The Kingdom of God

[JD731]

In Psalm 115, Jehovah says the following.

14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

The kingdom of God is one of the four (4) major prophetic themes in the Holy Scriptures.




Psalm 115:

1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen (nations) say, Where is now their (Israel's) God?

Where is he?

3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their (the heathen's) idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They (their idols) have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

That is the description of the gods of the nations, the heathen. But what about Israel whose God is the LORD, Jehovah?

9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD (Jehovah): he is their (Israel's) help and their shield.
10 O house (family) of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12 The LORD hath been mindful of us (the house of Israel): he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron (the priestly tribe of Israel).
13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye (the house of Israel & the house of Aaron) are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we (the houses of Israel and Aaron) will bless the LORD from this time forth (from the time the dead go down into silence) and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

The first doctrine of God in the Bible is a one man rule over all the earth that he had created but was stymied by the usurpation of the Serpent. God has from the beginning directed history to recover the rule of the earth over a converted population. Jesus Christ, along with his purified bride will rule this earth for God his Father and when he sits on the throne in Jerusalem, it will be over an earthly population every one of which has chosen him to be their Savior at some time in their life..

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Zechariah 14:9
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
(the phrase "in that day" is almost aways a reference to the day of the LORD, the seventh day of human history when God counts a day as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day).

Flesh and blood cannot enter into this kingdom because it is not just a physical kingdom but a spiritual kingdom as well. Israel before Christ was a physical kingdom only and answers to why they could not attain to the perfection of the Law that was given them by God who birth them. A man must have both a physical body and the Spirit of God must dwell in it before he can populate this kingdom of God. He can do that only through faith in the biblical Jesus Christ, The source of the Spirit through his death and resurrection. Receiving the Spirit is the new birth. When God is finished with his work of redemption that will have been accomplished for all who are left on the earth all will be saved.

There is a false Christ that has been presented here by some that cannot save men, according to their own testimony ans so in theit theology there can be no earthly eternal kingdom.

Let's talk about this.

 

[Charlie24]

In Psalm 115, Jehovah says the following.

14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

The kingdom of God is one of the four (4) major prophetic themes in the Holy Scriptures.




Psalm 115:

1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen (nations) say, Where is now their (Israel's) God?

Where is he?

3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their (the heathen's) idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They (their idols) have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

That is the description of the gods of the nations, the heathen. But what about Israel whose God is the LORD, Jehovah?

9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD (Jehovah): he is their (Israel's) help and their shield.
10 O house (family) of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12 The LORD hath been mindful of us (the house of Israel): he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron (the priestly tribe of Israel).
13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye (the house of Israel & the house of Aaron) are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we (the houses of Israel and Aaron) will bless the LORD from this time forth (from the time the dead go down into silence) and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

The first doctrine of God in the Bible is a one man rule over all the earth that he had created but was stymied by the usurpation of the Serpent. God has from the beginning directed history to recover the rule of the earth over a converted population. Jesus Christ, along with his purified bride will rule this earth for God his Father and when he sits on the throne in Jerusalem, it will be over an earthly population every one of which has chosen him to be their Savior at some time in their life..

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Zechariah 14:9
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
(the phrase "in that day" is almost aways a reference to the day of the LORD, the seventh day of human history when God counts a day as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day).

Flesh and blood cannot enter into this kingdom because it is not just a physical kingdom but a spiritual kingdom as well. Israel before Christ was a physical kingdom only and answers to why they could not attain to the perfection of the Law that was given them by God who birth them. A man must have both a physical body and the Spirit of God must dwell in it before he can populate this kingdom of God. He can do that only through faith in the biblical Jesus Christ, The source of the Spirit through his death and resurrection. Receiving the Spirit is the new birth. When God is finished with his work of redemption that will have been accomplished for all who are left on the earth all will be saved.

There is a false Christ that has been presented here by some that cannot save men, according to their own testimony ans so in theit theology there can be no earthly eternal kingdom.

Let's talk about this.

Maybe you've noticed in Covenant Theology the fulfilled prophecies follow a literal interpretation, but when it comes to the unfulfilled prophecies a different approach is taken. They switch their method to an allegorical reading for no reason at all, other than to make the Church to be Israel ignoring the descendants of Jacob and the promises made to them through Abraham.

 

[JD731]

Maybe you've noticed in Covenant Theology the fulfilled prophecies follow a literal interpretation, but when it comes to the unfulfilled prophecies a different approach is taken. They switch their method to an allegorical reading for no reason at all, other than to make the Church to be Israel ignoring the descendants of Jacob and the promises made to them through Abraham.

I agree C24. Just as no one can enter the kingdom unless they are born again, neither can they discern the spiritual content of the word of God unless they have the Spirit of God in them. One must be taught of God to think like him. This is told to us in 1 Cor 2. Consider first of all what Paul said in 1 Cor 1:10;

1Co 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Then he says here;

1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are divided by two things. 1) we are not speaking the same things because the words are different and 2) in many cases we do not have the same teacher of the words.

The Spirit of God teaches some and worldly wise men teaches some, and therefore the results are not the same.

6 ¶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (the guys in verse 13)
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (there goes the doctrine of determinism).
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.


