The Children Of The Two Kingdoms

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

While the Messiah's conception was miraculous, His birth and physical life were no different than any other child born to a human mother.

"^1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [see also Does Rome Have Christ's Birth Certificate?]: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ^1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

^1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. ^1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

^1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ^1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

^1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: ^1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son [see The Kinsfolk Of Jesus Of Nazareth]: and he called his name JESUS." (Matthew 1:18-25 KJV)

The local shepherds of Bethlehem, men of Judah (i.e. Jews; see Who Were The First Jews?, Israel In History and Prophecy: Jews and Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism) were the same-day visitors to the newborn Messiah ("^2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ^2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2:11-12 KJV). The famous "wise men" were Gentiles (see Why Did The Magi Come?) who traveled from a long distance after the birth had occurred. By the time of their arrival, months later, they came, not to a stable, but "into the house" where "they saw the young child." While man-made tradition holds that there were three "wise men," the Scriptures don't state how many men there were - only that they had three kinds of gifts. There could been just three men, but there could have been many more.

"^2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Herod], behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, ^2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

^2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ^2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. ^2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ^2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel [see Bethlehem In History And Prophecy].

^2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. ^2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

^2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. ^2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. ^2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. ^2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." (Matthew 2:1-12 KJV)

Other "children," of another sort of kingdom, sought to kill the newborn Messiah. That threat to the Messiah's life continued through His human lifetime.

"^2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

^2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt [see The Flight Into Egypt]: ^2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

^2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. ^2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, ^2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not [see The Rachel Prophecies]." (Matthew 2:13-18 KJV)

Herod the Great's death did not end the threat to the Messiah. There were always others of that Christ-rejecting kingdom.

"^2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ^2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

^2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel Of Judah]. ^2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: ^2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene [see Why Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth And Capernaum?; also The Kinsfolk Of Jesus Of Nazareth]." (Matthew 2:19-23 KJV)

"If God were your Father, ye would love Me ... Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do"

The Ministry of the Messiah was preceded by the prophet John, popularly known as John the Baptist. John warned people to turn from the kingdom of this world and "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." For that, John was killed by the "children" of Satan's kingdom (see Lethal Lust).

"^3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ^3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ^3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight [see The Ministries Of The Two Greatest Prophets and Jesus And John: Similarities And Differences].

^3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey [see What Was Strange About John The Baptist? and The Way To The Land Of Milk And Honey]. ^3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ^3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

^3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees [see Who Was Their Messiah?] come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ^3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ^3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire [see Works Means Obedience].

^3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ^3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire [see Christ Died For Repentant Sinners and What Happens After The Messiah Returns?]." (Matthew 3:1-12 KJV)

The Messiah repeated the warning, particularly to those who claimed to be God's children ("we have one Father, even God") simply because they had Abraham as an ancestor. The Messiah, Who truly was God's child, rebuked them, not only with "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham," but with a statement of just whose "children" they actually were: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." Keep in mind that many of those Pharisees later repented of being "children of the devil" (including Saul, who became the apostle Paul, and Nicodemus, to whom the famous "John 3:16" and "born again" teachings were given; see The Passed Over Pharisees and What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?), as well as many others ("the Pharisees which believed" Acts 15:5 KJV). Being deceived by the Devil isn't itself a condemnable condition - unless one chooses to make it so by refusing to repent when the means and opportunity are made available.

"^8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Roots and Branches and A Biography Of Abraham: Abrahamic Religions].

Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham [see What Did Jesus Christ Say About Abraham?]. ^8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ^8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

^8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. ^8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. ^8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him [see Satan's Fall: From Conservative To Liberal]. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ^8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ^8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ^8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:39-47 KJV)

"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened"

There are many who take advantage of those who are seeking to turn from Satan's loser kingdom to God's Kingdom (see The Messiah's Warning About Christian Charlatans).

"^18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Repent, For The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand, The Constitution Of The Kingdom Of God and The Church: Mission Accomplished]

^18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ^18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ^18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

^18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. ^18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

^18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! ^18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. ^18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." (Matthew 18:1-9 KJV)

Satan's kingdom is armed with two weapons - first, deception (as described above), and when that ceases to work, persecution.

