ to the harvest; third, the time of harvest — a short period of time “at the end of the world” (Matt. 13:49), the period in which the earth is lightened with the glory of the angel (Rev. 18:1), and in which all God’s people are called out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4). Then those who did not respond to this gathering call will cry out: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer. 8:20. The “harvest,” therefore, is “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:49. It commences in the church and ends in Babylon.(Timely Greetings, vol.2, no.44, p.31-33)

To be sure, Isaiah chapter 11 has numerous evidences that the kingdom it speaks about can only be the pre-mil kingdom. The fact that “Gentiles” exist in this kingdom time cannot support heaven or the new earth. The fact that the Lord recovers His people again just like in Moses’ day , likewise cannot be in heaven or the new earth. Let’s believe in what God’s word plainly says, and we’ll be safe.

“If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error.” (GC, p.599)

Summary–

The issue of the children is very clear and should be relied upon by any present truth proclaimer to prove that the Lord’s kingdom will start soon in Israel. Isaiah’s prophecy can have only one application and that is it takes place here on this existing earth in our time. The other two scenarios do not hold up upon close scrutiny. So what we have is a promise that the Lord’s kingdom will soon begin in His holy land. His word will not return void. Now is our time to prepare and believe that we are almost ready to make the move to our future home. Do you have plans to go there?

REMINDER: Our color code is as follows:  Blue is Bible or Spirit of Prophecy. Orange is the Lord speaking. Brown is the Elijah message (Mal. 4:5) as brought by our last prophet–Victor Houteff. 

NOTE: This upcoming kingdom is very exciting. In our next post we’ll provide an exciting look at the coming kingdom.

This entry was posted on May 13, 2017 at 4:39 am and is filed under End times, Our Lord's kingdom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.