THE KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

APRIL 22, 2007

Last week I shared some of the grave concerns I have about powerful Christians who believe they have an infallible understanding of what the Bible teaches concerning biblical prophecy and the so called “end-times.” For instance, in her excellent little book, “Forcing God’s Hand: Why Millions Pray for a Quick Rapture…And Destruction of Planet Earth,” I quoted Grace Halsell as saying:

“Jesus was no sissy!” I heard Jerry Falwell shout. He and other Armageddon theologians portray Christ as a five star general, astride a horse, leading all the armies of the world-and, armed with nuclear warheads, slaying billions of unbelievers.”[i] I asked you folks: “Can you imagine a Christian with those kinds of end time beliefs ascending to the presidency and having his or her finger close to “the button”?  “I can because there are a number of such Christians in our government already.”[ii] However, unlike today’s self proclaimed prophecy experts, politicians are extremely cautious about how they speak in public about such matters.

Towards the end of the sermon I quoted a number of bible passages concerning the phrase “The kingdom of God/Heaven. Those of you who were here last Sunday may remember me asking you this question. “If you were to read the Bible for the very first time and you came across those verses we just read concerning the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, and those phrases were something completely new to you; would you have a clue as to what they mean? Don’t feel bad because, in the same circumstance, no other human being would either. But those first century Jews certainly did know.”

“At that time, “the nation cherished in its innermost heart the hope of a coming deliverer, a scion of the royal house of David, who would be the theocratic king, the liberator of Israel from Gentile domination, whose reign was to be so happy and glorious that it might deserve to be called ‘the kingdom of heaven.’[iii] I closed by saying: “This is the kind of kingdom those first century Jews longed for. And it is the same kind of kingdom some Jews and Christians today are still awaiting. However, according to Jesus, this view is not factual.”

It’s the absolute certainty that their understanding of Scripture prophecy is the correct one that fuels such a zealous passion for the state of Israel of millions of Christians and Jews. This fact ought to be of deep concern to each of us. For instance, a woman from the “Jews for Jesus” ministry introduced a well known Jew at the Christian Zionist Congress in 1998 as a man who is passionately committed to the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.” Please remember that the temple site is presently occupied by Islam’s “Dome of the Rock.”

Speaking of Gershon Solomon the controversial figurehead and a founder of an organization called the Temple Mount Faithful, the woman introduced him saying: “His credentials as an Israeli patriot are impeccable, beginning at age eleven when he was arrested by British authorities for putting up Zionist posters during their occupation of Israel. He stood up for what he believes to be true ever since…one must take Salomon seriously.”[iv]

This morning I want to encourage each of you folks to give serious thought to some of the comments this zealot made at the conference. “The mission of the present generation is to liberate the Temple Mount.” “I repeat, to remove-the defiling abomination there…the Jewish people will not be stopped at the gates leading to the Temple Mount…We will fly our Israeli flag over the Temple Mount, which will be minus it’s “Dome of the Rock” and its Mosques and will have only our Israel flag and our Temple. This is what our generation must accomplish.”[v]

In an interview in the Times, Solomon is quoted as saying: “The Israeli Government must do it. We must have a war. There will be many nations against us but God will be our general. I am sure this is a test, that God is expecting us to move the Dome with no fear from other nations. The Messiah will not come by Himself; we should bring Him by fighting.”[vi]

It’s political saber-rattling Christian Zionist’s such as Pat Robinson, Jerry Falwell and John Hagee who are among the most zealous no questions asked lobbyists for Israel’s support. Please don’t misunderstand me, I believe we must help those Jews but we must be very careful we do it for the right reasons, and not to try to speed up the return of Christ.

These very powerful men are convinced of the infallibility of their interpretation of Biblical prophecy and they don’t hesitate to let everyone know it. Consider these Falwell quotes: “Theologically, any Christian has to support Israel, simply because Jesus said to”; and “If we fail to protect Israel, we will cease to be important to God.” To drive that point home, Hal Lindsey adds: “If the U. S. ever turns its back on Israel, we will no longer exist as a nation.”[vii]

These men and their followers exert enormous political influence on our elected leaders. Before I vote in the next national election I want to know the candidates view on the prophecy issue, especially as it pertains to our day. Regardless of whatever his or her religious persuasion or lack of one may be; I want to know. I owe it to my children and grandchildren, not to mention the rest of humanity.

