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So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect?Luke 16:
6 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is being zealously urged into it.
A government is the system to govern a state or community. Government normally consists of legislators, administrators, and arbitrators. Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. Governments may control the economy, social freedoms, law enforcement, school system, and political systems.JehovahsWitness wrote:Yes, it was "in waiting" in a sense from 33 to 1914. As of that year, it has been a government in operation. The territory is the planet earth.McCulloch wrote:A government is a group that rules over a territory. A group that will rule sometime in the future is not a government. It might be called a government-in-waiting, but it isn't an effective government.
McCulloch wrote:A government is the system to govern a state or community. Government normally consists of legislators, administrators, and arbitrators. Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. Governments may control the economy, social freedoms, law enforcement, school system, and political systems.
The Kingdom Government is much larger, as it will rule over a much larger territory than the British Isles, it is comprised of 144,000 individuals with a central team of 12 "cabinet members". These act as "legislators, administrators, and arbitrators" in God's government (The Kingdom)Taking the British Government for example, their are 750 members of the House of Lords + 650 Members of Parliament (of those 21 special members are chosen to head the various departments (Cabinet). So effectively the British government is made up of 1400 individuals with a central team of 21.
quoted source (boxes): https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014241CONCLUSION: The Kingdom government meets all the criteria of a real government with stucture, legistlation and representatives. Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves citizens of this government, they already benefit from its educational program and enjoy strong bond with fellow subjects. The await with impatience the full application of kingdom powers.
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Who are the 144,000 To rule over?
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Are we to understand the Kingdom to be a LITERAL government that will rule over this literal planet earth?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 30#p865630
What will those ruling in this government (The Kingdom) actually DO in the future?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 22#p878622
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HEAVEN , THE 144, 000 and ... "DELAYS "DEBUNKED
Without these and other changes prior to the taking of kingdom power the post change era would be chaotic and largely ineffective.- The celestial war resulting in Satan and his demons being permanetly ousted from heaven - Rev 12:10-12
- The selecting training and appointing of the last of the members of the government (Rev 14:1,3)
- The selecting, training, organizing and education of the citizens of the kingdom (Rev 7:9; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 2:4)
- The organisation of a global government campaign puting all humans on notice of the coming change in world order (Mat 24:14)
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1914 , THE LAST DAYS and ...FAILED PREDICTIONS,
A kingdom is any kind of rulership or the exercise of authority; the "messianic" kingdom is simply the kingdom that belongs to Jesus the Messiah (Jesus). It was this kingdom Jesus taught his followers to pray for (Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth"). It will be in operation for 1000 years.Checkpoint wrote:No messianic kingdom no.
Please explain what exactly you mean by the term "messianic kingdom".
As understood and interpreted by every JW, and by no one else, yes.QUESTION: If God's kingdom has been in power since 1914 why have there been no significant changes on earth?
The bible indicates that there would be a delay between the installation or setting up of the government and the change of power. (compare Psalms 110:1). This does not mean it has been inactive, indeed the scripures speak of some significant changes that occurred in heaven, invisible to humans but that have effected mankind profoundly (see Rev 12:10-12). That said the bible specifically states that there is "an appointed time of the nations" meaning a specific period when human government would be permitted to dominate the world scene and only when this period (long forordained by the Creator - see Acts 1:6, 7) would their authority be completely removed.
Since Jesus would take up kingdom power prior to his destroying all human government and taking control of the planet, he provided his followers with signs by which they would understand that he was indeed installed as king and that the coming change of power was imminent. This composit sign can be read in the bible in Matthew Chapter 24, Luke Chapter 21 and Mark 13.
