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                                    THE 2ND PRESENCE AND KINGDOM (continued)

     John Nelson Darby, who lived in the 1800s, came up with the idea or "two people of God" theory (probably in the mid 1800s). He had the theology that there was two people of God, one being Israel and the other being the church. This was not a small mistake, it was a major mistake. Galations 3:16 says, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, "and to seeds" as of many, but as of one. And to your seed who is Christ." There has never been two seeds or two peoples, not in the old testament or new, but only those who are in Christ are considered the seed. That is, those who believe and are saved by grace through faith.

     Some other things I heard down through the years, is that the church is under the "blood of the new covenant" but not under the new covenant. Really? Does that sound logical? Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, "For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins." He was the "testator" of the new covenant, which means the one who caused the new covenant to be in effect. It does not mean a group of people are the testator.

     We also find this misconcept in the atonement where some say He is offering up people like the church members as part of His atonement or sin offering. But this would be impossible. Jesus was the sole anti-type of all the animals used for sin atonement as Paul explains in Hebrews 9:12, "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

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      Who are Gods people? Paul says in Galations 6:16 “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Paul was speaking to the church which was made up of jew and gentile believers and calls them the “Israel of God”.
      Peter in the 2nd chapter of 1st Peter says we are “living stones” and a “spiritual house”. He also says in 1st Peter 2:9 speaking to the church, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Paul explains that old testament prophesies are fulfilled in us and makes reference to the new covenant and says God dwells among us, we are His people and we are His sons and daughters. (2nd Corinthians 6:16-18)       In the old testament there was the wrath that would come upon Israel and this is after the Babylonian captivity. For example, Isaiah 26:21 reads, “For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.” Jesus makes reference to this in Luke 11:50-51, “That the blood of all the prophets which was slain from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.” Notice He says it would take place within that generation, the 1st century and that happened in 70AD which is what is called “the days of vengeance”---Luke 21:22

      It was also the consummation of the New Covenant, that is, the fulfillment of all the types and shadows of Israels law covenant. In revelation which was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the days of vengeance took place, the saints are pictured as asking how long will it be until they are avenged. Rev. 6:10, “And they cried with a loud voice saying, “How long, O’Lord holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Also another interesting fact is that its not just avenging but is connected to the resurrection hope Israel had in the old testament. See Revelation 11:18, “The nations were angry and Your wrath has come. And, the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that you should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” It’s what the prophets and saints looked forward to in old testament times and is referred to in Hebrews 11:16 as the “heavenly country”, the city of God.

     "Standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, "alas, alas, that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgement has come." --Revelation 18:10.  That happened in 70AD. Babylon in Revelation represents apostate Israel and law covenant Israel, those who didn't believe and were against Christ. He divorced her because she was the unfaithful woman, "The virgin of Israel has fallen, she will rise no more." - Amos 5:2. But true Israel, the church, was the bride and those who are in Christ are considered married and joined to the Lord. - (Zechariah 2:11, 1st Corinthians 6:17)

     Does Luke 20:27-36 say that we are not in the Kingdom because people still marry? NO. Luke 20:27-36 reads as follows: "Then some of the Saducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife and he died childless. Then the third took her and is like manner the seven also and they left no children, and died. Last of all the women died also. Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife. Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, nor can they die anymore for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection."

     The first thing to notice is that in verse 28 it says "Moses wrote" so this question they were asking is about the "Law Covenant" rules of marriage and how they were given in marriage when the husband died. See Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
The marriage laws were only about Israel in the old testament times and not about the gentiles. This is not about marriage today but how they lived according to the law (in old testament times). The Jews had to marry within the family in order to keep the inheritance. No one is given in marriage today to keep it in the family. The brothers had to have children so that's why the 7 brothers are mentioned.
     In verse 34 Jesus refers to "this age" meaning the age they were in under the law covenant. The law covenant age ended in 70AD and the next age to them was the Kingdom age, referred to as "that age" in verse 35. It's the everlasting Kingdom age under the new covenant.
     Also see Matthew 12:32 where it’s referred to as "the age to come". We are in the everlasting Kingdom age as foretold in the book of Daniel and when the new testament was being written the law covenant was ending and the final end came in 70AD. Hebrews 8:13, "In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first (Mosaic law covenant) obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."