The Need for a Future Millennium

[David1701]

17 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

Are we or are we not LIVING in faith right now?  Isn't faith of things not seen?  Are we witnesses spreading the word to the world or are we priests ruling and reigning with Him?  If we are how is it we have not been caught up and in our incorruptible bodies?   

The Discussion is not about the SPIRITUAL Kingdom of heaven but the PHYSICAL kingdom of heaven on earth where ALL KNEES WILL BOW...
Where the nations will come every year to worship.  Where there will be a temple not built with hands.  Where the priests will serve.  That is what we are discussing, not the OVERALL state of God and the Lord and Saviour but the specific DAY OF THE LORD.  

Only things missing are His temple, dwelling amongst us, ruling with a rod of Iron, the throne the ANGELS that come with Him when he returns as King of Kings and Lord of lords.  They are two different subjects.   

We are indeed living in faith right now, and faith is the substantiating of things unseen.  The kingdom of God does not come by outward appearance, but it is within us.

We are Jesus' temple.  He dwells, not only among us, but in us, by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Lord will return one day and that is yet to happen.

[Retrobyter]

8 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

Don't know what that means but He will not be the King of ISRAEL but the KING OF KINGS [over] all the kingdoms of the world.  That is the one we are discussing.  

Shalom, DeighAnn.

Actually, He SHALL be the King of Israel! But, His kingdom GROWS throughout the millennium, like "the grain of mustard seed" becoming a "tree where the birds of the air may nest!" Like "the stone cut out of the mountain without hands" that grows until it is a mountain itself so big that it "filled the whole earth." When His Kingdom has grown to that size and swallows up the other kingdoms of the earth, He will most definitely be the "King of kings and Lord of lords"; that is, the Emperor of the World!

He won't remove the positions of kings and governors of the world, although He may replace them with His own kings and governors from His own subjects, coming from the group of the children of Israel and the adopted children called "churches" around the earth. However, the POSITIONS of kings and governors shall continue under Yeshua`s reign. That's what He literally meant in the parable of the talents in Luke 19. 

May the Lord bless you.

[DeighAnn]

1 hour ago, David1701 said:

We are indeed living in faith right now, and faith is the substantiating of things unseen.  The kingdom of God does not come by outward appearance, but it is within us.

We are Jesus' temple.  He dwells, not only among us, but in us, by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Lord will return one day and that is yet to happen.

I agree. 

BUT remember HE is referred to as the LAMB until He returns as Lord of lords and King of kings.  

[DeighAnn]

1 hour ago, Josheb said:

Another unnecessarily lengthy post that does not show a single verse that actually states the point in dispute. 

""Nowhere does the NT state the kingdom left the planet, either.""
IS WHAT YOU POSTED.  

And I gave scriptures I believe do show but NOT EVERYONE CAN SEE IT THAT WAY.  WHO IS THE AUTHORITY ON RIGHT AND WRONG?    THESE ARE BELIEFS AND CAN NOT BE FOUND BY RULES OF MAN OR RULES OF LANGUAGE AS BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT AND COMMON SENSE MUST DICTATE.  I believe God wants us to use the wisdom and knowledge we gain to be able to see things so basic they need no verses....but that's just me.   

SO, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE QUESTION WASN'T ANSWERED

just  MEANS                THE ANSWER OR THE WAY IT WAS GIVEN wasn't liked. 

AND

THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOUR RESPONSE

RUDE, UNNECESSARY AND IMPLICATES ME AS A LIAR but I'll just turn the other cheek...
 

1 hour ago, Josheb said:

I cannot fathom how or why this question is asked or the position assumed so often after all the many, many, many, many, many times I have answered it. 

AGAIN, RUDE  but expected as questions and scripture that make 'theories' unworkable ALWAYS GENERATE this type response...... 
typical

 

2 hours ago, Josheb said:

do not believe there is a single poster in these 47 pages of posts who does not believe in a future return of Christ. We are ALL futurists, but we are not all modern-futurists. Many, if not most, here are classic futurists (of one variety or another), not the kind of futurism that was invented by John Darby. The man had an enormous influence of eschatology, but it was not a good one. 

