Study of the Bible Community Group
The Bible unfolds like literature, and we follow the instructions like marching orders. The last orders supersede the previous ones. So the New Covenant (Testament) gives the design of who we are, what we do, and how we meet. What do you see in it, that can help us live better?
Part 1
The Return of Christ. Many people dont realy believe that Christ will actually return to earth. We'll start with, what happens when he returns. Let's see what the bible has to say on this. This will also be in parts too. That way, it will be easier to read and study.
At Christ's return, "the kingdoms of this world (will) become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15). Then God's will and desires will be completely and openly performed in this earth. Hence Jesus' command for us to pray: "Thy kingdom come (that) Thy will be done in earth, as it is (now) in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Because of this, the "kingdom of God" is a phrase interchangeable with "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 13:11 cp. Mark 4:11). Note that we never read of "the kingdom IN heaven", it is the kingdom OF heaven which will be established by Christ on earth at his return. As God's will is completely obeyed by the angels in heaven (Ps. 103:19-21), so it will be in the future kingdom of God, when the earth will only be inhabited by the righteous, who will then be "equal unto the angels" (Luke 20:36).
The present balance of power in the world is split between many nations, some strong and some weak. Daniel then saw a little stone hit the image on the feet, destroying it, and itself growing into a great mountain which filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:34,35). This stone represented Jesus (Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4-8). The "mountain" which He will create all over the earth represents the everlasting Kingdom of God, which will be established at his second coming. This prophecy is in itself proof that the kingdom will be on earth, not in heaven.
That the kingdom will only be fully established in reality upon Christ's return is a theme of other passages. Paul speaks of Jesus judging the living and dead "at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:1). Micah 4:1 picks up Daniel's idea of God's kingdom being like a huge mountain: "In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established"; there then follows a description of what this kingdom will be like on the earth (Mic. 4:1-4). God will give Jesus the throne of David in Jerusalem: "He shall reign...for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32,33). This necessitates there being a certain point at which Jesus begins to reign on David's throne, and his kingdom begins. This will be at Christ's return. "Of his kingdom there shall be no end" connects with Dan. 2:44: "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, it shall not be left to other people". Rev. 11:15 uses similar language in describing how that at the second coming, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever". Again, there must be a specific time when Christ's kingdom and reign begins on earth; this will be at His return.
We see that on these verses that Christ will be on earth reigning forever and ever.
The Return of Christ. Many people dont realy believe that Christ will actually return to earth. We'll start with, what happens when he returns. Let's see what the bible has to say on this. This will also be in parts too. That way, it will be easier to read and study.
At Christ's return, "the kingdoms of this world (will) become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15). Then God's will and desires will be completely and openly performed in this earth. Hence Jesus' command for us to pray: "Thy kingdom come (that) Thy will be done in earth, as it is (now) in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Because of this, the "kingdom of God" is a phrase interchangeable with "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 13:11 cp. Mark 4:11). Note that we never read of "the kingdom IN heaven", it is the kingdom OF heaven which will be established by Christ on earth at his return. As God's will is completely obeyed by the angels in heaven (Ps. 103:19-21), so it will be in the future kingdom of God, when the earth will only be inhabited by the righteous, who will then be "equal unto the angels" (Luke 20:36).
The present balance of power in the world is split between many nations, some strong and some weak. Daniel then saw a little stone hit the image on the feet, destroying it, and itself growing into a great mountain which filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:34,35). This stone represented Jesus (Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4-8). The "mountain" which He will create all over the earth represents the everlasting Kingdom of God, which will be established at his second coming. This prophecy is in itself proof that the kingdom will be on earth, not in heaven.
That the kingdom will only be fully established in reality upon Christ's return is a theme of other passages. Paul speaks of Jesus judging the living and dead "at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:1). Micah 4:1 picks up Daniel's idea of God's kingdom being like a huge mountain: "In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established"; there then follows a description of what this kingdom will be like on the earth (Mic. 4:1-4). God will give Jesus the throne of David in Jerusalem: "He shall reign...for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32,33). This necessitates there being a certain point at which Jesus begins to reign on David's throne, and his kingdom begins. This will be at Christ's return. "Of his kingdom there shall be no end" connects with Dan. 2:44: "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, it shall not be left to other people". Rev. 11:15 uses similar language in describing how that at the second coming, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever". Again, there must be a specific time when Christ's kingdom and reign begins on earth; this will be at His return.
