Break #66
WRITTEN STUDY NOTES


Nehemiah 3
"Kingdom of Heaven vs Kingdom of God"

This is a marvelous subject; it is one of the most important subjects to grasp; and it is an easy subject to deal with! -  And yet, if you want, you can make it into a deep subject worthy of a complete study of all the verses involved.

It is important because it exposes the 'falsity' of today's denominational church set up verses a truly biblical 'church'. 

It explains why 'going to church' today
isn't what the pastors make it out to be.

It helps folks see the differences in Paul's teachings vs the gospels and
why it is such an important 'truth' to grasp.

It also shows the importance of knowing your entire Bible - from Genesis to Revelation, including having an understanding of what the Gospels 'were' and what the 'church' will be during the Tribulation.

You can also see why there is such an emphasis from pastors about the 'local church' today.


Nehemiah was part of the OT kingdom of heaven earthly world!

And during this particular break, we can springboard into this subject by considering what Nehemiah was trying to do.

Nehemiah saw a physical problem; he had a physical response and he went about to fix it physically.

So, in chapter three, we see Nehemiah going about to rebuild Jerusalem and the walls around it.  We are 'privileged' to see many of the details of work, too.  We see the 'gates' mentioned; we see information about the beams, the doors, the locks, the bars, even the curvature of the wall itself; we see who did the work for various parts of the projects; we even see a comment about how "the nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord" in verse 5.

In chapter three, we start off with the sheep gate and then read about fish gate, the old gate, the valley gate, the dung gate, the fountain gate, the pool, the water gate, the horse gate and when we round the curve getting past the sheep gate, we end up at the sheep gate, right where we started.  Interesting, eh?


However, before we go on, we must consider what this all represents during those OT days versus today, the dispensation of grace.

What we have today are pastors falsely teaching their people to be working the OT kingdom of heaven concept within their supposed 'new testament' church.

Local churches today are just plain wrong in their doctrine, in their design, in their purpose, in their importance, in their control of people's lives, in their construction, in their location, and in their attitude towards truth!

Let's do a short summary version of the Kingdom of God.  If you want to look into it deeper than I am presenting it now, then there are detailed sermons on my website OR simply get out your Bible and look at all the verses that have 'kingdom of heaven' and 'kingdom of God' - and compare them with each other as well as with Paul vs Gospels, etc. It doesn't take a bible scholar to study this - in fact, most bible scholars miss this like Eval Knieval missed the Snake River Canyon!

It was a marvelous study for me that opened my eyes to many things that I still hang on today, in spite of all the opposition I received towards my belief on the local church, worship, etc. today.  Of course, there are many books on the subject; however, they tend to be confusing and/or denominational supportive of their own teaching; mostly because they are bible 'correctors' or 'wrong dividers,' etc. I suggest a simple study on your own.


Basically, here it is as simply as I can put it:
  • During the time of creation and the 'garden,' both kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God existed.  It was physical paradise with all the spiritual fulfillment of God's creation.
  • However, when Eve deceived Adam, then the kingdom of God departed, Satan took over and it all then became a physical kingdom only - the kingdom of heaven - an earthly kingdom - a kingdom that required the participants to walk pleasing God in a physical manner - in their lost state.
  • The OT is a detailed history of the kingdom of heaven - with the leaders / kings being Noah through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Moses, Saul, David, Solomon, JeConiah, Zedekiah and Daniel.  By the way, the details of the kingdom of heaven can be found 'charted' in my Bible Study Chart page.
  • John the Baptist came along presenting Jesus as ruler of the kingdom of heaven and stating he was going to bring about 'action' in the kingdom of heaven as well as the kingdom of God.  Jesus preached both the kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven.  The Jews had the opportunity to have both, as it was in the garden. 
  • Christ would have set up his Millennial reign and on both kingdoms would have gone.
  • However, they crucified their Messiah!
  • Then they ignored what Peter had to say and went on to kill Stephen - thus sending away the design for the kingdom of heaven, resulting in making the 'kingdom' become a spiritual kingdom only - a kingdom only for the Gentiles.  (See Romans 11). 
  • That kingdom of God was led by Paul as the only apostle - and that is where we stand today.
  • The earthly kingdom of heaven was postponed when Jesus, through Paul, went on to the Gentiles... so... our concern today is the spiritual kingdom, the kingdom of God.
  • When Christ returns the 'second time,' He will instigate both kingdoms on earth, called the Millennium - the thousand year reign of Christ physically AND spiritually.
So today, our emphasis and ONLY concern is a spiritual concern - NOT a physical kingdom concern.  Our doctrine, God's leading, our source of truth and spiritual action comes from the King James Bible as told to us in I Corinthians 13:8-10.

