The Kingdom of God is at hand

 by Leonard V Johnson

Greetings, my friends, on this beautiful morning, this is Leonard V Johnson,  with the greatest news that has been brought to you ── that ‘the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’ 

In this article, I continue with two important subjects. Repentance and the glorious soon-coming kingdom of God. 

So, as I’ve asked in previous articles ── why does the LORD God (the Elohim, the family of God – which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) allow wars? Why does the LORD God allow suffering and death? Poverty and unhappiness, and the many terrible tribulations that occur around the world? 

Surely, thousands of people ask those questions, and they reason amongst themselves that if God is an all-powerful being, He certainly could stop it all. Right? And that if God is a compassionate and loving God, and truly loves us, then He wouldn’t want us to suffer. Right? So, why doesn’t God stop it all? Why does He allow all the unhappiness and tragedy to occur to humanity? 

Now… there was a time in the United States of America when we didn’t have all the grave troubles that we are facing today. The abject poverty, the terrorist attacks, the murders, the filth and squalor permeating throughout our major cities. Historically, I think we could agree that the United States was significantly a better nation during the 1940s, and after World War II, and on through the ‘50s. Because there was a time when you would look around the world and see “third world countries” in filth-riden poverty and squalor, now they are more developed than ever, and we have the filth and squalor in our major cities!

In this article, I’m going to give you the answer to these questions ── from God’s living word. 

Mankind allotted 6,000 Years 

It’s truly because the LORD God is allowing mankind to ── and this goes back to the beginning of God’s living word-- to think for ourselves as to what is right and what is wrong, the “knowledge of good and evil.” Because, after all, we are Free Moral Agents. The LORD God will never force anyone to live Their Way. The LORD God will not, as they like to say, “cram His religion down your throat.”

Truly, the only way that the LORD God could prevent wars, sufferings, unhappiness ── and even sicknesses and diseases ── would be for us to lose our Free Moral Agency. For the LORD God to force us to obey and to live Their Way. Really, the only way that the LORD God could prevent it all would be to force us against our will. Wouldn’t you agree?

Mankind has a carnal mind. A mind that is “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). We are naturally hostile against the LORD God. We are naturally antagonistic against the LORD God and everything that God’s living word tells us. In the beginning of mankind’s creation, the LORD God offered man the Way to peace ── true and lasting peace (Genesis 2:8-9). Today, this world would have been a completely different world – a world “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea” – cf. Habakkuk 2:14.

Again, the LORD God is allowing mankind to do as man thinks is right and “there is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death [speaking of the second death].” – Proverbs 14:12. Sadly, not very people appear to believe in a second death – an eternal death. So, the only way that the LORD God could prevent all the catastrophes, the tribulations, the miseries, and sufferings would be to prevent mankind from doing what we are doing. And man wants to do it ── as my own wife famously says to me, “It feels good being bad.” Surely a hang-up from her youth ── and the LORD God does want to prevent mankind from doing it. But the LORD God would have to prevent mankind from thinking for themselves to do it. Mankind would no longer have free will. And, apparently ── and I actually didn’t realize this ── there are arguments now concerning free will vs determinism.

Now… the LORD God placed mankind on Earth for a purpose. And, if mankind didn’t have free will, then it would defeat the whole purpose that the LORD God has planned out… from the beginning. Yet, here we are on Earth not wanting ‘to retain God in our knowledge,’ men that abhor the righteous commandments of God.

And here we are ── beginning in ancient Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10) ── having built up a society on Earth that not only now includes businesses and commerce, and politics, and governments by man over man, but also having built up religions. And, all these religions are man-made and hand-tailored. And, as our Lord and Savior Jesus said, many of our peoples are worshiping Him in vain. ‘In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ The doctrines that are in these worldly churches are doctrines of man.

Yes. All these religions were created by man. They have “done away” with the holy and righteous Law of God, and all these preachers will tell you that God’s Law is done away! And so our Lord Jesus said in the Book of Mark chapter 7, and verse 13 ── “’ making the word of God of no effect THROUGH YOUR TRADITION WHICH YOU HAVE HANDED DOWN, And many such things you do.’” And indeed, that is exactly what they are doing. 

O’, mankind is so blinded! We just don’t want to see. We want to go our own way and do our own thing, and yet, somehow, we want God to turn it around so that our way brings great results. The LORD God isn’t going to do that. Because, until we live, think, and act, and make our decisions based upon the LORD God’s Way ── we are on our own.

It is in love that our LORD God has left us free to decide whether we will have all these things ── the prosperity, peace, good health, happiness, joy, and a full and abundant life. Because the LORD God lets us decide whether that is the way we want to live and the kind of results we want, or we live our own way. The way that brings us failure, conflict, sickness, sadness, and sorrow, a life that is not fulfilling.

The LORD God said, “’ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.’” – Deuteronomy 30:19. 

