Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Personal From... Christ's Kingdom Come!


EVERY NIGHT ── just beyond our locked windows and doors ── lurks, rapists, murderers, terrorists, and assassins! Not actors, but REAL people, who murder in cold blood. Such as Aiden Zellmer in 2017, who was 15 years-old at the time, sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 40 years for the rape and brutal murder of 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell. It certainly makes you wonder what kind of world we are living in! 

What about July 13, 2024 ── the then former President of the United States and Republican Party nominee in 2024 for the presidential election, Donald Trump’s attempted assassination? What about April 15, 1865? What about November 22, 1963? In this present evil age, presidents, kings, prime ministers, heads of state ── and even those running for office are often assassinated. In Christ’s Kingdom to Come, this will stop! That is one huge difference between this evil and horrid world today and the kingdom to come ── when peace, world prosperity, and well-being for all people will come. 

What is the real cause behind all the violence, mayhem, cruelty, and crime ── the stench of our moral decay ── in a world in which 692 million people globally live in extreme poverty and squalor? 1

After the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, and lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube draining blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip. “Honey, I forgot to duck.” And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”  Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”

Today, my friends, “We should all be followers of Jesus Christ!” But, we should all also be in reverent fear of falling “into the hands” of an angry living God! (Hebrews 10:31). 

“You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry?” – Psalm 76:7.

What about the would-be assassin of President Ronald Reagan ── John Hinckley Jr.? He had an unhealthy fixation on an underage actress who was playing a 12-year-old prostitute! In 2016, a federal judge ruled that Hinckley could be released from psychiatric care as he was no longer considered a threat to himself or others. After his release, a person wrote on Instagram, “We do believe that ex-cons and people with mental illness can recover, and that we should want them to maintain hope that they can better themselves and earn a chance to rejoin society... but we are living in dangerous times.”

Yes. We are living in dangerous times! Our sick and violent societies, with their out-of-control immoralities, their permissiveness, their spirit of rebellion against authority, their pride, greed, envy, jealousy, and hate ── are producing mass murderers.

A 2025 report by USA Today headlined, “2025 is already on track for an increase in deaths from extremist violence.” A new report from the Anti-Defamation League shows the number of extremist murders this year has already exceeded 2024. 2 

Studies suggest that many mass murderers have experienced childhood trauma, personal crises, or grievances. They may also exhibit warning signs like social isolation, a history of violence, or suicidal tendencies. Access to firearms and exposure to violent ideologies can also play a role. 3 Also, the stereotype of a mass shooter is a white male with a history of mental illness or domestic violence. 

Lee Harvey Oswald, the supposed assassin of President John F. Kennedy, was described as withdrawn and temperamental by several people who knew him.

Giuseppe Zangara, who attempted to assassinate President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, observers at the time and following his execution have discussed his mental state. Arguments have been made that Zangara was mentally ill, incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. 4 

What about ── Charles Guiteau, who shot President James Garfield in the back July 2, 1881 ── As Garfield entered the station, looking forward to a vacation with his wife in Long Branch, Guiteau stepped forward and shot Garfield twice from behind, the second shot piercing the first lumbar vertebra but missing the spinal cord. Guiteau announcing, “I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts.” According to Brian Resnick of The Atlantic, Guiteau “worshiped” the Oneida Communities founder John Humphrey Noyes, with Guiteau once writing that he had “perfect, entire and absolute confidence in [Noyes] in all things.” 5 Guiteau’s own father believed him to have been irresponsible and insane. And, if you’ve ever seen a photograph of him, he had a wild-eyed, crazy look about him. 

Then ── Leon Czolgosz. The American laborer and anarchist who assassinated United States President William McKinley on September 6, 1901. While McKinley innocently extended his hand to Czolgosz, he slapped it aside and shot McKinley twice in the stomach at point-blank range. While many members of the crowd began beating Czolgosz, the gravely wounded McKinley said to them, “Take it easy, boys.” He died 8 days later of gangrene caused by the wounds. Czolgosz was a recluse. He had become impressed after hearing a speech by the anarchist Emma Goldman. 

Also, there was John N. Schrank, who was hallucinating and was obsessed with Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. He ended up shooting Roosevelt at point-blank range. Doctors at the time diagnosed Schrank as having paranoid schizophrenia.

Each of these men possessed a fancied but wrong cause, having emotional feelings of some personal animosity, feeling as if they were a man of destiny ── an instrument of God. Truly, how twisted and perverted in thinking a man can get regarding the LORD God!

John Wilkes Booth had written in his red leather diary, “Our Country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment. The country is not what it was.” Booth was, unknowingly, referring to the wrong god ── he was referring to the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4).

