The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Who was this person called Apollos spoken of in Acts 19 quoted above? 

Acts 18:24-28 A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him aside, and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

We can draw from Apollos' description that he as a learned man who had been baptized by John for repentance and that he was also of the Priesthood because he was allowed to speak in the Jewish synagogues. But he was also somewhat unlearned of the Christ because Aquila and Priscilla took he aside to explain more fully the things that they had learned of Him through their mentor Paul. He was also a quick learner, possible because he had the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth within him who confirmed all that was told him by his new mentors. I do not think that it would be presumptuous to say that Peter, John, James and Jude speak from the same Spirit of Truth in their short writings.

From what we have just had revealed, John the Baptist was God's man for the hour who came in the likeness and spirit of Elijah the Prophet. Who's name means, Yehovah is God, and was translated to heaven as recorded in 2Kings 2:1-15, he joined Enoch who also walked with God and who was also translated in Genesis 5:24 and referenced to by Jude in verses 14,15. I might note that this same Enoch wrote of his encounters with God and the things that were told and revealed to him. John as a Prophet bears witness to the Son of man, who the world did not know, this included those of Israel's Priesthood, who were by this time part of the Apostate church. Which in my opinion does not speak well of them. It was John the Baptist who made the first appearance and introduced Israel to the kingdom of heaven message as God's herald and as a Prophet after the fashion (in the spirit) of Elijah. Because he was the end of God's dealing solely with the nation of Israel as a nation, though He may continue with them in that fashion again. John the Baptist and Jesus both become the consummation of all things prior to John by their vicarious deaths and Jesus, as predicted by God's Prophets. And since Jesus' death and ascension as the Christ, God has inaugurated a whole new method of dealing with His creation of man, again this was also predicted by the Prophets as a New thing being done in the earth. This is the message then that the Lord Jesus as the Son of man and as God, then proclaims as the kingdom of heaven and of God depending on the synoptic gospel writer and how they were led by the Holy Spirit, the Essence of Christ to reveal Christ's revelation.

The following is a mystery which the unredeemed and the Religious do not understand and this brings to bear on what is revealed throughout this paper. The true question is this, do you believe the Lord or just believe in the Lord? To believe Him is to hear His voice and then to take the necessary action required by Him. I must again emphasis that the translators of the text may have carried into their interpretation their particular denominational thinking, thusly violating and contaminating the purity of the word.

"Why don't "repeat after me's" work? Psuedo-Salvation is NOT Salvation.

I want you to repeat these words out loud, "Fred's pickled fish farm." Where did those words come from? Did they come from you? No, they came from me. You see, not all the words we say come from us. Repeat after me, "I believe Jesus is the Son of God." Those words weren't any more yours than, "Fred's pickled fish farm." You may believe what they say but they are still not your words. Our personal declaration or confession of faith must come from us, No! from within us, not someone else. When the Lord dealt with me about this He showed me a door. I knew in the vision that this door was not movable. The Lord said, "This is a one-man door." I kept looking at the door and He said again, "This is a one-man door." The vision didn't end until I understood that two men were trying to go through the door at the same time, and this is impossible. Both the sheepfold and the garden door as well as the tomb door are all one person doors or gates through which we are to pass alone.

To receive His Redemption is only the beginning of the process of entry into His Salvation and is a purely personal thing. It is the further walk of trusting in Him and our trusting Him, which is to say we repeat the same course as required to enter and accept Redemption, but now with a totally different course because of a greater understanding of Christ Jesus. Jesus is the door and each individual must go through Him to be saved. When a person is led through a confession by repeating words, the words they are repeating are not their words but the person's leading them. (Two men trying to go through the door at the same time.) You can't get saved by repeating someone else's confession. Only you can establish what you believe, not anyone else.   

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

What if anything does Paul, Jude, John and Peter tell us about John the Baptist's witness?

Acts 19:1-7 It came to pass, that, while Apollos* was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? They answered him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Paul said to them, Unto what then were you baptized? They answered, To John's baptism. To this Paul replied, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe Him which should come after him, that is, Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came into them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. All the men were about twelve.

