Let’s face it, we as Christians have one main goal in mind – to live in God’s kingdom. Our ultimate home and the promise given from our Creator. So important that this kingdom, the future home of the faithful is the last message given to the world.
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”(Matt. 24:14)
We see that the “kingdom” message is what will be preached to the “whole world”. Sadly, we as Seventh-day Adventists do not understand correctly this– kingdom. The present truth believers do, however, and especially God’s final prophet knew all about it. Let us look into this final kingdom.
The Jews of Christ’s time knew very well the Scriptures, especially the promise of the real earthly kingdom to come. So important was this subject that it almost overshadowed all else in prophecy. The Apostles were no exception, also believers in the prevalent understanding of the earthly kingdom. They showed this by their last inquiry of Jesus upon His ascension.
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
They did not have the “New Testament” like we do today, only the OT. So they had a kingdom in mind of the standard Solomon type kingdom here on earth. Notice closely how our Lord responded–
“And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” (Acts 1:7)
Do you notice that Jesus did not say no. He said it was not for them to know —when. In other words their understanding of this kingdom , their idea of it, would come to pass someday but not in their time. Can we imagine if Jesus would have said “no”, how this would have taken the wind out of their sails? Their hope was to be held up at all costs. They had a work to do.
Fast forward to today. Do we really understand how fortunate we are? We are the ones who this promise is to be fulfilled with! Wow! This should make us shake in our boots!
Our final prophet was given the light on this kingdom, you should know him well by now–Victor Houteff. Our prophetess, Ellen White, was given an extraordinary amount of light, yet we know she did not have much on the “pre-millennial kingdom”. It was brother Houteff who was given the Elijah message and the important task of restoring “all things” including the kingdom promised to the Apostles and all believers, ancient and current.
The Scriptures point to this time of utter beauty and blessings from God, to be enjoyed within the earthly pre-millennial kingdom–
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezek. 36:24-28)
Once again, sadly the general SDA population doesn’t have one clue about this. Satan has effectively “shut out” the Lord’s Elijah message to nearly the whole church! Is it any wonder that Rev. 7 says “only” 144,000 are sealed from all the tribes , all the church! Ponder this brethren. Now is our time to awake and jump on board before our time is up! Start believing and proclaiming don’t sit there and assume you’re covered! Remember Jesus said we, Seventh-day Adventists are deceived and knoweth not (Rev.3:17). You start to believe in this true upcoming kingdom, you start to peel off that deception!
Ok, let’s look at our title subject– the kingdom subjects, who are they?
” Five Groups in the Kingdom.
These groups are (1) the 144,000, Israelites the first fruits of the living, whose “nobles shall be of themselves,” and whose “governor shall proceed from the midst of them” (Jer. 30:21); they shall return to Jerusalem, and stand on Mount Sion with the Lamb; (2) those whom John saw, after the sealing of the 144,000, gathered from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” during the “great tribulation,” the “time of trouble such as never was” — the great multitude who go to Jerusalem before the resurrection; (3) those who arise to everlasting life in the resurrection of Daniel 12:2; (4) those Israelites who shall come forth in the resurrection of Ezekiel 37:1-14; (5) all who come in the resurrection of Revelation 20:6; — collectively, these are all the Israelites and Gentiles who shall return to Jerusalem, possess the promised land, and then the whole earth.” (Tract 9, p.65-66)
Let’s briefly go over each group.
- The 144,000 —
As present truth believers, we are well familiar with this group. This is who we as SDA are “striving” for.
“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help others to gain heaven.” (Review and Herald, March 9, 1905)
We should also be solemnly aware that this number is literal. In Revelation 7 we know that from “all” the tribes, all the church, there will be 144,000 sealed. We are the Israel of today (See Testimonies, vol. 9, p.164).
2. The Great Multitude —
In Rev. 7:9 is described the great multitude which no man could number. These are they who are in “Babylon” , confused religion, who accept the last gospel proclamation of the kingdom. They embrace it and choose God’s kingdom over man’s false Sunday religion. The “Great Controversy” is about the final conflict for these souls.
3. Special Resurrection of Daniel 12:2 —
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12: 1-3)
In giving more light to the above reference the message says–
“Here we are told that in the time of trouble these arise, some to live forever and some to die again.
Do you now realize that not only the time of trouble is at the door, but even this special resurrection? Do you actually see that in the time of trouble, while the living saints are being delivered these dead who rise “to everlasting life,” are also delivered from their graves? Do you realize that this time of trouble is in “the great and dreadful day of the Lord,” the day which the promised prophet Elijah announces? Do you actually know that he is to turn the hearts of the fathers and of the children toward each other? lest the Lord smite “the earth with a curse.” Mal. 4:5, 6. Do you see that the prophet appears in a day he can restore all things, everything that was lost through sin, even the Kingdom? Do you know that the resurrection of Daniel 12 is not the same as the resurrection of 1 Thessalonians and of Revelation 20:5?” (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.7, p.11)
“Here is projected a resurrection of a mixed multitude, wicked and righteous — foolish and wise. This resurrection, then, is not the pre-millennial “first resurrection,” nor the post-millennial resurrection of the wicked (Rev. 20:5, 6), but a special one. If the wise who turn many to righteousness are of the resurrected in this special resurrection, and if they shine as the stars forever and ever, then this special resurrection takes place in probationary time.” (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.42, p.29)
This Special Resurrection is very important for us as SDA to know. Our Prophetess Ellen White and Brother Houteff, among other faithful SDA will be raised in this resurrection, God willing. They will have more work to do —
“Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” (Testimonies, vol. 7, p.17)
4. Ezekiel 37:1-14 Resurrection —
The message doesn’t say a whole bunch about this resurrection other than it will be real as those verses say.
“In this resurrection only God’s own people, Israel, arise with no sinner among them. Moreover, these do not meet the Lord in the air; they are taken to the land of Israel, Palestine. This resurrection, therefore, is not the same as the resurrection of 1 Thessalonians, of the Revelation, or of Daniel 12. It must be a separate one.” (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.7, p.13)
5. Revelation 20:6 Resurrection —
This is known as the classic resurrection of the just. The one most well-known as the “first” resurrection.
“Moses upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ’s victory over sin and death. He represented those who shall come forth from the grave at the resurrection of the just.” Desire of Ages, page 421. Moses represents the first, or general resurrection of Rev. 20:6.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.47)
So there we have all five groups that shall be in the kingdom. The question each SDA must ask is “Will I be a part of group 1? This is the “only” group available to us based on the Lords’s final message of Elijah (unless we die and may be part of group 3). To “strive with all power God has given us” does not mean to casually “think about” being in this group.
To be sure this earthly kingdom shall be of short duration. The sole purpose being to warn the world of the upcoming disaster (7 last plaques) and to welcome any and all who will come. God will tell the world to come into his beginning phase of the kingdom and then be transferred to the heavenly one for 1000 years. Then to the final restoration kingdom on earth for eternity.
“Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.11)
In closing let us take a look at this most beautiful time, God’s final witness to a dying world–
Jer. 30:12-19 — “For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.”
After having gone through their captivity, the people shall fully realize God’s mercy and His wisdom to save them. They shall be happy forevermore, for He will multiply them in the land of their fathers, and there He will make them great.
Jer. 30:20 — “Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all that oppress them.”
The Kingdom (the church purified and apart from the world) is to be as natural and as real as was the kingdom of ancient Israel, but there will be no sinners in It. (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no.47. p.16-17)
“Amos 9:9-15 — “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by My name, saith the Lord that doeth this.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.”
The real kingdom is coming will you be a part of it?
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