On the day Garfield died, Guiteau wrote to President Chester A. Arthur, “My inspiration is a godsend to you, and I presume that you appreciate it. . . . Never think of Garfield's removal as murder. It was an act of God.”

Each of these assassins mentioned was a stereotypical “white” male with a history of mental illness or domestic violence. Each was a little man ── seized with a spirit of a satanic force, with illusions of a perverted sense of destiny. How can any nation protect us from such people? In this world ── they cannot.

But in Christ’s Kingdom to Come, it will be completely different! The physical men who will be in governmental office and authority will have the LORD God’s Law in their minds, and written on their hearts. “’ No more shall every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ says the LORD.” – Jeremiah 31:31-34. 

Let’s go over a quick study of what we mean by Christ’s Kingdom to Come. God’s living word speaks of three separate ages ── 
  1.  The world, or rather the age, prior to Patriarch Noah and the Great Flood ── also known as the antediluvian period ── was the age that the Apostle Peter referred to as “the world that then existed” – 2 Peter 3:6.
  2. The world after the Great Flood up to now is referred to by the Apostle Paul as “this present evil age” – Galatians 1:4. 
  3. The world to come, or rather the age to come, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke concerning – “ ── and in the age to come.’” – Mark 10:30; see also Matthew 12:32. And, He makes it clear what age He is speaking of ── “’ But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36) nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.’” ── Luke 20:35-36. The Millennial Rule of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Certainly, you’ve read Matthew 24:3, “ … And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”NKJV. The disciples asked Him this two-part question some 1,992 years ago! It is referring not to the end of Earth’s existence like the false prophetess Ellen G. White taught, but rather to the end of this “present evil age.”

In this Personal From… let me give you a very short outline of what this glorious best-selling Book of books says concerning Christ’s Kingdom to Come. 

There is a most wonderful and awesome prophecy that foretold the birth of our Savior ──

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time FORWARD, EVEN FOREVER. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7. 

The same thing was announced to Mary, the mother of Jesus ──

“ …’ Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32) He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33) And He will reign over the house of Jacob FOREVER, and of His kingdom THERE SHALL BE NO END.’” – Luke 1:30-33.

Our Lord Jesus announced, ’ My kingdom is not of this world. …’ – John 18:36. His gospel message was His Kingdom to Come, of which He was born to be the King ── 

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2) As it is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ – Mark 1:1-3.

“ … Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15) and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’ – Mark 1:14, 15. 

And truly ── the definition of a kingdom, “1 archaic: KINGSHIP. 2: a politically organized community or major TERRITORIAL unit having a monarchial form of GOVERNMENT headed by a king or queen.” 6 
  1. A government.
  2. A family unit that grows into a nation with its own government – i.e., the Turkish nation that is primarily composed of the descendants of Esau.
The children of Jacob ── whose name was changed to Israel ── would also grow into a kingdom. The kingdom of Israel.

Millions of people erroneously believe that the Church is the Kingdom of God. Yet, in 1st Corinthians 15:50-53, we clearly read “that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed ── 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [the dead in Christ] will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, …”  

Sadly, the Mormons twist this into their belief ── “he means the works of the flesh and blood,” 7 ── even though this is not at all what the Apostle Paul was speaking about. “Flesh and blood” of the physical body as our present (note vs. 44) – cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice the promise from our Lord Jesus to those who are converted, who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit in this “present evil age.” That when they are resurrected, they will be immortal spirit beings ── in His Kingdom to Come ──

’ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations ── 27) ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ ── as I also have received from My Father.’ – Revelation 2:26-27.

Also ── 

’ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’ – Revelation 3:21. 

Let us forever praise our God Most High, and our Lord Jesus Christ ── God’s living word teaches us that this “present evil age” is soon to come to an end when the SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDS THE TRUMPET ──

“ … And there were loud voices in [the atmosphere], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ, and He shall reign FOREVER AND EVER!’” – Revelation 11:15.

This is the MOST GLORIOUS AND WONDERFUL GOOD NEWS that has ever been announced! □


Bibliography

3 Noriega, D. and Owen, T., Nearly All Mass Shooters Since 1966 Have Had 4 Things in Common, Vice, 19 Nov. 2019. Gillett, T.M., New database compiles common traits of US mass shooters, Jurist news, 5 Feb. 2022.
4 Possley, M., AN INTRIGUING LOOK AT THE MAN WHO TRIED TO KILL FDR, Chicago Tribune archive.today, 18 Oct. 1998. Retrieved 30 April 2025. 
5 Resnick, B., This Is the Brain that Shot President James Garfield, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
6 Webster, M. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition, Merriam-Webster’s Incorporated, 1996, pg. 643.
7. Ante-Nicene Fathers 3 §451, Tertullian 207 AD. See also:

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