What is the Kingdom of God, according to the Bible, the Word of God?

[Lees]

Because we are talking about the 'Kingdom of God', then Who gets to say what the Kingdom of God is? God does. And how do we expect to understand the 'Kingdom of God' if God does not reveal it to us?

Our understanding of the 'Kingdom of God' must come from God. And He has revealed it in His Word the Bible. If the Bible is not the Word of God, then it has no authority to reveal the 'Kingdom of God'.

Who is Ruler in the Kingdom of God? God.

I don't mind anyone's participation in this as long as you acknowledge, 'according to the Bible'. If you don't know the Bible, or believe the Bible is the Word of God, probably best for you to stay away.

Lees

[Warbler]

the racist nutcase has returned.

[Lees]

(Psalm 103:19) "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

(1 Chron. 29:11) "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom , O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."

All of creation, the entire universe, heaven and hell, the Lake of Fire, is in the Kingdom of God. This means all of mankind and angels from the beginning have been and are in the Kingdom of God. No doubt the haters of God dislike this truth, as they think just because they reject God they are outside of God's Kingdom. One's unbelief and rejection of God does not remove them out of the Kingdom of God. It has been said by some that 'they would rather rule in hell than serve God in heaven'. But that is a false statement because God is the Ruler of hell.

God's Kingdom extends over all He has created both spiritually and physically. Many make the error of opting for Platonic dualism saying if it is material and earthly then it is evil, and if it is spiritual then it is good. But that too is a lie. For evil first surfaced in the spirit realm when Satan, a spirit being, rebelled against God. And that rebellion would have taken place in Heaven. And when God first restored the material earth as a place for man, He said it was good. (Gen. 1:3-25) So, there is no place for Plato's dualism of material and spiritual in the Bible.

Lees

[Chuck Naill]

Jesus taught his apprentices/followers how to pray. The first line of the model prayer addressed to our God as a father in the heavens whose name is hallowed or holy. Jesus continues, "your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in all of the universe".

This means to me that God's will isn't in operation on the Earth or with humans at least. The extent in which God choses to control is self-limiting. He gives humans the option of following or not.

I've used this analogy before, humans have their own individual kingdom. To the extent that they have a choice and are free to bring those choices about, that is their kingdom, a place of power.

When first John the Baptist and later Jesus began they announced the opportunity to enter into God's power and rule. John said I am baptizing you with water, but the one coming after will baptize you with the Holy Spirt signaling a life with God, Jesus, and Jesus' spirit. This power is the source for change. Israel's history was like the blade of a saw, up and down. Their religion had been made very complicated by 10 laws becoming over 600. The Sabbath had gone from a day to stop work into a burden for the common Jewish person. Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Jesus taught that hate is the same as murder and lust the same as adultery. Jesus' message was directed at who people are or became inside, their spiritual formation. As Paul noted, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. This transformation of the inner person represents the new birth Jesus told Nicodemus was necessary. As Esekiel recorded, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.". Jerimiah echos the concept, "I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them." First John continues the theme, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Kingdom living, is living in the power of God, being plunged into an intimate relationship by following Jesus as his students. This message is to anyone and everyone. No matter who you are or what you have done, you are blessed if you are the in the Kingdom. When this message resonates with people, they come to see it as Jesus described, a treasure and a pearl of great price. They leave their kingdoms in enter God's kingdom learning how to do what he said would lead to living life well as Nehimiah 9 states. The net net of the message is that God is on our side, wants only our best.

Psalm 23 is a picture of intimacy with God that the writer was able to experience. Jesus said that anyone in the Kingdom of God was greater than John the Baptist. Obviously, any reader would have to conclude that whatever Jesus meant by the Kingdom, something is different because of Jesus.

Jesus demonstrating the Kingdom, "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Further demonstrations of the Kingdom coming with Jesus in answering John if he was the one expected, "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, and the destitute of this world find out God is on their side" aka, the good news aka the message Jesus preached.

The Kingdom on John's vision, " I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s Word, the witness of Jesus. It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: “Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” I turned and saw the voice."

[Lees]

Continued from post #(3)

So, if God's Kingdom is over all creation, at all time and anytime, be it past, present, or future, why the need to discuss the 'Kingdom of God'?

Answer: Because the earth is the focal point, at this time, of God's rule being implemented. (Matt. 6:10) "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. What does this verse show? It shows the Kingdom is not on the earth at this time, but it's God's desire that it will be. It shows that God's will is not always done, at this time, on earth as it is in Heaven. But, why is the earth the focal point?