"^5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: ^5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

^5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
^5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
^5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth [see Feast Of Tabernacles: Heaven Comes To Earth and What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?].
^5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
^5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
^5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
^5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
^5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

^5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you [see Why Does The LORD Permit Persecution?], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ^5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12 KJV)

The children of God's Kingdom will emerge victorious. How? "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." But notice carefully, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Genuine repentance must be according to the Word of God, not merely claiming Christ's Name, while doing whatever one pleases. The Messiah had a warning for those who think otherwise: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

"^7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ^7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened [see How To Pray].

^7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? ^7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? ^7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? ^7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

^7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate [see The Strait Gate]: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ^7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

^7:15 Beware of false prophets [see What's The Bible Word For False Prophet?], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ^7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ^7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ^7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ^7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ^7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them [see The Messiah's Warning About Christian Charlatans].

^7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ^7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ^7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [see Antichristians]." (Matthew 7:7-23 KJV)

What will happen to the "children" of Satan's kingdom? "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

"^8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ^8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:11 KJV)

The "temptation of Christ" was an attempt by the Devil to make the Messiah into a child of Satan's kingdom ("^4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ^4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:8-9 KJV). That's what Satan has been doing right from the time of Adam and Eve, from which "the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." When the Kingdom of God is come, Satan's kingdom, and all who refuse to repent of being Satan's children, will be obliterated into non-existence. But for those who choose life, "shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

"^13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

^13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ^13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; ^13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

^13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ^13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [see Sending Away The Escapades Goat]; ^13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth [see What Is The Day Of The LORD?]. ^13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:36-43 KJV)

Fact Finder: How is it that Satan's evil kingdom of darkness seems "bright"?
See Who Lights Your Walk?

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This Day In History, October 26

901: King Alfred the Great (known as "Alfred the Great"), Saxon king of Wessex, died. An actual battlefield king, and scholar, Alfred fought the invading Danes and formed England's first navy.

1440: Gilles de Rais, French marshall who fought for Joan of Arc, was hanged for Satanism and the murders of 140 children. His crimes inspired the tale of "Bluebeard."

1640: The Treaty of Ripon was signed. It restored peace between Charles I of England and Scotland.

1776: Benjamin Franklin traveled to France to request French support for his revolution. France hypocritically agreed to arm and supply the rebellion of the New England colonies, while at the very same time tolerating no independence for its own colonies in Louisiana and elsewhere through the continent of North America. France sought only to break the military ties between Britain and New England so that France could invade and take them over for itself - a plan that wasn't carried out because of the wars started by Napoleon across Europe and into Russia that consumed the French army.

1825: The Erie Canal opened, linking southern Lake Erie to the Hudson River, and then to the Atlantic, thereby allowing the U.S. to bypass the British-controlled lower St. Lawrence (the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 by the governments of Canada and the U.S. opened ports on all of the Great Lakes to ocean shipping).

1863: The Red Cross was established in Geneva, Switzerland.

1905: Sweden and Norway signed a treaty of separation; Oscar II abdicated as king of Norway, and was replaced by Prince Charles of Denmark, who became King Haakon VII.

1918: Germany's supreme commander General Erich Ludendorff resigned in protest of the terms to which the German government agreed to for the First World War armistice. This set the stage for his later support for Adolf Hitler (see Presidential Quotes On War, Terrorism, Religion) who claimed that Germany did not lose the war on the battlefield, but rather was "stabbed in the back" by the politicians (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars).

1942: U.S. and Japanese naval forces engaged in the Battle of Santa Cruz. The Japanese suffered a greater number of ships lost, but the U.S. aircraft carrier Hornet was sunk. Beginning with the attacks on Pearl Harbor, aircraft carriers were the means of the Pacific war - an era now gone. In any war between the major military powers in the Pacific today (i.e. the U.S., Russia, China), aircraft carriers, and their entire accompanying battle groups, would be instantly destroyed by nuclear missiles.

1978: Smallpox was declared eradicated in the world.

1984: Surgeons in California transplanted a baboon heart into a 10 day old baby girl, nicknamed "Baby Fae"; she died a few days later.

1994: Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty aimed at ending 46 years of conflict. Much of the territory of the present-day Kingdom of Jordan was held by the Israelite tribes who were assigned lands east of the Jordan River (see Why East And West Manasseh?).

1997: Alan Goodman, 53, was released from an Israeli prison after serving 16 years of a life sentence for a 1982 shooting spree on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in which an arab guard was killed and 8 Muslims were wounded. Upon his release, the U.S. born former Israeli soldier was deported to the U.S. (see also A Biography Of Abraham: Abrahamic Religions).