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?

[onewithhim]

How can a government be within someone? ...

I think it means, the King is in your mind, person knows in the mind the King and his will and wants to do it.

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

[Checkpoint]

How can a government be within someone? ...

I think it means, the King is in your mind, person knows in the mind the King and his will and wants to do it.

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

Hello onewithhim.

I agree, the kingdom is not "just in someone's imagination". But neither is it just "a government".

To grasp what "the kingdom of Christ and of God"(Ephesians 5:5)is at any point, we must take note of and include OT prophecies such as the two you cited, the teachings and parables and prophecies of Jesus and his followers, and what is in Revelation.

These Scriptures cover many aspects of the kingdom. It is not a matter of "one size fits all", as it were.

What poster 1213 expressed could be a valid description of one way the kingdom government operates, couldn't it?

[JehovahsWitness]

I agree, the kingdom is not "just in someone's imagination". But neither is it just "a government".

In English when we modify something with "not just a ..." we usually mean it can be qualified as stipulated but is special or extraordinary in some way. For example "She isnt just a housewife" means she is a houswife but is exceptional, perhaps has other activities or pursuits that make her special.

In view of the above are you saying that Gods kingdom is a government but one of notible exception? If so, what are the governmental features of Gods kingdom ?




JW

[Checkpoint]

I agree, the kingdom is not "just in someone's imagination". But neither is it just "a government".

In English when we modify something with "not just a ..." we usually mean it can be qualified as stipulated but is special or extraordinary in some way. For example "She isnt just a housewife" means she is a houswife but is exceptional, perhaps has other activkties or things.

In view of the above are you saying that Gods kingdom is a government but one of notible exception? If so, what are the governmental features of Gods kingdom ?
JW

The kingdom of God has always been "one of notable exception". With God as its king, it could not be otherwise.

What these notable exceptions are, and when these are, has been, and will be, what He reveals and how He chooses to act, and is what He had planned all along.

Although He "changes not", His thoughts and ways may change over time. I cite the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

As He told Moses, His name is "I Will Be Who I Will Be". He cannot be put into a box.

[JehovahsWitness]

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

In my experience most people have no idea what the kjngdom is and only mention it in relation to a government if they have spoken to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From what I can see is they mostly just think its a feeling of loving God in your heart.


JW

[Tcg]

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

In my experience most people have no idea what the kjngdom is and only mention it in relation to a government if they have spoken to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From what I can see is they mostly just think its a feeling of loving God in your heart.


JW

It shouldn't be surprising that some people view this as figurative and not literal. Some people/groups view the destruction of the earth as figurative even though Revelation and 2 Peter present it as a literal event.


Tcg

[2timothy316]

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

In my experience most people have no idea what the kjngdom is and only mention it in relation to a government if they have spoken to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From what I can see is they mostly just think its a feeling of loving God in your heart.


JW

It shouldn't be surprising that some people view this as figurative and not literal. Some people/groups view the destruction of the earth as figurative even though Revelation and 2 Peter present it as a literal event.


Tcg

People think that way because they cherry pick verses. They have a preset dogma and they need scriptures to back it up. This is called exegesis.

Example: Though people look to 2 Peter chapter 3 and say the earth is going to be destroyed they completely dismiss verses 5-7. "For they deliberately ignore this fact, that long ago there were heavens and an earth standing firmly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; and that by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people."

The flood didn't destroy the literal planet Earth obviously because we are here today. But it did remove the ungodly people of the time. Same is true of what is coming. Only it will not be water that brings destruction to the ungodly people. Another reason to see this as figurative is because there is a promise in Genesis 8:21, 22 after the flood, the time Peter was referring to. The Bible says, "And Jehovah began to smell a pleasing aroma. So Jehovah said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground on man’s account, for the inclination of the heart of man is bad from his youth up; and never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done. From now on, the earth will never cease to have seed-sowing and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night.”

We have another assurance in Ecclesiastes 1:4, "A generation is going, and a generation is coming, But the earth remains forever."

So if we take into the account the whole Bible we have reason to view the 'destruction of the world' as figurative for destruction of ungodly people not the planet since 'the world' has suffered destruction before but the planet is still here.

Through just a bit more investigation finding out what exactly is the Kingdom of God isn't hard to find out. The real question is what is a person's seat of motivation? Why are they picking one interpretation over another? Personally I just want to know what is the truth. Others want to prove a point in their personal dogma.

[tam]

Peace to you,

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

I believe this:

"The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20-21

How can a government be within someone? This kingdom IS a government (see Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44). When Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you---it is more accurate in our vernacular to say "the Kingdom of God is in your midst"---he meant that he, the future King of God's government, was there in their midst. He represented that Kingdom. After all, he was the King-Designate.

The Kingdom can be within us if God and His Son, the King, are in us - by means of God's holy spirit (the water of life, the breath/blood/seed of JAH) being in us.

Us in them (if we are in the Body of Christ) and them in us (by means of God's holy spirit).


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

[onewithhim]

How can a government be within someone? ...

I think it means, the King is in your mind, person knows in the mind the King and his will and wants to do it.

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

Hello onewithhim.

I agree, the kingdom is not "just in someone's imagination". But neither is it just "a government".

To grasp what "the kingdom of Christ and of God"(Ephesians 5:5)is at any point, we must take note of and include OT prophecies such as the two you cited, the teachings and parables and prophecies of Jesus and his followers, and what is in Revelation.

These Scriptures cover many aspects of the kingdom. It us not a matter of "one size fits all", as it were.

What poster 1213 expressed could be a valid description of one way the kingdom government operates, couldn't it?

No. He said "the King is in your mind." In reality, the King is a very real Person---Jesus Christ---who will actually rule over the earth, as Isaiah and Daniel attest.

[onewithhim]

I asked you, how could a kingdom be in anyone's mind? Did you read Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44? Does that sound like God's Kingdom is just in someone's imagination?

In my experience most people have no idea what the kjngdom is and only mention it in relation to a government if they have spoken to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From what I can see is they mostly just think its a feeling of loving God in your heart.


JW

It shouldn't be surprising that some people view this as figurative and not literal. Some people/groups view the destruction of the earth as figurative even though Revelation and 2 Peter present it as a literal event.


Tcg

Revelation and Peter do NOT present the destruction of the earth as a literal event. It is all metaphoric, an incident described as something to get across a point that is not that literal point but an event that IS real in another way. We know that these references are not literal because of all the other scriptures that point to the earth as being here forever, and people being resurrected back to the earth from their graves. Besides the fact that the destruction of the planet is an insane idea (the planet is not to blame for its pollution and man's evil), scrutinizing the verses in Revelation and Peter will inevitably show us that they are speaking allegorically.

Jesus said that the end time would parallel Noah's day. Was the earth destroyed in Noah's day? No, it was "the ungodly men," as Peter brought out at 2Peter 2:5 and 3:7. And Revelation is almost completely allegorical. The earth will never be destroyed.

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4, KJV)

"And he built his sanctuary like high places, like the earth which he hath established forever." (Psalm 78:69, KJV)

"Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever." (Psalm 104:5, KJV)

"Your faithfulness is for generation after generation. You have solidly fixed the earth, that it may keep standing." (Psalm 119:90)

"The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved." (Psalm 93:1, KJV)

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5, KJV)


Why would Jesus and God give the earth to the meek as an inheritance if the earth was going to be destroyed??