Matthew 24, the first nine verses are so striking, because Jesus not only turned his back on Jewish religion, but the disciples followed him. Talk about a constricted , narrow way! This was the pathway to the kingdom of heaven on earth. Then he began to explain what this would mean. Many birth pains were described in the first few verses, Then he got personal with the disciples and all of us, and he says, the kingdom of the world, and this age is going to persecute you, hate you, and kill you, just like they are doing with me. And did that not happen to these disciples? Did this not happened to the Jewish people who followed christ? And has this not happened to all believers and will escalate in these last days? Why does this happen? Because of the name of Jesus. This is not just because we say his name, we write his name we read his name or have symbols of his name on our walls or in our fellowship halls and cathedrals. This means all these things happen to them because of the person of Christ. The same warning was given to the disciples in John 15 in the very context that his life would come and abide in them. I will abide in you and you will abide in me. This is not just to know his name, but this is to know his person, to live by his person, to bring this person into every environment. When you call on the name of Jesus who lives in you, you get his person. Saints to live according to the reality of this person in your life today will bring persecution, hatred, and maybe even death. Oh, Lord, may we stay with you with your person and live by your person in these last days no matter the cost this is what it means to live in the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Matthew 24: 8 tells us that all of these things that are retaliating and fighting against the kingdom of heaven are referred to as birth pains. The attack of many antichrists, Wars, earthquakes, famine, even death these are all to be expected as the earth winds down and the kingdom emerges.. All of these birth pains are like a woman giving birth to a child. This means that there is a desire to produce some thing. That’s something is the manchild we read about in revelation 12. Romans 8 calls this the manifestation of the sons of God. The universe is groaning, and the Holy Spirit is in travail to produce saints that are conformed to the image of Christ. All these things you see happening in last days, these birth pains, are seeing to se Christ emerge out of you and out of this church. Oh, may we groan with this Spirit and let it happen!

"For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it must happen; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:5-7) The gospel of the kingdom of heaven has provoked a response from the kingdoms of this earth. The kingdom of this age is always in opposition to the kingdom of heaven. As Christians, we often try to live in both realms, but it is impossible when the kingdom of heaven has such requirements. The response is similar to Revelation chapter 6 with the first 4 seals. Consider these things will not just happen in the future, but since the ascension of Christ, they have escalated in response to the kingdom of heaven. The king of this earth does not want the kingdom of heaven to succeed. He does not want you to succeed., Therefore, he sends much opposition and many false Christs to distract , confuse, and combat against the kingdom of heaven.

Yes, we know the gospel of grace, but do you know the gospel of the kingdom of heaven? This is what Jesus was preaching to the disciples as they sat there in the mount of olives, and he had been preaching it all along. The disciples needed revelation regarding this kingdom. They followed him and were willing to hear it to see it, and most of them live it. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven is problematic for the king of this earth, who is Satan. It is not easy to live, according to the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, but this is the gospel that is needed in these last days. It’s preaching will bring about the end. It’s preaching is necessary for believers today. Not just to hear it but to live it. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

"Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:13-15) The disciples asked Jesus to reveal the kingdom of heaven. These Jewish men walked away from the traditions and religious mindset with Jesus. They had committed themselves to what he would reveal about the coming kingdom. He says to them. "See that no one leads you astray." (Matthew 24:4). This is an urgent message to all of us. Do not let anyone or anything distract us from the kingdom of heaven. Once we see the kingdom of heaven we are ruined for everything else. It is a constricting path that leads to life. We may be saved, but have we entered the narrow gate and are we walking on the narrow path? Inwardly, we know the kingdom of heaven has such a requirement, but many are led astray by the broad way. Religion says we can have the Christian life and the broad life at the same time. Do not be deceived. The earth will see what it looks like to have Christ on the throne and followers that are solely living for him. This is during the millennium. The kingdom of heaven, however, is inward right now and the church is to be, a lampstand of that kingdom today. Where is such an expression.? This constricted way does not require multiple laws and rules. It is simply finding the reality of Christ within you and living by this Christ- King moment by moment, supplied with his life. Allow the Lord to constrict everything, every thought, every feeling and every decision. This is the way that leads to life. This is the kingdom of heaven on earth today that the world needs to see in these last days.

