QUESTIONS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD
from
PUBLIC JOINT DISCUSSION
Maurice M Johnson
vs.
Voyd Ballard, "Church of Christ"
December 1-3, 1947
QUESTIONS FOR MAURICE JOHNSON from VOYD BALLARD - Monday, December 1, 1947
1. BALLARD'S QUESTION: What constitutes the church of the Lord?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: The church in this present dispensation is composed of all who have been "baptized in one spirit ... into one body ... whether Jews or Gentile ... " 1 Cor. 12:13.
2. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Can a person be saved without being a member of this church?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: No. Acts 2:47.
3. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Can one be saved out of the Kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: One can not be saved in this dispensation without being a member of the kingdom referred to in Col. 1:13.
4. BALLARD'S QUESTION: When will the kingdom be established?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: The kingdom that was taken from Israel (Matt. 21:43) will be restored to Israel (Acts 1:6) at "the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of the prophets" (Acts 3:21), when Christ, the stone of Dan. 2, comes to fulfill Dan. 2:44.
5. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will that kingdom be here on this earth and will Christ be here in person, ruling over the kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Yes. See Luke 21:24-33; Joel 2:11-3:1.
6. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Does Christ now have all power and authority on earth?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Matt. 28:18-20 has not been rescinded. Eph. 1:15-23 describes the sphere in which He is using His power today, while 1 Tim. 6:14-16 refer to a future use of that power in a vastly wider realm.
7. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Is Christ ruling as king on the throne today?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Answered immediately above.
8. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Does the new birth (being born of water and spirit) place one in the kingdom of God?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: That which is born of the spirit is translated into the. kingdom of God's dear son. Col. 1:13.
9. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Was Paul baptized in water?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Undoubtedly several times. Heb. 9:8-10 and Acts 21:18-25. 10. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Was he in the kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Yes. Col. 1:13.
QUESTIONS FOR MAURICE JOHNSON from VOYD BALLARD - Tuesday, December 2, 1947
1. BALLARD’S QUEST/ON: You told us last night that the kingdom was taken from Israel. Just exactly WHEN was it taken from them?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Probably shortly after saying that it would be. Before the cross.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: I publicly showed how natural it was, therefore, for Joseph of Arimathaea to be WAITING for the kingdom just after the cross. See Mark 15:43.
2. BALLARD’S QUESTION: Will Christ be in heaven or on earth at the time the kingdom is restored to Israel?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Acts 3:20,21; Rom. 11:26,27; Zech. 14:4,9; Lu. 21:27-31 and Acts 1:6-11 with Joel 2:18 and 3:16 prove Christ's return to earth as ruler.
3. BALLARD’S QUESTION: If the kingdom came on the mount of transfiguration and then was later taken away, is that kingdom which came at that time in existence on earth now?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: That was only a temporary and miraculous pre-view or "His majesty", "the power and coming of our Lord Jesus", "the Son of man coming in His kingdom". Neither the King nor the two, Moses and Elias, remained long. See Matt. 16:28-17:9 with 2 Peter 1:16-18.
JOHNSON’S LATER COMMENT: "or" above should be "of".
4. Ballard's QUESTION: Does Isa 2:2,3 have reference to the establishing of the kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Yes, identical with Dan. 2:35,44,45.
5. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Are we now living in the church age?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: We are now living in the period of time marked off by Pentecost and the events spoken of in 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51.
6. BALLARD’S QUESTION: Will the church age end when the kingdom is restored?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: The "taking out of the Gentiles a people for His name" and the making of "the new man" (the church) will be completed simultaneously with the coming in of the "fullness of the Gentiles". Acts 15:14; Eph. 2:14, 15; Rom. 11:15-29. The church, of course, is eternal. - Eph. 3:21.
7. BALLARD’S QUESTION: How long will the kingdom exist upon this earth after it is restored?
JOHNSON’S ANSWER: Isa. 9:6,7; Dan. 2:44; 7:14,18,27; Micah 4:7; Lu. 1:32,33; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 11:15.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: Surely no honest believer can carefully read these texts and then doubt that Christ is to reign "for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Therefore, it must be that the surface appearance of the expression "and then cometh the end" (1 Cor. 15:24) cannot possibly mean the stopping or the termination of Christ's kingdom and reign. We all readily acknowledge that the word "end" means "purpose" or "consummation" as it is used in James 5:11: "Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord ..." The final purpose or end that the Lord had in view in allowing Satan to plague Job was a glorious end but "the end of the Lord" wasn't the termination or stopping of the Lord, Himself.