We see that on these verses that Christ will be on earth reigning forever and ever.
....Nice to see you participating here again!!!!!!!
....I am not a verse by verse bible remembering theologian....
.... Somewhere......At the very end.....There will be a new heaven and a new earth and the way in which things are divided now; heaven there and earth here will be no more......Elsewhere; the sun will not beat down on us for the Light of God is what will light our way.......
.....However; as it is; we still have some major troubles ahead. Satan is still running the show down here and the masses are blindly led into worshiping him. Some unbelievable how even after being locked away for 1000 years and released; masses of people will come against the Lord and Israel. ( I believe I have concluded how he is able to do this.....As, he has to say and do something to bring this to pass. I believe I have concluded that since we are under the rule of satan here and the masses like the order of things that his end argument will be that man was raised up under his rule and the having to worship our Creator was not necessary and that dude gave us freedom.)
....For is this not the order of things today?.....Man is glorifying self, statues of great deemed men of earth in all types of places.....On a mountain....In baseball parks.....In places called churches.....In Hollywood...All around the free world.....Plus satan is also getting what he wants; worship to him and/or directed away from God.
....Why the earth refuses to glorify the God of heaven is simply beyond my understanding.
....Amazingly, the created; hacked and killed the Creator right off this planet.....And people think they are seeing clearly in the light....Oh boy!!!!!!
The Chauvinistic perpetuating of "kingdoms on earth", in the sense of black booted lords and manors, is a slave system that is slowly being done away with on earth. Without death, there could be no life on earth. Fill in the blanks, if you want, but that's not the kingdom of God. This is:
"Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you*." (Luke 17:20,21)
*within you, or within your grasp
So Sadducees. Acts 23:8,9 " "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God."
There are invisible kingdoms, whether it fits with wooden theology or not. The problem with the Sadducees wasn't just "no resurrection", in the "future sense". Importantly, their problem was that nothing was real, but the "visible".
[If it was visible, there would be no earthly need for cycles, food, growth, digestion, or law. Or earth. Or sex. Or men and women. And children.]
What? No men or women in God's Kingdom? Then who would be in it? One of our hopes is immortality. Christ says he will grant us that at Judgement. Immortality just like the angels. To rule on earth with Christ.
So many verses that tell us "in that day" when things will be set up by Christ. What the earth will be like. What the Kingdom will be like. Last few chapters of Ezek, tell us of exact temples that will be built in that day. Wonderful.
We know just by reading Daniel (along with many other books) that the Kingdom will be worldwide. Jesus will restore David's throne on earth and rule forever and ever.
Tom, dont take the bible to make it fit into your beliefs. You get false beliefs and doctrines.
...Does not the invisible powers that be; hidden from the eyes of man not come out into the physical realm?
....Flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the Kingdom of God........
....Biblically....A Christ return is imminent......
....The chosen through the ages will be given specific duties during the 1000 years of satan being locked away.....
.....The real thump-er here is that....Are the saved sent back here into a flesh body?...If this is a fact then how are we going from corrupted to incorruptible and then back into the possibility of corruption again?...Say I am sent to the far west to judge the affairs of a region.....How can I be back on earth in a Spirit that is not seen by human flesh and run affairs in a region?....But after dying once I cannot re-die again unless tossed into the lake of fire.....That destiny is for the unchoosen.....
....The bible CLEARLY states that after satan is locked away 1000 years he is set loose again and actually gets a huge number to come up and attack again God and his people......How is it these people come to conclude that they can kill again God's chosen who have already once died is beyond me......
.....Exacting details are left out and are not fully given.....So no one can be fully right or fully wrong here because the exacting information is not given......
.....I really do not want to re-enter the flesh after escaping from its issues......But a re-incarnation is a bible statement of fact, as is the fact that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom......But other facts are we will be like the angels.....Their will be no marriage.....Etc...and so on.....
......A claim to know 100% positive about such things should just not be held, as much of the exacts are not given......We are therefore guesstimating......So finger pointing on what will be that is not in exacting detail given to us is a unnecessary thing.....
Mark 12:25 "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."
THAT's how they are, now. Not that we missed any "resurrection". We haven't been left behind, but neither are we suggesting that the dead come back to live in bodies of clay. These fascinations with returning to physical bodies lead to Christian Zionism.
