August 18

DEFINING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

-It is amazing that so many people have so little of an understanding of the Kingdom of God. If you were to ask people what the Kingdom of God was, you would get answers like:

-We will know more about it in the “sweet by-and-by” …

-Go ask a theologian, for I don’t know …

-It is a planet that we will “fly away” to “one day” …

-It will come to earth “one day”, but it is not for now …

-It was among us when Jesus was here, but we must wait until His “second coming” to see it again …

-It is a physical structure only, having no spiritual aspect to it …

-It is isolated to a coming age only, and by the way, stay away from those “Kingdom Now” people who believe we can access it ( the Kingdom ) in this life …

-With statements like these, it is quite clear that the majority of Christians ( including the leadership of Christianity ) HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS! The Kingdom of God is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF THE BIBLE, for it was all that Jesus talked about! He was always pointing men to an understanding of the Kingdom of God.

According to J. Preston Eby:

-"The word "kingdom" is from the Greek word “BASILEIA” meaning "rule" or "reign". Remember when Jesus replied, … My Kingdom is not of this world — that is, My Kingdom is not after the order and systems of earthly kingdoms. It is the rule of God by the Spirit … The dictionary defines "kingdom" as "a government or country headed by a king or queen; a monarchical state; a realm or domain." The word "kingdom" is made up of the noun "king," and the suffix "dom". "Dom" is a noun-forming suffix to express rank, position, or domain. For example, a “dukedom” is the domain over which a duke has authority or exercises rule, and in the abstract the rank of a duke. In like manner a “kingdom” is the domain and the people within that domain over which a king exercises authority and rule. It is the "king’s domain". "Kingdom" is thus a contraction of "king’s domain". The term, “Kingdom of God”, can mean no other than the domain over which God exercises rule as King. It is God’s declared purpose therefore that His people, His holy nation, His peculiar treasure, should be the domain over which He would rule as King, and ultimately all the earth and all things and every creature." ( To Be The Lord’s Prayer, J. Preston Eby )

-As men are awakened to the Kingdom that is within them, they will arise to find that a battle is taking place within them. This battle is called …

-THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON!-