THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN
IS AT HAND
Biblical Translations Used
Unless otherwise specified, Bible
quotes in this book are taken from the TANAKH, a new
translation published in 1985, according to the Traditional Hebrew
Text.
Next in frequency used is The
Amplified Bible published in 1962, according to both the Greek
and Hebrew scriptures. The Amplified Bible offers a range
of nuances in meaning that are given side by side for the reader’s
own discretion.
Next in frequency used are the
traditional King James Version and also the Septuagint,
the Greek-based text from which Jesus studied, as told in the
Urantia Book.
This spectrum of translations has
been crucial in obtaining the full range of possible
interpretations that are consistent with the meaning of the
original texts.
About Prophecy
Isaiah tells us that God’s ways are
not man’s ways. God’s words, the words of true prophecy, are also
not like man's words. God’s words start as small seedlings and
over time grow, give off branches, form buds, and finally, burst
into bloom. Just so, the word "Israel" starts out as the tiny seed
of one man named Abraham, but through the ages, the word "Israel"
grows, changes, and finally bursts forth into the brotherhood of
all mankind.
Words of prophecy often have past,
present, and future connotations. Each word demands tremendous
respect and study of all the contexts of its usage. Reverence for
the source of prophecy is the key to its study, for it is God who
must lead our minds into the understanding of what He himself has
inspired? Without the indwelling spirit there would be no prophecy
and no interpretation of prophecy. But reason and the scientific
method are also critical for the elimination of error, and for the
building of a strong foundation from whence inspired intuition may
leap safely. Therefore, both reason and faith are necessary for
the complete appreciation of prophecy, just as they are for the
full appreciation of all other phenomena.
About the Author
This book is an outgrowth of a
lifelong search for truth. My formal education is in science. My
religious education is the result of three books: The Urantia
Book, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, and
the Bible (in chronological order). This book is woven out
of these three strands.
As I knew nothing about prophecy
interpretation, this book grew out of an intensive study of The
Old Testament prophets, 1Enoch, the Dead Sea Scrolls,
and The Complete Works of Emily Dickinson. Many of the ideas that
emerged from this study were wholly foreign and surprising to me
as they may also be to you. For example, I believed, as a
scientist, that predictive prophecy was impossible. The first time
I read the Old Testament prophets, I understood practically
nothing. I could not see how I would ever comprehend those
utterances. Slowly, I realized that I had overlooked this source
as a result of many, deeply ingrained prejudices and assumptions
that have turned out to be false in the light of further analyhsis.
And so, little by little, step by step, the meanings and values
emerged for me from the scriptural texts.
This book has been in circulation
both in manuscript and electronic form since the end of 1999,
almost four years ago now. The true test of prophecy is the march
of time and the historical events that are unfolded inour lives.
So far the tenets and explanations provided by this book are
passing the test of time with remarkable accuracy. I continue to
believe that The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand offers
the most complete understanding of our troubled world that exists
today. I feel confident that these truths will stand the future
test of time because they belong not to me but to God Himself. I
also believe that They have been given to man for his edification,
guidance, and use. As always, each of us must decide whether or
not we avail ourselves of the information that He has so
generously provided.
About The
Urantia Book
Some of this book refers to concepts
and facts contained in The Urantia Book. TheUrantia Book
was published in 1955. Its origin remains a mystery. After twenty
years of research on this remarkable text, I consider its
information to be authoritative and of the highest quality
possible. It is available on the Web at www.urantiabook.com in a
searchable format. It is also available in some bookstores and
some libraries, as well as through the Urantia Foundation and the
Urantia Fellowship, its two supporting networks of readers.
The Urantia Book is
embraced at present by only a few, but I believe it will
eventually be universally known and studied. If we are tempted to
reject The Urantia Book based on its present lack of
popular and scholarly success, we should remember that Jesus
himself,
a divine revelation
of unsurpassable magnitude, was
rejected and unrecognized, except for a very small contingent of
devoted followers who, after his death, set out and changed the
world. If Jesus were among us today, would our media portray him
fairly? Would our politicians embrace him? Would we ourselves
accept him in the face of negative media coverage, slander, and
rejection by the power elite? Would our scholars predict his
coming or recognize his value? Truth is always a threat to those
who use power to further their own ends. Truth dispels the
confusion of deceit and lays it bare for all to see. Is this world
ready for that? Are we?
For our specific purposes here,
suffice it to say that The Urantia Book contains
much new information regarding Jesus and his gospel of the
"kingdom of heaven," as well as the mysterious Melchizedek, the
"priest of the Most High" in Genesis. This new information
has enabled an expanded understanding of sacred scripture and
prophecy, which is the subject matter of this book. The
uninitiated reader should be able to understand this book even
with no prior familiarity with the somewhat alien concepts and
terminology of the Urantia Book. In fact, such a reader sill come
to understand much about the Urantia Book as a result of reading
this book.
About this Book
This book presents a new and unified
interpretation of the Old Testament Prophets, the Dead
Sea Scrolls, 1Enoch, and the Urantia Book. As
these interpretations were uncovered, it became clear that they
were relevant for today’s world.
