A couple of verses I found interesting: First, for those who claim that in the Bible the phrase "the world" (as in John 3:16) means "the people" I submit this verse that separates "the world" from "those who live in it."
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.
Second, I recently had a discussion with someone who claims (as does John MacArthur) that God's Kingdom is a "future event" and has not yet come. I submit God has always been King, and that His Kingdom has been present for ever and ever... When Jesus came He brought the Kingdom to all humankind to be able to enter in. By stating it is future denies that it always was and is and is yet to come in its fullness. I see that people who teach these things mislead others astray as they believe that they are not part of the Kingdom that was, is and forever will be. Note also this verse teaches that evil “social justice”… yep, God is a communist after all … or is it that those that teach against this biblical teaching are just plain wrong about what the bible teaches on more than a few things?
Psalms 10: 16. The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18. defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
One final thought on how bad that teaching is. They teach that the Kingdom will come by careful observation of the times. But what did Jesus say about that?
Luke 17:20. Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21. nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
6 comments:
In reference to Luke 17:20-21 --- Keep reading to the next few verses. People love to quote those two verses, but read the rest of it to see that Jesus clearly is talking about the Second Coming in connection with the Kingdom.
See this link for further study regarding that passage in Luke 17: http://drreluctant.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/answering-the-95-theses-against-dispensationalism-17/
Lynda O,
That is what I am saying... it was, is and will be...
Yet, the following verses do not negate it is as Jesus stated clearly:
At hand... Here... Within...
So are you saying we must ignore those verses so that your understanding stands correct? Or do you believe that there is a fuller view of the Kingdom than that it is only to be a future event?
The kingdom of God is a future event, when Christ returns and sets up His kingdom on Earth. Yes, believers in the church are in that kingdom in the spiritual aspect of it, with Christ ruling now in heaven with sovereign control over this world. But that is different from saying that the kingdom of God is here now, in this world; and scripture never says that the Church is the kingdom of God (a common misconception). The kingdom of God on earth is yet future -- as referenced throughout both the OT and NT, with statements about how the apostles will judge the 12 tribes of Israel, and that we the saints will rule and judge the world (1 Cor. 6) -- a passage which also talks about who will and will not inherit the kingdom of God (again a future event). The parables Jesus told also made it clear that after His going away for a long time, He would return and (then) receive His kingdom. Currently Satan is the ruler of this age, the prince of the air, and scripture is clear that he is not now bound, as would be required if we're in the kingdom of God now.
The book of Acts is also very clear about the future Kingdom, as in Acts 1 when they ask Jesus if He will at this time restore the kingdom to Israel -- Jesus does not deny the fact of it or tell them they have it all wrong, that the kingdom is already here now. He simply says that it's not for them to know when. They had just had 40 days of instruction from Jesus, surely this would have been the time to correct their ideas if the kingdom of God is really here now. Acts 3 also makes reference to this future hope of Israel, the times of refreshing that will come at a later point (Jesus now in heaven where He will be until the time for restoring that which the holy prophets spoke of ) -- and when you read through the prophets and notice what they actually say, it is clear that they are talking about a future restoration of Israel -- another reference to the kingdom of God.
Lynda O,
I do not supposed to change your mind, yet scripture teaches that the Kingdom of God was, is and will be. If you read passages where Jesus teaches on it as well as OT references (one verse I used in the post)psalm 10:16 calls the LORD the "King"... Jesus Christ... being that Christ is not Jesus' last name but means "anointed one" or as in the Hebrew would mean, simply.. King. Jesus is King and set up His Kingdom on earth while he was here... for now He reigns in Heaven at the right hand of God and will return at the "regeneration of all things"...
The issue I see is that you have a theology that teaches contrary to Scripture's clear teaching...
So, in essence you are saying Jesus lied when he stated: Matt 13:33. He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Also you seem to be taken in by the idea that Jesus will come to take us out... well that goes against the very thing Jesus prayed about in John 17: 15. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
More so, if Jesus taught it was JUST the future, then what Jesus states to the very generation he spoke to while he was walking in his earthly ministry: "the kingdom of God is within you." is a lie as how could it be if it is just in the coming future.
Note also, Jesus states of the Kingdom of God/Heaven in Matt 3:"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
If you look at the Greek, it does not mean "near" as in some future date, but "at hand"... in your very presence"
Also, one become part of the Kingdom, when they are born into Christ Jesus. We are then born of Heaven... The Kingdom of God/Heaven is a spiritual rebirth and the physical reality of Christ in you... now and forever.
One more thing, Jesus then lied as he spoke in the present tense about the Kingdom of God.
Matt 11: 12. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
How could anyone lay hold of the Kingdom if it is just in the future? Jesus was speaking of the "days of John the Baptist" and not of some future event.
So, again, I see you have some errant teaching that blinds you from the fullness of scripture. The Kingdom of God was, is now, and is to come and is eternal. There is no beginning or end to God as he is THE KING OF KINGS who is forever and His Kingdom is eternal... grasp that and the bible will open up to you in great and wonderful ways... as well as you will find a new freedom and power in Christ Jesus NOW and not just hope for some future time.
I will add one more thought.
You are doing just as Jesus said was the way NOT to see the Kingdom... Yet there is a way to see the Kingdom... and that is to be born again... just as Jesus stated. So unless you believe that we are only born again in the future and then see the Kingdom what Jesus states makes no sense:
John 3:3. In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "
4. "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
We enter the Kingdom at our new birth into the Kingdom... and then we can see it. Just as Jesus teaches in that verse. Otherwise if one is not born again of the Spirit, they cannot see it. I see it and you do not... so what does that say I wonder?
I understand teh words of Jesus when He states in verse 11: 11. "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony."
BTW as far as the instructions from Jesus when asked when the Kingdom was to come... I already addressed that as Jesus is speaking not of it coming, but of it coming in its fullness. Note that Jesus then states that they were to stay in Jerusalem to recieve power... the power of the Holy Spirit... and then do what? Preach the Kingdom (see Acts 8:12; 28:31) The message was not fully understood by the Disciples until after Pentecost... after that, they gained understanding such as in the case when Peter was shown the Kingdom was open to Gentiles.
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