Sadly, as I have witnessed these nearly 5½ decades, mankind uses any power that he gets his hands on, and he turns it into destruction. As I have spoken of the Tsar Bomba ── by far the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested. And what are we doing with them? Nuclear proliferation. In fact, the U.S. has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russia in response to provocative statements made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. And this I tell you, my friends, is not the way to true peace and happiness. Because it’s not peace through our own strength; peace comes through the LORD God’s strength. 

“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

“ …He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” – Proverbs 18:30. 

When we take hold of the LORD God, They are our strength and peace. 

And, briefly, the LORD God gave us health laws ── the Way to help keep ourselves healthy. The LORD God planned and created a human body, the greatest and most marvelous creation that exists on this planet! Yes. Look at some of the most amazing things that mankind has invented. The radio, television, airplane, automobile, helicopter, radar, the space shuttle, the International Space Station! The list is endless.

Truly, the greatest and most marvelous creation by the LORD God that exists on the face of this earth is the human body and our mind! This is the greatest of His creations ── for “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” – Psalm 139:14.

And for nearly 6,000 years now, the LORD God has permitted mankind to do as we please. And what have we done? We’ve only brought misery, filth and squalor, poverty, sicknesses, fear, worry, and everything wrong upon ourselves. And as I had mentioned once, we’ve not only spread all this around the world, but we are now reaching out and spreading it to other worlds! There is approximately 500,000 pounds of garbage on the Moon. Approximately 15,694 pounds of garbage on Mars. There is a substantial amount of space trash on Venus. And the LORD God is allowing this. For nearly 6,000 years mankind has been allowed to do as we please, and mankind has but brought what man believes is right and what is wrong ── “The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” – Isaiah 59:8.

A Coming Day of Darkness, and not light

Soon ── very soon; and I dare say, my friends, that this will be within the next five years, and I am not setting dates ── the LORD God is going to step in. And I tell you it’s a whole lot sooner than we might think. 

Turning to the Book of Revelation, we see something major that is going to happen. “’ Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2) with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’”            

That is, the kingdoms of the earth that have been “fornicating” with this great religious system, along with these religions, or rather this great universal church. And certainly, here are all these worldly churches that make this world their world and the world of their god! Meaning, the god of this present evil age ── not our true Creator God, but rather Satan the Devil. And they all have gotten into bed with this world’s politics. Our Lord and Savior has nothing to do with it! And here are the leaders of our governments who are committing fornication, and who live deliciously with this religious system.

And they shall… “ … weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning.” 

This is what’s going to happen to this great universal church and her religious system, my friends, that has deceived many people ── that made her people believe that they’re already saved, when they know not the way of salvation! May Almighty God have mercy on them. It’s over time for someone to come forward and shout out, to cry out, the living truth of the Eternal One in this 11:59 hour! 

So, the people of the earth will “ ...‘standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, …’” And, Babylon means confusion – and our peoples around the world are certainly confused and writhing in poverty, squalor, fear, anguish, sufferings, sicknesses, and premature death.

“ … ‘that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’” 

And so, we come to the commercial aspect of her that is completely tied to this whole world. 

“’ And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore.’”

A universal religious system that has supported and engaged in abominable things on Earth ever since its inception, that has sold its merchandise to the merchants of the world. 

Let me give you an example. Christmas. In a nutshell, the celebration of this worldly holiday, in truth, began and originated from ancient Babylon under the ruler Nimrod – the very one who began to be “a mighty hunter [against] the LORD” cf. Genesis 10:8-9. The very name Nimrod in Hebrew means “he rebelled.” He would go on to marry his own mother, Semiramis. After his untimely death, his wife/mother, Semiramis, propagated the doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She would later become the “Queen of Heaven,” and Nimrod, under various names, became the “divine son of heaven.” He would become the false Messiah, the son of Baal, the sun-god. In this Babylonian system, the “Mother and Child.” It has become the greatest merchandising season of the entire year and is kept alive by basically two things. 1) This world’s universal Church and her daughter churches. 2) By the advertising of all the merchants during its season ── and in many cases, months prior. It is not and never has been the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not anything that our Lord Jesus’ Church in the 1st century AD ever celebrated. 

Also, a very early prototype of the modern Christmas tree is mentioned in the 10th chapter of the Book of Jeremiah. Were you aware of this? 

Do you believe that God’s living word ── the very word ‘that proceeds from the mouth of God’ carries any authority over you and yours? Or, do you say, “Well… that’s your interpretation of what you think the Bible says. Here’s the way I see it.” So, why do we have wars? Why do we suffer, get sick, and die prematurely? Why is there so much unhappiness throughout the world? Because the LORD God allows you to say, “Well… here’s the way I see it.” Instead of seeing it the LORD God’s Way.