Ephesians 1:6-12 To the praise of the glory of His Grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace; Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known to us the mystery of His Will (equal to Law and Word), according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation (administration) of the fullness (completion) of times (the predetermine period of crisis as events set by God) He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; in Him: In Whom also we have obtained an (our) inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own Will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted Christ. (parallel passage Colossians 1:19-20) 

Colossians 1:3-8, 9-17, 18-20, 21-23, 24-2:5 I give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since I heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come to you, as in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as He does also in you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth: As you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

For this cause I also, since the day I heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness (cancellation) of sins (debt): Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether there be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister (servant and steward); Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation (stewardship and administration, Romans 15:15-18, Galatians 2:7-8) of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God (2Timothy 4:2-5); The mystery which had been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereto I also labor, striving according to His working, which works in me mightily. For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and them at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

*Who was this person called Apollos in Acts 19 quoted above?

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Our next section will be set in the time after Jesus sends out the twelve when John sends his followers to Jesus to verify that He is the One.

Matthew 11:1-19, 20-24, 25-30 It came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed to teach and to preach in other cities. 

When John had heard in the prison the works of Jesus, he sent two of his disciples, and asked Him, Are You He that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered them, Go and tell John again these things which you do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in Me.

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before My face, which shall prepare Your way before You. Verily (truly or of a Truth, a secret) I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive this he is Elias, which was for to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus here is revealing a much misunderstood prophecy about the one who would come before Him to prepare the way of righteousness's return to Israel. This is found in Malachi 4:5-6 and Jesus is said to have acknowledged John as being the prophet in Matthew 17:10-13.

But whereto shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows, and saying, We have piped for you, and you have not danced; we have mourned for you, and you have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he has a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you. (parallel passages Jeremiah 13:27, Ezekiel 3:6-7; Matthew 23:13-29, Luke 11:42-52, Jude 11, the rest of this is taken from the error and warnings of the OT which relate to mans and the worlds Apostate Religion when rightly divided.)

At that time Jesus said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come to Me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke (staff to join) upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke* (staff to join) is easy, and My burden is light. (parallel passages Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 28:20, Luke 6:46-48, 10:39-42, John 13:15, Acts 3:22-23; Ephesians 4:20-21, Hebrews 4:3-11)
*metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage, of troublesome laws imposed on one by the Apostate Religion, especially of the Mosaic law, hence the name is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable ‘yoke’; yet even Christ’s commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept.

What if anything does Paul tell us about John the Baptist's witness?       

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The Son of God's first Disciples,
join Him as being out form among them.

The next day after John stood, with two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, John saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, What seek you? They answered him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwell you? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was named Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, said, you are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

But before we go further, I want to increase our understanding of the revelation of John's work, I want to look at what Jesus says about him and how John the Baptist effected the knowledge and understanding of the kingdom which had by then been inaugurated or begun. I look first at John's synoptic gospel and then Luke's.

John 3:23-24, 25-30, 31-36, 4:1-3 John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

Then there arose a question between John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you barest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all come to him. John answered, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I decrease.

He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that came from heaven is above all. And what He has both seen and heard, that He testifies; and no man receives His testimony. He that has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He that believes the Son has everlasting life: and he that believe not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. 

  

John 4:1-3 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

Luke 7:18-23, 24-35 The disciples of John showed him of all these things. John calling two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Ask Him are you he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come to Him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are you he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Then Jesus said to them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in Me.

When the messengers of John were departed, He (Jesus) began to speak to the people concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. This is of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You.(Numbers 12:6; Malachi 3:1, 2-5, Matthew 11:2-19 [10], Mark 1:2, Luke 1:76; Isaiah 40:3 Haggai 2:6-7; Daniel 2:44-45, 7:22-25) For I say to you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All the people that heard and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But some of the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him.

The Lord said, Whereto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned for you, and you have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and yet you say, He has a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and you say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.     

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

I want to look at how John treats this same passage in his synoptic gospel.

