Week 14 - The Conditions to Be in the Kingdom of the Heavens

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1 Monday Scripture Reading: Matt. 5:1-3; 16:24; John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4 Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself (Phil. 2:6-8a) EMPTYING ONESELF TO ENTER THE KINGDOM After being baptized and anointed by the Spirit, Jesus began His earthly ministry, preaching: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17). In order for them to understand these words, the Lord had to teach His disciples concerning the kingdom of the heavens, showing them the conditions required for those who desire to enter into the kingdom: And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them (5:1-2). Jesus did not direct His word to the multitudes standing there, but to His disciples, for He was counting on them to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Matthew 5:3-13 has only been considered for its nine blessings, but this passage truly describes the living of those who will one day participate in the kingdom of the heavens. The first item concerns the spirit: Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven (v. 3). Being poor in spirit has to do with emptying oneself, denying the soul-life. In order to enter into the kingdom, the Lord showed us that we must go through the stage of the church. The church was revealed in Matthew 16:18: And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. In verse 24, He speaks of how to live in the church: If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Throughout the years, the Lord has made it clear to us that in order for us to live the church life, it is essential that we deny our soul-life. Jesus says that these ones are blessed happy are they who empty and deny themselves in order to enter into the kingdom, for the kingdom of the heavens belongs to those who are humble in spirit. Nevertheless, if anyone preserves their soul-life, the kingdom of the heavens will not be a certainty for this one. It is for this reason that, in these last days, the Lord has spoken so much about denying our soul-life. Now, we see that Matthew 16 also presents a requirement to us for entering into the coming kingdom: being someone who empties his spirit. We must be clear in this matter: in order for us to govern in the coming world, we need to deny our soul-life day by day. If we practice this, the Lord will establish us in His government of the kingdom of the heavens when He comes back. There are over two hundred nations currently, and they are all under the influence of the prince of this world, Satan (John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4). However, if we fulfill God s requirements, the coming kingdom will be given to us. We must be people who are empty in spirit, and who deny their soul-life, so that God s life may grow; this way, the coming world will be ours. Praise the Lord! Always emptying ourselves in order to reign in the coming world. Your What does Jesus present in Matthew 5:3-13? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 1

2 Tuesday Scripture Reading: Ps. 37:11; 94:15; Matt. 5:4-6; 1 Cor. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:10, 21; 7:6-10 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:4) REPENTANT, MEEK, THIRSTY, AND HUNGRY Now, we will go to Matthew 5 to see how the living of those who will participate in the kingdom of the heavens should be. The second item mentioned by the Lord Jesus in this chapter is: Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted (v. 4). The ones mentioned in this verse are they who mourn their own condition, realizing that they still live by their soul-life and are not yet ready to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. God, however, has prepared everything for them: they are blessed because they weep, lament, and repent. Whenever there is repentance, they become blessed and are comforted by the Lord Himself. For these ones, this verse might even say: Blessed are those who repent, for they will be comforted. After writing his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul became distressed, feeling that he had been too severe with the brother who had sinned, when even the leading ones in the church did not do so (1 Cor. 5:1-2). It was as if he had said, Although I am not there in person, I am in spirit, and with my spirit I will deal with the situation: I deliver this one to Satan (cf. vv. 3-5). Perhaps, he realized that despite using his spirit to deal with that matter, he had not done it as the Spirit of God wanted it done (2 Cor. 7:8-10). Although repenting, Paul felt distressed and downcast, perhaps to the point of tears. On the way to Philippi, however, he met Titus and was comforted by his arrival (vv. 6-7). Blessed, therefore, are those who weep and repent from their mistakes, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:5 says, Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Today, the nations are under Satan s usurpation, yet the government of the coming world will be given to the meek (Psa. 37:11); nothing will be apportioned to the violent. Once God s life grows in a person, this one becomes meek. When the Lord comes in His parousía, His second coming, He will establish His judgment seat not to condemn the unbelievers, but to assess whether God s life has grown in His children, and whether they will be able to govern with Him (2 Cor. 5:10). In the past, we thought that while being judged at His judgment seat, the Lord would show us all the sins that we committed. Today, however, we have received more light and see that it will not be so; we will be measured according to the growth of God s life in us. We also know that the divine life can only grow if we deny our soul-life. In Matthew 5:6, we read, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are people who seek what is upright and reject everything that relates to sin. These ones seek to live a righteous and upright life before God, longing to return to the righteous condition for which God created us. Hence, they hunger and thirst for righteousness (Psa. 94:15). These ones will be satiated by the Lord and will become God s own righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Being a blessed one who repents from his mistakes, who allows God s life to grow, and who abhors every sort of unrighteousness. Your What will be the criteria used by the Lord at His judgment seat to decide who will govern in the coming world? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 2

