REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND
Mystery of the Kingdom of God
You people that are teaching and preaching that Jesus is coming back here and set up a Kingdom are preaching false doctrine and misleading good honest people. I am taking this matter to heart. I am going to set forth in this little book to prove my statement is true. Daniel 2nd Ch., 44th verse: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
This was speaking of the four world-wide kingdoms that ruled in succession before the days of Christ. The Chaldean Kingdom, Persian Medes Kingdom, Grecian Kingdom, and the Roman Kingdom which was ruling when Jesus was born. Luke 2nd Ch., 1st verse: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." You know according to what you see now that the world-wide kingdom has been destroyed. There was a natural kingdom that ruled the entire world when Jesus was born. There is no natural kingdom ruling the whole world at this present time. There isn't but one world-wide kingdom now and this is a spiritual kingdom. This kingdom came on the day of Pentecost and it will stand forever.
You will find in Luke 11th Ch., 21st-22nd verses, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." You know this strong man has been bound and his spoil has been divided. The spiritual kingdom is what did the job.
In Matthew 3rd Ch., 1st-2nd verses, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Ju-dae'-a, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Is at hand" doesn't mean two thousand years in the future. Matthew 4th Ch., 17th verse, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mark 1st Ch., 14th-15th verses, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into 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 ye, and believe the gospel."
When you honest people read what I have to say don't you begin to try and hold on to the theory that the kingdom is yet to come in the future, because this is false doctrine.
Luke 16th Ch., 15th-16th verses: "And he saidth unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
If you are honest at heart you are bound to confess that what I have written is the truth. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Luke 17th Ch., 20th-21st verses, reads like this: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
It is a strange thing to me that with the word of God to go by so many people that claim to be right are going contrary to the word. The Pharisees are still looking for the kingdom to come. They are looking for something that can be seen with their natural eye. You can't see the kingdom of God; it doesn't come by observation. It is within the saints of God. All you can see is the fruits they bare. The real saint of God abstains from all the appearances of evil. You know there aren't many on this earth that do this. This is the reason there won't be many saved. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it.
St. John 18th Ch., 36th verse: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." I know all you people that have your life in the natural kingdom would like for Jesus to rule a natural kingdom. But His kingdom is not of this world. He told you He was no more in the world. You people that are looking for a natural kingdom to be ruled by Jesus Christ are sadly mistaken. You will accept the man of sin as your lord. As you will find in II Thessalonians 2nd Ch., 4th verse, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
Jesus is not coming back to this earth until after this man of sin brings all false religion under his rule. The Lord will destroy him by the sword of his mouth and by the brightness of His coming.
Romans 14th Ch., 17th verse, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." The Lord has told you in His word that the Holy Ghost was not a natural thing. Are you righteous? If so, this is what the Holy Ghost is. Have you got peace? If you have, this is what the Holy Ghost is. Have you got joy? This is what the Holy Ghost is.
If you haven't got these things, don't claim to have the Holy Ghost. The Lord never sent the Holy Ghost into the world to trouble you, but to comfort you. Jesus said, "Whatsoever house you enter in, if the son of peace be there let your peace remain, and heal the sick that are therein. If the son of peace be not there let your peace return."
St. John 14th Ch., 27th verse: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid."
You people surely can see from all these things I have written that I am trying to show honest people the truth. I can't make you believe, but trust you will consider what I have said and the Lord will give you understanding.
*All verses are from the King James Version Bible.
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From the Little Book Titled:
NOTICE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
By C.T. Pratt - Founder of the Church of God of the Union Assembly
written in 1948.