When was the earth originally created? Long before (Gen. 1:3-25). For we are told in (Job. 38:4-7), God is speaking to Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?....When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" The term 'morning stars' and 'sons of God' in the Old Testament speak to the angels. Direct creation from God. And here, at the very beginning of the earth's creation, all of the angelic realm sang together and shouted for joy. Which means the rebellion of Lucifer had not yet occurred. Because not only Lucifer rebelled, but he took with him a third of the angelic host. (Rev. 12:4) "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth...."

And in (Isa. 14:12-15) we are given information surrounding the origin of Satan's rebellion. "...For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...." Satan will 'ascend' into Heaven, meaning he is beneath Heaven at that time. Also, in (Exekiel 28:11-19) we are given further information. "...Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God....Thou are the anointed cherub that covereth...thou wast upon the holy mountain of God...Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee...." The location of Eden is earth. So, Satan, also called Lucifer, had been given authority over the earth.

Satan's authority over the earth, created pride and desire to be like God. And this was the first sin in Creation. Causing great judgement from God which is described in (Gen. 1:2) "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Then enters God creating man, a creature less than the angels. To whom God will give the rule of the earth to. (Gen. 1:28) "...Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." But, it will be contended by Satan. Thus you have man created perfect in the Garden, but then Satan is present to pervert and destroy what God is doing with man. Thus you have the fall of Adam.

Thus you have the earth as the focal point of the great spiritual warfare of God's will being on earth as it is Heaven. The Kingdom of God, the will of God represented on earth by and through His created beings. Which was through the angels, but now has been given to man. But it will be after the fight.

Lees

[Lees]

continued from post #(5)

Based on what has been said in post #(5) some important points need to be addressed and repeated.

When studying the Bible, concerning the Kingdom of God, one must distinguish between the universal Kingdom of God which is over all, and the Kingdom of God on earth, which is implemented through God's creature man.

As was shown, man was not the first creature to be given authority over the earth and to implement God's will on earth. The angels were. And Satan was the lead angel. But Satan rebelled against God and the angels lost their privilege of exercising God's will on earth. In other words, the Kingdom of God was taken from them. And God had no intention of restoring it back to them. Instead, God created another creature, man, who was less in power and authority then the angels and Satan was. And to man, God determined to give the rule over the earth to. To give the Kingdom of God to. To give to man the power to implement God's will on earth. Thus you have the creation of Adam and Eve.

Satan's hatred of God knows no bounds. Satan's jealousy and hatred of the lesser creature man knows no bounds. For God has given to a lesser creature that which was his. Satan has observed what God is doing, and begins his plan to stop and destroy it. He knows he lost his authority over the earth, due to his sin against God. So he will work toward getting man to sin against God and thereby, not only causing man to lose his authority over the earth, but to place man in the position of being susceptible to Satan's will on earth. And so he did and so Adam and Eve fell.

With fallen man, Satan goes about establishing his will on earth. His kingdom on earth in opposition to God. But, no doubt to Satan's great disappointment and rage, God did not destroy man to whom He gave the dominion over the earth to. Instead he instituted His plan whereby man would exercise God's will on earth. Where man would implement the Kingdom of God on earth. (Gen. 3:15) " And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Note how all of this is very 'spiritual'. And also, very earthly. A spiritual warfare over the material rule of the earth. The Kingdom of God on earth. "Thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Note also, that the Kingdom of God didn't begin with Jesus when He came the first time preaching 'repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand'. It's origin goes back to very beginning before man was even created. So to understand the Kingdom of God, you must go all the way back in history, as given in the Bible. You do not start with the New testament. You start with the Old Testament. The Kingdom in the New testament will be the culmination of what God is doing beginning in the Old Testament. It is not something different then what God did in the Old Testament.

If one doesn't understand, or neglects the origin of the Kingdom of God in history and the Old Testament, then he will not represent the truth about the Kingdom of God.

Lees

[Chuck Naill]

An obvious change had occurred as evidenced with both John the Baptist and Jesus' message, otherwise, there is no reason to use the word repent. In the Mark one chapter Jesus says, "times up, the Kingdom is here, believe the message". Whatever occurred before or people thought the Kingdom was, there was a change. Also, what Jesus was doing was a collaboration with his father such as, the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, and the poor hear the good news, plus casting out demonic influenced. Jesus said this was a demonstration of the Kingdom.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus secretly, Jesus was straight with him and explained that unless someone experiences the spiritual rebirth, spiritual transformation, they cannot understand what I am pointing to, the Kingdom of God. Then he communicated that God loved people, and his coming was not to condemn. This would have been good news then as it is now.