Similarly the "end" of Christ's first coming into the world was the "he through death might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." We see Christ reigning over demons in Matt. 12 as a proof that "the kingdom of God is come unto you." Note well that Christ positively says back there before the cross "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then - "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME UNTO YOU" Matt. 12:28
Remember, also, that He empowered His apostles and the "seventy" to, not only preach, saying, "The kingdom of God is at hand", but to prove that it was, as He did, by their healing all manner of diseases, all manner of sickness, casting out demons and raising the dead. See Matt. 10:1-10; Lu. 10:1-19. And how majestically Christ commanded the winds and the waves, multiplied the loaves and fishes, walked on the water and FINALLY laid down His life (just as KINGLY, having said: "No man can take my life. I have power to lay it down and take it up again." - Jn. 10:17-18) that "he through death might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." And He majestically came out of death with the keys of hell and death", having "abolished death ..." It was then, before He allowed anyone to touch Him, that He ascended back to the Father and "waved the sheaf of the first fruits" (anti-typically) as the glorious High-priest, King, and then delivered "up the kingdom to the Father". Read Rev. 1:18; 2 Tim. 1:10; Jn. 20:17; Lev. 23:10, 11; 1 Cor. 15:23-27. (Read carefully that last verse, 1 Cor. 15:27, noting "he hath put all things under His feet".) See also Eph. 4:8-10.
The already accomplished, victorious reign of Christ over all of His enemies is also positively declared in Eph. 1:19-22; Col. 2:9-15; Heb. 2:6-14; 1 Pet. 3:22.
This explains how Christ could have taken "the kingdom from" the nation to whom and in the midst of whom He had brought the kingdom. - Matt. 21:43. Note this Scriptural proof of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel and the series of events that will take place in the "generation" living immediately before the kingdom will again be "at hand". - Acts 1:3-7; 3:20,21 with Lu. 21:25-33.
According to the Campbellites the kingdom can never again be "at hand" since (they falsely say) "it came at Pentecost and is NOW here." Read again and again Lu. 21:31 and 2 Tim. 4:1. Satan will see to it that his "swine" will trample these beautiful "pearls!" of doctrine. But we, plead with all "sheep" to be like the Bereans. - Acts 17:10-11.
BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will people be converted to Christ after the restoring of the Kingdom and during the time it is in existence?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Rom. 11:12, 25-27; Isa. 11:9-12. l understand that Israel and Judah will be saved quickly (Isa. 66:8,9; Jer. 31:31.) while the 11th of Romans and 9th of Amos refer to subsequent Gentile conversions.
9. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will people who are unsaved at the time Christ comes have a chance to accept Him after His coming?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: All such as "have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory" and, therefore, have not "received the knowledge of the truth" can be saved when they do submissively hear. Isa. 66:19; Heb. 10:26; 2 Thess. 1:6-10.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: Be sure to see my comment on question #6, December 3, where I show Ballard's deliberate lie, stating that I believe and teach "a second chance" like the so-called "Jehovah's Witnesses".
10. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will both Jews and Gentiles be in the kingdom after it is restored?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: The kingdom referred to in Matt. 21:43; 2 Tim. 4:1 and Zech. 14:9-11, along with the passages given under #8 above, proves that Gentiles will be brought under Christ's sway on earth after the kingdom is "restored to Israel."
QUESTIONS FOR MAURICE JOHNSON from VOYD BALLARD - Wednesday, December 3, 1947.
1. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Was the coming of the kingdom in the future at the time Christ spoke the words recorded in Mk. 9:1?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: The precise event as described by the Lord, as given in the four accounts. - Matt., Mk." Luke and 2 peter 1 - of course, was future. This "coming" was parallel to but not a denial of Christ's earlier statement found in Matt. 12:24.
2. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Are there any of those people of whom Christ spoke in Mk. 9:1 living on earth today, or have they all died?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: They have died.
3. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Is the kingdom, which you say will be established at the return of Christ, the same kingdom spoken of in Mk. 9:1?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Yes" since it will be the same Christ of whose "power and coming" and "majesty" those three apostles were, "eyewitnesses", who will come again (Matt. 24:27-31; 2 Timothy 4:1).
4. BALLARD'S QUESTION: When Christ returns will He set on a literal throne in literal Jerusalem and reign over His kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6,7; 11:9; 24:23; 26:1; 31:4,5; 33:17-24; 59:20,21; Jer. 3:17,18: 24:6; 23:3-8; 31:7-12, 28-34; Zech. 14:4-11 clearly answer your question, "YES"!
5. BALLARD'S QUESTION: You stated in (questions 8 & 9 - Dec. 2) that unsaved people will have a chance to accept Christ, be converted to Him, after His coming. Will they have to hear and obey the same gospel that people of today do, and be born into this kingdom?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: There is and has been and will be but one plan of salvation of the soul of fallen man. That plan is briefly and clearly given in Acts 10:43 and 13:38,39.
6. BALLARD'S QUESTION: If those Jews who were broken off because of unbelief (Rom. 11:20) continue in unbelief until they die will they have a chance to be saved at the return of Christ?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: This question is clearly answered by my answer to your question 9, Dec. 2nd. I believe in no "second chance", Russellite doctrine or any such fable.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: It may sound shocking, but it is true and I believe will be helpful to honest readers, for me to say it: I am grateful to God that men who deny, distort and blaspheme His holy Word will also viciously twist mine when I am speaking "the truth in love". I am thinking just here of how Ballard deliberately ignored my written answer to his question about a second-chance salvation and said: "Johnson believes in a second chance salvation just like the Russellites, and he can't deny it because his doctrine forces him to".
Be sure to read carefully my answer to his question #9, Dec. 2nd with my statement, given above, in answering his question #6, Dec. 3, "I BELIEVE IN NO SECOND CHANCE, RUSSELLITE DOCTRINE ON ANY SUCH FABLE." And yet, with all of this in his possession he said for the second time: "Johnson believes in a second-chance-salvation." And his second lying accusation was made after
I had called the above to his attention publicly and reminded him (by quoting the reference) that I had given 2 Thess. 1:6-10 as my final proof text that those who had refused to obey the gospel would (not be saved) but would be "destroyed with everlasting destruction" at Christ's "flaming fire" return.
Probably the most sickening sight in such a series of discussions is to see the Campbellite liar's followers grinning and nodding their heads in admiring agreement with their dishonest "champion". Of course, all who are real children of God hope and pray that from time to time there are some who allow God to show them the irresponsible and false character of their leader and, also, the mess of contradictions that are given for Bible truth. John 7:17; 8:47; Matt. 5:6 versus 2 Tim. 4:3,4.
7. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will Gentiles who die in unbelief have a chance to be saved at the return of Christ?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: See answer immediately above with yesterday's answer to your #9 question of that day, Dec. 2nd.
BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will the Israelites be saved one by one as individuals, or will the whole nation be saved quickly as a nation? (See your answer to my question 8 last night)
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: My answer to your #8 question of Dec. 2nd gives-you God's clear answer as to how Israel and Judah will be saved under the New Covenant which national salvation in no way prevents them being "gathered one by one" as given in Isa. 27:12.
9. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Will Gentiles be converted individually over a period of a number of years after the return of Christ?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Sufficiently answered in answers to Dec. 2nd's questions #8 and #10.
10. BALLARD'S QUESTION: Does 2 Thess. 2:2,3 refer to the 2nd coming of Christ?
JOHNSON'S ANSWER: Yes, as does Luke 18:8.
QUESTIONS FOR VOYD BALLARD from MAURICE JOHNSON - Monday, December 1, 1947
1. JOHNSON’S QUESTION: What is the difference, if any, between the restoring referred to in Acts 1:6 and the restitution spoken of in Acts 3:21?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: When the apostles asked the question in Acts 1:6 they thought the Lord was going to set up an earthly kingdom. Christ corrected this idea.