THIS would be a great thing for you to DO A POST IT on. 

I have NO IDEA ABOUT ANY OF THAT YET STILL you WRITE STUFF LIKE THAT EVERY COUPLE DAYS JUST TO make me say it.  

HOW FUN IS THAT?  
 

[DeighAnn]

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

That is incorrect. 

Perhaps a simple comparison will help illuminate this matter: All those OT prophesies about the sacrificial lamb were all fulfilled at Calvary. They are done. Finished. They were always a fait accompli. There are now de facto accomplished.  There has never been and never will be a time or place where Jesus is not the Lamb. He was foreknown as such, he came as such, manifested that foreknown reality, and is worshiped on his throne as such. 

It is the modern-futurist eschatology that creates an "until". 

 

John 1:29-37
"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  "This is He on behalf of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'  "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water."  John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.  "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'  "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."  Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,  and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus." 

Acts 8:30-33
"And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.   The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." 

1 Peter 1:17-21
"If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

Revelation 5:6-13
"And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.  And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."  Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."  And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

 

Just as there has never been a time or moment when Jesus was not the Lamb, there has never been a moment anytime or place in all of creation where he is not King and Lord. 

John 1:1-3
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

 

Jesus IS God. There has never been a moment in creation when or where he was not God. 

God is sovereign. There has never been a moment when Jesus was not sovereign. 

God is all mighty; He is almighty. There has never been a moment in all of creation when Jesus was not almighty. 

He might and sovereignty were demonstrated at Calvary. He didn't receive his might and sovereignty at Calvary; he asserted both victoriously!

 

Josh, he was king over sin and death but he's not king now. Not of earth.  

 

God is impervious. The Bible uses the language of "war" and "fight" and "enemy" because these are temporally understandable terms, especially within the context of sin and a sinful world, but they have nothing to do with reality from God's perspective. No war, no enemy lasts one fraction of a nanosecond longer than God permits. He spoke the world into existence and He can speak ALL of it instantaneously out of existence as if it never had ever existed. Wouldn't even take a fraction of a nanosecond because time itself was created. 

There is NO place or time when or where Jesus is not king. He is God! 

2 Kings 6:11-19
"Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?"  One of his servants said, "No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."  So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan."  He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.  Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"  So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.  Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he brought them to Samaria."

Matthew 26:52-53
"Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?'"

 

Legions

 

While you are sitting in your chair reading this post those legions surround you.  They surround us all right now. 

AND Jesus does not a single angel in the army. He can speak the creation out of existence with a word. 

Jesus is God. 

God cannot not be king and still be God. 

It is prima facie absurd. 

 

Yet this is what two-kingdoms modern-futurism teaches its adherents to believe: Jesus is God but not yet king. He's a lamb, not yet a king. 

 

Read Revelation lately?

[DeighAnn]

2 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

Actually, He SHALL be the King of Israel! But, His kingdom GROWS throughout the millennium, like "the grain of mustard seed" becoming a "tree where the birds of the air may nest!" Like "the stone cut out of the mountain without hands" that grows until it is a mountain itself so big that it "filled the whole earth." When His Kingdom has grown to that size and swallows up the other kingdoms of the earth, He will most definitely be the "King of kings and Lord of lords"; that is, the Emperor of the World!

I am absolutely positive God did this on purpose just to keep us interested.  Praise be to God.  

OK.  I don't believe like Josh and I don't believe like you.  I believe kinda in the middle of you both.  

I believe the Kingdom of Heaven was near and rejected and the Lamb returned to Heaven.  BUT I believe the 'kingdom' or better said 'THE WAYS' of the Kingdom were begun and that is what we are to be witnesses to right now.  The 'seed' (that little mustard seed) was planted before He left and has been growing ever since He left and it is called Christianity and we are living in a chose LIFE OR DEATH time.  