Knowing the history of the Kingdom of God is important, but it would not be something to build a life on. Jesus said if people worked his words into their daily living that would be like a wise builder who builds a structure on a solid foundation, so that when the storms of life happen, their lives are secure. His words, of course, involved loving your neighbors as you love yourself, even to include one's enemies.

[Chuck Naill]

This is a good understanding of the result of the KOG having come.
“One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[e] the Spirit.”

This is KOG life.

[Lees]

continued from post #(6):

In (Gen. 3:15) God made it clear to Satan, man will be the one through whom His 'will' will be exercised on earth. Adam's sin and fall did not change God's mind. This verse is full of many important truths. It is the first prophecy given in Scripture. From this verse all Biblical prophecy is based. There is now not only a 'Seed' from God to come, but there is also a 'seed' of Satan to come. And there will be war between the two. If the 'Seed' to come from God produces a man, then the seed to come from Satan will produce a man also. (Gen. 3:15) "...it will bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." So, before Adam and Eve had any children, they sinned. And one of the results of that would be that two seed lines would be born from them. One from God and one from Satan. Adam and Eve could not fully grasp or know what was now set in motion. But, they would eventually, as they looked on the body of Abel whom Cain slew. (Gen. 4:8) And we are plainly told in (1 John 3:12) "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother...." That wicked one being Satan.

Because we have the New Testament also, we know that this Seed from God will culminate in the Man Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, the seed of the woman. But it travels through the human race and produces the people of God also. We see Cain's lineage given separately from Seth's lineage, who replaced Abel as the Godly seed. (Gen. 4:25-26) From the time between Adam and Noah, mankind became so wicked that God would destroy all but Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives. From Adam to Noah, mankind was mostly ungoverned by any law or outward authority. The sin of Adam awakened man's conscience to know good and evil. (Gen. 4:22) Yet what that produced was a wicked human race. To 'know' good and evil only resulted in man doing the evil, to the degree that only Noah was seen as righteous before God. (Gen. 7:1) Fallen mankind left to just his conscience, could not be trusted as faithful stewards of the Kingdom of God.

The only laws given between Adam and Noah, was God's prohibiting any to kill Cain, and man could no longer enter the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 3:23-24) (Gen. 4:15) But there was no law governing how man should live. The earth was cursed and produced thorns and thistles. The woman would suffer pain in childbearing. Man through hard labor would eek out a living. (Gen. 3:16-19) These people whose conscience was awakened between Adam and Noah, God will destroy in the Flood, save Noah and his family.

Lees

[Chuck Naill]

You cannot or should not put new wine into old wineskins. Jesus brought a new message. He didn't study under anyone. He didn't go to seminary. When his disciples were criticized for pulling the grains from wheat on the Sabbath, he explained the law to the Pharisee as, "man was not made to serve the Sabbath, but the Sabbath is for the benefit of man". This was a new way to understand the law.

Another example, Jesus said it wasn't enough not to commit murder, but that if you hated your brother, it was the same as murder. He said, "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisee, Kingdom entrance was impossible. He said those that enter this KOG enters as a child.

I could stop breaking the 10 rules of the road but living in a closet. This is similar to Jesus saying if your eyes cause you to sin, pluck them out. Did he really mean to make yourself blind? What is better is to experience the new birth, this inner spiritual transformation so that you come to not hate others, and actually do them well. You don't look upon others to lust after them or covet what they have. This process, over time, sets you free, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Being free from anger, contempt, and lust is of great benefit.

[Chuck Naill]

From Acts chapter 1,

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus' kingdom was never political or a human form. His message of the Kingdom was meant to be spread by witnesses. Who is a witness in legal proceedings? Isn't it someone who can provide evidence? Evidence isn't what someone with a belief. Isn't a witness someone who has seen something and can provide evidence? Aren't witnesses challenged to see if they are true witnesses?

This is why the Kingdom of God can be experienced and from it knowledge can be obtained. If one enter Jesus kingdom and experiences the new birth, spiritual transformation, a renewed mind, that are capable of being a witness.

Notice that Jesus apprentices had not special qualifications except that they had been with Jesus. Operating within the KOG requires power, but not human power. Jesus said all authority had been given to him in the heavens and on the Earth. Sounds like a kingdom to me.

[Lees]

continued from post #(9):

Before the flood of Noah, there were no nations to speak of. No certain land that was allotted to any certain peoples. No governing bodies over the people. Mankind just existed and multiplied on the earth. And multiplied in wickedness. After the flood that would all change. God now brings man into a 'covenant relationship' with Him. God had promised this to Noah before the flood. (Gen. 6:18) "But with thee will I establish my covenant;...."

