The Kingdom

[arcticmonster2003]

Every once in while, I can almost grasp what the Kingdom of God is. I can almost "see" reality for what it is. The Kingdom shall be on earth, as it is now in heaven - it is a new reality - brought about by God thru his servants - a freedom, that in itself releases us from the kings and kingdoms and systems that are current in place. All shall see and wonder and be amazed as our needs are taken care of supernaturally, God supplying all for us, while world falls into utter despair and hopelessness, and all shall be drawn, seeing God, through us and in us, and shall learn his ways and turn and serve the world no more, but they shall receive God, and rest.

Isaiah 14:7  The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.


Matthew 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is (currently being done) in heaven.

What I mean by (currently being done), is that most have interpreted this verse to mean this:

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth and heaven.

And I believe this common interpretation to be incorrect for this prayer.

[arcticmonster2003]

If only we could "grasp" the joy that awaits us. Praise God.

[Molly]

Arctic, I do believe in the supernatural, of course, and miracles.

But, we could take care of the whole planet today all by ourselves if we threw off the parasitical minority.

I mean, why does somebody need 100 billion dollars anyways?  What is wrong with this picture?

These are the people running the world now.  The fact that they need to accumulate all this useless money shows there's something wrong with them.

But, like Jesus says, they shut the kingdom in the faces of all those who are trying to enter in, and they won't enter in themselves.

Right now, we could feed the whole world, stop war, cure most diseases, give free electrical and other power to the world, give everyone adequate and comfortable shelter, and hope for their lives.

We have been able to technologically do this for 100 years.

Why won't our fearless leaders do this?

That's the question worth pondering.

[hopeful]

Every once in while, I can almost grasp what the Kingdom of God is. I can almost "see" reality for what it is.

Doncha just love those glimpses of glory?!   :boogie:

[Molly]

Jesus had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people. At the outset of his ministry, sometimes referred to as Jesus' mission statement, Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth and read from the prophet Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)

The biographies of Jesus depict him repeatedly reaching out to those at the bottom of the social pyramid--poor people, women, Samaritans, lepers, children, prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus was also eager to accept people who were well-placed, but he made clear that all, regardless of social position, needed to repent. For this reason, he invited the rich young man to sell all of his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. (Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30, Mark 10:17-31)

Jesus commanded, "Love your neighbor." When asked to define "neighbor," Jesus expanded the traditional meaning of the word--defining our neighbor as anyone who is in need, including social outcasts: "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13)

In his portrayal of the day of judgment, Jesus pictured people from all nations gathered before him, separated into "sheep" and "goats." (Matthew 25:31-46) To the "sheep" he says, "Come you blessed of my Father, for I was hungry and you fed me..." In their astonishment they ask, "When did we do that?" And he answers, "When you did it to the lowliest of my brothers (and sisters)." Conversely, to the "goats" he says, "Out of my sight, you who are condemned, for I was hungry and you did not feed me..."

Jesus himself cared for those in need by feeding the hungry. Crowds of four thousand (Mark 8:1-13) and five thousand (Mark 6:30-44) had assembled to listen to Jesus. They soon became hungry. When his disciples suggested that Jesus send the people away to buy food, he responded by saying "I have compassion on these people..." and "you give them something to eat." He proceeded to perform miracles to feed these large crowds of hungry people.

Adapted from J. Bennett Guess, "Biblical Foundations for Justice Advocacy," UCC Justice and Witness Ministries.


http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/life-of-jesus-modern/jesus-poor.php

[arcticmonster2003]

The way I feel about it Molly, is that would be building upon "This World".
The Kingdom I see coming removes our dependance on everything but God.
Not being dependant on the free electrical power, nor having to work at the power plant.
Not being dependant upon man for our food.
Not being dependant upon man for our "medical care"
Not being dependant upon man for our shelter.
Where you have an electrical plant, you have people who must work at that electrical plant.
Where you have huge farms and plantations you have people who must run them.
Where you have hospitals, you have people who rely on hospitals instead of God.

Just examples, but God has something huge and joyful in store for us, I have only been barely able to try and "grasp" this, and even this was a gift from God.

