Kingdom of GOD
Please also see: ‘Heaven.’ ‘Jesus’ return.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
The Kingdom of GOD is HIS kingdom on Earth and beyond, it presently describes and represents HIS relationship with humanity.
The Kingdom of Heaven is GOD’s home, which is where HE has planned for HIS children to live with HIM and Jesus, together with the whole host of heaven.
The Kingdom of GOD can be likened to an embassy. The land that an embassy stands on is the property of the country or nation that the embassy represents, and anyone standing on that land is under the laws of that embassy’s country, with all the rights and privileges which it endows – imputes – makes available. They are immune to the laws of the country in which the embassy is situated. The same applies to all of GOD’s children – all who love HIM. We may be standing – living on Earth, but if we are members of GOD’s Family we are standing on GOD’s Kingdom ground and are under GOD’s laws, rights, and privileges. We are subjects of GOD’s Kingdom.
There is one difference, which is that on Earth we still have to be obedient to the laws of the country or nation in which we live or happen to be at any time. However if any Earthly law requires something of us that is quite contrary to GOD’s law, we are under obligation to follow what GOD requires of us; at the risk of the Earthly consequences. We are in GOD’s Embassy - Kingdom - and are therefore subject to HIS laws.
Twelve is the number of GOD’s kingdom, and is applied in a number of ways. Twelve is a symbol of faith, the church, and divine rule, and features prominently in the Bible. Genesis refers to the 12 sons of Jacob, who formed the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus had 12 apostles.
The Kingdom of GOD consists of truthful revelation and transparency. The Earthly kingdom - this world – consists of deception and secrecy.
Daniel 7:27 ‘Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High (GOD). HIS kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey HIM.’
John 3-5 ‘Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of GOD unless they are born of water and the Spirit,’
John 18:36 ‘Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.”
Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly FATHER knows that you need them. But seek first GOD’s kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 10:7-8 ‘As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 13:31-32 ‘He (Jesus) told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” He (Jesus) said, “The kingdom of GOD has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 4:26-34 ‘He (Jesus) also said to them, “This is what the kingdom of GOD is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Again He said, “What shall we say the kingdom of GOD is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on Earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.’
Acts 14:21-22 ‘They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of GOD, they said.’
1 Corinthians 4:20 ‘For the Kingdom of GOD is not a matter of talk but of power.’
The kingdom of GOD begins for each of us when we have Christ in our heart, and, through Jesus, coming into relationship with GOD on earth; however the fulfilment of it in total will be in heaven and the new Earth. It is both spiritual and physical. It also involves entering GOD’s rest; rest from the cares and pressures of this world.
After Jesus resurrects us, we immediately enter the Kingdom of GOD to live eternally in our new perfect bodies, as members of GOD’s eternal family.
All who have disbelieved and rejected GOD, and HIS whole plan, will realize with horror the unlimited enormity of their terrible mistake and loss.
Hebrews 3:7-9 ‘So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear HIS voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried ME, (even) though for forty years they saw what I did.”
GOD was here talking to the Israelites who had been in the desert for 40 years because of their unbelief and wayward hearts; but it is still warning and instruction to us.
‘Today, if you hear HIS voice, do not harden your hearts,’ is repeated in chapters 3 & 4, which shows its importance, and how GOD loves us so much as to want to make sure we are saved. Just like any parents who have lost their children to wrong living, want them restored to their family.
Hebrews 3:11-12 “So, I (GOD) declared on oath in MY anger, ‘They shall never enter MY rest.’” ‘See to it brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living GOD.
Revelation 11:15 ‘The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of HIS Messiah, and HE will reign for ever and ever.”
When we become ‘Born Again’ – spiritually – we become a new creation and take on a new awareness that we are living a temporary life in this imperfect, dysfunctional world; which any intelligent observation reveals is deteriorating, and cannot last. One can observe the eroding and jagged rock-strewn coastlines of many land masses, giving clear evidence of left-overs from the worldwide flood of Noah’s time, and very destructive earthquakes, now added to by very poor human management.
So it is very apparent that this Earth has to be re-created, and that the fullness of GOD’s true kingdom lies ahead of us.