So, I don't believe that tiny seed will 'start to grow' once THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS RETURNS

because I believe that

HE IS RETURNING WITH HUGE CHANGES TAKING PLACE WHERE all will be changed and EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND ALL KINGDOMS WILL BECOME UNDER HIS ROD OF IRON RULE AND it isn't going to be like when He was here as the Servant.  I think it will start off with a bang but there will be a great falling away (AGAIN) by the end.  

WHY?

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Revelation 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

It has only been in the last couple years that I learned (better yet I was TAUGHT and so I learned having been stubborn and not believing what was written) there are GOOD and there are EVIL and there is no hope for some as they were made 

Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction

Romans 9:23 And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory,

Romans 9:24 Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

 

I believe our beliefs can't just come from what is written.  We have to ponder and pray on the words of God and to wait patiently in silence and allow those words to work without any 'intent' from our thoughts.  I spend many hour alone thinking and pondering and praying and taking all the words of God and just letting them set the 'story' for me and as complicated as it sometimes seems to read, the reality of it is all very simple and so far I have not found any scripture that gets in its way.  


God created the heavens, then the sons of God and morning stars and life was a song.  He created the earth and INIQUITY was found and the earth was destroyed but didn't end.  It was restored and we are now in bodies that we are solely responsible for.  What we eat what we think how we react and most IMPORTANTLY GODS PLACE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS.  We will be tested to see who we really are. Are we all talk and no go or are we truly one of Gods own.  God is just and knowing this world had to be 'random' for free will to be exercised set up a Last day, the Lords Day for all those souls who never received the truth one way or the other and so the playing field will be totally level for all as we will all be in incorruptible bodies so all will be without excuse at the end of that day when the final exam is given.  ALL EVIL goes into the lake of fire and this AGE is folded up like a garment and put away and a brand new day begins with those who LOVE WALKING HOLY and they find it natural to do so.

That's it.  So far, all scripture fits in there perfectly.  All scripture has some where to go.  There are no unanswered questions.  The words of God fore told us all things.  It is super simple.  Know how i know?  
 
Cause I know how Satan ended up in the garden.  I can see how God is Just when no one really understands how that is possible.  I know how the works that will follow us are not so different than how the 'first' works followed us and set us in place here.  Nothing new under the sun. I understand how the first can be last and the last can be first and why it is so.   I understand how some are preordained and others are not or how God who is not a respecter of persons loved Jacob and hated Esau and how He knew who was in the belly and what peoples would come from where or how He can work in some peoples lives (prophets) and not others and some have stood with Him and some have not.  He knows some will just not change.  I know how He can plan things and they work out even though they are not always people specific.  I understand how randomness will be made fair why I am here and where I am going.  

I guess there you have it.  Feel free to poke holes or put forth what might conflict.  Always willing to learn more and surely don't want to get to God and find out someone gave me some truth and I turned from it.  Have a good night.   d

 

 

[Retrobyter]

10 minutes ago, David1701 said:

We are indeed living in faith right now, and faith is the substantiating of things unseen.  The kingdom of God does not come by outward appearance, but it is within us.

We are Jesus' temple.  He dwells, not only among us, but in us, by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Lord will return one day and that is yet to happen.

Shalom, David1701.

You REALLY should stop using that verse that way! That's NOT what is meant by what Yeshua` said TO THE PHARISEES in Luke 17:21. Please, look at it carefully in context:

Luke 17:20-25 (KJV)

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said,

"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (Greek: parateereeseoos = "careful watching"): 21 Neither shall they say, 'Lo here (it is)!' or, 'lo there (it is)!' for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you!"

22 And he said unto the disciples,

"The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, 'See here (He is)!'; or, 'see there (He is)!': go not after them, nor follow them! 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation."

The Greek of verse 21 is ...

21 "οὐδὲ ἐροῦσιν ‘Ἰδοὺ ὧδε’ ἤ ‘Ἐκεῖ·’ ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν.”

Transliterated, this becomes,

21 "oude erousin, 'Idou hoode!' ee 'Ekei!' idou gar hee baslileia tou Theou entos humoon estin."

