Kingdom of God already established?

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Kingdom of God already established?

Forum: Theological Expressions
Re:

Can anyone explain the whole of Matthew 24? thanks EOM (True Light)
Re:

Mtt 24:3-41 What shall be the sign of thy coming, ..?
Re:

Hi Interested
Date: 2001, Oct 06
From: LBS

Hi Interested, Your wrote: "On the Kingdom of God, I believe it is already established. Remember Jesus said it comes not with observation. On its increase all you have to do is to look at history and see how it has now more or less increased to fill the whole earth." My comments: 1. Lk 17:20-21 is commonly used to teach that the Kingdom of God, which was announced to be at hand in Mtt, Mk & Lk, refers to the invisible rule of Christ in the heart of believers: 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. In the phrase "the Kingdom of God is within you", the "you" refers to the unbelieving Pharisees whom Christ was talking to. Can it be that the Kingdom of God is referring to the rule of Christ in the hearts of the unbelieving Pharisees? The correct reading of Lk 17:20-21 should be this: The Pharisees are the leaders of Israel. The Messiah is right in front of them and talking to them; the Kingdom of God promised to Israel in the OT e.g. Dan 2:44 is obviously at hand. So what are they still looking out for. They should believe and go rally the nation of Israel and tell them that the King is here, and if the nation as a whole believes then Kingdom of God will certainly come. The Pharisees, as leaders of Israel, should be the ones to lead the nation for the Messiah. But they would not. That’s why Christ said in Mtt 21:43 "… The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Their privilege to rule in the Kingdom was transferred to the twelve disciples. Speaking to the twelve, Christ said in Mtt 19:28 "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 2. Kingdom of God in Dan 2:44 and announced at hand in Mtt, Mk & Lk already established? Lk 21:31 "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand". This verse is spoken in the context of Christ’s second coming. In Lk 21:31, the kingdom of God is announced to be near at hand in view of the coming of the Messiah King. Which means kingdom of God postponed because of Israel's rejection of Christ at His first coming will be established only at His second coming. Dan 7:14 "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." The Kingdom mentioned in Dan 7:14 is the Kingdom of God spoken of in Dan 2:44, the Kingdom that will filled the whole earth. Dan 7:14 says that in this Kingdom "all people, nations, and languages, should serve him" - fill the whole earth. The verse says the Kingdom “was given him”. Dan 7 tells us that this will happen: (i) After the “four great beasts” were cast down - Dan 7:3,9; (ii)"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High" – Dan 7:22 (iii) After the Anti-Christ which arises out of the fourth beast or fourth kingdom is destroyed. Dan 7:23-25: 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. "a time and times and the dividing of time" refers to the 3.5 years (= 42 months in Rev 13:5) rule of the Anti-Christ after he is risen from the dead by Satan (in Satan’s mind he is God the Father and his Anti-Christ is the Son of God): Rev 13:3-8 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Compare also Rev 12:6 and Rev 12:14 Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Rev 12: 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. "a time and times and half a time" =1260 days = 42 months (1260/30; 1 prophetic month is 30 days) = 3.5 years (a time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=half a year) Since the Anti-Christ’rule is in the Tribulation period, the establishment of the Kingdom of God mentioned in Dan 2:44 and Dan 7:14 is still yet future.