INHERITING
THE KINGDOM

Matthew 7:13-15 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

John 10:1-3 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:9-10 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Acts 20:28-32 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

1Corinthians 15:48-50 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

1 John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

Romans 8:13-17 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Galatians 4:5-7 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Hebrews 12:6-8 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

John 10:14-15 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Hebrews 9:15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Ephesians 1:18-21 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Colossians 3:23-25 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Psalm 145:18-20 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The LORD keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.

Hebrews 3:7-11 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness here your fathers tried Me by testing Me, And saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways’; As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

1 Peter 4:17-18 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

1 John 2:14-17 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

THE CITY OR KINGDOM

Matthew 5:18-19 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

2 Peter 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

Colossians 1:10-14 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 25:31-34 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

Ephesians 5:5-8 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

Colossians 3:5-6 "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them."

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Hebrews 12:15-17 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Luke 22:28-30 "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 21:2-8 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Galatians 5:16-21 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 22:12-15 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7
Christ commended the Ephesian Christians in many areas. They started out well. They had only one problem. They had "fallen" and "left their first love." They are told to "repent and do the deeds you did at first." If they didn't repent He would "remove their lampstand." There are many Christians "in the dark" today because of disobedience and laziness. If they repent before the lampstand is removed and become "overcomers," they will inherit the kingdom. If they did not repent, they could not “eat from the tree of life,” which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11
Smyrna is known as the persecuted faithful church. They are not told to repent, but continue "to be faithful unto death." (Being martyred for their testimony will earn them a crown of life. This crown, worn for eternity, communicates to everyone in heaven how this person lived their mortal life.) If they continue to be faithful and overcome, they will not be hurt by the second death, but will receive eternal life.

Revelation 2:11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17
In the Pergamum church there was some obedience. There were also some problems with bad doctrine; the teaching of Balaam, (Num. 22-25) which was similar to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. These Christians with bad doctrine were teaching other Christians to "stumble" by eating "things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality." Notice how Jesus is going to fight against them with the sword of His mouth if they don't repent. However, if they overcome , He will give some of the hidden manna, or in other words food of the righteous to be nourished forever (eternal life), and a white stone (symbol of good fortune), and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Revelation 2:17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29
In the church of Thyatira, Jesus says their last works were better than the first, but He still had things against them. It says that a woman Jezebel, was leading them to idolatry. This could be a woman’s actual name, or a reference to the wife of Ahab in the old testament, who lead him and his people into idolatry. Verse 26 says: "and he who overcomes. (remains separated from idolatry), and he who keeps My deeds to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations." But if you do not overcome (stop running the race), you will not rule and reign with Christ, the "Morning Star". (Rev 22:16, 2 Tim. 2:11-13).

Revelation 2:26-28 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

Sardis Revelation 3:1-6
The Sardis church had a name that they were alive, but they were dead. Jesus says: "You have a few people in Sardis who have not SOILED their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy." Only a few Christians in the Sardis church will be honored. Only the overcomer’s who come back with Christ to rule and reign are the ones clothed in white, and Christ says, “I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” . The saints that finish the race (overcome) will have a white garment and their name will not be BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE. Those "blotted out" will not having access to the tree of life or the city, and Christ will tell them “I never knew you.” (Rev. 21:27, 22:14-15,19, Matt.10:32,33).

Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Philadelphia Revelation 3:7-13
The Philadelphia church is an example of the kind of Christians all should be striving to be, not only as a church, but personally and nationally. This can only happen if we are OBEDIENT to THE KING, JESUS CHRIST (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15). Jesus states that these saints "kept My word," that is they obeyed the whole Bible, and did not use "grace," or "not gifted" as excuses for disobedience. And they had not "denied My name;" they were evangelistic, not ashamed to witness and share the gospel of their Savior. Their rewards are that they will be a "pillar in the temple," having the name of the Father, the new Jerusalem, and Jesus new name written on them (eternal life). These will not face the “hour of testing” (tribulation) but will be ruptured and participate in the marriage supper with Christ.

Revelation 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22
The last church, which also typifies the end time church, is the Laodicean church. They were just like the many of today's so-called born-again believers, and Jesus has absolutely nothing good to say about them. They are rich with material goods, and yet were spiritually bankrupt. He is telling them to seek after spiritual riches and repent of their materialism, so that they could overcome, and be granted permission to sit down with Christ on His throne, as He also overcame and sat down with His Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

As we can see, there are two groups of professing Christians in the Churches. There are those that overcome, and inherit the Kingdom of God, and those who do not persevere, and fall short. When we see all of the promises to the overcomers, it is clear that these are the ones who will inherit the Kingdom of God, and therefore the others will not.

1)  To eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

2)  To not be hurt by the second death.

3)  Given hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written on it

4)  Given AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS, and the morning star.

5)  Be clothed in white garments, and not erased from the book of life

     To have his name confessed before The Father and His angels.

6) Will not face the hour of testing

7)  To sit down with Christ on His throne

PARABLE OF TEN VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' "Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Revelation 19:7-9 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he *said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he *said to me, "These are true words of God."

Some who teach the doctrine of “once saved always saved” put the cart before the horse. While a born again believer is assured of a place in Heaven, a common mistake people make is claiming their salvation before they have it. If you truly have been regenerated, you are an adopted child of God, and guaranteed an inheritance in the kingdom. You will still face the judgment seat of Christ, and receive recompense or reward based on your works, but will not be cast into the lake of fire.

2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

REWARDS

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1. Praise, honor and glory 1 Peter 1:7
2. Those who have insight will shine brightly Daniel 12:3
3. Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars

Daniel 12:3
4. Dine at the banquet prepared by the Lord of hosts Isaiah 25:6
5. Recline at the table and be served by the Master Luke 12:37
6. Honored by God John 12:26; 1 Samuel 2:30
7. Honored before the angels of God Luke 12:8; Revelation 3:5
8. Imperishable crown 1 Corinthians 9:25
9. Crown of righteousness 2 Timothy 4:8
10. Crown of Life James l:12
11. Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4
12. Crown of joy & exultation-those who you led to Christ 1 Thess. 2:19
13. Eat from the Tree of Life Revelation 2:7
14. Not hurt by the second death Revelation 2:11
15. Receive hidden manna Revelation 2:17
16. Receive a white stone with a new secret name Revelation 2:17
17. Authority over the nations, rule with a rod of iron Revelation 2:26,27
18. Receive the morning star Revelation 2:28
19. Walk with the Lord in white Revelation 3:4,5
20. Secured name in the ledger book of life Revelation 3:5
21. Become a pillar in the Temple of God and you won't go out , Revelation 3:12
22. Have the name of God, Christ's new name. The name of the Holy City, New Jerusalem written upon you Revelation 3:12
23. Dine with Christ Revelation 3:20
24. Sit with Christ on His Throne Revelation 3:21
25. Eternal weight of glory beyond comparison 2 Corinthians 4:17
26. Participation in 1000 year kingdom 2 Peter 1:11; Matthew 5:1-20
27. Heir with Christ Romans 8:17
28. Comforted by God Matthew 5:4
29. Satisfied by God Matthew 5:6
30. Receive mercy from God James 2:13; Matthew 5:7
31. See God Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:16
32. Wedding gown, fine linen Revelation 19:7,8
33. Marriage to the Lamb 2 Corinthians 11:2
34. Return with Christ dressed in fine linen riding on a white horse Revelation 19:14
35. Entrance into the Holy City, New Jerusalem Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:14
36. Rest Hebrews 4:10,11
37. A better resurrection Hebrews 11:35
38. A mansion (a dwelling place) John 14:2