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?

[Checkpoint]

Two things but one kingdom.

Two things? you believe there are "two things"? What are the "two things" you say there are? (please use you own words, there is no need to refer to "unversal sovereignty" (that was MY term) please just identify "the two things"

Thing #1 being _________ [this]

Thing #2 being _________ [this]

And how is "thing #1" different than "Thing #2"? You said there are two things but one kingdom right, what are these "two things"?



Thanks

JW

It seems to me I have already given my answer:

You asked:

Do you agree that if the Kingdom (government) was set up in the Roman era it cannot be the same thing as God's souvereignty which predated existed from the beginning of time (and didn't start during the Roman era)?

I answered:

Yes, in that each age is of a different nature

No, in the sense that throughout we have the kingdom of God because the same God is its sovereign.

What changes is how it is ruled and who shares the rulership and/or its benefits.

[JehovahsWitness]

Your dictionary definition is incomplete and therefore can mislead.

It's not MY dictionary definition, I had no part in its publication. Feel free to contact the publishers if you have a problem with it. The website is linked above.


Have a nice day,

JW

"Your" means the one you chose to display.

Oh okay, I understand, yes those were the two dictionaries I have used. I included the links.


JW




click on picture to enlarge

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

What is God's kingdom? God's Kingdom is a heavenly government.

Who is in it? Jesus is its head, he shares rulership with 144,000 born again believers.

Where is it? It's in heaven

What does it govern? It will govern the entire planet earth.

When did it start governing? 1914

Is it "god ruling our hearts"? No.

Isn't the kingdom when God takes action in our hearts? No.

Is it "within us"? No its a government.

Is it "whenever God takes action"? No it's a government!

Will it find its expression through human governments? No it will destroy all human governments.

Will it's rule extend into the future? Yes, it will continue for 1000 years

What will it do for the earth? It will rid the earth of all wickedness and suffering, this is why its refered to as "The GOOD NEWS of the kingdom"

Why do so-called "christians" avoid speaking about the Kingdom? Because they don't know what it is.

What is the responsibility of True Christians ? Preach the good news of this Kingdom to anyone that will listen.

How can I learn more about the Kingdom? Talk to any Jehovah's Witness on the earth they will be happy to explain more. All of our children over 5 can also probably explain the above as well.

[Checkpoint]

Your dictionary definition is incomplete and therefore can mislead.

It's not MY dictionary definition, I had no part in its publication. Feel free to contact the publishers if you have a problem with it. The website is linked above.


Have a nice day,

JW

"Your" means the one you chose to display.

Oh okay, I understand, yes those were the two dictionaries I have used. I included the links.


JW

We are debating about the kingdom of God and basing our views on what we find in the Bible.

That is therefore where our definitions should come from.

In this case, that means from the Greek word translated "kingdom".

From Strong's Concordance

basileia: kingdom, sovereignty, royal power
Original Word: βασιλεία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: basileia
Phonetic Spelling: (bas-il-i'-ah)
Short Definition: kingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, kingdom

[JehovahsWitness]

Why would a good God withhold paradise for so long?

HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING? Answer: THIS LONG

Like string, time is relative, "so long" (or even "too long") for a human isn't long at all for an infinite God; indeed the bible says a thousand years is like a day for Jehovah. So in reality, the wait for the reestablishment of a paradise earth been less than a week.

2 PETER 3:3
First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desire and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation's beginning.

Jesus said his father has not stopped working so God has actively been working to put in place the kingdom and resolve mankind's problems. He has intervened ion numereous occassions on an individual a national and even international level to ensure his purpose work out as he fortold and all indications are that the set time for his final intervention, culminating with the killing of the incorrigibly wicked and the establishment of a new world order is imminent.


"SLOW" or "PATIENT"?

The difference between slowness and patience is purpose and intent. For both there is a seeming "delay" but slowness is a deliberate delay because one is reluctant even unwilling to perform a task; patience is deliberately allowing the needed time in order for something to be done well. To illustrate: The job of an amulance driver is to get to the scene of an incident as fast as possible. What if the fastest route was through a busy market where he would kill many more people but it would cut many minuites of his driving time? In other words, is fast the only consideration?

2 PETER 3:9
Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.

RELATED POSTS


If there is a God, why does he permit evil [and suffering]?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 77#p381277

Why did God not destroy Satan when he rebelled?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 75#p845975


FURTHER READING: Why does God Allow Suffering?
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... w-sufferin...