21 "oude = "but-not; nor
erousin, = will-they-say,
'Idou = 'Look!
hoode!' = here-[it-is]!'
ee = or
'Ekei!' = 'There-[it-is]!'
idou = look!
gar = for
hee = the
baslileia = kingdom
tou = of-the
Theou = God
entos = among/within
humoon = you-plural
estin." = is."

He wasn't talking to any one person; He was talking to the GROUP of Pharisees, not each of them nor any one of them! Furthermore, why would He tell the PHARISEES that the "kingdom of God was within THEM?!" No, the better word choice for this sentence is to use the word "among" for entos. The Kingdom of God WAS "among the Pharisees," because HE was "among the Pharisees!" The Kingdom of God is INTIMATELY tied to the One Anointed to be the King!

When He DID talk to His disciples, He told them, "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. People will tell you that they've seen the Messiah here or there; don't believe them! They're trying to trick you into revealing yourselves so they can kill you!"

Then, He added,

24 "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (When the Son of man, Yeshua` the Anointed to be the King of Israel, returns, it's not going to be hidden in some corner somewhere, i.e. it's not going to be "spiritual" or "invisible"; it will be EXTREMELY OBVIOUS, like a lightning flash so bright on one side of the sky lighting up the objects under the opposite side of the sky.) 25 But first must he (Yeshua`, the Son of man) suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 

26 "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage (all normal, everyday activities), until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed themall. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 "In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. (When one sees this day come, one shouldn't go back in his house to pack, nor should one who sees this day come go back to get a few things.) 32 Remember Lot's wife. (That is, she turned back and <poof!> she became a pile of chemicals!) 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life (that is, to throw a few things together for survival) shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life (that is, to take off without packing a thing) shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other shall be left (missed, shall get away). 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other left (missed, shall get away). 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other left (missed, shall get away)."

37 And they answered and said unto him,

"Where (will this happen), Lord?"

And he said unto them,

"Wheresoever the body (the corpse) is, thither (that's where) will the eagles (vultures) be gathered (flock) together." (I.e., wherever you, as the prey, can be found! So, DON'T BE FOUND!)

The Master Yeshua`, the Messiah of God, the Anointed One to be the King of Israel, didn't return in the 1st Century nor any time afterward until today. Therefore, this is still a future event, as will be His Father's Kingdom over Israel, over which He will preside as Israel's visible King, His Father's Representative.

[Retrobyter]

3 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

I am absolutely positive God did this on purpose just to keep us interested.  Praise be to God.  

OK.  I don't believe like Josh and I don't believe like you.  I believe kinda in the middle of you both.  

I believe the Kingdom of Heaven was near and rejected and the Lamb returned to Heaven.  BUT I believe the 'kingdom' or better said 'THE WAYS' of the Kingdom were begun and that is what we are to be witnesses to right now.

...

Shalom, DeighAnn.

No worries; I kinda agree with you. See, I believe it is our mission, while our Master is away, to make disciples for the Master who will become subjects of His Kingdom when He returns.

Since Yochanan (John) told us,

John 3:5-8 (KJV)

5 Jesus answered,

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

So, one must be born again in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. Thus, we are making subjects for God's Kingdom over which the Messiah will reign; it's just not actually present, yet.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Retrobyter
to show the part with which I do partly agree

[Retrobyter]

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

He didn't! David is not saying Jesus was telling the Pharisees the kingdom was with them. The entire protest is a straw man. Go back and re-read what David posted because he is correct. What was in the midst of the Pharisees is in us. 

Hi, Josheb.

I wrote,

Quote

He wasn't talking to any one person; He was talking to the GROUP of Pharisees, not each of them nor any one of them! Furthermore, why would He tell the PHARISEES that the "kingdom of God was within THEM?!" 

Actually, that's EXACTLY what Yeshua was saying TO the Pharisees! Look, He was responding TO the demands of the Pharisees! (Sigh.) Read it again and pay attention to the bold and underlined portions:

Luke 17:20-25 (KJV)

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said,

"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (Greek: parateereeseoos = "careful watching"): 21 Neither shall they say, 'Lo here (it is)!' or, 'lo there (it is)!' for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you!"

