Chapter Two - Journey To The Kingdom
Journey to the Kingdom
There is a period of time, "under the sun, " between the first day of creation and the final day of judgment, that God has a special purpose for. This purpose is part of God's plan for His Kingdom. It involves preparation of the Kingdom itself, and preparation of the Kingdom citizens. The Kingdom citizens all make a journey, an epic adventure with God, through much toil, and much enjoyment of God's creation.
This adventure involves a journey through all sorts of "good and not so good" times. The journey, and all its twist and turns, are meant to do two things, draw us to God, and grow in God's grace in ways that make us ready for our inherited home... the Kingdom of heaven.
2.1 In The Garden The journey for all humans began in a garden paradise called Eden. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, enjoyed all the benefits of this special garden until one day an enemy serpent, Satan, convinced them that God might not be as good as they thought. He also lied about God's warning about death, and tempted them to choose to be like God, instead of obedient to God. They Chose to follow the serpent’s temptations.
These choices earned God's wrath against the serpent and all his followers, against Adam and Eve and all their offspring, and also brought about the first gospel message of God's mercy for Adam and Eve and God's elect "seed of the woman."
2.2 Time Under The Sun The journey continues, for all humans, all through the time "under the sun". All people, born after Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden. will have much toil, sweat, pain, suffering, and will end their time under the sun in death.
The Gospel message of a suffering/conquering King/Redeemer is passed on to all the elect of the Old Testament times by word of mouth. This Redeemer comes to earth from Heaven as Immanuel, God with us, when Jesus takes on flesh and lives on the earth as a man.
Jesus lives a sinless life, lays down that life as a perfect sacrifice, to take away the sin of the world. Jesus is resurrected from the grave and ascends into heaven. Later Jesus will return to Judge the living and the dead, and to take His elect to the Kingdom of Heaven with Him.
The journey ends with the sun, moon, stars and earth all disappearing, and a new heaven and earth replacing them. The time under the sun ends, and becomes the new time under the Son.
This all takes thousands of years, and is all meant to complete God's plan for a glorious Kingdom, a perfect Savior/King, and perfected Kingdom citizens.
(more coming soon... if the LORD tarries)