Why must we have a divine teacher? Because the church is a mystery that has been hidden and is now revealed in this age to the saved. Therefore, it is safe to say and affirm that the church was not a subject of the prophesies of the OT prophets. I posted this thread because I thought it would be instructive to talk about the kingdom of God, of which the church is but a part.

 

[Charlie24]

I agree C24. Just as no one can enter the kingdom unless they are born again, neither can they discern the spiritual content of the word of God unless they have the Spirit of God in them. One must be taught of God to think like him. This is told to us in 1 Cor 2. Consider first of all what Paul said in 1 Cor 1:10;

1Co 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Then he says here;

1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are divided by two things. 1) we are not speaking the same things because the words are different and 2) in many cases we do not have the same teacher of the words.

The Spirit of God teaches some and worldly wise men teaches some, and therefore the results are not the same.

6 ¶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (the guys in verse 13)
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (there goes the doctrine of determinism).
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.


Why must we have a divine teacher? Because the church is a mystery that has been hidden and is now revealed in this age to the saved. Therefore, it is safe to say and affirm that the church was not a subject of the prophesies of the OT prophets. I posted this thread because I thought it would be instructive to talk about the kingdom of God, of which the church is but a part.

I have a tendency to upset folks on BB, and if I get started on following the Kingdom of God in Scripture the world here would turn upside down.

I'm going to release a bit of it in Part 4 Dispensationalism, when I can get to it!

 

[percho]

In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages; Heb 1:2 YLT
Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death -- that is, the devil -- Heb 2:14 YLT

1 Cor 15:50 YLT And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign [kingdom] of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption;


Did 1 Cor 15:50 also apply to Jesus of Nazareth relative to inheritance? Is Daniel 7 relative to inheritance? Is Daniel 2:44 relative?
When did Jesus of Nazareth [Son of Heb 1:2] inherit the kingdom of God?

 

[JD731]

In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages; Heb 1:2 YLT
Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death -- that is, the devil -- Heb 2:14 YLT

1 Cor 15:50 YLT And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign [kingdom] of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption;


Did 1 Cor 15:50 also apply to Jesus of Nazareth relative to inheritance? Is Daniel 7 relative to inheritance? Is Daniel 2:44 relative?
When did Jesus of Nazareth [Son of Heb 1:2] inherit the kingdom of God?

Jesus Christ is the firstborn son of God from the dead. Compare Psa 2:7 with Acts 13:26-38. It is best to read full context and believe the words.

Col 1:18 - 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning (of the church), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

In the economy of God the first born has preeminence over all other sons and is given a double portion of the inheritance.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Someone should stop and think logically and reasonably at this point. All genealogies begin with the father. Jesus Christ is the first and only son of God born of a woman, but having the image of his Father. Since it is said that he was made in the likeness of men, he was not a glorified man at his first birth in Bethlehem although he is in the image of God. What is this image? It is trinitarian. He is body, soul and the Spirit of God dwelt in him from his conception. Here is proof;

Jn 1`:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Now consider; all men born previously of a woman (this would exclude Adam and Eve who were created) were not in the image of God. They were in the image of Adam after his fall. They were body and soul. The body came through Adam and the spirit of man (the soul) came from God. Physical death is the separation of the two.

Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

All OT men, both justified and unjustified, were in this condition. They were not in the image of God and they were not in the image of Jesus Christ. They did not have the Spirit indwelling their mortal bodies. When they died it was a physical death only. It was the first death. Their soul went to the same place, the heart of the earth where there was a place with a division into two temporary holding places separated by a great gulf. One for the justified and one for the unjustified. Rest for the saints was in one place and fire and torments in the other. The body was on the earth returning to the dust. This is the first death.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Quick stop here; The OT saints were resurrected in a new body because the shed blood of the cross was now applied to them after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the blood washed away their sins (without the shedding of blood is no remission) and they could now appear in the presence of God, BUT they were never while on the earth in the image of Jesus Christ, trinitarian, as we who are in the church of Jesus Christ are, having been born again from above. We, the church, have the Spirit of Christ indwelling in our mortal bodies making us one with Christ. Which, brings us back to the inheritance.

We the church of Jesus Christ, his body, has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us individually and collectively, making us one in Christ, and one with Christ the Spirit being the earnest, the guarantee, of our inheritance. (we in Christ and Christ in us). We are not just heirs but joint heirs with Christ. This means we will share equally in all that Christ inherits. Our resurrection at the same time will guarantee that we will have a glorious trinitarian body and we are, not like the bodies of the OT saints or the resurrected saints of Re 20, but a body like unto the glorious resurrected body of Christ. Do you see the metaphor?

The church of Jesus Christ are "sons" of God by the new birth" and Jesus Christ who became like us, so we can become like him, was the firstborn son in this family of God at his resurrection from the dead, at which time his body was glorified and we are all brethren who are in this body and we are separate from any other eternal entity or we need to scrape Col 1;18 and other passages that say we are. Of course I am not going to scrape any words from my KJV Bible but find the logic of the words and reason them out and believe them. I think that honors God.

So, those in the church becomes in the image of Jesus Christ, soul, and the Spirit of God in a mortal body so we can, like him, receive a glorified and eternal body at our resurrection/change that can occupy the heavenlies. We have the earnest already but we do not have that kind of body yet.

Phil 3:20 For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (the operative word is glorious)

What wonderful hope we the church have in Christ. He is a wonderful Saviour. May he be praised and exalted by us all.

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