And immediately after the flood, God did just that. With a covenant you will have promises and/or responsibilities from both parties. A covenant may be 'conditional'. I promise to do this 'if' you fulfill your part. Or it may be unconditional. I promise to do this irregardless whether you fulfill your part or not.

God began with his promises after Noah offered burnt offerings to the LORD. (Gen. 8:20) And interestingly enough, the LORD promised to Himself, that He would never again destroy man as He just had with the Flood. (Gen. 8:21) And that as long as the earth remained the seasons would always continue on the earth. (Gen. 8:22) Totally contrary to todays 'climate change' thinking.

1.) Man was to multiply and replenish the earth. (Gen. 9:1)

2.) God will put the fear of man into the animal world. Man will have dominion over them. (Gen. 9:2-3)

3.) Man's diet now changes again. In the Garden man's diet was the fruit of the trees. (Gen. 1:29) After the fall, man was to eat the herb of the field. (Gen. 3:18) Now after the flood, meat from all of the animal world is given man to eat. (Gen. 9:3) Only he was not to eat the blood. (Gen. 9:4)

4.) God now establishes human government. Man ruling over man. (Gen. 9:5-6) "...Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." The death penalty to be carried out by man. Capital punishment. God didn't allow it before with Cain. Man was not allowed to kill Cain for murdering Abel. but now man has that responsibility. And, that has never been revoked. Many like to go to the Mosaic law and say that has been done away with. But this isn't part of the Mosaic Law. This is way before the Law. And it has never been revoked. Point being, this is the beginning of human government. Man still has a conscience, but now human government is in place to help curb man's wickedness.

More later on the Noahic Covenant.

Lees

[Lees]

continued from post #(12)

5.) God's covenant is with Noah and his seed and with all the animal kingdom. And Noah's seed will be all of mankind. (Gen. 9:9-11)

6.) The rainbow is given as a sign of the covenant God made with Noah. (Gen. 9:13)

7.) The Noahic covenant is an 'everlasting' covenant between God and every living creature upon the earth. (Gen. 9:16)

(Gen. 9:18-19) "And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread."

What follows now is Noah's prophetic blessings and curse upon the three sons for their action pertaining to Noah's drunkenness and nakedness in his tent. (Gen. 9:20-23) He first cursed Canaan, the son of Ham and gave no blessing to Ham. (Gen. 9:24-25) He then blessed Shem as the LORD will be his God. And he gave Canaan to him as a servant. He then blessed Japheth in placing him in the tent of Shem and enlarging his posterity. And Canaan was to be Japheth's servant also.

This is important concerning the Kingdom of God upon the earth. It will come through the line of Shem. Just as it came through Seth and Noah. In these blessings and curse of Noah, mankind is divided. And division now is what God does in the earth because united man speeds up wickedness, as the time period between Adam and Noah proved so well. God divided man into various nations. (Gen. 10:5) And He divided the earth geographically to separate the various nations. (Gen. 10:25) God also at Babel divided man through the languages. (Gen. 11:1-9)

The point being, the Kingdom of God, represented and exercising the will of God on earth, will be through the line of Shem.

Lees

[Lees]

continued from post #(13)

Just as God is at work preparing a people for His Kingdom on earth, so also is Satan. For Satan has access to fallen man. When Adam chose to sin against God, the world order, which was of God, was literally handed to Satan. And he is busy trying to get the fallen nations of man aligned with his will on earth. (Job:1:6-7) "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

And note what Satan said to Christ when trying to tempt Him to follow him. (Luke 4:5-6) "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Satan wasn't lying. The world order was delivered to him at Adams fall. And he is busy trying to prepare and get the nations of fallen man to receive his man to rule on the earth. And to whom he wills, he will give it. And here in (Luke 4:4-6) he is trying to give it to Christ. But Christ is not Satan's man. He is God's man. He is not Satan's seed. He is God's Seed which shall bruise Satan's head. (Gen. 3:15) Which no doubt Satan knew. In this attempt to tempt Christ I don't believe Satan held any hope that Christ would follow him. He knew who Christ was. He knew Who God the Son was long before the earth was created. Satan did not spring this temptation on Christ in a surprise. This was set up by the Holy Spirit of God. (Matt. 4:1) "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

This is a spiritual war involving a physical and material earth, and a physical and spirit being, mankind.

