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The Kingdom Is Already A Present Reality

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by TCGreek, Jun 21, 2007.

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  1. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I can't help coming to the conclusion that the eschatological kingdom is already here, but not yet.

    When Jesus said that "If he casts out demons by the Spirit of God, therefore the Kingdom has come upon you" (Matt.12:26), is that what he was saying?

    And on another occasion, when some Pharisees were asking about the coming of the Kingdom of God, he said..."For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Should we think in terms of present reality?
     
    #1 TCGreek, Jun 21, 2007
  2. npetreley

    npetreley New Member

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    I'm still trying to figure this part out.
     
    #2 npetreley, Jun 21, 2007
  3. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Me too. Please explain, TC.
     
    #3 webdog, Jun 21, 2007
  4. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Well, I am sure you know what I believe about it and that is, yes the Kingdom is already here within His children.
     
    #4 Brother Bob, Jun 21, 2007
  5. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    In what sense do you believe the kingdom is here? My view is that the kingdom is a literal kingdom yet to be realized. If there is any sense that the kingdom is present it is by faith in the future reality.
     
    #5 James_Newman, Jun 21, 2007
  6. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    The kingdom is a present reality in the sense that the kingdom is the earth. However the Annointed King has not taken the reigns of this kingdom as of yet. That is yet future when He will take over for Satan who is currently the god of this age.
     
    #6 J. Jump, Jun 21, 2007
  7. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    The Kingdom of God is within us.
     
    #7 I Am Blessed 24, Jun 21, 2007
  8. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    And I thought it was just a poor choice of diet that was causing this growth around the mid-section. :laugh: Sorry I couldn't resist.

    Just out of curiosity how does a kingdom get inside us? All that I was aware Scripture said was indwelling me was the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit a kingdom?
     
    #8 J. Jump, Jun 21, 2007
  9. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    On the issue of the kingdom, I see it in phases:

    I.Kingdom Concept in the OT:

    A. In a sense the entire universe is the kingdom of God (Psalm 22:28; 103:19; 145:11, 13).

    B. But we see a kingdom within this kingdom in prophecy (2 Sam.7:16; Dan. 2:44).

    C. Jesus is given a kingdom (Lk.1:31-33; 22:29; 1 Cor. 15:24-28).

    II. Kingdom Concept in the NT:

    A. The Presence of the Kingdom came with the ministry of Jesus (Matt. 4:17; 12:28; Lk.17:21).

    B. Satan has a kingdom (Matt.12:26; Lk.11:18).

    III. The Mystery of the Kingdom

    A. Jesus speaks of the mystery of the Kingdom (Mk.4:11).
    B. Matthew 13 is a series of parables about the mystery of the Kingdom.
    C. But it will reach its consummation at the end of the age (Matt.13:47-50).

    IV. The Kingdom and the Church

    A. The Kingdom is not the church, contrary to what some have taught.

    B. But the church is the visible manifestation of the saving rule of the kingdom of Christ in the lives of those who have submitted to his rule (Col.1:13).

    C. The Kingdom created the church (Matt.16:16-19; Mark 9:1; Acts 2).

    D. Christians have been made a kingdom (OT concept Exo.19:4-6; Rev.1:5, 6; 5:9, 10).

    V. The Eternal Kingdom

    A. Peter tells us of the Eternal Kingdom (2 Pet.1:10).

    B. Paul speaks of the heavenly Kingdom (2 Tim.4:18).

    C. Christians who suffer now for the gospel’s sake will be a part of the Eternal Kingdom (2 Thess.1:5).

    D. Flesh and blood will not inherit it (1 Cor.15:50).

    E. And those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will celebrate their victory at the banquet table in the Eternal Kingdom (Matt.8:11; 26:26-29; Rev.19:7-9).

    F. So the Lord’s Supper that we celebrate every Lord’s Day is a vivid reminder of that marriage supper of the Lamb and his bride, the church (1 Cor 11:26).

    This is what I believe about the Kingdom of God in a nutshell.

    From the SBC website:

    IX. The Kingdom

    The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.

    Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.

    I think the SBC statement captures well, what I have written.
     
    #9 TCGreek, Jun 21, 2007
  10. 2 Timothy2:1-4

    2 Timothy2:1-4 New Member

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    There has never not been a Kingdom of God. God has always been soveriegn.
     
    #10 2 Timothy2:1-4, Jun 21, 2007
  11. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    What doctrine prohibits a Triune (3 in unity) God from
    have three kingdoms?

    1. The Temporal Spiritual kingdom within you
    2. The Temporal Physical Millinnial Messanic Kingdom - coming soon
    3. The Eternal Spiritual/Physical Universal/Heavenly Kingdom
     
    #11 Ed Edwards, Jun 21, 2007
  12. DQuixote

    DQuixote New Member

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    Thank you, Ed. Clearly, a distinction must be made.
     
    #12 DQuixote, Jun 22, 2007
  13. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    This is how I have understood it.

    Is it ok, Ed...to say

    Amen Brother Ed, you are so right on?

    If so, I'm saying it. :)
     
    #13 Amy.G, Jun 22, 2007
  14. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Hi Ed;
    I see it as one Kingdom but 3 distinct parts, as I believe about the invisible Kingdom that is within you, I see two parts to it. There is part in Heaven that have departed this life, and part still here which is the believers.

    It is not different than what you posted, at least I do not think so, it is just the 3 portions of the one Kingdom, being we have the same King of all of them.

    Sometimes I think there are too many Kingdoms brought into the equation, that it causes us confusion.

    Bbob
     
    #14 Brother Bob, Jun 22, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 22, 2007
  15. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    No, he was saying that he, the king, was there doing kingdom things.

    Note who he said this to: Pharisees who were rejecting him. This alone destroys the whole idea of the "kingdom within you" since I don't think anyone would argue that the kingdom is in unsaved people who reject the Messiah. Again, he was saying that they who were questioning the kingdom should look around and see the kingdom things described in the OT.

    Since they rejected the King, the kingdom was taken from them and will be given to a people producing the fruits of it, which is an eschatological promise. The kingdom described in the OT is not here yet. It will come when the king comes.
     
    #15 Pastor Larry, Jun 23, 2007
  16. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    There were some Jews who did accept Christ and I am sure they were not sadducees, so they must of been Pharisees wouldn't they?
     
    #16 Brother Bob, Jun 23, 2007
  17. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    Sure, but that's not the focus of Christ's comments. "The Pharisees" in the gospels are antagonists of Christ, not converts. The context of the question is one based off the OT revelation of a kingdom that would appear and in fact, they could look around and see it by what Christ was doing.
     
    #17 Pastor Larry, Jun 23, 2007
  18. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I find it amazing how you have reinterpreted simple statements that say that the kingdom was present in an incipient nature with the ministry of Jesus.

    Even the SBC statement of faith recognizes the presence of the kingdom. So what kingdom Paul was referring to in Col.1:13? It seems to me like a present reality.

    How about Rev.1:5,6; 5:9,10? Are we now serving as priests? I don't think anyone would dispute that. But have we been already made a kingdom?
     
    #18 TCGreek, Jun 23, 2007
  19. Bro Tony

    Bro Tony New Member

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    Preach IT, Brother Ed!!!!:thumbs:
     
    #19 Bro Tony, Jun 23, 2007
  20. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    I find it hard to believe you think I have reinterpreted these simple statements. What you have said here is exactly my point. The kingdom was seen incipiently during the life of Jesus. Then he left, taking the kingdom with him to give to a generation showing the fruits of it. Again, with a kind and gracious spirit, I would encourage you to read closer before attributing to me things I did not say.

    So?

    Paul was referring to the coming kingdom of which we are judicially a part. But here's the point: when you read the OT passages on the kingdom (as the disciples did), and look at what we see now, you will note that the two don't match. Here are the options: 1) God wrongly described the kingdom in the OT. 2) The kingdom is not here yet.

    I go for the latter. I am not aware of a third option.

    I wouldn't, though I am not sure you have the right kind of priests in mind. The priests probably refer to the physical service to God rather than the individual priesthood of the believer. Furthermore you would have to demonstrate exegetically and theologically that the kingdom of Rev 1:5 is the kingdom prophesied in the OT for the nation of Israel.

    No, not in the terms that the OT describes. I think the weakness of our OT theology is to blame for many of these misconceptions about the kingdom. And I think we need a revivial of OT theology to straighten it out.
     
    #20 Pastor Larry, Jun 23, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 23, 2007
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