Forsaking the temple meant forsaking Israel. He opened his arms like a mother hen, receives her chicks, but they would not come underneath this Christ. No! This Jesus is not going to be their Messiah! God has an eternal purpose and unfortunately it includes the rejection of Christ coming from Israel, but we feel the grief as Jesus turns his back and walks toward Gethsemane. The Messiah didn’t come as they expected. What’s your expectations? What if he doesn’t come? According to your expectations? Revelation of the kingdom of heaven shows us what the Lord is going to do and what his expectations are for his constituents. Because of Israel’s rejection, the kingdom of heaven is enlarged according to God’s plan, which not only includes Israel, but also the church, and even the nations of the earth. This is the enlargement of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ is the glory of God. ”Who, being the effulgence of His glory and the impress of His substance and upholding and bearing all things by the word of His power, having made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3) "And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality." (John 1:14) When Jesus left the temple in Matthew 24:1, the glory of God was departing. This was revelation that we all need to see regarding the kingdom of heaven. The disciples struggled, and sought to distract Jesus with the glory of the temple buildings, but if we are going to enjoy the kingdom of heaven, we must leave religion behind. This is what it means to say that entrance into the kingdom of heaven is a narrow gate or a restricted way. We like religion because it offers us Christianity plus the world. The kingdom of heaven is not in that realm. We need this kind of revelation, and when we see the kingdom of heaven the Lord is able to open up to us a fresh understanding of things in last days.

3 groups followed the King: the Disciples, the crowd and the Religious. The Religionists sought to test and discredit Him. They were the gates of hades that seek to destroy this Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Jesus muzzled them and cut them off in chapter 23. They are hypocrites, outwardly pretending to be righteous but filthy inwardly. This is where the King is seeking to establish His kingdom, in you! "For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Luke 17:21) wherever the Savior is, the kingdom is. He was standing in their midst, and they did not even recognize him. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17) It is His life dwelling in us! This is the goal of the kingdom, to rule from within us. Religion will always be outward and rob us of this enjoyment. Do not let this happen in these last days.

We all know Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 says that the church is built upon the revelation that Jesus is the true Messiah, or we could say recognizing that he is the rightful king. Isn’t it interesting that the reality of the Messiah, that the Jewish leaders rejected, is now associated with the church? The church is simply built upon the realization that Jesus is the king who has come down to earth, has brought his kingdom from heaven, and that Jew and Gentile can now enjoy. The kingdom of heaven is initiated through the church! Peter‘s recognition of this Jesus as the King granted him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. What are these keys? These keys have to do with the kingdom, so they are the unlocking of the realization to mankind that they can participate in this kingdom. The first key is when Peter lead the way at Pentecost, where the Spirit of God entered into the believers at Jerusalem. The second key was when Peter went to Cornelius and unlocked the Spirit of God, coming into the Gentiles. This means that the kingdom of heaven has come to the church through the Holy Sprit, imparting the King and the kingdom life into our inner being. Yes, the kingdom of heaven is bigger than just the Jewish people, it includes all those who believe in this king Jesus, and live by him as their life. The gates of Hades will try, but Satan‘s kingdom cannot stand against the kingdom of our Lord, and of our Christ. Amen

Did you know that the entire book of Revelation is actually the presentation of the kingdom of heaven coming down to earth ? Before we look at the prophecies in Matthew 24 and 25, we need a quick background of the book of Matthew. Jesus is presented as the king and much of his ministry is presenting the kingdom of heaven to His constituents. The Kingdom of heaven comes with the presence of Jesus Christ. It extends from the completed ministry of Christ when he was on earth until the end of the millennium and entrance into eternity future. The nature of this kingdom is organic, which means it is all about receiving the inward life of Christ. It was not the Jewish idea of the Messiah’s kingdom, and quite frankly, it’s not our typical view. We tend to look for an outward manifestation of the kingdom as well. The kingdom of heaven is on the earth today secretly, and inwardly. It will be manifested outwardly at his second coming and into the millennium. Appreciating and living in the realm of the kingdom of heaven is important if we are to understand the things that will happen and last days. Our living today should certainly be governed by this organic truth that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven on earth.