(Now, shift gears!)

22 And he said unto the disciples,

"The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, 'See here (He is)!'; or, 'see there (He is)!': go not after them, nor follow them! 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation."

The Greek of verse 21 is ...

21 "οὐδὲ ἐροῦσιν ‘Ἰδοὺ ὧδε’ ἤ ‘Ἐκεῖ·’ ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν.”

Transliterated, this becomes,

21 "oude erousin, 'Idou hoode!' ee 'Ekei!' idou gar hee baslileia tou Theou entos humoon estin."

21 "oude = "but-not; nor
erousin, = will-they-say,
'Idou = 'Look!
hoode!' = here-[it-is]!'
ee = or
'Ekei!' = 'There-[it-is]!'
idou = look!
gar = for
hee = the
baslileia = kingdom
tou = of-the
Theou = God
entos = among/within
humoon = you-plural
estin." = is."

"Entos" can mean both "within" and "among," depending on the context, and in this particular case, it is better translated as "among." I'm repeating what I said to David:

He wasn't talking to any one person; He was talking to the GROUP of Pharisees, not each of them nor any one of them!

 

Now, pay close attention, Josh, to this next question:

 

Furthermore, why would He tell the PHARISEES that the "kingdom of God was within [THEM]?!"

If one is being honest, one KNOWS that Yeshua` WOULD NOT tell the Pharisees such a thing! And yet, He was talking "TO THEM!"

No, the better word choice for this sentence is to use the word "among" for entos. The Kingdom of God WAS "among the Pharisees," because HE, Yeshua`, was "among the Pharisees!" The Kingdom of God is INTIMATELY tied to the One Anointed to be the King!

When He DID talk to His disciples, He told them, "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. People will tell you that they've seen the Messiah here or there; don't believe them! They're trying to trick you into revealing yourselves so they can kill you!"

Then, He added,

24 "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (When the Son of man, Yeshua` the Anointed to be the King of Israel, returns, it's not going to be hidden in some corner somewhere, i.e. it's not going to be "spiritual" or "invisible"; it will be EXTREMELY OBVIOUS, like a lightning flash so bright on one side of the sky lighting up the objects under the opposite side of the sky.) 25 But first must he (Yeshua`, the Son of man) suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 

26 "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage (all normal, everyday activities), until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed themall. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 "In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. (When one sees this day come, one shouldn't go back in his house to pack, nor should one who sees this day come go back to get a few things.) 32 Remember Lot's wife. (That is, she turned back and <poof!> she became a pile of chemicals!) 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life (that is, to throw a few things together for survival) shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life (that is, to take off without packing a thing) shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other shall be left (missed, shall get away). 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other left (missed, shall get away). 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken (captured), and the other left (missed, shall get away)."

37 And they answered and said unto him,

"Where (will this happen), Lord?"

And he said unto them,

"Wheresoever the body (the corpse) is, thither (that's where) will the eagles (vultures) be gathered (flock) together." (I.e., wherever you, as the prey, can be found! So, DON'T BE FOUND!)

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

Not once in the gospels does Jesus say the kingdom is land, or an earthly rule. In fact, the phrase "kingdom of Israel" is nowhere found in Jesus' teachings in the gospel. Even when asked in Acts 1:6! Jesus never once said anything about the kingdom restored to bloodline Israel. The entire view is absent any explicit report by Christ.

Well, again, that's simply your viewpoint being read into the Scriptures you are reading. At the risk of another outburst of "Judaizing!," the reason why there's no explicit, detailed explanation from the Messiah is because the JEWS ALREADY KNEW ALL THAT!

Look, the Jews have a habit that's been around for millennia; they read through the Torah at least once every year. It's part of their training in knowing the Jewish Bible:

Quote

The tradition of reading the Torah out loud in synagogue dates back to the time of Moses. The practice of "completing" the Torah reading with a passage from the Navi, called the haftarah, is mentioned in the Mishnah. Today, the Torah is divided into 54 portions, one to be read each Shabbat, with two portions read together twice during the year. The entire reading is completed every calendar year.