John 1:19-28, 29-34, 35-42 This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. They asked him again, What then? Who are you, Elias? He said, I am not. Are you that prophet? He answered, No. Then they asked him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What have you to answer for yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord", as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. Asked him, Why baptize then, if you be not the Christ, nor Elias, neither "that prophet"? John answered them, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, Whom you do not know; He it is, Who is coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe latches I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

Have you noticed the respect of John for the Lord, Christ Jesus, as opposed to the language used of the Priest's? John said that he was not “the Christ” and the Priest's said “that Christ”, this has an err of sarcasm in it. Earlier I referenced Zephaniah 3:4-5 and this may be a good place to look at it because I think that it reveals mans Apostate church which deceives the hole world and of which Judaism is part of, to this I will also show another OT passage from Jeremiah 5;

Zephaniah 3:1-9 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just LORD is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning does He bring His judgment to light, He fails not; but the unjust knows no shame. I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none pass by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. I said, Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait upon Me, said the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them My indignation, all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent. (parallel passages Deuteronomy 13:5, 18:22, Isaiah 9:15, Jeremiah 2:8, 5:31, 14:14, 23:16, Ezekiel 13:2, 22:28, Hosea 9:7, Micah 3:5; Matthew 7:16, 24:11, Mark 13:22)

Jeremiah 5:30-31 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end thereof? 

This is found at the end of God's judgment of the Godlessness and lawlessness of Jerusalem in chapter 5 of Jeremiah: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end thereof?” It was for this very reason that Israel went through a period of five hundred years where there was no Prophet, angel or God speaking to them. This was during the time of the Maccabees's and a little beyond until John and Jesus' appearance.

 

 

John the Baptist Identifies the Son of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.    

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. 

Ezekiel 3:22-27 The hand of the LORD was there upon me; and He told me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with you. Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face. Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spoke with me, and said to me, Go, shut yourself within thine house. But you, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon you, and shall bind you with them, and you will not go out among them: I will make your tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, that you shall be dumb, and shall not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house. 
 
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD; He that hears, let him hear; and he that forbears (rejects), let him forbear (forsake, ceases, come to an end): for they are a rebellious (are a bitter) house.
 

The word “forbears” is repeated here which leads me to believe it means to repent of his rebellion, to turn ones back wards the house. John the Baptist did as the following scriptures reveal a portion of, which I used earlier.

Matthew 3:1-12, 13-17 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Daniel 2:44, Joshua 15:61, Judges 1:16) 
 

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight. 

 

This is the same John who wore his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 

 

Then went out to him from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers (placing them back to Genesis 3 and in relationship to the deceiver therein revealed), who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Now the ax is laid to the root of the trees (the whole body of Israels leaders are these trees): therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn (rejected, forbearing, is cut) down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water for repentance: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (parallel passages Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-9, 15-17 and John 1:19-28)

This statement of John's is overlooked by many but it is for us a revelation of Christ Jesus and just how God sees those of Israel's Priesthood. The Lord told them through His Prophets that Israel was to be the head and not the tail but because of their propensity for walking in the flesh, which breeds unbelief, they were by now the tail and unfruitful.

While we are still here in Matthew 3 and are now facing the baptism of Jesus I will continue with it.

Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan and then to John, to be baptized by him. But John forbade (withstood) Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of You, and come You to me? And Jesus said to him, Suffer (allow) it now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill (to make complete, to consummate, to perfect) all righteousness*. (Psalm 40:7-8; John 4:34, 8:29) Then He suffered him. When Jesus was baptized, He went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. (parallel passages Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 42:1; Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, 9:35; John 1:31-34, 12:28, from here we can go into the further revelation of the kingdom as referenced in Ephesians 1:6 and Colossians 1:13)
*to bring about the right-wisement of God's Will hidden in the Law and the Prophets to fulfill, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law of Faith and Love both of which by the way supersede the Law of Moses) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment.
  
I want to look at how John treats this same passage in his synoptic gospel.     

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

John 1:19-34 This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Who are you Elias? He said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No. Then they asked him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What have you to say of yourself? He answered, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the Way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” (Isaiah 40:3)

They which were sent were of the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, Why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, “I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. I did not recognize Him: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” John testified saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, Upon whom you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.”