What is God's Kingdom? God's kingdom is a type of government.

click on picture to enlarge

[Monta]

[Replying to post 248 by tam]


"But we will all see Him when He returns. There will be no guesswork, there will be no question. No one will have to go around telling others who can't see for themselves that He has returned (just invisibly). Every eye will see Him. "

Love conjoins. "My sheep hear my voice".
How often when something is explained to us we exclaim, oh I see!

Years ago there was argument in local paper about God being invisible...
A Lutheran Minister took a photo of his congregation and said here is God visible. Besides that we see Him in nature, in love and affections of compassion, mercy, charity.
We do not communicate nor pray to an invisible God, but a visible God.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 262 by JehovahsWitness]

What is God's Kingdom? God's kingdom is a type of government.

No kingdom IS a government, but every kingdom HAS a government.

From Strong's Concordance

basileia: kingdom, sovereignty, royal power
Original Word: βασιλεία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: basileia
Phonetic Spelling: (bas-il-i'-ah)
Short Definition: kingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, kingdom.

[JehovahsWitness]

About two thousand years ago or so, Jesus claimed that the kingdom of God was at hand.

MATTHEW 3:1,2
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.�

MARK 1:14, 15
"Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. “The time is fulfilled, He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!�

Just prior to Jesus beginning his ministry John the Baptist (and later Jesus himself) announced "the kingdom of heaven is near" (some bibles say "at hand"): what did this mean?


"The Kingdom" was indeed near in that JESUS its designated head and representative was at hand (or near them). Although the kingdom would not be set up for many hundreds of years, the time had at last come to set in motion the events that would lead to its establishment. JESUS as the embodiment of that kingdom was among the people of Israel and it was crucial for them as a nation that they recognize him as the long promised Messiah, their King and the leader of their future kingdom government.



JW






What is God's Kingdom? God's kingdom is a type of government.

[/quote]

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 248 by tam]


"But we will all see Him when He returns. There will be no guesswork, there will be no question. No one will have to go around telling others who can't see for themselves that He has returned (just invisibly). Every eye will see Him. "

Love conjoins. "My sheep hear my voice".
How often when something is explained to us we exclaim, oh I see!

Years ago there was argument in local paper about God being invisible...
A Lutheran Minister took a photo of his congregation and said here is God visible. Besides that we see Him in nature, in love and affections of compassion, mercy, charity.
We do not communicate nor pray to an invisible God, but a visible God.

Yes, now we see with the eye of faith active in love.

1 Corinthians 13:

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Romans 14:

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Acts 9:5

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

Matthew 25:

37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 262 by JehovahsWitness]

What is God's Kingdom? God's kingdom is a type of government.

No kingdom IS a government, but every kingdom HAS a government.

This is what is called an intellectually-dishonest debate tactic.

Known as Layne's Law of Debate: Every debate is over the definition of a word. Or; Every debate eventually degenerates into debating the definition of a word.

Then the debate goes cold. So what can we learn from the debate of this subject? Before debating someone on this subject of God's Kingdom first both agree to the definition of the term 'kingdom' or both agree to a dictionary that both agree to the definitions found in that dictionary as true. The first to refuse the definition found in the agreed dictionary is the on the wrong side of the truth agreed upon.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 262 by JehovahsWitness]

What is God's Kingdom? God's kingdom is a type of government.

No kingdom IS a government, but every kingdom HAS a government.

This is what is called an intellectually-dishonest debate tactic.

Known as Layne's Law of Debate: Every debate is over the definition of a word. Or; Every debate eventually degenerates into debating the definition of a word.

Then the debate goes cold. So what can we learn from the debate of this subject? Before debating someone on this subject of God's Kingdom first both agree to the definition of the term 'kingdom' or both agree to a dictionary that both agree to the definitions found in that dictionary as true. The first to refuse the definition found in the agreed dictionary is the on the wrong side of the truth agreed upon.

Fine.

But it was not "an intellectually-dishonest debate tactic", but rather an honest attempt to gain the very agreement you said was first needed!

That is, "Before debating someone on this subject of God's Kingdom first both agree to the definition of the term 'kingdom'."

Anyone willing and able to agree on the definitions given of the Greek by Strong's Concordance?