28 April 2013 Donna CM –
In the last few months, Elder Lian Paran has been sharing with the church about the Kingdom and the spirit realm. Last Sunday, Elder Lian continues with his message at The City SIB, Kuching.
“After the resurrection, Jesus was still walking around,” Elder Lian said. Acts 1: 1-15 says that Jesus was around His disciples for 40 days. Fifty days after the resurrection, the day of Pentecost came.
“Forty days is a significant number in the bible. Jesus and Moses fasted for 40 days, and the Israelites wondered for 40 years in the desert,” he continued. When Jesus rose from the dead, He presented Himself for a period of 40 days. These are convincing proofs that cannot be denied.
“He proved to his disciples that He came back to life, it’s the infallible proof,” he said, telling there are many records about His life and death and resurrection. There is nobody on this earth with such records and with many infallible proofs.
What was He speaking about within the 40 days? What was so important to Him?
Acts 1:3 tells, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”
There are two things He spoke about within the 40 days. First, He was speaking to them pertaining to the Kingdom of God for 40 days and second, the promise of the Father (Holy Spirit).
“Today, I will talk about the Kingdom of God,” he said and will continue with the second part, the promise of the Father, sometime in May.
“Before Jesus ascended, He spoke about the Kingdom of God. It must be important to Jesus; He spoke about the things of the Kingdom before He ascended to heaven,” said Elder Lian. Yet in verse 6 they ask Him, “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them in verse 7, “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”
The apostles were interested in the physical kingdom. The Roman Empire ruled at the time, but Israel only became an independent nation on May 15, 1948.
“We cannot make the same mistake. Many churches and Christians are praying at this time before the election. If we pray for the Kingdom of God like we do for the election, this nation will become like the Kingdom of God!
“We should be more interested in the spiritual Kingdom. Of course we want to vote. But if we have the same passion as we pray for the nation, what more real is the Kingdom. It is eternal!”
Jesus was interested in the spiritual Kingdom. He brought us to the spiritual Kingdom. Pray for the same passion for spiritual kingdom. The spiritual realm is more real, eternal than the physical world we are in. Jesus said it is not the time, only the Father knows. In verses 3-7, He said it is not the time for the physical kingdom for Jesus to rule.
In Revelation 19: 11-21 and Revelation 20: 1-6, a thousand years appeared six times. When the angels blow the trumpet, Jesus will come down and rule a thousand years. Till He comes it is a spiritual Kingdom. It’s a reality we cannot see physically, not a physical kingdom yet until Jesus Christ comes. It is a reality, though invisible.
Most of the signs have been fulfilled. If you read the bible clearly, there is no sign about the rapture. Jesus shows signs of His second coming, but not the rapture. “But, I believe we will be raptured into the second heaven before the tribulation,” he said. After seven years, He will come down to earth and we will come down with Him to rule.
There are no signs for the rapture. If you are left behind, that means you are not born again, he said. Nobody wants to be there during the tribulation.
Noah’s family was already in the ark, so they were saved. When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot was already out; which means that we have already raptured to meet Jesus at the second heaven. He will assign our positions according to what we do now. We want to do well on earth. How much do we prepare when we rule with Him?
How we serve now determines what we do in those 1000 years. He will give us our rewards and assigned our positions. It is an eternal judgment, which means it cannot be changed.
“Whether we fulfill the calling, it is very important what we do now while we wait for the Kingdom,” said Elder Lian. Elder Lian Paran also shared about the spiritual nature of the Kingdom, where and how to enter the Kingdom. The service ends with prayer for salvation.
Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you.
Leave a Reply