What Will Keep You from Entering the Kingdom of God?
Unrighteousness
It seems that at times in Jesus’ teachings those who are originally considered to be “the Lord’s Servant” as the kingdom, maybe the Jews, religious people, etc. But just because people go to church, confess to be Christians, are one of the “chosen people”, etc., does not exude them from passing through the purification process.
Now what it means to cast them into a “furnace of fire” or into “outer darkness” or just “thrown out”, is not clear to me, unless it’s referring to the fires of purification many must pass through. However, it’s surely not the “eternal fires of Hell” that many church people believe in.
These expressions are likely referring to the process of purging and purification that they may have to pass through in the next life they incarnate.
Many babies enter horrible lives in which involves poverty, uncleanness, disease and war, etc. This may be the “Karma” — so-to-speak — they must live through in order to make amends for some of the horrendous things they made others pass through.
The fire, darkness and suffering is obviously metaphorical. How they are already in God’s kingdom in the first place and then are thrown out because of iniquity is also unclear, unless they are servants that have gone back to their old ways and incurred what might be seen to some as “Karma”. Moreover, when the “servants” come to their “Lord” at a certain time, is not clear when that is — probably at one’s “Life Review” after his or her life is over.
For them that persist in evil there is no rest, but they go out and in, and suffer correction for ages, till they are made perfect. But for them that have done good and attained to perfection, there is endless rest and they go into life everlasting. They rest in the eternal.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 69:3)
But what is clear is the fact the suffering is because they “offend” and “do iniquity”, which is likely offenses they have committed against others and iniquity they have done during their lifetimes. An interesting part of this message is “out of his kingdom”. This seems to show that there are those who are already in God’s Kingdom (“children of the kingdom”) who have “returned to their vomit” and are required to pass through the fires of purification and perfection again for that which they have incurred.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things (those) that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 13:41, 42)
“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. (Mat 7:22, 23)
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (Luk 13:25 – 28)
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The reason it seems they are the “servants of their Lord” is because they say, “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?” These are “cast out” because they are workers of iniquity. Though they call him Lord, he says he never knew them.
It almost sounds like some of these tel-evangelists and rich preachers who are insincere in their hearts and are only doing it for wealth and fame. Since there is no such thing as Hell, it is probably referring to those false religionists who “work iniquity” or backslidden servants of the Lord who must reincarnate into a life of suffering to purge them.
The Life Review
The “Life Review” happens after one dies and must review all of the good and bad things he or she has done and discovers what they will receive: rewards for doing good or punishment for doing bad. This seems to be what Paul referred to as the “judgment seat of Christ”.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Co 5:10)
The following verse sounds like it refers to the so-called “Second Coming”, but this is very likely a forgery since the second coming never happened and never will. However, this is more likely referring to after the end of each one’s life, at the “Life Review”, when he or she learns the reward to be received in the next life or whether or not he or she will be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Mat 16:27)
In my view, when one enters into the Kingdom of Heaven, it’s because he or she has “overcome” iniquity and offenses and “shall go no more out”.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out…” (Rev 3:12)
Riches will Keep you from Getting into the Kingdom
One phrase that really stands out is “the deceitfulness of riches”. They say that money can’t bring happiness. Rich people are deceived into thinking that they need more riches to make them happy, but they never reach the happiness they desire. Maybe the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven infers happiness, in part, since it reflects happiness, and being cast out of the Kingdom is reflective of suffering. Unfruitfulness is seen as not doing God’s will which is one of the requirements to enter the Kingdom of God.
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Mt 13:22)
“…How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! … Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mk 10:23, 24)
Hard means difficult, it doesn’t mean impossible. Finally, after so much suffering, the rich realize that their wealth doesn’t bring them happiness, and taking from the poor doesn’t bring them peace, they give it all away to those who are less fortunate. Then they finally have a chance to find the joy they so longed for all those lifetimes and maybe enter into the kingdom of God!
Perfection and Giving to the Poor
Jesus seems to equate perfection for rich people with giving their riches to the poor which is not only works of righteousness but also love. The word “hardly” seems to indicate that though a rich man tries or wants to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, he isn’t quite able to enter.
“…Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” “… a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 19:21 – 23)
Not Having to Be Born Again into Another Life
The reward for forsaking all of one’s earthly possessions, family and his own life is receiving those same things many times over and will enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In my view, “everlasting life” is equal to bliss, joy, happiness and never having to “go out” again to experience being “born again” into another life, in order to make amends, learn needed lessons, and to purge, purify and perfect.
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Mt 19:29)
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out…” (Rev 3:12)
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