JOHNSON’S LATER COMMENT: This ignorant accusation made against the apostles is the impudent and prejudiced "proof" that all of God's kingdom promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their faithful posterity are forever nullified because of the unbelief of one particular generation of unbelieving Jews. To the contrary, however, Acts 3:20,21; 7:5; 15:14 with Rom. 11:25-29 prove to all but infidel students that the Hebrew "fathers" who died in faith will yet "sit down in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. d:11, just as they had been promised - in the land of Canaan. See Jer. 24:6,7; 29:14; 31:31-34, 40; 33:11-26 (note well verse 24, you poor deceived Campbellites).
But, another word as to the ignorance... (?) of the apostles as they asked the Risen Christ: "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? - Acts 1:6. Just what was the value of Christ's opening "their understanding that they might understand the scriptures" and His "being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God"? Lu. 24: 45; Acts 1:2,3.
According to Ballard and all modernists, the 7th Day Adventists, (falsely called) "Jehovah's Witnesses", and many other cults, the apostles were stupidly ignorant on the very subject of "the kingdom of God" even after they had been sitting at the feet of the Risen Christ, hearing Him on that specific subject AFTER their understanding had been supernaturally opened that they might understand the Scriptures.
Friends, PLEASE read prayerfully Luke 24:32-53 with Acts 1:2,3, noting carefully the time element (the day of the resurrection) given in verses 21-36 and the "forty days", Acts 1:1,3. You can never again honestly believe that those apostles were WRONG concerning the nature of the kingdom about which they had just. had so many days of UNDERSTANDABLE instruction. And that it was to be "restored to Israel" was crystal clear to them now, although they had been told nothing exact as to the "times and seasons" when it would be... thus restored to Israel. General information had been positively given concerning when the kingdom would again be "at hand" but not "the day or hour." See Luke 21:25-31.
2. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Was the "Jerusalem" mentioned in Isa. 1:3 the same as the "Jerusalem" mentioned in Luke 24:47 and Acts 2:5?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: Jerusalem is not mentioned in Isa. 1:3.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: The reference given above (Isa. 1:3) was a typographical error and should have been, as Ballard, himself, said, Isa. 2:3, and he acknowledges that it was the physical Jerusalem referred to in all three references.
On his blackboard "chart" and in his oft-repeated spoken perversions, Ballard taught that the kingdom of God came to Jerusalem at Pentecost and was established there while the King, Himself, went into Heaven and sat down on a HEAVENLY throne "at the right hand of the throne of God." And he has stubbornly contended that the idea of a literal Kingdom on earth with a gloriously restored and rebuilt Jerusalem upon a gloriously restored earth is utterly ridiculous and UNscriptural.
He said Mk. 9:1 and Matt. 16:28 were fulfilled at Pentecost. And with wicked distortions and cowardly evasions he met my question as to how one could "see the Son of man coming in his kingdom" when He was actually "GOING AWAY" so that the Holy Spirit could be sent at Pentecost. John 16:7,8; Lu. 24:49-51; Acts 1:8,9; 2:32-36.
The beautiful simplicity and unanswerable clarity of the entire context of his pet proof (?) text, Mk. 9:1 (with Matt. 16:28 to 17:1-9 and 2 Peter 1:16-18) leave the humble and attentive reader in no possible doubt that Mk. 9:1 was fulfilled at the mount of transfiguration. Notice - "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom, coming in his kingdom. AND AFTER SIX DAYS Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up in a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light ..." Years later, Peter was inspired to record this experience saying: "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty ... when we were with him in the holy mount". - 2 Peter 1:16-18.
But still Ballard contended that the "son of man" was "seen coming in his kingdom at Pentecost"!!!
3. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Was the throne of David in heaven at the time of Psa. 11:4; 103:19; and 1 Chron. 29:23?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: This was the Lord's throne. It was in heaven.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: Note that in this and his reply to my question #4 (just below) he positively states that there is only one throne - that both the Lord God and Solomon have but the one throne.