The closest thing I can describe it to is "Just living" and in the presence of God, with the Holy Spirit fully upon us.
Imagine this scene if you will: The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

Again, I don't see it clearly, but these words could be meditated upon for a long time, and one might understand.
Isaiah 14:7  The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.


The Kingdom could begin today, if everyone on earth would drop what they are doing and call upon the name of the Lord. Then he would break the bread, he does not need us to break our backs for our food, this is the curse of Adam.
But he shall bring it about, with or without our wills and the wills of the people of the world.

[Molly]

well, yes, that could be right, arctic.

But I see it as God giving man the mind of Christ.

God has given us everything we need to make this earth, heaven on earth.

It is only our own evil that prevents us from doing it.

Our own evil blinds us to the needs of others and blinds us to the way satan runs the world today.

So--I'm not saying you're wrong.

I just see a different manifestation of it.

God releasing the mind of man to see what is right in front of him.

Starving and dying people are not exactly in the mood to sing.

[Molly]

For example, over 100 years ago, Nikola Tesla demonstrated wireless electricity to the world at the 1898 World's Fair.

His dream was to give free electricity to the entire world, pulling it right out of the air.

I look around today and see wires everywhere where I live and I notice that a majority of the world's population sits in the dark at night.  Why is this?

Because satan said to Tesla, if its wireless, where will I put the meter?

Thus, Tesla could not get any funding for his dream.  His science was suppressed and hidden away.

But, the science is still there today.  It's being used for other, more nefarious goals, in the hands of a few evil people.

And, you will never be taught about Tesla in school.

[arcticmonster2003]

I understand where you are coming from, but what will we need electricity for? A key theme here is this:

Remember Adam before the fall, did he labor laboriously? When he was hungry, there the fruit was, when he was thirsty, there the water was, when he was tired, he layed down and went to sleep. I believe our Kingdom shall be more glorious that before Adam fell. I do not think the curse of Adam shall befall those whom have entered The Kingdom. The Kingdom is alive now, we just cannot see it.

I cannot embrace this Kingdom
Zephaniah 1:13  Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

Zephaniah decribes modern employment by the way.


Ok, now this I can accept, to make my own house, and live in it for hundreds of years, to have my own little vineyard, and drink the fruits from it (maybe I'll plant a couple of apple trees). I can embraced a Kingdom, where in a fruitful land, filled with the Holy Spirit these things are:

Isaiah 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

[Molly]

yes, that passage from Isaiah is interesting.

In a spiritual sense, it is saying --there will be no more predators.

Who is the biggest predator on the face of the earth?  Man.

There is no dispute about this.

And, no other species of animal kills its own in the numbers that man does.

Get rid of the predators (satan) and we will have heaven on earth.

Guaranteed.

[Molly]

See, the problem is this.

What was Jesus showing us by his miracles, such as the loaves and the fishes?

He was showing us that what we perceived as physical reality could be used in surprising ways in the hands of a holy people to benefit everyone.

So, is the idea that I should be able to wave my hands and have my living room fill with loaves and fishes?

Or is the fact that I can flip a switch and have light any less a miracle?  We take it for granted, but it is a miracle and remains so to most of the world today who can only see it from afar.

You have Nikola Tesla to thank for that, by the way, not Thomas Edison, but you weren't taught that in school because they stole and hid Tesla's inventions to use them for their own purposes and benefit.

Once the scales drop from your eyes, you can see how cruelly this world has been manipulated by a few.

These people pay farmers not to grow anything while half the world starves!

[arcticmonster2003]

I always saw this, that when we put it in his hands (Gods), he will break the bread and feed everyone. Remember the manna?

Matthew 15:33  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

So, then, when they put it in Jesus's hands, there was enough for all. Until then, there will never be enough. Remember, they did not put it in just any old holy peoples hands, but Jesus Christ's hands, who is God, in the flesh at that moment.

Malachi 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Exodus 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.


As for the light switch and electricity and light bulbs and candles (are you worried your going to be in the dark :icon_king:)
Revelation 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

[Molly]

You are living a miracle and you don't even know it.

