There are many who say that the Kingdom of God
is something that will be seen later, after this world
is destroyed and a new Earth is created. But I tend
to refer to what Jesus said, since our reading of
other texts should be based on His words and not
what we want to read into other writings from books
which are symbolic, such as Revelation, which may
be the most symbolic book in the Bible and yet,
is read by Dispensationalists, as if it is the most literal.
So I ask a few questions, based on Jesus' words and not
that of Dispensationalists, who I believe have become so
indoctrinated into their doctrines, that they filter the Bible
through their doctrine, instead of the other way around
and have come to believe that what they say is actually
found in the Bible. For example, they say that...
"The AntiChrist is found in Daniel", when in reality,
Daniel never uses that word. But say that to them
and they quote another passage that says, "little horn"
as proof that Daniel said "AntiChrist" and claim they
are synonymous. But where does THE BIBLE say that?
It doesn't. Their doctrine does and that is my point.
So let's see what Jesus said and let's ask some common
sense questions and see what we come up with. You
must answer these for yourself. But if you immediately
go into a mode in which you are trying to protect your
doctrine in your mind, then you have already admitted
that your doctrine is not found in His words. And if
these questions make you angry, then ask yourself
why asking questions about what Jesus said, makes
you angry. After all, I'm not preaching any doctrine
at all here. I am only asking questions. Now since
when is that something we should avoid?
And these questions are not meant to invite answers.
I ask them so that you may think within yourselves
what those answers are. I hope that you lay yourself
bare and strip all of your doctrine away, counting
only on Jesus and His words and not what you were
taught to think He said. If you can do this, God will
surely bless you in the study that these questions
should provoke. But even if you decide to pour over
the Bible, searching out every instance of the phrase,
"Kingdom of God", I believe that you will find the
truth for yourself, with God's help, if you are not
stubborn and are open to it. So may God bless you!
Matthew 6: 31-33
31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall
we eat? Or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed?
32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need
of all these things.
33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added
unto you.
It is clear here, that Jesus is not talking about a physical
kingdom. How were they to seek what they could not
find, because it supposedly wouldn't appear for thousands
of years yet?
And it seems to me, that He was saying *not* to be
concerned about the physical, because God takes care
of that. But He never said a word about a future,
physical kingdom. He related what God would take
care of for us while we would normally be worried
about food and clothes, which is in this world now.
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the
kingdom of God is come unto you." - Matthew 12:28
Was Jesus casting out demons by the physical kingdom
of God? If so, how? His power was Heavenly and Heaven
isn't physical and there was and is no physical kingdom of
God on Earth.
"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." - Matthew 19:24
Now everyone knows that here, Christ is talking about
salvation. So why switch gears? I mean, why claim
that it is about the physical? Why would he say this,
when those who are here to see this supposed earthly
kingdom wouldn't have any trouble getting in at all?
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall
be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof." - Matthew 21:43
How can the "kingdom of God" be taken from those
who never had it to begin with, if it is physical and
we are still waiting for it?
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." - Mark 1:15
Why would Jesus preach that "the time" was "fulfilled",
if it would not be, until thousands of years later?
And why would He claim that "the Kingdom of God"
was "at hand", if it wasn't, remembering that He said
that "the time" was fulfilled?
In fact, that was the very first thing we have both
John the Baptist and Jesus recorded as preaching...
Matthew 3:1-2
1) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
- Matthew 4:17
Luke 17:20-21
20) And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered
them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation:
21) Neither shall they say, 'Lo here!', or, 'Lo there!';
For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Here, the Pharisees, who believed in a physical coming
kingdom, in which the Messiah would sit on an earthly
throne, questioned Jesus as to when it would come.
Why did Jesus deny that the Kingdom of God would
be seen with the eye, if it is going to be seen with
the eye? Why would He say it is "within" us, if it
is "outside" of us? Why wouldn't He just say...
"It is coming and you will not be part of it, if you
don't repent.", considering that He preached that
very thing first (repent, because the kingdom is
at hand)? No, He denied it!
Now some will say that the Dispensational belief does not
deny the spiritual aspect, but also believes in the physical
aspect. If that is so, then why do they spend all of their
time talking about the physical aspect and telling me how
wrong I am and only start talking about the spiritual aspect,
after being shown that they are backed into a corner by
Jesus' words and still don't spend any time on it, but only
state the spiritual aspect of it, so that they won't seem
"wrong"?
And why can they not admit that Jesus did *not* say,
"But later, it will be physical."?
Rather, He clearly denied a physical, earthly kingdom here,
by stating clearly that it would NOT be seen with the eye
and that it could NOT be pointed at.
Why would He say those things, if it could be seen with
the eye and could be pointed at?
Surely, if it would later be physical, it could be seen with
the eye and could be pointed at. Only a lunatic would
deny that simple fact, amen?
More questions to follow. :)
--
It is a sad commentary, when people sift the Bible through
their doctrines and their doctrines become absolute in
their minds and the Bible is manipulated and twisted up
like a pretzel to make it match their doctrines. This
happens because so many believe that the Bible is useless,
if it isn't all about them today. They deny that, but
why is it then, that their supposed fulfillments of Bible
prophecies that they preach, always end up being about
whatever is in the news lately and the news always
becomes, "The fulfillment of Bible prophecies right
before our very eyes!". And that folks, is Futurism!
Selfishness, conceit, ego, arrogance and vanity! (:
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