THE COMING OF JESUS: THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM By Dr Josimar Salum

THE COMING OF JESUS: THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM By Dr Josimar Salum

“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 

When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? 

Where then did the weeds come from?’ 

“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. 

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 

“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” Matthew 13:24‭-‬30 

““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. 

Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 

This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:44‭-‬52

What about you? What do you understand from this comparison of the Kingdom as a net being cast into the sea?

This type of net is neither a cast net nor a fishing net that the fisherman lay down at the sea overnight. This is a fishnet that a single fisherman cannot handle it. It takes some fishermen to throw it into the sea and to collect it to the shore.

The fishnet is pulled to the beach and brings all kinds of fish. Small, big, good, bad. Such a net is terribly predatory, as it collects everything that is fish and no fish has practically any way to escape.

I find it interesting that the teaching is about collecting the good ones and putting them in the baskets and throwing out the bad ones. The good fish stay and the bad ones are eliminated.

"So it shall be in the end of the age: angels shall come and separate the wicked from the righteous. And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

What did Jesus teach? The righteous are left behind and the wicked are cast into the fiery furnace.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12 

"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Matthew 24:31 

Is what I transcribe here from Jesus' words not totally contrary to what is commonly taught out there?

Is this not what happened in the flood? Were the wicked destroyed and the righteous remained on earth being saved by the ark?

Wasn't it like that with Lot and his daughters? Were not the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah and the neighboring ones destroyed with all their inhabitants and only he and his daughters remained in the land?

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: 

As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 

For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. 

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:32‭, ‬38‭-‬41‭, ‬44 

At the coming of the Son of Man who will be taken away will be the wicked and who will be spared will be the righteous.

Do not assume that Jesus is coming to take us to heaven. Nowhere in the Bible is this taught. 

Therefore, we must study from what Jesus taught - we must study from what Jesus spoke - what I Thessalonians chapter 4, II Thessalonians chapter 2, I Corinthians chapter 15 and other texts really show.

The entire Bible, beginning with the prophets, teaches this truth! The wicked are exterminated and the righteous inherit the earth.

“For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity." Psalms 37:9‭-‬11 

I am not referring to this Earth obviously when I speak of Jesus' coming.

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13 

"“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 4:1‭-‬3 

The question that must be asked is this: Who is pulled out or harvested first, the tares or the wheat?

Jesus explained clearly and expects us to understand, even if it costs us our traditions and misinterpretations that we have preciously accept without comparison of the words to the Word and our religious ideas to the Holy Spirit.

 “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear." Matthew 13:41‭-‬43 

Who will be collected and who will remain? I encourage you to continue with the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit and He alone will guide you to all Truth!

#ASONE