When I read his stupid "answers" publicly and then read 1 Kings 2:12,19 regarding Solomon's "causing a seat to be set for the king's mother (by his throne); and she sat on his (Solomon's) side", the poor Campbellite debater knew he was trapped by the truth on the subject, but he made no retraction or admission. However, when I asked him the next day (see my question #6, Dec. 2nd) whether or not Solomon's mother was sitting on a "seat by Solomon's side in heaven" according to 1 Ki. 2:12,19, he brazenly declared that "Solomon had a literal seat or throne ... he and his mother were of course on earth at the time." - Ballard
Notice: Dec. 1st David's throne upon which Solomon sat (1 Chr. 29:23) "is in heaven". - Ballard
Dec. 2nd David's throne upon which Solomon sat is "a literal throne on earth". - Ballard
You see, the reason for Ballard's utter confusion must be his dishonesty of heart, for he is bound to know that the above statements are mutually contradictory. However, if he were to admit consistently that David's throne is a literal, earthly throne in all of the O.T. records and prophecies of that throne, he would have to admit the unmistakable fact that both parts of Isa. 9:6,7 are literal. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given (actual and literal); and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end (Lu. 1:32,33, also), upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts- will perform it."
4. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Did the Lord have two thrones at that time, one in heaven and the other on earth?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: No.
JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Exactly who are "the twelve tribes of Israel" referred to in Lu. 21:30?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: The twelve tribes of Israel.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: This was an evasive reply. Ballard believes that his little sect is "the 12 tribes of Israel".
6. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Can you harmonize James' calling Christians "the twelve tribes" with Paul's revelation concerning the fact that "in Christ" there "is neither Jew or Gentile ..."?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: James wrote to Christians that were of the twelve tribes.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: Ballard seems to know nothing of God's extended mercy to Israel as a nation, during which 30 odd year period (covered by the book of Acts) God, doubtless in answer to Christ's prayer on the cross, continued to deal with Israel as a nation. This fact explains why Christian Jews and only they during this time were called "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6: 16) and continued to practice all of the Jewish religion (Acts 21:18-25; 1 Cor. 9:19-23). It should be remembered that Gal. and 1 Cor. were written during the Acts period, before the significant statement in Acts 28:28.
7. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Who are the "Israel of God" referred to in Gal. 6:16?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: God's s people.
8. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Do you have the "keys of the kingdom"?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: Christ gave the keys to Peter.
JOHNSON'S LATER COMMENT: This is, of course, a cowardly evasion of my specific question. Notes his "answer" to my similar question #8, Dec. 4th, "Are the keys of the kingdom in the "Church of Christ" today?"
9. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: When was Matt. 21:43 fulfilled?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: It began to be fulfilled at Pentecost.
10. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Did Christ go into heaven and sit down upon a heavenly "David's throne" and then come in his kingdom at Pentecost to fulfill Matt. 16:28?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: Christ went into heaven and sat down on his throne.
QUESTIONS FOR VOYD BALLARD from MAURICE JOHNSON - Tuesday, December 2, 1947
1. JOHNSON' S QUEST ION: Is the "Church of Christ" the "tabernacle of David" referred to in Acts 15:16?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: Yes.
JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Are "the twelve tribes of Israel" referred to in Lu. 22: 30 "The Church of Christ"?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: No. The kingdom referred to there is the Church of Christ.
3. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Does the expression, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation" (Lu. 17:20) mean that one cannot see the kingdom of God?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: No. This is talking about the coming of the kingdom.
4. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Does the expression "see the kingdom of God" in Lu. 9:27 and Jn. 3:3 mean that some can or that no one can "see the kingdom of God"?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: It does not mean that no one can see the kingdom.
5. JOHNSON’S QUESTION: Are flesh and blood people in the kingdom of God today?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: People who are born of the water and the spirit are in the kingdom today.
6. JOHNSON’S QUESTION: Did Solomon cause a seat to be set on his right hand so that his mother could sit by his side as he sat on David's throne on earth or a throne in heaven? See 1 Kings 2:12,19.
BALLARD’S ANSWER: See below, *** (below question #10)
7. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Does Joshua 23:14 and 22:43-45 mean that God's promises to Abraham's physical "house of Israel" were exhausted or ended with the fulfillment to that particular generation?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: These references are a fulfillment of Gen. 13:14,15.
JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Was the promise of Amos 9:15 fulfilled at Pentecost?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: The land promise was fulfilled long before Pentecost.
9. JOHNSON’S QUESTION: Do 2 Tim. 4:1 and 2 Peter 1:11 and 2 Tim. 2:12 refer to a yet future phase or aspect of the kingdom?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: 2 Peter 1:11 has reference to the home of the soul. 2 Tim. 2:12 we are reigning with him now. 2 Tim. 4:1 has reference to the present kingdom.
