03/09/26 KINGDOMS MATTER

03/09/26 KINGDOMS MATTER

KINGDOMS MATTER

There is a Biblical difference between the State and the Church. God ordained Human Government (The State) to establish and maintain CIVIL LAW AND ORDER. God ordained the Church (believers, followers of Jesus Christ) to be His People, His Bride, His Body, His Building, and TO DO HIS WORK OF RECONCILIATION (we are His witnesses, His ambassadors, His spiritual army [armed with spiritual weapons]).

Though there have been religious and political groups that claimed to be Christian, claimed to be The Church (the Spirit-born, Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered children of God), God's Church has never raised a carnal weapon or raised an earthly army against its enemies.

No!!! Christians have never formed a military force, nor have they ever tried to force anyone into submission and subjection to the Christian faith.

Human Governments (since the time of Constantine) have falsely claimed to be Christian (Christ followers), while they use carnal weapons and physical force to implement their rule.

The New Testament never sanctioned Christians (individually or corporately) to kill anyone in the name of Jesus.

Use of violence in the name of Jesus to conquer and subjugate other people is a misrepresentation of Christ and His message.

New Testament directives are good for all people and all nations.
There is no legitimate law that opposes New Testament teaching.
There is no evil action that agrees with New Testament teaching.
To live contrary to New Testament instruction for believers is to live outside of the Christian revelation and to live in disobedience to God.

Every nation would be benefited to submit to the rule of Christ.
Every person would be benefited to submit to the rule of Christ.

Those who trust Christ and turn to Him (from sin), are a blessing and benefit to their society and to the world at large.

There is nothing in the Christian behavior that is destructive or repugnant to decency and order.

Only those who have a personal and salvific relationship with God through faith in Christ can live the redemptive life that pleases God and blesses the world community.

Statism (the worship and acceptance of the State as the ultimate authority), false religions (anything other than New Testament Christianity), or the worship and service to any other person or entity is idolatry.

There are kingdoms of this world that are Statist Governments.
There are kingdoms of this world that are spiritual belief systems.
The kingdoms of this world may or may not have geographical, political, economic, racial, or ethnic boundaries.

Israel and Judah in the Old Testament were known as the kingdom of God.
In the New Testament, God has no such national kingdom.
In the New Testament, God has a spiritual, worldwide, multi-racial kingdom, in the sense that God is King, and He has a people who trust, follow, and obey Him, above all other rulers.
After the Rapture, there will be seven years of Tribulation, at which time there will be a One World Government, a One World Economy, and a One World Religion.

As the last Divine judgments of the Tribulation appear (Revelation 11:15), the kingdom powers of this world begin to transition to the rule of Christ's earthly Thousand Year Kingdom, known as the Millennium or the Millennial Reign of Christ.
When God releases Satan from his thousand-year imprisonment, the Millennium will end. Men will readily rebel against the rule of Christ, choosing to follow Satan rather than God.
God will destroy the world with fire.
The Great White Throne Judgment will take place. Every unsaved person from all of history will be judged by God according to their thoughts, words, and deeds, resulting in their eternal sentence of punishment in the Lake of Fire.

There will be a New Heaven, a New Earth and a New Jerusalem.

At the present time we are in the Church Age, whereas the Millenium will be the Kingdom Age.

However, the kingdom of God is present in the world now (contrary to the teaching of some people), since God reigns (as King) in the hearts of believers.

God's Kingdom on earth now is a spiritual Kingdom.
The New Testament indicates the present reality of the Kingdom of God in various ways.
... "the kingdom of God is at hand."
... Jesus "preaching the gospel of the kingdom."
... (referring to Christians) "theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
... being least or being great "in the kingdom of God."
... to Christians, "seek ye first the kingdom of God."
And many more in the four Gospels.

There are a great number of verses in the New Testament letters that refer to Christians and the kingdom of God. Most of those verses have "now and later" aspect to the kingdom of God (heaven) that is promised to Christians. Here are two verses that are specifically related to the Christian walk.
... Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
... 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Kingdoms Matter. In our present time we need to realize that the kingdom of God is separate from the kingdoms of this world. We have accountability to God that supersedes our responsibility to the kingdoms of this world.

We are subject to the kingdoms of this world, provided they do not conflict with or contradict the rule of God in our lives.

But God is the ultimate Authority and Christians obey Him above all others.
John 18:36
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Acts 5:29
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.