Yes, I do, and I have heard its explanation. You seem satisfied with what you have heard elsewhere, so all I say now is...blessings to you and may you have peace. Farewell.Checkpoint wrote: [Replying to post 8 by onewithhim]
Psalm 110 tells the truth about Christ and how he has been ruling in the midst of his enemies from day one, and will continue to do that until his return.God said to the Messiah long before he began his rule, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34,35) That part of Jesus' rule would be "in the midst of his enemies" was brought out in that same psalm, verse 2. That meant that for a time, Jesus would still have his enemies being active on the earth. What he would be doing at that particular time would be guiding his followers on the earth concerning the preaching work--witnessing to all the nations---that had to be done before the end of men's rule. (Matthew 24:14)
He has had many enemies, but in a parable names one in particular.
That parable of the kingdom is featured and explained in Matthew 13:24-30;36-43.
Do you have ears to hear it and its explanation?
Yes, Jesus concentrated on guiding his people in the preaching work when he took his throne in 1914. Before that, no he wasn't doing that. The churches of Christendom are the "weeds" of his parable in Matthew 13. They were to be sorted out at the "harvest time," which we're living in now.Justin108 wrote:Did Jesus start doing this after 1914?onewithhim wrote:God said to the Messiah long before he began his rule, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34,35) That part of Jesus' rule would be "in the midst of his enemies" was brought out in that same psalm, verse 2. That meant that for a time, Jesus would still have his enemies being active on the earth. What he would be doing at that particular time would be guiding his followers on the earth concerning the preaching work--witnessing to all the nations---that had to be done before the end of men's rule. (Matthew 24:14)Justin108 wrote:How do these verses point to 1914? What exactly do you mean by "in operation"? What exactly did the kingdom start doing in 1914 that it did not do before then? Or did the kingdom not exist before then?JehovahsWitness wrote: [Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]
In my experience, few can actually define what God's kingdom is, most launch into a rather vague discourse about it being something about heaven and in ones heart. I will leave the thread to demonstrate how few people (especially nominal Christians) can actually say what God's kingdom is.
God's kingdom refers to his heavenly government which has been in operation since the year 1914 (compare Daniel 4:10-16; Ezekiel 17:22-24; 31:2-5 ; Revelation 12:6, 14).
And Jesus did not do this prior to 1914? Did Jesus not guide his followers to give witness prior to 1914?onewithhim wrote:He has been guiding his followers for over a hundred years now, to give a thorough witness to all the world.
Yes... any minute now.onewithhim wrote: We can tell by the information in the 24th chapter of Matthew, plus Revelation and Daniel, that Jesus will take over rulership of the earth and destroy men's governments any time now. (See Daniel chapter 2. Research the "immense image.")
onewithhim wrote:Checkpoint wrote: [Replying to post 8 by onewithhim]
Psalm 110 tells the truth about Christ and how he has been ruling in the midst of his enemies from day one, and will continue to do that until his return.God said to the Messiah long before he began his rule, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34,35) That part of Jesus' rule would be "in the midst of his enemies" was brought out in that same psalm, verse 2. That meant that for a time, Jesus would still have his enemies being active on the earth. What he would be doing at that particular time would be guiding his followers on the earth concerning the preaching work--witnessing to all the nations---that had to be done before the end of men's rule. (Matthew 24:14)
He has had many enemies, but in a parable names one in particular.
That parable of the kingdom is featured and explained in Matthew 13:24-30;36-43.
Do you have ears to hear it and its explanation?Yes, I do, and I have heard its explanation.
What exactly was that explanation?
Who gave it to you?
Please clarify what you meant by "elsewhere".You seem satisfied with what you have heard elsewhere,
Thank you. I reciprocate.so all I say now is...blessings to you and may you have peace.
With respect, no, we have "unfinished business" to attend to, surely?Farewell.
So before 1914, Jehovah's Witnesses didn't preach? Or did they preach but were unguided by Jesus?onewithhim wrote:
Yes, Jesus concentrated on guiding his people in the preaching work when he took his throne in 1914. Before that, no he wasn't doing that.
An authority and rulership that has been exercised by Jesus Christ for the last 2000 years.A kingdom is any kind of rulership or the exercise of authority
