What are you waiting for? Heaven and earth have already passed away. You cannot see a spiritual kingdom with physical eyes. We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 The kingdom cannot be observed, it is in you. Luke 17:20 Unless you're a born again Christian, you will not be able to see the kingdom. John 3:3
Christians today want to see a physical king and a physical kingdom when Scripture teaches that the kingdom is spiritual. Those that look for a physical kingdom are missing the point of Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" See also Luke 13:35
Until they say "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," they will not see Jesus as who He is, their Lord and Savior. Christ says they would die in their sin unless they believe that He is the "I AM." John 8:24
There are many blessings one will receive when you see Him in His spiritual kingdom.
In this next passage many are taught this to be
physical and miss the whole point of the kingdom.
John 14:1-7
The Way, the Truth, and the Life to the kingdom
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My
Father's house (kingdom) are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself (the kingdom); that where I am, there
you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to
Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me. (the kingdom) "If you had known Me, you would have
known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." We can
only see Him in the kingdom. Notice "receive you to Myself" is placing the
Christian in Him, which is the kingdom.
Christ is speaking of His Father's House, His Spiritual Kingdom, The New Temple, His People, Bride and Church. It is The New Covenant World/ New Heavens and New Earth in which Righteousness reigns and where God walks with man spiritually. Notice at Christ's coming, He takes His people to Himself. Where is Christ? With His people here on earth now!
The world will not see Jesus but Christians will. It is with spiritual eyes that are given to God's people by His grace that they are able to see God. Where is God's new home? In Christians which is the body of Christ, The kingdom, The New Jerusalem, The Church. See John 14:15-31 and John 16:5-24 Christ will send The Holy Spirit to give believers spiritual eyes to see Jesus and The Kingdom.
When people make Scripture out to be physical where it shouldn't be then they never SEE its true meaning. Seeing can be used to perceive in an understanding manner. Many times its a figure of speech, Do you SEE? Did I ask you to look at something physical with your eyes? No, The Scripture is no different. In Scripture, seeing visually is not always interpreted as perceiving optically.
Isaiah 19:1 - This is an apocalyptic description of God judging Egypt. Nobody saw with their eyes God riding in on a cloud to Egypt. They did "see" Egypt getting judged.
Matt 24:30 Jesus refers to Daniel 7.13-14 which is a vision of the ascension of Christ see Matt 26:64 also. There's something most Christians miss here. He is not coming to earth. He is approaching The Ancient of Days. The phrase "coming on the clouds" is an apocalyptic phrase used to describe God's presence, judgment, and glory. Why would the tribes of the earth or land mourn? Because God has sent His armies, The Roman armies to destroy the apostate Israel. This is His Parousia "Second Coming". This is the sign how they saw Him. Jerusalem destroyed is the sign that Christ is at the right hand of Almighty God.
Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Jesus tells his disciples that some of them would not die, and they would see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27
Jesus told the high priest and Jewish leaders that they would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of The Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. Did they see Him physically or did they see His acts? They saw that Jesus was at the right hand of The Mighty One when Jerusalem was being demolished.
Let the reader understand in the following verses
refers to reading the prophecies in Daniel to see how they are being fulfilled
in the events related to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:15-16 "So when you see the
abomination of desolation spoken of by the
prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Mark 13:14 "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he
ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea
flee to the mountains.
Luke 21:20-21 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains,
Jesus told His disciples (not us in the 21st century) to flee to the mountains
to avoid persecution. Let me ask you this, If this was going to be the end of
the world what good would a mountain do?
In Matthew 23:37-39 and Luke 13:34-35 - Jesus pronounces judgment upon Jerusalem by saying their house is left to them desolate. The Jews would not see Jesus spiritually, comprehensively until they receive Christ as their Lord Savior.
God gives ears to hear or not and eyes to see or
not, physically and spiritually. In regards to spiritual matters, not all see
and hear because God is sovereign in giving spiritual ears to hear or eyes to
see.
Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or
deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Exodus 4:11
Further scripture showing understanding, how to see and hear. Matthew 13:13-15; Mark 4:11-13; Mark 7:18-1; Mark 12:10-12; Luke 8:9-10; Luke 9:44-45; Isaiah 6:8-10; Acts 28:25-27; John 12:36-41.
Let' answer a few questions. How is it that Moses was able to see Him? How were the disciples and the apostate Jews able to see Him coming on the clouds? Is seeing always with the eye?
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
If the definition is not limited to physical sight then yes, one can see Him who is invisible. In Scripture "to see" is not always recognizing something physical with one's eyes.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Notice invisible dominions.)
1 Timothy 1:17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
So, God is invisible. Scripture tells us He's Spirit and light. So how can we see Him? Answer: By having a pure heart. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
One must be born again by the grace of God to get a pure heart. Otherwise he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is perceived spiritually. It came in power and great glory before the last of Christ's disciples died and at the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple.
Matthew 16:27-28 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."
Jesus said that some of His disciples would still be alive to see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. Either it happened or Jesus is a liar! No worries, Christ is not a liar like most futurists Christians make Him. He returned and some of them saw Him coming in His Kingdom. see John 21:20-23 for this fact.
"COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN" is an apocalyptic description of God's judgment, presence, glory. The judgment upon Jerusalem was CHRIST APPEARING A SECOND TIME. See Heb 9:28 Those in Christ experience His presence NOW! And have no worry of some future scary tribulation.
Matthew 24 has been fulfilled. All events were to
happen in that 1st century "this generation" that Christ spoke of in Matt 24:34
"Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things
take place."
Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him (the high priest), "You have said so. But I tell
you, from now on you will See THE SON OF MAN seated at the right hand of Power
and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." Same thing in Mark 9:1; Mark 13:26;
Mark 14:62; Luke 9:27; Luke 21:27
The saints and the apostate Jews saw The Son of Man Coming in the clouds of heaven with great glory and power to judge apostate Israel. The sign that Christ was in heaven, vindicated as The Messiah, God, Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he is COMING WITH THE
CLOUDS, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM, and ALL THE
TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL WAIL ON ACCOUNT OF HIM. Even so. Amen.
Christ came in the clouds. Every eye saw Him, even those who pierced Him. Who
pierced Jesus? The apostate Jews crucified Christ. Acts 2:23, 36, 4:10. Not you
or I, like some teach.
Revelation 1:7 and Matt 24:30 are tied together. It happened in that 1st century "this generation" just as Jesus said it would. Therefore, this Revelation passage, being the same subject happened. People over look Revelation which clearly says it was all near, coming soon, at hand, shortly come to pass etc. See Time statements
Scripture teaches that Saul/Paul never seen Jesus
physically but it does teach that Paul saw The Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our
Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
Did Paul see Jesus in physical form? No. Did Paul see Jesus? Yes. For more see
Physical
vs. Spiritual
Faith is a gift from God. Without faith we do not have the eyes to see Him. For more about the Kingdom