--https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/reading-the-torah

If a congregation can, (not all can afford one), the Torah is read directly from a well-preserved and protected, hand-written scroll in Hebrew block lettering, and once a year, they have a celebration when it is time to re-roll the scroll back to the beginning. The scroll is kept in a cabinet called an "ark," most of the time, and is carefully and lovingly protected in a covering, and only uncovered and unrolled when in use.

In the reading of the haftarah, it is less likely to be in a scroll, but it is just as honored as the Torah when it is read, and the haftarah contains many passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, and others that are read with each reading of the Torah portion for that Shabbat.

The children are often taught how to read the Torah for themselves, learning Hebrew, and they recite what they can read in their Bar Mitsvahs and Bat Mitsvahs as part of the celebration of "becoming a man or woman of Israel."

The point is this: They FREQUENTLY read through the Prophets, as well as the Torah, and they were encouraged to read the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.) as often as they were able. They are known as the "People of the Book" for a reason, after all.

Today, the modern English translations of the Bible, New and Old Testaments, often re-word or transform or exchange words with synonyms to the point of losing a lot of meaning in the original text. For instance, the Greek word "γῆ" ("gee") is often translated as "earth"; however, it is also the same word that might be better translated as "land." Depending on where it is used in context, particularly if used to translate the Hebrew word "אֶ֔רֶץ" ("erets") in a quotation, it might even be better to understand it to mean the "Land [of Israel]."

So, if one wants to know about the Land of Israel, one should be careful to read for these words, like "earth," and see if the context might actually be talking about the "Land of Israel" instead.

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

Peter says the kingdom of Christ is eternal, not temporal (2 Pet. 1:11).

And, so it shall be! However, look more carefully at this verse:

The Greek says, "οὕτως γὰρ πλουσίως ἐπιχορηγηθήσεται ὑμῖν ἡ εἴσοδος εἰς τὴν αἰώνιον βασιλείαν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν καὶ Σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ." The word "epichoreegeetheesetai," is in the future, indicative, passive form and implies that the ushering into that "eternal Kingdom of the Messiah" is in the FUTURE!

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

Writing to Christians in Ephesus, Paul said no immoral, impure, covetous or idolatrous person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5). Israel was and remains immoral, impure, and idolatrous. Writing to Timothy, Paul said he'd be rewarded by Jesus with a crown of righteousness on the day his eternal kingdom came (2 Tim. 4:1-7). God told John the kingdom of Christ came when the accuser was thrown down (Rev. 12:10). Has the accuser been thrown down?

Paul would be right. HOWEVER, they were also told, 

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith,

"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

And, we read that is precisely what shall happen to the children of Israel in Romans 11:

Romans 11:11-27 (KJV)

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then,

"The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in."

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written,

"There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."

 

And, no, the Accuser - the Slanderer - the Diabolos - the Devil has not yet been thrown down, yet, and he CERTAINLY has not yet been imprisoned in the Bottomless Pit - the Abussos or the Abyss, yet.

 

Always check the context of a verse!

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (KJV)

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist (a good-news teller), make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

He won't get that crown at his death; he will get it at the time when Yeshua` the Lord, the righteous Judge, comes back at His appearing, His Second Coming!

 

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

John 12:31
"Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."

Sorry, but the word translated "will be cast," "ekbleetheesetai," is in the future tense. He's saying that his judgment and sentencing is LOCKED IN!

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

Hebrews 2:14-15
"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."

 

3 minutes ago, Josheb said:

1 John 3:7-8
"Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil."

These two passages of Scripture, similarly mean that the devil has begun to be rendered powerless, but he is not yet locked away. Peter still warned,

1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV)

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

[David1701]

14 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

I agree. 

BUT remember HE is referred to as the LAMB until He returns as Lord of lords and King of kings.  

Rev. 22:1-4 (KJV)

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Jesus is the Lamb of God forever.  He is also King of kings and Lord of lords.

Edited December 8, 2021 by David1701