Only the larger context will tell. American King James Version×). 21:39), and such would be transferred to a new, “holy nation” (1 Pet. When the apostle John addressed the seven congregations of Asia (Rev. [10][21][23] For instance, in Catholic teachings, the official declaration Dominus Iesus (item 5) states that the kingdom of God cannot be detached either from Christ or from the Church, for "if the kingdom is separated from Jesus, it is no longer the kingdom of God which he revealed. God whose Kingdom were sought thus resulted in the linking of social and philanthropic issues to with the religious interpretations of the Kingdom of God in ways that produced distinct variations among denominations. [11] In this view the Kingdom has already started, but awaits full disclosure at a future point. Although Walvoord and Vine believe the kingdom of heaven can be distinguished in some fashion from the kingdom of God, 36 the vast majority of theologians recognize that the terms are synonymous. These are they who will inherit God's Kingdom. United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization. The New Testament is written against the backdrop of Second Temple Judaism. [36] Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. It is commonly believed that this multiple-attested parable suggests that the growth of the kingdom of God is characterized by a gradual process rather than an event, and that it starts small like a seed and gradually grows into a large firmly rooted tree[8]. As historian William Manchester described it: "No one has calculated how many sixteenth-century Christians slaughtered other Christians in the name of Christ, but the gore began to thicken early" (A World Lit Only by Fire, 1992, p. 178). The epistle to the Hebrews, written several decades after Christ's ascension to heaven, exhorts Christians to continue to believe and not lose confidence in Christ's return (Hebrews 10:35 Hebrews 10:35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.American King James Version×). Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Should we take it literally or allegorically? When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Jesus said He would come "in His glory" and "sit on the throne of His glory." This idea does not deny the teaching outright but applies to it a twist of reasoning. The word millennium is a derivation of the Latin words mille for "thousand" and annum for "year." What did they conclude about the Kingdom of God? 37. 1:33). This became a factor in Christ's eventual crucifixion (Luke 23:2 Luke 23:2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.American King James Version×; John 19:12 John 19:12And from thereafter Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend: whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.American King James Version×). With so many false ideas about the term kingdom, the careful Bible student should study this matter with the greatest of diligence. [43] I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. Yet it is a paradox that many of the adherents to Christianity are not aware of Jesus' central teaching. That special relationship between Jehovah and the Hebrew people would be terminated as a consequence of their murder of Christ (Mt. 3:3-5). Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. As historian Michael Grant puts it, "every thought and saying of Jesus was directed and subordinated to one single thing ..., the realization of the Kingdom of God upon the earth," and "this one phrase [Kingdom of God] sums up his whole ministry and his whole life's work" (Jesus: An Historian's Review of the Gospels, 1995, pp. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.American King James Version×; Psalms 145:13 Psalms 145:13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.American King James Version×; Daniel 7:27 Daniel 7:27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.American King James Version×).