 

“I saw for myself, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (parallel passages Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:15-17)

This whole section of scripture is rich with the revelation of Christ and the workings of God through His subjects. I want to turn to Ezekiel who spoke many words using the phrase “son of man” to hear what he reveals about the man John the Baptist, but I must caution that much of what he says could also be applied to Jesus as well. I should also say this, most of the Prophets of Israel walked among the Hebrews at the same time and said similar prophesies about Israel's rebellion, their stone heartedness and unbelief of God. I say this because when we read the OT we have an opinion that these men were at deferent times or many years apart when in fact they were not. They like the ancients before Noah's flood knew each other and had conversation with each other, as fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers and uncles. But our conception is askew because of how we have been trained in our church Sunday schools and from the pulpit.


Therefore our vision and understanding has been innocently corrupted, and because of this our minds eye has not a clear and precise perception which causes true understanding. This is what people use to misdirect our attention and thereby cause us to see something else than what is actually there. Much like the old card trick of slight of hand, known as the shell game. We have found out that our minds can be programed to both think and see subjectively instead of objectively. That being said, have you ever noticed how many times in scripture where God is speaking or a Prophet is speaking for God that He and they make reference to mans heart and not mans mind? Mans mind is the area through which Satan operates and uses to confound and deceive man. It is not until God open our heart that we begin to see and hear clearly that is why Jesus told Nicodemus that one has to be born from above, born again in order to enter the kingdom of heaven and God.(John 3:3, 7) That is why the Holy Spirit had Paul write in Romans10:9-10 that with the heart man is to speak and have understanding for righteousness and salvation.

Ezekiel 2:1-7, 8-10, 3:1-11, Malachi 4:5-6, Ezekiel 3:22-27 "He (the glory of the Lord as shown in verse 28 of chapter1 at it's close) said to me, Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak to you. And the spirit entered into me when He spoke to me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard Him that spoke to me. He said to me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me: they and their fathers have transgressed against Me, to this very day. For they are impudent children and stiff-hearted. I do send you to them; and you will say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD. They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You will speak My words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious." 

You, son of man, hear what I tell you; Be not rebellious like this rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that I give you. When I looked, behold, an hand sent to me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And He spread it before me; and it was written within and without: there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
 

Moreover He said to me, Son of man, eat what you have received; eat this roll, and go speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll. Then He told me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this roll that I given you. Then did I eat and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. (John 6:43-59)

He told me, Son of man, go, to the house of Israel, and speak with My words to them. For you are not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have hearkened to you. But the house of Israel will not hearken to you; for they will not hearken to Me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Moreover He told me, Son of man, all My words that I shall speak to you receive in thine heart, and hear with your ears. And go, to them of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, Thus says the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. (parallel passage Malachi 4:5-6)  

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless. It came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 

 

After those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 

It came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of your kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. They marveled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised (heard) abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. All they that heard, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 

His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost (Joel 2:28), and prophesied, saying, Bless the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited to redeem His people (Ephesians 1:7), and has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (Psalm 18:2, 132:17-18; Ezekiel 29:21); As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets (Daniel 9:24-27; Amos 9:11, 12), which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; The oath which He swore to our father Abraham, That He would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life. And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His way; To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring (2Peter 1:19-21, also known as the day of Christ restored within man's heart in Philippians 1:6, 10, 2:16 and 1Corinthians 1:4-10) from on high has visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his appearing to Israel.(John 1:31)

John the Baptist begins the Proclaiming of the Kingdom

for the Hebrews and then mankind, it marks the beginning of the end of all things Israel.

Luke 3:1-18 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John (Numbers 12:6) the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 

He came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission (the act of sending back, or forgiveness and pardon, Matthew 26; Hebrews 9) of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

He began saying to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, “O generation of vipers (these Jewish priest's and their followers are here likened to the serpent of Genesis 3:15, and Psalm 5:9-10, 58:4-5, Isaiah 59:5, Romans 3:13), who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Indeed the ax (used to mean destruction, the breaking into many pieces, to sunder) is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn (cut) down, and cast into the fire.” (John 1:19-34)

The people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answered them, he that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and asked him, Master, what shall we do? He answered them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And some soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? He said to them, do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. 

As the people were in expectation, and all men mused (wondering) in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying yo them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.

With many other things in his exhortation preached he to the people.(parallel passages Numbers 12:6; Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-18, John 1:19-28, 29-34)