The kingdom of God.

[Checkpoint]

Some seem to think it is entirely future, while others give the impression they are always thinking of it as present, and to not be looking at the future in kingdom terms at all.

Jesus had much to say about the kingdom, including this:

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.

So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect?

On what basis?

According to which scriptures?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 24 by JehovahsWitness]

A kingdom is any kind of rulership or the exercise of authority

An authority and rulership that has been exercised by Jesus Christ for the last 2000 years.

Matthew 28:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples from all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.�

How could Jesus be appointed king in 1914 if he was given "all authority" in 33 CE?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 55#p829355

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 24 by JehovahsWitness]

A kingdom is any kind of rulership or the exercise of authority

An authority and rulership that has been exercised by Jesus Christ for the last 2000 years.

Matthew 28:

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples from all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.�

How could Jesus be appointed king in 1914 if he was given "all authority" in 33 CE?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 355#829355

Your question has no validity at all.

It is full of JW assumptions that immediately make it irrelevant.

Also, please post your own words, or those of scripture, when replying to my posts, without organisation material.

Thanks.

[JehovahsWitness]

Also, please post your own words, or those of scripture, when replying to my posts, without organisation material.

You are not the boss of me. I will post any words I like, in any order with quotations from whatever organisational source I see fit. If you believe my posts violate forum guidelines feel free to report them. Otherwise I do believe that most computers have a mechanism by which one can scroll down if one finds the contents of a post personally displeasing.

I also believe there is an "ignore" option on this forum.

You're welcome,

JW

[Checkpoint]

Also, please post your own words, or those of scripture, when replying to my posts, without organisation material.

You are not the boss of me. I will post any words I like, in any order with quotations from whatever organisational source I see fit. If you believe my posts violate forum guidelines feel free to report them. Otherwise I do believe that most computers have a mechanism by which one can scroll down if one finds the contents of a post personally displeasing.

I also believe there is an "ignore" option on this forum.

You're welcome,

JW

OK, fair enough.

God bless.

[liamconnor]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

If the question is meant: what do you think N.T. authors have to say about the temporal aspect of the Kingdom of God, then the answer is most certainly present and future.

That the kingdom of God is in the future is the easier to defend: Paul's 'God will be all in all". The more difficult is the argument that it has already begun, but is not completed.

But there are also indications that the Kingdom of God is present. In the opening of Gal., Paul declares Jesus has delivered us from this present age. The wording is quite explicit. Paul strikes the balance--the present age continues (it is present, after all), and yet Christians are delivered from it (presumably into a non-present age, i.e., the future).

In Matthew Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is "among you", and therefore not future. But he also speaks of a future time of judgment (both good and bad; feasts and festivities as well as banishment).

[tam]

Peace to you JW,

[Replying to post 6 by JehovahsWitness]

The King is in place now (since 1914)

I must disagree with the 1914 inference, based upon my Lord's own words. From His words, He has been "in place" for much much longer than that, considering all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Him almost two thousand years ago. (Matt 28:18)

But also from His words to John (at the time He told John to write to the seven congregations):

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:21

Sat down. Past tense. He had already sat down on the throne by the time He told John to write to the seven congregations. By the time He even gave this revelation TO John.



Peace to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

If the question is meant: what do you think N.T. authors have to say about the temporal aspect of the Kingdom of God, then the answer is most certainly present and future.

That the kingdom of God is in the future is the easier to defend: Paul's 'God will be all in all". The more difficult is the argument that it has already begun, but is not completed.

But there are also indications that the Kingdom of God is present. In the opening of Gal., Paul declares Jesus has delivered us from this present age. The wording is quite explicit. Paul strikes the balance--the present age continues (it is present, after all), and yet Christians are delivered from it (presumably into a non-present age, i.e., the future).

Indeed.

That passage is well worth quoting here.

Galatians 1:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul clarifies further in this passage:

[

u]Colossians 1:[/u]

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Nothing could be clearer, the kingdom is present.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 27 by onewithhim]

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.

Jesus was "guiding his people in the preaching work" as part of his ministry before his death, and has continued doing so ever since.

The "weeds" of his Matthew 13 parable are "the sons of the evil one", verse 38, whether of false religion or of the world.

The "harvest" of the parable takes place at "the end of the age", verse 39, this one that we are still living in, it did not end in 1914, so it isn't yet "harvest time".

Those who will reap that harvest are angels, verse 39. Note what they will do and the reason, verse 41:

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers

[JehovahsWitness]

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:21

He had already sat down on the throne by the time He told John to write to the seven congregations.

Whose throne did Jesus sit down on back so many centuries ago?


What is the Messianic Kingdom?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 75#p883775



JW


RELATED POSTS

How could Jesus be appointed king in 1914 if he already had "all authority" in 33 CE?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 55#p829355

[Monta]

[Replying to post 36 by tam]



The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:21

Comparison with kjv:
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

To us earthlings it makes sense to say 'on' my throne but kjv says 'in' my throne.
We compare heavenly throne with throne here on earth yet God's throne is wherever he is honored, loved, worshiped.
We could say, his throne is in my heart - not on my heart.

If the 'the earth is his footstool', how big is his throne where he sits?
Does God sit? Is it perhaps a figure of speech?