Kingdom Emphasis of Jesus

mfblume · #1 03-10-2011, 01:52 PM

Has anyone ever noticed that Jesus spoke time and time again about the Kingdom of God? Some think He was speaking of dying and going to heaven, when all the while it was the opposite! Pray for the Kingdom to COME HERE, and seek the Kingdom before everything else.

Meanwhile, most usually tell the world about new birth and Spirit infilling, etc. But when we read where that is mentioned in the Bible, it was never the public message of Jesus, but what He said to disciples apart from the public. He is recorded ONE TIME speaking about new birth, and that was in private, about 2am to one person who was seeing Him secretly. He did not even publicize the cross, but told that to his disciples in private. What He DID speak publicly was KINGDOM KINGDOM KINGDOM.

He then went aside from the public and told the disciples, "Men, I am under pressure since I am going to die on a cross. But I will rise again the third day."

The last verse in the book of Acts also shows Paul the apostle locked up in house arrest ministering to all who came to him. And notice how it reads about what he ministered.

Acts 28:31 KJV Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

He PREACHED KINGDOM, but TAUGHT JESUS.

Even Peter on the D.O.P. heard the questions of people regarding the Spirit before he taught CROSS.

It seems the Lord and apostles emphasized KINGDOM in public ministry far more than we've ever heard it today.

Comments?

Austin · #2 03-10-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfblume

Has anyone ever noticed that Jesus spoke time and time again about the Kingdom of God? Some think He was speaking of dying and going to heaven, when all the while it was the opposite! Pray for the Kingdom to COME HERE, and seek the Kingdom before everything else.

Meanwhile, most usually tell the world about new birth and Spirit infilling, etc. But when we read where that is mentioned in the Bible, it was never the public message of Jesus, but what He said to disciples apart from the public. He is recorded ONE TIME speaking about new birth, and that was in private, about 2am to one person who was seeing Him secretly. He did not even publicize the cross, but told that to his disciples in private. What He DID speak publicly was KINGDOM KINGDOM KINGDOM.

He then went aside from the public and told the disciples, "Men, I am under pressure since I am going to die on a cross. But I will rise again the third day."

The last verse in the book of Acts also shows Paul the apostle locked up in house arrest ministering to all who came to him. And notice how it reads about what he ministered.

Acts 28:31 KJV Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

He PREACHED KINGDOM, but TAUGHT JESUS.

Even Peter on the D.O.P. heard the questions of people regarding the Spirit before he taught CROSS.

It seems the Lord and apostles emphasized KINGDOM in public ministry far more than we've ever heard it today.

Comments?

AMEN. Luke 16:16, Jesus said; The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

mfblume · #3 03-10-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin

AMEN. Luke 16:16, Jesus said; The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Right!

!

Even Jesus preached KINGDOM for 40 days after He resurrected!

It's like KINGDOM is hardly even understood, let alone PREACHED.

Austin · #4 03-10-2011, 02:23 PM

Brother Mike, We know that the Jehovah Witness organization teaches a kingdom message and theirs is one were they are the chosen and they will over come the earth with the things they are teaching as truth.
Now I don't believe in their particular doctrine but. Would it be safe to say, there is the kingdom of God which is in heaven, the kingdom of God which is established by him in the earth, and also the kingdom of Christ which is to be when Jesus returns.

mfblume · #5 03-10-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin

Brother Mike, We know that the Jehovah Witness organization teaches a kingdom message and theirs is one were they are the chosen and they will over come the earth with the things they are teaching as truth.

Now I don't believe in their particular doctrine but. Would it be safe to say, there is the kingdom of God which is in heaven, the kingdom of God which is established by him in the earth, and also the kingdom of Christ which is to be when Jesus returns.

I certainly disagree with JW Kingdom teaching, too. Amen. I personally do not distinguish between "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God", since the two terms are used synonymously in one and the same instance, and between gospels using the same stories. The distinction in KINGDOM OF GOD and KINGDOM OF HEAVEN seems to be purely a dispensational distinction, not really founded in scripture.

Watch this:

Matthew 19:23-24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24) And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

The way I see it is that The Kingdom of Heaven/God is identically one and the same entity, and is called "of Heaven" because what is in Heaven is meant to likewise be in earth. Mirrored. I think that is what is meant by "thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven" right after we pray for the Kingdom of the Father in Heaven to come.

I also personally see no difference in what is here now as the Kingdom and what will be after Jesus comes, except for it being exponentially greater when he comes than it is now.

Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of God, or whatever one wants to call it, is a NOW thing that is a restored garden situation where Adam had dominion over earth.

Neither do I accept KINGDOM NOW teaching which believes Jesus comes after we take over the governments of the world. lol

It seems JW Kingdom and KINGDOM NOW teachings have abused the true KINGDOM message about the KINGDOM in the here and now where we are presently kings and priests.

Sam · #6 03-10-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin

AMEN. Luke 16:16, Jesus said; The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

John the Baptist preached "the kingdom of heaven (or kingdom of God) is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2)

After John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14) and saying, "The kingdom of God is at hand..."

In Luke 17:21 Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within/among you." I know there are differences of opinion as to what that word "within" means. Some think it means the Kingdom is something "inner" or inside of a person. In my opinion, Jesus was looking at that group of people, realizing that some of them were part of the kingdom and some were not and said, "The Kingdom is within this crowd" or "Some in this crowd are citizens of the Kingdom of God." in other words the Kingdom was within that crowd or among that crowd.

In Acts chapter 8 when persecution drove some from Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria and "preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5). In verse 12 it says he preached "the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ."

In Acts 14:22 it says that Paul visited churches, confirmingstrengthening them and telling them that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." This was probably in the summer of AD 47.

In Acts 19 (October AD 53) Paul went to Ephesus and in the synagogue spoke for 3 months "concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 19:8). In chapter 20 he met with the elders/shepherds/overseers of the "Church of God" in Ephesus and said that he had preached "the kingdom of f God" among them (verse 25). This was probably in the spring of AD 57.

The Book of Acts closes out with Paul in prison in Rome at the end of AD 61 and Luke the historian says that he (Paul) dwelt 2 years in a hired house (house arrest?) preaching the
kingdom of God (Acts 28:30-31)

And John closes out the New Testament in exile on the island of Patmos and speaks about being a companion in tribulation and in the kingdom (Rev 1:9)

Sam · #7 03-10-2011, 03:44 PM

In my opinion,
--the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are synonymous terms.
--the kingdom of God is made up of those who have submitted themselves to the Lord and made Him Sovereign in their lives
--the church and the kingdom are the same thing but are pictured or described differently

But, the kingdom of Heaven/God can also be used more loosely to include the visible church/kingdom which would include both professors and possessors.

mfblume · #8 03-10-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

In my opinion,
--the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are synonymous terms.
--the kingdom of God is made up of those who have submitted themselves to the Lord and made Him Sovereign in their lives
--the church and the kingdom are the same thing but are pictured or described differently

But, the kingdom of Heaven/God can also be used more loosely to include the visible church/kingdom which would include both professors and possessors.

I agree.

And to add to it, I would say it is the Garden position of dominion restored through the church.

Apprehended · #9 03-10-2011, 04:32 PM

I like this thread.

Scott Hutchinson · #10 03-10-2011, 06:29 PM

The Kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink but peace and joy and righteousness in the Holy Ghost,so how can one be apart of The Kingdom of God if they aren't filled with The Holy Ghost ?