10. JOHNSON’S QUESTION: Is the "Lion" of Isa. 2:3 the same city as the "Zion" of Isa. 59:20?
BALLARD’S ANSWER: Yes.
*** (Answer to question #6) "Throne denotes source of power". This was the Lord's in heaven. The Lord delegated authority to Solomon to rule as king. As king Solomon had a literal seat or throne the source of which came from heaven. He and his mother, were of course on earth at the time. This does not change the fact that the Bible says, "Solomon sat upon the throne of the Lord". 7 Chr. 29:23 and that "the Lord's throne is in heaven". Psa. 11:4.
QUESTIONS FOR VOYD BALLARD from MAURICE JOHNSON - Wednesday, December 3,1947
1. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: When will Israel's "fullness" come in or be fulfilled? (Romans 11:11.)
BALLARD'S ANSWER: When they abide not still in unbelief, they shall be grafted in. Vs. 23.
2. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Has "the fullness of the Gentiles" already "come in" - Rom. 11:25?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: Yes.
3. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: If it is true, as you stated in reply to question #8, Dec. 2nd, that "the land promise was fulfilled long before Pentecost" (Amos 9:15 - land promise), how could God have allowed the Jews to "be led away captive into all nations and Jerusalem trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" since "the land promise" in Amos 9. 15 is: "I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord."? See Lu. 21:24.
BALLARD'S ANSWER: Their remaining in the land depended upon the condition of their remaining faithful to God. Josh. 23:13. When they became unfaithful they broke their covenant with God.
4. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: According to Lu. 21:31, had the kingdom of God already come before the events prophesied in vss. 25-27 or was the kingdom of God to be "nigh at hand" after those events?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand." vs-. 31.
5. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Is the "Jerusalem" referred to in Lu. 21:24 no longer "trodden down of the Gentiles"?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: Not in the same sense in which it was then. (at the fulfillment of this)
6. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Was the "pouring out" of the Holy Spirit referred to in Acts 2:17 the same as the Baptism "with the Spirit" referred to in Acts 1:5?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: To the Apostles, yes..
7. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Was the Lord "jealous for his land" at Pentecost in fulfillment of Joel 2:18?
BALLARD'S ANSWER: The expression in Joel 2:18 was something that happened then, and had no reference to what he would do in the last days of vs. 28.
8. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: When the "world ... perished" as a result of the flood in Noah's day, did it cease to be or was it not rather cleansed by and after that Heaven-sent judgment and thus prepared for Noah and his posterity? - (2 Pet. 3:6)
BALLARD'S. ANSWER: World there has reference to the inhabitants, and in that sense "perished" so ceased to be.
9. JOHNSON'S QUESTION: Is it true that Solomon sat on a literal throne (with power given him from heaven) while the Lord sat on His throne in heaven? See Psa. 103:19 and 1 Chr. -9:23.
BALLARD'S ANSWER: See my answer to your question number 6 last night for answer to this.
10. JOHNSON'S QUEST/ON: Does the expression, "seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law", explain why Christ couldn't be a priest if He were on earth since He was of the tribe of Judah and not of Levi? - See Heb. 7:13,14 and 8:4. (Please be specific about the expression quoted from 8:4).
BALLARD’S ANSWER: If Christ were on earth He could not be our great high priest.
Read this please...
THE PROPHESIED "KINGDOM OF GOD"
AND THE UNPROPHESIED
"CHURCH WHICH IS CHRIST'S BODY"
Can any honest and reasonably intelligent person believe that the comparatively small body of people scripturally described as a called out company of "strangers and pilgrims" is the same institution as the "mountain" kingdom that "filled the whole earth" with Christ sitting on the "throne of his father David"; with "all people, nations and languages" serving Him; with "the knowledge of the Lord" covering "the earth as the waters cover the sea"; the kingdom that will begin with the KING OF KINGS judging "among the nations", and rebuking "many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." - 1 Peter 2:9-15; 2 Tim. 3:12; Dan. 2:34,35,44; 7:14; /so. 11:9; Hab. 2:14; Zech. 14:9; Isa. 2:1-4.Not only is it a scripturally plain fact that Christ's OWN, true spiritual church is not this glorious kingdom that shall reduce all other kingdoms to "chaff of the summer threshing floors" that the wind "carries away" so that "no place is found for them" (Dan. 2:34,35) but the disgusting assertion that little sputtering sects like the one called by its own members, "The Restoration Movement", the water-salvation denomination split into yet other sects ("Christian Church", "Church of Christ", etc.) - for even the larger of these Campbellite groups to claim, as they loudly do, that they are THE KINGDOM OF GOD, is not only contrary to the Word of God, "rightly divided", but is brazen infidelity or pitiful and inexcusable ignorance.
