The True Meaning Of Occupy Till I Come Part 2.
The nobleman in the parable of Luke 19 is not just one who went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return, he is also one whose rule/reign is not accepted by the world while he is away and will never be accepted till he returns to enforce and establish it.
Now let's consider closely the words "occupy till I come" as spoken in the parable of Luke 19
Luke 19
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
The word translated as 'occupy' in the english version(KJV) is the greek word
pragmateuomai which means to be occupied in anything, to carry on a business, to carry on the business of a banker or a trader. To busy oneself with, that is, to trade.
Just like Jesus was occupied with being about his father's business, he wants us to be occupied with his business(that which he has called & commissioned us to do).
As his meat/preoccupation was to do his Father's will and to fulfil the work/assignment which he had given him, he wants us also to be preoccupied with doing the Father's will and the work he called us to do. As his preoccupation/Father's will was not for him to be crowned a king here to take over/occupy the kingdoms of this world likewise the Father's will for us is not take over/occupy the kingdoms of this world but to bear witness of the glory of the resurrected Christ and be delivered/ kept from the evil/corruption in this present evil world unto his heavenly kingdom. To this end also Christ died and gave himself for our sins.
Galatians 1:1,3-4.
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Titus 2
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
2 Timothy 4
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 1
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Concerning the physical world(kosmos) with its government, constitution and order the Lord Jesus said his disciples are not of it though they are in it. He also said that his kingdom is not of it. Concerning this present evil world/age(aeion), the Father's will is that in the midst of the work/witness we are called to bear in it as lights shining in a dark place, we will be ultimately delivered from it and preseverd unto his heavenly kingdom. It is thus not a surprise to see that the apostle's rejoicing and joy was not merely in having the saints at Philippi shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation but in their holding forth the word of life until the day of Christ. His rejoicing over these saints could only be full/complete in the day of Christ when they ultimately are ushered into the heavenly kingdom. Anything short of this would mean he has ran/laboured in vain. If the saints at Philippi should stop at merely shinning as lights in this world and not ultimately make it to the heavenly kingdom the apostle's labour toward them will be in vain. However shining as lights in this world is clearly a moral issue of bearing witness of Christ both in word & deed, walking in his steps & light in contrast to the path of darkness which the children of this world thread in.
Philippians 2
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
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