What we sadly have going on these days is a 'local church' falsely designed after the kingdom of heaven days.  They base their doctrine, purpose, etc. on Acts 2:41-47.  And so as a result, what is most important to 'local church' folks is attendance, social activities, programs to witness a false gospel, a design based on the physical needs, the building care, locations, numbers, fleshly music in a false worship atmosphere, a preaching to please the people - activities to attract others as they devise ways to seek to have favor with everyone in their community.

However, the true church today, in the kingdom of God, is a spiritual kingdom. We look to Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16 for the design and purpose of any local church - and if no local church exists, we can still reach those goals as an individual Christian - through the KJB following Paul as we learn to walk a walk to please God.  We are part of the body of Christ - the true church.  See Ephesians 5


That's it - and that's enough for now. 

Below is listed just a few scriptures to peruse - and if you are interested, I suggest you do your own complete study.  You will see just how duped people are today and why they can't even discuss the subject.  They are only concerned about which denomination is the best, which pastor is the nicest, whose choir and worship team is the greatest, who has the most people, what their 'teens' are doing and how the little kids are learning false teachings through talking vegetables and modern music groups.

Most definitely, Paul was a supporter of the local church, as am I.  However, if the local church doesn't preach the risen Saviour through Paul and all that Paul says - helping folks prepare for their judgment seat by teaching Paul's ways, doctrines and manner of life, etc. we do NOT need to struggle looking for a church that we can attend so we can play the 'kingdom of heaven' game.  We simply don't have to go to 'church' if there isn't a proper one to attend.

  • We can try to 'change' a church to a Paul church?  I tried that.
  • We can try to 'start' a church based on Paul's teachings?  I tried that.
  • Or we can simply read our KJ Bible, apply what we learn by rightly dividing and try to present a testimony as described in I Thessalonians 1:9,10
  • We don't need to 'worship' God through fleshy music' we can learn the proper use of music in our personal lives, a music that pleases God!
It's that simple.

Kingdom of God 'only' through Paul's teachings today:
  • Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
  • Acts 19:8 - And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
  • Acts 28:23 - And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
  • Acts 28:31 - Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
  • II Thessalonians 1:3-5 - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
The mentioning of kingdom of heaven AND kingdom of God in the gospels.
  • Matthew 3:1,2 - In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
  • Matthew 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
  • Mark 1:14-15 - Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
  • Mark 9:1 - And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
OT church design / purpose / goals, etc. to the Jews through the twelve apostles.
  • Acts 2:41-47: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
NT local church design / purpose, etc. through Paul to the Gentiles:
  • Ephesians 4:11-16: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Body of Christ - Universal Church:
  • Ephesians 5:30-32 - For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Today:
We don't have to rebuild the walls of our local church, country, etc. but we need to rebuild ourselves. There is so much than can be said about this - in fact, just read Paul's books and see how you can grow as a sincere Christian.  We do not need to get involved with local churches that do not preach the truth of the risen Saviour - and we certainly don't have to feel guilty about not joining / attending. 

Unfortunately, trying to explain to folks and family most often falls upon deaf ears - ears that are itching for fables, eyes that are closed, lives being lived in spiritual darkness instead of the light of the risen Savour.

Paul's purposes for YOUR life:

  • Acts 26:18 - To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Well, let's get back to Nehemiah as he is rebuilding his wall, we can learn from him about us rebuilding our walls!  On to the next break and learn about those awful obstacles from Tobiah and Sanballat.


Contact:

Mikel Paulson
P.O. Box 327
302 Western Ave.
Hazelton, ND, 58544
509-876-1611  cell phone
sousaman@bektel.com