Hi Bob,
The resurrection and ascension of Christ was the pivotal point from which the Holy Spirit of Christ was given.
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you.
John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 14:25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
v. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
As JFK said not even John the Baptist will be in the first resurrection.
Luke 7:28 For I say to you, Among those who are born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
No one is saying these characters (vessels) God is using are saved ....It does not make a difference ,the testimony alludes to process... the apostles found the truth in the old "book" they saw the "fulfilment" in the prophecies - if one cant see how all these "characters" are restored to God then I guess thats another topic, for another day
I guess it's comments like that in bold that are confusing in what you are saying. How can they be "restored to God," as in already? They served the OT God the best they could to their grave, they never left God. They will be raised up and brought to know and serve Christ Jesus and that aspect of God only came to be when He was born in the flesh... that was way after they were dead, they never knew Him. When they are raised up in the resurrection of the dead they will be very willing and ready to come to know and serve the Messiah they never knew.
The book of Job is a poem where God addresses the suffering of the righteous... it seems likely that Job's story, like the story of the beggar and the rich man are parables and not about real people.
Also, I take contention with the "there will be no physical kingdom." While Christ and the elect will be spiritual, the rest of the dead will not be. They will be raised to physical bodies
Ezekiel 37:3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”
Ezekiel 37:7-10 "So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” o I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army."
I don't think bob was saying that there will be a "phsyical kingdom" in the sense that it will be a kingdom of men, run by men, etc... there will only be Jesus who will eventually give up all authority to His father. Yes there will be no opposition.
Yes the kingdom will come "down out of heaven from God" (Rev 21:2), it will rule over the world/earth... but surely we don't think the elect will be doing all the daily mundane tasks required in ruling? There have been numerous people throughout history that have been noble, as far as a carnal person can be, but the Scripture does speaks of some of them... they won't be just sitting around twiddling their thumbs after they have been raised back up. These were great men/women of God in their time and they will be put to good use. A couple more Scripture to go along with what Alex is saying here.
Mat 8:11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
v. 26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
v. 27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
v. 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
v. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
v. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."
mercy, peace and love
Kat