3 Wednesday Scripture Reading: Matt. 5:7-9; John 1:14, 17; 2 Tim. 1:16, 18 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy (Matt. 5:7). For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) MERCIFUL, PURE IN HEART, AND PEACEMAKERS And praise the Lord for His great love, grace, and mercy: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Eph. 2:4-5). We were in a miserable situation, dead in our trespasses; we were sinners and enemies of God, yet because of His mercy, His grace reached and saved us. Mercy comes from God s grace, which is the Lord Jesus Himself, loving and reaching us. He dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth... but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 17). We should never forget that we are objects of God s mercy: we were destined to eternal death and were material for the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8), yet God, in Christ, saved us. Since God has reached us with His mercy and changed our destiny, it is time that we are merciful with others: Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy (Matt. 5:7). Those who live a life like this will obtain mercy (2 Tim. 1:16, 18). Shortly after speaking about mercy, the Lord Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God (Matt. 5:8). Since the human heart includes the conscience, which is a part of the spirit, being pure in heart relates to the first blessing: being poor in spirit. There is no doubt that our heart needs to be pure, guileless, spotless (Psa. 24:3-6). When we were saved by the Lord, we were also purified within. If we keep our hearts pure, we will be blessed and see God. The following blessing is: Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9). If you deny your soul-life, God s life will grow; hence, you will have no problems with men. You will have an inner feeling that it is possible to live in harmony with others. Therefore, the people around you will also be pacified. Hallelujah! The peacemakers will be called sons of God! We have God s life inside of us. Our Lord is not of confusion but of peace (1 Cor. 14:33a; 1 Thes. 5:23a); therefore, we should also live in peace with people (Rom. 12:18), for we possess God s life and nature. Being a channel of God s mercy and peace to others. Your What should we do in order to live in peace with everyone? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 3

4 Thursday Scripture Reading: Matt. 5:10-12 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:11-12) PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS We should live in righteousness before God, rejecting everything that is linked to sin. Those who live this way, will be filled and even become God s righteousness (Matt. 5:6). The Lord says: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven (v. 10). If you do something that is wrong and is persecuted because of what you have done, such persecution is due; however, if you do something that is righteous, something that is in God s heart, and you are still persecuted, then the kingdom of the heavens will be yours. The following verse says, Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake (v. 11). Here we can see something that is even more serious. When you have God s life and are therefore called a son of God, the enemy will do everything that he can to persecute and defame you. If you desire to fulfill God s righteousness, many will persecute and defame you, speaking all kind of evil against you. In situations such as this, we must stand fast, for the Lord said, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (v. 12). This greatly encourages us not to lose heart when met by persecutions and insults against us for the sake of God s righteousness. If we allow ourselves to falter, it is likely that even harder situations will arise on the way thereafter. It is as if a progressive intensification took place: it begins with some persecution, insult, defaming words, lies, and then every kind of evil. The majority of the saints do not go through this, yet because of the vision of the kingdom and the commission to supply life to everyone, we are reviled and persecuted when we surrender ourselves to the Lord. In the church life, we live harmoniously; we seek to be merciful, to love people, and we do everything that we can so the gospel of the kingdom is preached and people receive life. When we do this, Satan raises up evil people to bring discomfort, to revile, lie, and persecute us. We should never retaliate or get into arguments with such people, for the Lord Jesus is our pattern (Isa. 53:7). These things are indications that we are on the Lord s path and that we are blessed. Praise the Lord! Not losing heart when faced with persecutions, insults, and lies. Your What should we do as we are defamed and insulted? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 4

5 Friday Scripture Reading: Rom. 15:24, 28; Rev. 12:1-15 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne (Rev. 12:5 ASV) THE VISION OF REVELATION 12 Throughout these years, the Lord has given us a clearer vision concerning Africa, based on Revelation 12. We have seen, on the world map that the shape of the African continent is similar to that of a curved fetus, still being formed in the womb. This is related to the formation of the man child, and it concerns the overcomers (v. 5). Africa has not yet produced these overcomers, for the man child is not yet fully formed. We must continue preaching the gospel of the kingdom in that continent and to the ends of the earth (Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Acts 1:8). Once it is fully formed, he will be a perfect man, for not only will he include the overcomers from Africa, but also from every place, from every church. There are many saints in a condition of overcomers in various Christian groups, yet we need to produce more overcomers through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, for we know that those who take part in the man child will not go through the great tribulation, but will be raptured to God s throne to reign over all nations. Revelation 12 says that the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days (vv. 4b-6 ASV). The woman here represents the totality of the church, where the overcomers are produced, and her escape represents the remaining part of the church those who were not raptured which will be persecuted by the dragon. The remaining part of the church will suffer persecution, as the dragon s full wrath will be against her. Remaining in the condition of overcomers. Your What is the relationship between the vision of Revelation 12 and the daily living of the believers? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 5

