Quote (Kisssofdeath @ Feb 28 2011 06:04pm)
You say, Kiss, "the kingdom is the when God will establish his throne on this earth." But, then you turn around at the end and say, "God's kingdom is not of this world". LOL, which is it gonna be? I will try to explain.
God says,
Luke 9:27
But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. God is saying, those who are with him NOW will not die until they see the kingdom of God.
Mark 9:1
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Again, God is saying, those who are with him NOW will not die until they the kingdom of God.
You ask , Why would Jesus to tell us to pray for the kingdom to come if it was already here?
God says,
James 5:15-16
(15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
(16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We should always pray for the Church.
You quote some from Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom , which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
No disrespect but I don't think you fully understand this. Kingdoms ruled by men can be overthrown and replaced (Daniel 2:39-40), but God assures us that "we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28); indeed "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18-19). Hundreds of years before Jesus came, Daniel foretold, "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever" (Daniel 2:44). We can take confidence in the unshakeable and enduring nature of this kingdom because of who reigns over it. Isaiah prophesied of the Christ: "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7). Are you in the kingdom (John 3:5)? Is the kingdom in you (Luke 17:21)?
You say, and quote, I know that the kingdom lives in us (Luke 17:21),
God says,
Luke 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. I couldn't agree more. Ask yourself this question, "how can the kingdom of God be within us but not here", doesn't make any sense does it. Why, because the kingdom is already here, if it lives in us then it MUST BE HERE NOW! According to Jesus, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). Contrary to popular theory, the establishment of God's kingdom would not be a visible event. The coronation of Christ the King would not be witnessed by millions on earth. Rather, the kingdom is seated in the hearts of men.
You say God's kingdom is not of this world!
You are 100% correct. There are those who say that when Christ returns He will be enthroned in Jerusalem, reigning over the earth for a thousand years. However, the Lord Himself said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36). Shortly before the kingdom of Judah fell to Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah prophesied that Coniah would be the last of the independent, sovereign kings of that nation: "For none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah" (Jeremiah 22:30). Jesus was the fleshly descendant of Coniah who also known as Jeconiah (Matthew 1:11); therefore, Jesus will never rule from David's throne in Judah. It is true that He reigns on David's throne (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30), but not in Jerusalem.
Jesus is reigning now and those who obey have already entered His realm. Paul wrote that the Father "has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). Entrance into this kingdom is predicated on rebirth, as Jesus declared, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5), with the application of water being a clear reference to baptism (Acts 10:47; I Peter 3:20-21).
I'm sorry, i know you like to type but i honestly hate typing out these long responses but i want to say this.
God's kingdom is not of this world, but it is on this world. I challenge you to read some books on the end times and the stages of our Earth as believed by biblical scholars.
There is a lot i honestly think you do not understand (mutual feeling here) so i will just leave you with some verses to think about
2 peter 3:13
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
isaiah 65: 17
See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
Go read revelations 21, it explains a lot of things you need to understand.
God's kingdom is not of this Earth, but it is on this Earth when God creates a new earth. And jesus WILL rule from a NEW Jerusalem that comes from heaven.