Why do they celebrate the birth of the human Jesus ── when they won’t even accept the glorious gospel Message that He brought? And, there are certainly three things that are in connection with our Lord Jesus Christ ──

• His birth. His human life, and the very purpose of His life. 
• His death, to pay the penalty of our sins. Why do they try and accept this, without heeding and obeying the Ten Commandments and the New Covenant that He came preaching? 
• His glorious resurrection and His present office as our High Priest at the very right-hand of God the Father in the upper heavenly realms for us all.

Let’s continue here. 

Yes. The merchants of the Earth are going to weep and mourn over this great universal religious system when she is utterly destroyed. My friends, “ …’ for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12) merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13) and cinnamon and INCENSE, …’”   

14) The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15) The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16) and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17) For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea [the large commercial vessels that traverse the oceans with merchandise], stood at a distance 18) and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’” 

So again ── why has the LORD God allowed all the unhappiness, the sufferings, the untold wars? Because the LORD God has allotted mankind 6,000 years. And I say as our beloved Apostle Paul said, “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’” – Ephesians 5:14. 

Sadly, so says God’s living word, mankind as a whole will not awaken, will not begin to see the light of Christ – (cf. Revelation 9:20).

Notice here, in the Book of Malachi chapter 4, that the LORD God would send a messenger (John the Baptist, Matthew 11:13-14), bearing a Message from God ── 

Verse 1 – “’ For behold, the day is coming, …’”

Now, “the day” – that phrase, “the day,” “that day,” the majority of the time it is referring to a future prophetic event which is called in the Bible – the Day of the Lord. It is a multi-year period – it’s not just one day – of about 3½ years, in which God Almighty and Jesus Christ place upon the people of this earth a horrible ordeal. And this is still the future. Is it five years away? I don’t know. Is it ten years away? I don’t know. But it will occur. Because the living word of God says that it will. And, it’s in our future. There is a really good chance that this will occur in the lifetime of most people like you who are reading, watching, or listening to this.

IT'S IMPORTANT and IT’S SERIOUS! 

“For behold, the day is coming, …” mentioned here in the Book of Malachi. An event which will affect the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and her Commonwealth Nations – the vast majority of which are or were territories of the British Empire. And eventually it will overflow to all nations, countries, and provinces on the face of the earth! A terrible period of testing and trial, and divine punishment.

“ … ‘Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch.’” 

Meaning – their parents, their grandparents, will be destroyed. And their children and grandchildren will be destroyed. A most powerful and heart-wrenching statement. And, nine of the so-called minor prophets – mention in some form or another the Day of the Lord. 

Verse 2 – is much more optimistic ── “’ But to you who fear [and even respect] My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; …’”     

Now, to whom is that word “you” addressing? We pray that it is you. 

“The Sun of Righteousness” – our living and eternal Jesus Christ! Which is His return and the establishment of the kingdom of God on this earth!

“ … ‘and you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.’” 

Now, this certainly isn’t the example most of us would have given. But, you get the point. Where a little baby calf is born in a stall, and then it grows up to some 1,390 pounds! So, we can heal, we can grow! God Almighty and our Lord Jesus Christ are Healers! Many chapters of the living word of the Eternal One simply concentrate on the many miracles that Jesus Christ performed. And that He will perform again! And that we – as servants of Jesus Christ – will have a hand in performing yet into the future. We look forward to that.

Verse 3 is speaking about a time after the resurrection of the saints. “’ You …’” speaking to the people of God and of Jesus Christ “ … ‘shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day [the Day of the Lord] that I do this,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”  

There is coming a time when all of the wicked institutions of this world – and we’re talking about wicked rulers and despots, governments, church philosophies, church organizations. All of it will be destroyed and trampled. 

Verse 4 – “’ Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.’” 

The LORD God is talking about the Ten Commandments.

And then verse 5 – and recall back in the Book of Luke also, chapter 1 and verse 17 we’re told that John the Baptist would “ ... ’turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”  

The Day of the LORD is the single most prophesied event in God’s living word. Old Testament and New Testament. No other prophecy even comes close to it. And most people have no idea what this phrase “the day of the LORD” means. But, again, it’s talking about that time, just before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to this earth – along with God the Father, the holy angels, and the resurrected saints. In which our Lord Jesus is going to punish a sin-saturated, sick world. For their rebellion against the LORD God! 

Dear friends, I hope and pray that your eyes and ears will be opened on this. Why don’t you click on the link for our free PDF Bible Study ── “Faith Required For Salvation.” I want to tell you, billions of professing Christians are deceived and sadly have no salvation. They’re trusting in someone, trusting in something, that is a pure fabrication and a fake ── if I may so frankly speak. Please, be sure to read today our free PDF Bible Study “Faith Required For Salvation.” 

So, until next time, and next article, have a most wonderful day. God Bless & God Speed! □