The bloodiest wars in all of history have been fought over this very issue, namely: are the organization forces of "Christianity" (actually sectarian Christendom) supposed to finally conquer and dominate the world to fulfill the prophecy, "the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ". - Rev. 11:15. Spirit taught members of the true Church of Jesus Christ know that we "called out" ones, as "ambassadors for Christ" are "sent ... into the world" to "fight the good fight of faith" - "not against flesh and blood" - as we bear "the fruit of the Spirit" "in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom (we) shine as lights". 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Cor. 5:20; 10:3-5; John 17:16-18; Eph. 6:10-20; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 2:15.
The fact that some of these adulterous mixtures (unscriptural mixtures of Church and Kingdom) profess to be "pacifists" or "conscientious objectors" during war is but another evidence of their blasphemous confusion, both as to God's kingdom program and the Church program. Who can read Joel 2nd and 3rd chapters; Matt. 24th and 25th chapters; Lu. 21:25-33 and 2 Thess. 1:6-2:8; Rev. 19:11 to 20:6 and fail to see that the establishing of Christ's kingdom there spoken of is not the "pacifistic" farce like these modernists are contending for?
Concerning Christ's earthly ministry, Paul reveals this significant fact: "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers ..."" Rom. 15:8. And what were some of these Israelitish promises that Christ ""confirmed"" as He majestically empowered 12 Apostles and "the seventy" to go only "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" and preach saying: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"? Remember that He also said of Himself: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."" - Matt. 10:1-10; 15:24; Lu. 10:17-19.
In the first place, "He was made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law ..." as "the Lamb of God" "without blemish and without spot" whose "precious blood" was "shed for the remissions of sins". But, before He took the guilty law breakers" part, He was tried or proven for thirty years by the Father as He lived under the law - the life of a law-keeping and Caw-fulfilling Jew (though actually Emmanuel). The last act that He performed under this God-given system of law and physical ordinances was to be baptized in water with John's baptism. Then, and not till after that last "work" of righteousness, He was publicly endorsed by the Father as being well-pleasing Son who had "fulfilled all righteousness"!. - Matt. 3:15-17. This proved Him to be THE Lamb of God "without blemish and spot."
And the moment a Spirit-convicted sinner hears and believes the gospel, or glad tidings concerning what this sinless Son of God's love did in dying for our sins according to the scriptures, being buried and rising again the third day according to the Scriptures, that believing soul receives Christ and is in Him as ""the end of the law for righteousness". All that Jesus Christ did in His 30 years of perfect, law-keeping life, including His being baptized with "the different baptisms", is instantly put to the humble believer's credit and account. "Ye are complete in Him ..."" 1 Cor. 15:3-5; Romans 8:1-4; 10:1-4,8-10; Col. 2:6-17. Reader, are you a believer? Read Jn. 5:24.
After proving His ability to reign over all their enemies and supply all their wants, both physical and spiritual, Christ allowed the nation Israel to refuse His kingdom offer; He took the kingdom from them, died for them, defeating their, and our, last enemy DEATH (2 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:14) ascended to the Father and delivered up the kingdom; sat down till his enemies be made His footstool; was made "head over all things to "the church which is His body" (the ""new man" of Eph. 2 and the ""mystery of Eph. 3) and will return again for "the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." John 20:17; Eph. 4:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:23-27; Eph. 1:22; Acts 3:20,21.
Note these future aspects of the kingdom, Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:S; 2 Tim. 2:12; 4:1,18; 2 Pet. 1:11; Dan. 2:34,35,44; Rev. 11:15; Zech. 14:4,9-11.