One of Satan's first attempts to align fallen man behind him, to set up his man to rule, to set up his kingdom on earth, was at Babel. Enter 'Nimrod'. Naturally of that cursed race of Ham and Canaan. (Gen. 10:6-8) "...And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth." And Nimrod started his kingdom. (Gen. 10:10) "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Caineh, in the land of Shinar." And most know that this Babel was where God put a halt to this kingdom of Satan, by giving man different languages so they could not understand each other. (Gen. 11:1-9)

This 'land of Shinar' is interesting as the location of Satan's kingdom exercised through Nimrod at Babel. For we read of it later in (Zechariah 5:5-11) in his vision of the 'ephah and the women'. "...Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said What is it? This is an ephah that goeth forth...This is their resemblance through all the earth...there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness....behold there came out two women...and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and heaven. Then said I to the angel...Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base." That 'land of Shinar' where Satan first chose his man Nimrod to build his kingdom, is a geographical location upon the earth. It is the center of Satan's attention and movements upon the earth. It is the base of Stan's kingdom on earth. It is wickedness.

But, God has His place on the earth, a geographical location, which is the center of His attention and from where He builds His kingdom on earth. Israel, and Jerusalem. (2 Chron. 6:6) "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel."

Lees

[Lees]

continued from post #(14)

After the scattering of the people at Babel we are given Shem's genealogy to Abram. (Gen. 11:10-30) God being true to His word that the blessing would come from Shem's line, He chose Abram as the one in whom the Kingdom of God on earth would be established. It has been said, and I believe it, that the only Person more important in the Bible than Abraham, is Jesus Christ. All the promises of God to man are to be found in the Covenant God made with Abraham. This includes the promise of the Kingdom of God on earth, and the promise of individual salvation.

The Abrahamic Covenant is found and enlarged in several places in (Genesis) but it begins in (Gen. 12:1-3). It is briefly given but most elements of it are there. "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

For a Kingdom upon earth you need land, a nation of people, and a King. Here in (Gen. 12) the land and people are promised to Abram, but the promises of the King will be later. That God is the King is true. But here again, God has chosen man to be the one who will dispense or exercise God's will in the Kingdom of God on earth. And He is very clear that the land would be given to Abram's seed. (Gen. 12:7) "And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land...." And God's blessing will come to all families on earth through this Covenant with Abram.

Lees

[Chuck Naill]

I am impressed to say @Lees that you have been reduced to being the man peeing on himself in a dark suit, it gives you a warm feeling, but no one notices.

[Chuck Naill]

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].” Amplified Version

[Chuck Naill]

The Kingdom isn’t time and places, but of the heart, the transformation of the heart so that off of the resources of the Kingdom become available. Seek first the KOG and God’s kind of righteous, then ask for what you need. Asking follows entry. It’s for anyone and everyone. No one is too good or too bad. We find out God is on our side. We love him because he first loved us. This is the gospel aka good news. Eternal living begins now.

[Chuck Naill]

Is what Jesus said the "word of God"?

Jesus used illustrations to teach us what the KOG is.

1. It is like a treasure which a person finds and sells everything to obtain.
2. It is like a pearl found of great value.
3. It is like yeast in how it grows.
4. It is obtainable to anyone who wants it and "violently" pursues it because of its value.
5. It is both obtainable and avoidable.
6. It is like casting seeds where some seed falls on good ground and at other times not.
7. It is like a wheat growing among weeds.
8. It is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a tree.
9. It is like net cast into the sea gathering all kinds.
10. It is like a head of a household who is able to bring out treasure both old and new.
11. Is is being blessed if you are a nobody because of the availability of entering this kingdom
12. It is like a child who runs away to seek their own, but upon returning finds a waiting, expectant Father waiting and rejoicing in their return.
13. Is is being capable of loving one's enemy.
14. It is being released from the demonic
15. It is being able to see, be healed, and made whole (perfect).

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continued from post #(15)

The different facets of the Abrahamic Covenant will be addressed as we continue in understanding the Bible's revelation of the Kingdom of God on earth. During Abraham's life God was continually giving him assurance of the reality that He would fulfill every aspect of this covenant.

(Gen. 13:14-17) "And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee."

See how important the land of the earth and the seed of Abram is in God's for ever promise to Abram. Even when Abram begins to doubt, (Gen. 15:2-3), because no children are born to he and Sarai, God assures Abram that the promise is to his seed. (Gen. 15:4) "And behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir."

See also (Gen. 17:6-8). "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to they seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

And God miraculously gave to Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, after they were past the age of child bearing. (Gen. 21:1-3) Later God required of Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him. (Gen. 22:1-2) And Abraham was obedient, for his faith knew that God, even if the sacrifice were carried out, would raise him from the dead. (Heb. 11:17-19) " By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said ,That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead ; from whence also he received him in a figure."

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