"See also James Wolfenson, The Other Crisis, World Bank, October 1998 who said: "Today, across the world, 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day; 3 billion live on under two dollars a day; 1.3 billion have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to electricity."

[Molly]

As for the light switch and electricity and light bulbs and candles (are you worried your going to be in the dark )
Revelation 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Yes I am worried that I'm going to be in the dark, actually.   :grin:

Right now I'm looking into portable solar generators.

I can see what's coming.

This idea of no night there, I think, refers to the mind/heart of man.

Was there any darkness in Jesus?  No.  He could see everything and understand everything.

[Molly]

So, then, when they put it in Jesus's hands, there was enough for all. Until then, there will never be enough. Remember, they did not put it in just any old holy peoples hands, but Jesus Christ's hands, who is God, in the flesh at that moment.

Yes, and what happens when it's put in the hands of satan?

We have scarcity, poverty, death, and destruction.

Have you forgotten who you are?

Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

[arcticmonster2003]

I guess the whole point is that there will be no worrying about anything for anyone when the Kingdom is fully seen by all, but I do believe this will start with his servants. Perhaps light will eminate from our bodies, from God in us. No worries, thats the key.

Exodus 34:30  And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
Daniel 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

[arcticmonster2003]

quote Molly

Yes, and what happens when it's put in the hands of satan?

We have scarcity, poverty, death, and destruction.

Have you forgotten who you are?

Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The mysteries of God are great, if he lift me up then I'll be lifted, until then I shall serve humbly.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Corinthians 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

[Molly]

I guess the whole point is that there will be no worrying about anything for anyone when the Kingdom is fully seen by all, but I do believe this will start with his servants. Perhaps light will eminate from our bodies, from God in us. No worries, thats the key.

Exodus 34:30  And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
Daniel 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Yes, no worries, because Jesus and his kings will be ruling this earth, not satan.

[Molly]

The mysteries of God are great, if he lift me up then I'll be lifted, until then I shall serve humbly.

2And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

5That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. --Exodus 4




John 8:28
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

[arcticmonster2003]

Molly that is interesting that you brought up Moses, made me think of these verses.

John 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Numbers 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

2 Kings 18:3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5  He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

What mystery lies here in the comparison I wonder?

[arcticmonster2003]

I looked this up at wikipedia

In the Bible Jesus compared His own person and the crucifixion to Nehushtan, probably to show how He would sacrifice Himself for the world. Referring to His forthcoming crucifixion, Jesus said "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Amongst conservative Christians and Jews, the healing is not attributed to the snake itself. The snake is thought to have been a representation of the punishment and the repentance of the Children of Israel.

Hezekiah destroyed the brazen serpent, calling it Nehushtan, or a lump of brass. From this it was argued that the rulers in Church and State have authority to prohibit, in the public worship of God, the use of things that have been abused to Idolatry.[6]

[Molly]

2 Kings 18:3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5  He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

4He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.



Wow, leave man to his own devices for ten minutes and he is doing the wrong thing,-- it's deja vu all over again. :grin:

Here they are worshipping Moses' serpent on the stick rofl.

Kind of like Christians worshipping the dead man on the cross?

We know he's dead, Hagee told us so.


"Nehushtan"

nechûshtân

nekh-oosh-tawn'
From H5178; something made of copper, that is, the copper serpent of the Desert: - Nehushtan.

[Molly]

Satan is very good at what he does.

But the one in us is more powerful than the one in the world.  He has overcome the world!

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: I agree with you AC. I have been getting glimpses of same. We will be totally dependent on God for EVERYTHING. And for that reason, they will seek to kill us, because the root of ALL evil is self gain.

I got a small taste of walking as the disciples for exactly a month one time, and it was the most liberating sense of being I have ever had. I had NO commitments to anything but to ask Him what He wanted to do for that day, one day at a time, obey Him, and watch the miraculous happen. It sounds simple to do, and it is if He has you doing it, but if we tried to do it on our own, it doesn't work. The memory of it keeps me pressing in to FULLY experience the glorious LIBERTY of the sons of God. Blessings to you........

[arcticmonster2003]

That is what I was trying to add Cardinal and couldn't find the words for, thanks.


No commitments to anything! :thumbsup: