Dear in Christ,
"Doesn't a king need a territory and citizen to reign upon?" is a stock question raised by many Christians while we point out to them the scriptures that unambiguously state that the Kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom. They cannot visualize a kingdom that does not occupy a territory or real estate on this planet.
Please, consider these words of Jesus:
Almost all the well known Biblical commentators agree that the passage is about the natural Israel being rejected and the spiritual Israel (consisting of believing Jews and gentiles) receiving the Kingdom. From the context of the passage it is abundantly clear this occurred as the consequence of Jews rejecting their Messiah (stone which the builders rejected...). There is no way the setting of this transfer of the Kingdom be any point of time after the first century.
Consider this:
Is there a way to prove that the transfer of the Kingdom has to happen somewhere in the future? Don't a vast majority of Christians believe that God has brought Israel back to the land of Palestine in order to give the Kingdom back to them? Given that, is there even a remote possibility that the transfer of the Kingdom will happen some time in the future?
Taking away of the Kingdom from Jews happened when it was given to spiritual Israel, and it is a past act. When this taking away of Kingdom happened, Israel did not have a Kingdom to talk about and hence the narrative is not about an earthly kingdom. So, the thought that the Kingdom of God is an earthly kingdom is far removed from truth.
Moreover, is it not a contradiction in terms for a spiritual nation seeking to receive a physical kingdom?
Next in the series: Were the Pharisees having the Kingdom within them?
"Doesn't a king need a territory and citizen to reign upon?" is a stock question raised by many Christians while we point out to them the scriptures that unambiguously state that the Kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom. They cannot visualize a kingdom that does not occupy a territory or real estate on this planet.
Please, consider these words of Jesus:
Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them (chief priests and Pharisees), Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation (literal translation: gentiles, G1484 in Strong's) bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Mat 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Almost all the well known Biblical commentators agree that the passage is about the natural Israel being rejected and the spiritual Israel (consisting of believing Jews and gentiles) receiving the Kingdom. From the context of the passage it is abundantly clear this occurred as the consequence of Jews rejecting their Messiah (stone which the builders rejected...). There is no way the setting of this transfer of the Kingdom be any point of time after the first century.
Consider this:
- Were Jews (represented by the Chief Priests and Pharisees) having an earthly kingdom while Jesus said this to them?
- Were they not subjects of the Roman Empire, paying taxes or tribute to Caesar? (Mat 22:17)
Is there a way to prove that the transfer of the Kingdom has to happen somewhere in the future? Don't a vast majority of Christians believe that God has brought Israel back to the land of Palestine in order to give the Kingdom back to them? Given that, is there even a remote possibility that the transfer of the Kingdom will happen some time in the future?
Taking away of the Kingdom from Jews happened when it was given to spiritual Israel, and it is a past act. When this taking away of Kingdom happened, Israel did not have a Kingdom to talk about and hence the narrative is not about an earthly kingdom. So, the thought that the Kingdom of God is an earthly kingdom is far removed from truth.
Moreover, is it not a contradiction in terms for a spiritual nation seeking to receive a physical kingdom?
Next in the series: Were the Pharisees having the Kingdom within them?
In Christ,
Tomsan Kattackal
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