......So...The Spiritual realm does have contents to it...It is not beings floating around in nothingness....Trees exist; especially the tree of life......Robes exist....stones exist.....with new names given on the stone.....No mule this time for the Lord and no carbon spewing BMW....But on a white horse He returns.....(..Reminds me of The Lord of the Rings Movies, when Gandolf comes flying down the mountainside with army in tow to smash to smithereens the Orc hoard.)
.....And apart from most of creation; God has allowed me to see spiritual beings as they are...Satan looks exactly like a man, yet darkened to a unbelievable depravity of evil. He looks like a sorcerer, and wields occult powers...So in Revelations where it says the sorcery went out into the world; this is of NO exaggeration, as his power of sorcery HAS indeed went out to the world.
.....And dumbfoundingly; to me; we have angels with wings.......Like birds or something?
.....Angels DO NOT have wings!
....Satan IS the opposite of God.....Darkness and light.....Lies and truth.....Deception and fact.....God is the positive; Satan is the exact opposing negative.....( Like the Matrix Trilogy.....Neo was the positive of the equation.....The negative of the equation was the Smith.)
.....There IS so much that is going on that is being kept from the knowledge of man; that I am certain we will be amazed at how vast and great the creation is......
.....If by FAITH we have grown to be steadfast and trusting in the great I AM......The worry about the things you are worried about are completely unnecessary Israel....
.....When I first came across you; you seemed better off....Now you have seem to have gotten shipwrecked by a denial of even the deity of Christ......If Christ was ONLY a man; then your faith IS not in God; and the end result is not good.......
.....If Christ IS the Son of God; being God; then your Faith is in God and this Faith is the only road to salvation.....
.....Satan is the one who has man believing man has the power to save.....Ask 1 single preacher dude who is running around how it is that they are giving out God's Spirit unto people of their choosing; not a 1 of them can tell me where they are pulling the Holy Spirit from, nor by what and when such power was granted them.....They say a magical incantation and reach up; pull the Holy Spirit out of the sky and dish it to whomever......
.....I really wonder why or what has driven these postings?....Who has deceived you into a belief that the Son of God was only a mere man is unknown to me......Plus the heavy duty worry over how things will be after a bodily departure is a worry without basis..... Let God be God!....He knows what He is doing !!!!!
I never said he was just a mere man. I said he was born a man. God was his father. That's not really a mere man. David was also his father too. Not his direct father at birth, but being from the line of David. But I know where your coming from , so no problem.
Any man that thinks he knows the truth is not seeking it. Scripture clearly tells us to continually seek the truth. IN order to seek the truth, I have to be willing to be wrong about anything, or even everything. Scripture also tells us, trust God and lean not to our own understanding, again Gods word says, for now we know in part, then we will know fully even as we have been fully known, and once more it reads God desires all men to be saved and come to A KNOWLEDGE OF the truth. It does not say come to know the truth, we are finite, God is infinate, God can not fit into our minds. For those who think there are many godly truths, God's word says He is the truth. (not truths, TRUTH)
That being said, and also noting that we have been thru these topics several times, each time you do not answer questions asked of you...I consider your posts practically pointless.
I will point out just one of the many many flaws but I am not going to share the verses with you. IF you are seeking the truth you can look them up, yourself.
Jesus has allready been presented to Jerusalem as KIng. Daniel prophecied it, and it happened on the precise day the prophecy proclaimed. These events are recorded in the new testament for all to read. Your words again, do not match Gods words.
you tell others dont make the bible fit into your beliefs, but what you are doing is actually worse than that. You are taking other mens words over God's word. I really dont believe you came up with all this (wickedness) of your own accord. I expect you heard men teach it, and instead of testing it against Gods word, you are making the same mistakes your teachers have made.
Jesus said the kingdom of God is at hand. IN your midst. Hes been crucified 2000 odd years now. you say HIs reign hasnt begun, and HIs kingdom isnt here yet, you are actually calling Jesus a liar, if Jesus did lie, then he wouldnt have been pure and could not be our purification or salvation.
At one point I went throu and quoted every single scripture pertaining to God's kingdom, your ideas ignore half of those scriptures. IF in your next post you state before God emphaticly, you are willing to be wrong, I will participate in discussions with you again on this subject or others, if not, I am sure you will understand why i prefer not to waste my time.