I hope this book will be a firsthand
experience of reading original prophecy as well as an
interpretation thereof. Toward that goal, much original scripture
is included so that it can be read along with my interpretations
that follow. It is always my goal to let the reader examine the
facts and to decide for him or herself the meanings of the verses
presented. Truth will always bear up, even under the most
searching of analyses. Ideally, the books of prophecy discussed
should also be available to the reader for more in-depth
consultation when needed.
The length of the book is mostly
accounted for by a generous presentation of quoted material from
the various sources discussed. I believe that the careful reader
will develop a broad understanding of all the sources discussed
and that his efforts will be duly rewarded with a newfound
understanding of the human condition and the confusing world in
which he lives today. When crisis someday arises, I hope this book
will be a beacon of sanity amidst the crumbling paradigms and
toppling walls of a civilization gone awry. God has foreseen these
crises and has passed His foreknowledge to us through His
servants, the Prophets, for the guidance, safety, and edification
of His children.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the
patience and support of my family throughout the never-ending
research and writing of this book.
I would also like to acknowledge the
dedication and perseverance of a friend, who typed and retyped
this book many times despite her many other commitments. (omit
space before period)
I would also like to thank another
friend, without whom I would have never realized the need to write
down what I had discovered.
Finally, I would like to honor and
thank the Prophets of Old that lived and died for the truths that
we uncover today. We harvest the fruit of what they sowed so very
long ago.
Introduction
In order to reduce confusion, a simple sketch of the
overall prophetic picture follows.
We are near to ending "the age of the gentiles" initiated
by Jesus and elaborated by Christians over the last 2,000 years.
Before the "age of the gentiles" (Christians) we had the "age of
the Hebrews" which also had lasted for approximately 2,000 years.
After the War of Rome in 70 AD, the Jewish peoples and nation went
backstage, and on hold for 2,000 years as the Christians had their
turn in the leading role as "God’s people." According to prophecy,
we are now entering the consummation of these two ages of man. We
are about to begin the trial period that comes before the arrival
of the Messiah of Old Testament description. Therefore,
this upcoming period is referred to as the messianic period.
During this upcoming messianic period both the ages of Christian
and Jew are unified and brought to a single, joint consummation.
Prophetic scripture of the Old Testament era has much to
say about how and why this messianic consummation will proceed.
This book is an interpretation, presentation, and synthesis of
those prophetic scriptures as they have been illuminated by the
recently acquired Urantia Book, and the newly discovered
Dead Sea Scrolls (both around 1950).
Throughout the history of our world, a recurring general
theme is evident. Humankind and its leadership first flourish
through God’s grace. They then subsequently become self-satisfied
and fall away from His precepts. Having become separated from God,
we are also separated from the source of all wisdom. The result is
the downfall of whatever was built and accomplished. This is the
underlying theme behind the fall of ancient Israel, the fall of
Adam and Eve, and the collapse of the tower of Babel. This will
also be the theme of the unraveling of America in specific and
modern civilization in general. The elements of the story are
always the same. The Prophets tell us that the leaders become
progressively blinded by power and pride, and thus become mis-leaders
– progressively lawless, deceitful, self-serving, and unwise. The
majority of "the people" are passive, blind, deaf, and dumb. They
follow their mis-leaders into chaos and catastrophe. God sends his
prophets/messengers to warn and correct, but to no avail, except
for the very few whose hearts and minds are set right and who are
able to be led to safety. These remaining few become the remnant,
the survivors and progenitors of the next cycle. However, this
time the cycle is different. This time, nuclear weapons have
entered the scene. If there had been nuclear weapons when Rome
fell, we wouldn’t be here today to discuss the matter. The
presence of nuclear weapons changes God’s evolutionary, remnant
plan into no-plan. It changes the remnant into no-remnant. Man has
never before been able to achieve stability and avoid the abuse of
power and the downfall of empire. Are we more mature now? Are our
leaders different from prior leaders? Are we wiser? Have we
stopped straying from God’s laws and ways? The presence of
thousands of nuclear weapons changes man’s next fall into his last
fall. The Tower of Babel now has a bomb on the top of it. However,
God will not allow the many good and decent people of our world to
be annihilated. This is why the Messiah comes. This is why God
will choose to enter human history directly. Since the death of
Adam and Eve, our world has been without direct divine leadership.
The age of strictly human sovereignty will be terminated shortly,
and the World Messiah so long awaited by faithful Jews will enter
the scene to stay. Our world will never again be without direct
divine leadership. Today’s upside down world becomes tomorrow’s
right side up world. But first, there is a story to tell.
(The remnant of this cycle has unique characteristics and
activities to perform. They are made wise by special books; they
stand up for God and His way in the midst of persecution; they
receive divine protection through their following of God’s will;
and they teach God’s true way: the message of Jesus, the Kingdom
of Heaven within. God Himself names this remnant through His
prophets and servants. They are the elect, and are those
who elect God’s will at the end of the age. This book is dedicated
to all those who so elect.)
Said the Master
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Jesus Christ
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