The Kingdom of My Father – 3 Nephi 28-30

​This week in our review of the Book of Mormon we’ll wrap-up our look at 3 Nephi with chapters 28 to 30.  We saw last week that Yeshua defined His Church through the processes and doctrines of redemption and sanctification. As a perfect complement now in chapter 28, we see Yeshua introduce us to exaltation or those who will enter the realm or kingdom of the Father – v. 8,10. Though we won’t see exaltation commonly reached until the Endtime Servant arrives, this doesn’t mean that individually we can’t receive this knowledge now. Consider this - 

---

​The Twelve Nephite Disciples
Here in chapter 28 we see the fate of the twelve Nephite disciples where Yeshua teaches about His kingdom and His Father’s kingdom. Nine of them desire to be with Yeshua once their morality ends, and, so Yeshua promises them that they will be with Him in His kingdom – v. 1-3. But the other three desire to remain on the earth to preach the Gospel. Because of their desire and dedication, Yeshua promises them that they will be in His Father’s kingdom – v. 8-10.

Twelve Nephite Disciples

Nine Disciples	Three Disciples
Realm/Kingdom of the Son	Realm/Kingdom of the Father

Holiness
When we look at our theme of threes, a progression of characteristics emerges that describes the type of people who reside in each of God’s eternal realms or kingdoms.  Notice here that the three disciples who go to the Father’s kingdom are not only sanctified or pure but they are also holy – v. 39.
 
39 Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.​

Twelve Nephite Disciples

Nine Disciples	Three Disciples
Realm/Kingdom of the Son	Realm/Kingdom of the Father
​Sanctified(Pure)	Sanctified(Pure) and Holy

Theme of Threes
Here is what our theme of threes looks like with respect of being honest, pure and holy.

Kingdom of the Spirit	Kingdom of the Son	Kingdom of the Father
Honest	Pure	Holy

Overview
Last week we introduced the general concepts of exaltation, so in review this is what we saw – 

EXALTATION ​Becoming Holy

Becoming Perfected

Reaches the Full Stature of Messiah/Christ

Sees God/Sealed Up to Eternal Life

Becoming Perfected
We have already set out the three main aspects of being perfected. To be perfected requires that a person overcome all categories of sin. When we accept Yeshua as the Savior and are redeemed, we overcome Universal Sin. When we are sanctified, we overcome Personal Sin and here to be holy, we overcome Inherited Sin or those sins/behaviors that are passed down from prior generations.
 
The second aspect of being perfect is to acquire a fullness of knowledge, which we can realize through the rule of seven that indicates a state of completion, fullness or perfection.  Some of those sevens include; the seven spiritual categories of humanity, the seven levels of Heaven, the seven stages of transformation, etc.
 
The last aspect of being perfected is to cultivate the seven attributes of Yeshua.

Becoming Perfected

​Overcomes Inherited Sin Receives a Fullness of Knowledge Cultivates Yeshua’s Seven Attributes.

Reaches the Full Stature of Messiah/Christ
The next segment of exaltation is to reach the full stature of the Messiah.  Here we see another three primary aspects to reach Yeshua’s full stature – entering the Davidic Covenant, becoming a King of Peace, and being a high priest and a proxy savior.

Reaches the Full Stature of Messiah/Christ

​Enters the Davidic Covenant Becomes a King of Peace Is a High Priest-Proxy Savior

Sees God/Sealed Up to Eternal Life
Our final segment to becoming like Yeshua is a second baptism of fire to test our resolve; having our calling and election made sure – our covenants here become everlasting and unconditional; and we see God and are sealed up to eternal life.

Sees God/Sealed Up to Eternal Life

​A Second Baptism of Fire – trial of faith Calling and Election Made Sure Know/See God – sealed up to eternal life

Kings, Angels and God
In Isaiah’s Hebrew Gospel, we see three levels of proxy saviors – Savior-Kings, Savior-Angels and a Savior-God.  Here in chapter 28 our three Nephite disciples reach the level as Angels who have the power of God.
 
30 And they are as the angels of God, and if they shall pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus they can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good – v. 30.

Our table below includes biblical examples of these three levels of proxy saviors.

Proxy Saviors

​Son/Daughters/Elect	Seraphim/Angels	​God of Israel
​Savior-Kings	​Savior-Angels	​Savior-God
​King Hezekiah	​Moses, Elijah, Three Nephite Disciples	​Yehovah-Yeshua

God's Power and the Process of Transformation
One comment that I hear repeatedly among Believers is that don't believe that they can ever become like God. But aren't Believers really saying that they don't believe in a God of miracles and that God is impotent to transform us into what He is?  To become like God, we have got to scrap the traditions of men that are stalling us in our ascent, receive the knowledge to ascend through our own searching and study, and change our lives by doing the things that God would do.