Posted by Searcher on 10/3/2009, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Luke 17:20-21"
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Ray,
Luke 17:20,21 is spoken to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were His enemies. Therefore their hearts were hard and full of unbelief. The meaning of "kingdom of God is within you": The kingdom was within or in the midst of or among them already because of the Person of the King. The presence of their Messiah (Jesus) marks a kingdom. The Pharisees watched or observes Him with hostile intent so the kingdom (King) was definitely NOT in their hearts. They were seeking to kill Him.
We are no longer blessed with faithful Abraham. We are no longer partakers of the promise made to Abraham. (Gen 12:1-3) We are no longer wild olive branches grafted in to the olive tree. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ as found in Eph 1:3. The one hope of His calling for us today has NOTHING to do with the kingdom promised SINCE the world began in Matthew 25:34. The kingdom of God as found in the gospels and throughout Acts has to do specifically with the promises made to the chosen nation of Israel.
Today, we are promised a kingdom of God in the highest of heavens, in heavenly places far above all (Eph 1:17-23)where Christ now sits at the right hand of His Father. This promise of a part in the kingdom of His Dear Son (Col 1:12,13; 3:1-4)was a promise previously HID in God from past ages and generations, but it is a promise made BEFORE the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4). Our hope has to do with the mystery found in Eph 3:8,9 and Col 1:25,26. Saints today do not look for His coming to earth, but rather for His appearing which is "epiphaneia" or "shining forth" in heavenly places. The blessed hope for us today has NOTHING to do with the hope of Israel found all through the OT prophets as well as the gospels and Acts books.
The restored kingdom for Israel which the apostles asked Christ about in Acts 1:6 will be on this earth. Christ will return to earth to rule as King on earth from Mt. Zion and Israel will be regenerated and will once again be His chosen nation on earth.(Acts 3:21, Obadiah 17-21) The kingdom of God (called the kingdom of[from] heaven in Matthew) will be ON THIS EARTH. The land will be equally divided between each of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ezek 48). The apostles will rule the twelve tribes of Israel sitting on twelve thrones. (Matt 19:26) All other nations outside the promised land will have to come to Jerusalem to worship.(Isaiah 60:3,12)This thousand year kingdom on earth will fulfill the promise made to Abraham in Gen 12:1-3.
Search and SEE.
Searcher
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