Welcome to this week’s blog. I felt compelled this week to share a message that comes straight from God's Word (the Bible) that is applicable for all mankind. And not just for the Christians of the world. In fact, that's the basis of my two-part blog series, this week being part two is to provide you biblical scripture that demonstrates to all of us what exactly is the "Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven."
Just what is the mystery of God's Kingdom? There is no mystery, God is King over the people of the world, not a human king who rules over the people.
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. - Psalm 47:2 (ESV).
He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. - Matthew 13:11 (NKJ).
Throughout scripture Jesus' parables, along with the unanimous accounts of the prophets, they have described to us what a kingdom is like, and the four elements that make up a kingdom.
A King
A Territory
Kingdom Laws
A Community of People
Let's break down these four essential elements that must be present to make up a kingdom. A kingdom needs a king, a ruler over the people, right? Historical kings, human kings of Israel ruled over their kingdoms.
First was King Saul. King Saul's kingdom started out strong, but his rash character and poor decisions ended his promising future as Israel’s king. Many of Saul’s actions were a severe offense to God, and Samuel the prophet. According to1 Samuel 13-14 (NKJ), Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. Reference both (1 Samuel 10:8 and 1 Samuel 13) to further understand king Saul's downfall.
The second human king was King David. As was Saul's kingdom, David's kingdom was imperfect, as his kingdom collapsed as well. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Then He attempted to cover up her pregnancy, and when he failed, he had her husband Uriah the Hittite killed. This committed adultery was perhaps the greatest transgression of David's life.
And then there was the third human king, King Solomon. Solomon is known for being the king of Israel who built the first Temple in Jerusalem. The Bible tells us Solomon had great wisdom. God personally answered Solomon's prayer, promising him great wisdom. God answered Solomon's prayer for wisdom because God knew Solomon's heart. God knew he was not praying for self-serving rewards. But never-the-less, Solomon's kingdom would end in exile and devastation also. Why? Because Solomon’s heart became divided. His true love for the Lord was polar opposite with the false loves of his foreign wives, and their idolatry worship. Solomon's divided heart proved his abilities were no longer entirely for the Lord. His divided heart was fully revealed through his acceptance of the foreign deities of his many wives. Even today, we know a sanctioned marriage can become idolatrous if it becomes a priority above our love for the Lord.
The hard truth is human leaders disappoint, and fail the citizens in our worldly kingdoms every time. As far back into history, and fast forward to our current generation, we know across all nations for thousands of years, human leaders have been and continue to be corrupt, wicked, abusive, unfair, discriminatory, and even murderers out of their own self-serving motives. What does God have to say to the kings of the past, the rulers of today, and the collapse of these human kingdoms or governments? But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. - 1 Kings 9:6-7 (NKJ).
The second element that makes up a kingdom is a territory. Every kingdom, even today, is defined by the territory, geographical regions or borders. The earth is divided and sub-divided by territories, regions and borders. Today what makes up a kingdom is our government, and the rulers (kings) over these governments. But the Kingdom of God will and does reign over the entire earth. God's Kingdom rules over the people, all of mankind.
The Kingdom of God - Territory
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:9-10 (NKJ).
Jesus answered, "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 (NKJ).
For 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. - Isaiah 9:6 (NKJ).
The third element that makes up a kingdom are the laws of that kingdom. Laws are a collection of laws defined and enforced by the rulers of a kingdom. Our governments today around the world have their own set of laws that the citizens within that government must abide. If laws are broken, consequence and punishment come upon those who break government laws. Some consequences to breaking laws are much more serious than others. But the same does not apply to God's Kingdom and God's Laws. Breaking God's laws is called a sin. God's laws were revealed to us, and written by the finger of God, and brought down to us through Moses, known as God's 10 Commandments. When breaking God's laws, or His 10 Commandments, we must realize there are consequences as well. When we break God's laws, we are sinning. Unlike man's laws, in God's eyes, a sin is a sin. Whether we curse, swear, practice superstition, lie or deceive, steal, cheat and even murder, all sin is equal in consequence and punishment in God's eyes.
The Kingdom of God - Laws
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. - James 2:8 (NKJ).
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 9:7 (NKJ).
Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. - Isaiah 2:3 (NKJ).
Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." - Matthew 19: 16-17 (NKJ).
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. - Revelation 12:17 (NKJ).
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:19 (NKJ).
The fourth and final element that makes up a kingdom is a community of people, the people of that kingdom. You can't have a kingdom without citizens or a community of people. In the Kingdom of God, the citizens or people include all nations of the world. God doesn't sub-divide the people of the world into governments, territories or by class as man does. God sees all of mankind throughout the world as His people who He's wants nothing more than for all of us to have a righteous and everlasting life in His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. But in order for us to enter into the Kingdom of God, we must abide by His laws, instructions and commandments. We must surrender our sinful lives for a new life with Him. We must not be of this world, only be in this world as His ambassadors. We must learn to live in an unruly world and resist a sinful nature. We must learn to store up our treasures in Heaven, and not here on earth. But in order for us to break away from our sin, and the sin of the world, we need to first repent for the Kingdom of Heaven. We must also be born again through adult baptism, which is a choice we make as an adult that we couldn't make or even understand as a new born baby. A person cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven unless they are born again. By choosing baptism, to be born again, our spirits are reborn to a new life, a new life with Christ. Our spirits are born again into the Kingdom of God. And we repent for the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of God - A Community of People
Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' - John 3:3-7 (NKJ).
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. - Isaiah 2:2-3 (NKJ).
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. - Zechariah 14:16-17 (NKJ).
He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. - Isaiah 2:4 (NKJ).
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:10 (NKJ).
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-- as I also have received from My Father. - Revelation 2:26-27 (NKJ).
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. - Philippians 3:20 (NKJ).
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. - Colossians 1:13 (NKJ).
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJ).
Whoever reads and believes these words, God's Word, is truly a spiritual citizen of God's Kingdom? These pleading words are not my words, but the Word of God. I am just an ambassador for Christ who believes with all of my heart and soul that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. As a true citizen of God's Kingdom, I'm still learning to live in this unruly and corrupted world. I know I must alienate things of this world and follow Him. Because in the end, He's the only one true King, with His territory set in place from the beginning of time. His laws have been proclaimed, and His community of people have true citizenship in the Kingdom of God, an eternal life with Christ Jesus. For which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. - Ephesians 6:20 (NKJ).
And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' - Matthew 10:7 (NKJ).
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)
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