I have stated many times and will continually state, I am always willing to be wrong about everything. I believe scripture is God's word. I believe God is truth. I believe God is love. I believe Jesus was born of a virgin and of God's spirit. there are many things I believe, but as God's word tells us, let God be true and every man a liar. I could be wrong about all of it.
I am a man. I am the worst of sinners, whom Jesus came to save.
....I CANNOT claim an understanding of HOW God is God in the forms of the Holy Spirit/The Son(the word)/ The Father.....Plus there is 7 Spirits coming forth from the throne of God that are not explained......
....God has worked with me in many ways and means to get necessary truths of fact to me over the years, which is odd in occurance and no one claiming such has really panned out for a heck of a long time to really be on God's side and not using God as a footstool to cash or to get people to follow them for a means of a self raising.....
....And even I DO NOT fully grasp the How it is God is 1 yet is also not!.....Jeez...Biblically, We have 7 Spirits from God's Throne.....A Holy Spirit.....And God's Son......Let alone different kinds of creation, whereas a creatures full of eyes, probably with some heavy duty power are guarding God's Throne......
.....Toss in the left out exacting details that ARE NOT given to us as to what is FULLY going to occur in the future......
....Or has 1 man ever been able to figure how God always was a I AM?.....Or has 1 man ever concluded what God was doing in forever before His move to create started? Or has 1 man ever concluded what God is planning for time forever more?
.... Arguments based on such things cause strife and almost all the time are coming forth from a point of view where the Bible does not prove such an opinion out.....( Most especially Israel's)- Jesus did not exist before earthly birth!
....Jeez...None of any of it will matter unless we chose now to stand on the side of God while being in enemy territory.....Forever more is invalid for us if we are not partakers of what Christ went through.....So who the heck cares what will be or how God actually is unless we do not get deemed unworthy and not dissolved in the lake of fire!
Absolutely!! Great point Joey! Jesus was talking about himself. He is the start of the Kingdom per sa. He is the King of the Jews and our coming King. But we also know thru other verses thru out the bible, that he was to come back to "set up" the Kingdom. So you see I am not calling Jesus I liar. That was a uncalled for comment. But that's ok, no problem.
[ At one point I went throu and quoted every single scripture pertaining to God's kingdom, your ideas ignore half of those scriptures.]
Your verses or the bible's verses? Which ones? But I am still willing to discuss any subject with you my friend, esp on the Kingdom. That would be awsome.
[I am a man. I am the worst of sinners, whom Jesus came to save.]
We all are Joey. Esp, me. I try to be meek and humble, fear God and keep His commandments. That's the best we can do. And I humblely for my lord's return and that hope of immortality.
And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,
Mark 1:15
and saying, “ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 21:31
Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:43
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.
Mark 4:26
[ Parable of the Seed ] And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
Mark 4:30
[ Parable of the Mustard Seed ] And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
Mark 9:1
[ The Transfiguration ] And Jesus was saying to them, “ Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Mark 10:15
Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
Mark 14:25
Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Luke 4:43
But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
Luke 6:20
[ The Beatitudes ] And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “ Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 7:28
I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Luke 8:10
And He said, “ To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
Luke 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “ No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 13:29
And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:15
When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “ Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Luke 16:16
“ The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Luke 17:20
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
Luke 17:21
nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Luke 19:11
[ Parable of Money Usage ] While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Luke 22:16
for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “ Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 28:23
When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
Acts 28:31
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
1 Corinthians 6:9
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
1 Corinthians 15:50
[ The Mystery of Resurrection ] Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Galatians 5:21
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
the kingdom of God has come upon you.
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (fruitless)
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God
fruit of the kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
Nathanial's prophecy to David fits in here:
1chronicles 17
“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever. ’”
Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Isaiah 9:6-8
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
What is the nature of God's kingdom? It is written God is spirit. What kind of kingdom would you expect God who is spirit to establish? I was born from my mothers womb by a perishable seed, which was the seed of Adam, passed down along with its corruption. God revealed Himself to me, I confessed my sins and was baptized first by water and then by spirit. I am born again of imperishable seed. Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God. The perishable can not inherit the imperishable. But because I am born again, not in flesh but spiritually I can(and have) inherited the kingdom of God. God's kingdom is a kingdom of spirit. What is an inheritance? Is an inheritance not passed down from Father to child upon the fathers death? Jesus died. Since I am born again of the same seed as Jesus,(seed of the Holy Spirit) upon HIs death my inheritance became available to me. God has allready established HIs kingdom. HE has allready begun HIs REign. His kingdom is here and now, and HIs reign will last forever. I live in God's kingdom. My body is a temple of the Holy spirit who is in me whom I have recieved from God. I am not my own, I was bought at a price. I honor God with my body by sacrificing my body to God. NOt only my body but all of my will and want and desire, where better to place everything in my heart but in God's hands. I belong to God. This house, the car, the truck, my very life my body my hands feet tongue lips...are all on the alter of God before HIm in HIs throne room. He can take what he wants, put in what he wants, make me sick or lame, burn the house or build it up, break the car or make it last...I will thank God and praise God for all things. His will be done not mine. My will always led me to ruin and misery, God's spirit has led me to peace and love and joy and hope...all perpetual, all perfect...all amazing fruits of God's spirit within me. There is a reason this is a mystery to those who are perishing, and even a mystery to those who are not mature spiritually.
I feel led by God to pray in a way I have never prayed before. I see four specific mountains. They are each named pride. I am speaking to each mountain. Go cast yourself into the sea. God's word states, IF I have faith as small as a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for me. Lets put the size of my faith to the test.
I apologize if my words seemed harsh. They were intended to be stern. IF I see a child running full tilt toward a cliff...I can not reach out and stop them what can i do but scream STOP?
Part 1
But I"m going to tell you that the Kingdom is not here yet. But Christ was the personifaction of the Kingdom to come. And just correct some of your thoughts, nicely. But your on the right track though. :>)
First of all, what does GOD want? He wants to fill the earth with His glory. That hasnt happened yet. "And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." So, when is it going to happen? We also look at Israel along time ago when "God" was their King. Because of the sins of Israel, they were partly destroyed, along with their throne and kingdom. But God said that he would someday re-establish their throne and Kingdom again. That hasnt happed yet. The nation of Israel is a nation again though, but not as the coming Kingdom at the return of Christ.
Let's look in Acts 1. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" The Apostles looked forward to the coming kingdom too. They knew about because it was part of the Gospel that they preached.
When Jesus died and was raised, he walked the earth for 40 days talking about the kingdom of God. Even before that before he died, he taught the Apostles how to pray for the kingdom. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
So you see the kingdom wasnt here yet.
2 Tim 4v1 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;" This tells us that the kingdom will be here when Jesus comes back.
Daniel 2. Tells us about a kingdom that will be "set up" in our future with the messiah.
Luke 1 tells us "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
Joel, Amos, Micah, Zechariah, all tell us, in that day, what the kingdom age will be like.
The last few chapters of Ezek, tells us about a literal temple that will be built in the kingdom age.
Mathew 5v5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." What? Not heaven???
Ok, now to your verses that you posted on the kingdom. I take it you believe that it is only a spiritual kingdom and not a real one. Ok, let's find out...... I'll just do some of your verses to save time and space.
[the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.]
Yes, Jesus was the personifaction of the kingdom to come or the kingdom age. It was at hand, with Christ. He showed everyone what the kingdom would be like too with the miracles that he did.
[flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;]
Yes, that is true. We cant enter into the kingdom in our state. At judgement will be made immortal and have eternal life. Made a spiritaul body, no more flesh and blood.
[the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God]
Yes, only the rightous will. Those who fear God and keep his commandments. Those who are "in Christ".
[unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.]
That's right, you need to be baptised to be "in Christ".
[the kingdom of God is in your midst.]
Yes, that was Christ. He is personifonication of the Kingdom.
1 Chron. 17 goes with 2 Sam. 7 "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever." Yes, it's talking about Christ.
[Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.]
This is something different. It's not talking about the kingdom that will come.
You mentioned Isaiah 9v6 "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." Absolutely!! The kingdom on earth forever and ever.
Daniel 2 "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." All future prophecy on the return of Christ "setting up" a kingdom.
[What is the nature of God's kingdom? It is written God is spirit. What kind of kingdom would you expect God who is spirit to establish? ]
It's a literal kingdom. Bible says so. Christ as our king. Rules forever and ever.
[God's kingdom is a kingdom of spirit]
Bible says different.
[There is a reason this is a mystery to those who are perishing, and even a mystery to those who are not mature spiritually.]
It's not a mystery at all. God HAS revealed it to man. We read it in the scriptures. OT and NT.
"And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."