6 Saturday Scripture Reading: Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 14 Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested (Rev. 15:3b-4) THE WAY GOD PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION Revelation 12:15 says, So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. The dragon spewed out waters in order to raise up the level of the Mediterranean sea, seeking to destroy the universal woman by flooding all Palestine, where the she originated. We praise the Lord, for the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth (v. 16). God is wise; He caused the earth to open its mouth and swallow the flood. This corresponds to the Strait of Gibraltar, a naturally made opening which connects the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean. This opening has lowered the line of the Mediterranean sea, leveling it with the ocean. In a recent trip to Europe, I made sure to visit the Strait of Gibraltar, which is the place where the Mediterranean sea flows into the Atlantic ocean. Without the use of any optical instrument, I was able to see Morocco on the other side, which is north of Africa. Then I was able to confirm the vision of Revelation 12 which I had received from the Lord. In the past, the Mediterranean sea remained isolated from the ocean. Then, for a short period of time, its water level rose and flooded vast areas, until the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the flood. Due to erosion, the earth reopened the passage between the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean. This geological incident shows how Palestine, the place where the universal woman was originated, was preserved in the past. Likewise, the Lord will preserve it again in that day. The Bible also records that...the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent (v. 14). Our brother Witness Lee affirmed that the vision of the eagle referred to the North American continent. Since the eagle is a symbol of the United States, he interpreted that this country would be the eagle, and the two wings, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. According to his interpretation, the wilderness would also be in the North American continent. The Lord, however, has revealed something else to us. By looking at a world map, you can see that the outlines of North and Central America resemble an eagle with its two wings withdrawn, as if landing. The universal woman received two wings that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (v. 14). It says here that the Lord will protect the woman in the wilderness, which is a placed prepared by God to feed her for 1260 days (12:6), the same as 42 months (vv. 14; 11:2). This means that she will be kept there for a period of three and a half years, the time of the great tribulation. The great tribulation will reach Europe and last for three and a half years. During this period, the woman will be nourished and protected in the wilderness. Hence, we see that the wilderness has an essential role in God s plan revealed through the vision of Revelation 12. Advancing in God s revelation. Your What will happen to the woman mentioned in Revelation 12 when the great tribulation begins? REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 6

7 Powered by TCPDF ( Sunday Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 13:11; Heb. 2:5 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent (Rev. 12:14) SOUTH AMERICA IS THE WILDERNESS If you look carefully at a world map, you will see the outlines of North and Central America resemble an eagle, landing. When a bird prepares to land, it partially retracts its wings, as it stretches forward its claws; this way, it lands smoothly. Back to observing the map, we can see that the place where this eagle is landing is South America. Beloved saints, we are at the verge of the Lord s return, and there will be a period of three and a half years preceding His coming. This period of time is called the great tribulation, and it will mainly affect Europe. Everyone fears the great tribulation, for it will be a time of global catastrophes, wars, earthquakes, famines, etc. People are usually frightened by the suffering it will bring. God, however, is preparing South America in order to feed the universal woman throughout these three and a half years. Apart from being an agricultural storehouse, South America possesses a number of water and mineral resources. Although the Lord is preparing South America to nourish the universal woman, we hope not to be here during the great tribulation; our desire is to be part of the man child, who will be raptured to the throne of God to reign over the nations. Therefore, we must cooperate with the formation of the man child in every continent, so that we are raptured together with them. Time is passing by, and we need to enjoy the Lord s word, ruminating and practicing it. The Lord is full of grace and He always supplies us abundantly! He goes beyond what we ask or think. Wherever the Lord placed you, whether in Europe, Africa, or Americas, you need to thank Him, seeking to be perfected to govern the coming world (2 Cor. 13:11; Heb. 2:5). Remember that we will not be the people of the kingdom of the heavens; we will be kings together with Christ. Hallelujah! Cooperating with the formation of the man child in every continent. Your Where is the wilderness of Revelation 12, and where will the great tribulation be most intense? Additional Reading Enrich your reading of the Daily Food by simultaneously reading the books suggested below: Your Kingdom Come chap. 13 Dong Yu Lan. Daniel The Destiny of Human Government in God s Economy chap. 14 Dong Yu Lan. REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS HAS DRAWN NEAR - God with Us 7