Those first century Jews were so certain their promised Deliverer would establish an earthly-political kingdom that they murdered the King of the Kingdom who insisted to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).” Nevertheless, millions of Jews and Christians today believe the creation of just such an earthly-political kingdom is imminent. I have to say I strongly, and by the grace of God, will respectfully disagree in this morning’s message. Allow me to explain why.

Mark 1:14-15 (AMP) ¹⁴ Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God, ¹⁵ And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).

Luke 11:14-20 (AMP) ¹⁴ now Jesus was driving out a demon that was dumb; and it occurred that when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke. And the crowds marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, He drives out demons [because He is in league with and] by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, ¹⁶ While others, to try and test and tempt Him, demanded a sign of Him from heaven. ¹⁷ But He, [well] aware of their intent and purpose, said to them, Every kingdom split up against itself is doomed and brought to desolation, and so house falls upon house. [The disunited household will collapse.] ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom last? For you say that I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub. ¹⁹ Now if I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub, with whose help and by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has [already] come upon you.

I can hear Jesus saying something like this: Look guys, we all know about how King Solomon with his incredible wisdom was able to mix up a batch of herbs and about how he devised special incantations to drive out demons in such a way that they never came back. But you and I also know that that many of your own people are using that same method today.[viii] If you want to condemn me you will have to condemn yourselves. Then you will have a civil war on your hands. However, if I drive out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has [already] come upon you.

Luke 17:20-21 (AMP) ²⁰ Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, ²¹ Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].

It’s as though Jesus is saying: Stop wasting your time looking for a theocratic earthly-political kingdom. I know that’s what you have been expecting and hoping and praying for, but you are mistaken. God never promised that kind of a Deliverer or kingdom. On the contrary, the kingdom of God exists within people.

Jesus often taught those first century people about His kingdom. The ones who learned profited greatly just as you and I will if we too learn. For instance, unless I’m mistaken, one of the greatest challenges you and I are sometimes faced with is overcoming the temptation to worry, to be anxious. The possibility of losing a job because of a corporate downsizing or outsourcing, or of the results of medical tests coming back positive confirming the presence of a dreaded disease are experiences we would do anything to avoid. And yet, our loving Father allows them. And Jesus taught how we are to deal with such disturbing events.

Matthew 6:25-34 (AMP) ²⁵ Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

²⁷ And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? ²⁸ And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? ³² For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. ³³ But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. ³⁴ So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Alistair MacLean quotes a story from Tauler, the German mystic. One day Tauler met a beggar. “God give you a good day, my friend,” he said. The beggar answered, “I thank God I never had a bad one.” Then Tauler said, “God give you a happy life, my friend.” “I thank God,” said the beggar, “I am never unhappy.” Tauler in amazement said, “What do you mean?” “Well,” said the beggar, “when it is fine, I thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty, I thank God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy when I am not?” Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. “Who are you?” he asked. “I am a king,” said the beggar. “Where then is your kingdom?” asked Tauler. And the beggar answered quietly: “In my heart.”[ix]

Jesus taught and that beggar learned that the kingdom of God was within him [in his heart]. If we are honest with ourselves, you and I must admit that through the Scriptures, and also deep down in our heart the Holy Spirit is whispering this eternal truth to us: Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and He will see to it you lack no good thing. May you and I learn this fact and apply it in our daily lives. Now consider the following parable.

Matthew 13:44 (AMP) ⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field.

Although this parable sounds strange to us today, it would have sounded perfectly natural to people in Palestine in the days of Jesus, and even to this day it paints a picture which people living in the East would know well. In the ancient world there were banks, but not banks such as ordinary people like you and I could use. Back then ordinary people used the ground as the safest place to keep their most cherished belongings. There was a rabbinic saying that there was only one safe repository for money–the earth.

This was still more the case in a land where a man’s garden might at any time become a battlefield. Palestine was probably the most fought over country in the world; and, when the tide of war threatened to flow over them, it was common practice for people to hide their valuables in the ground, before they took to flight, in the hope that the day would come when they could return and regain them. Josephus [the Jewish historian living at the time] speaks of “the gold and the silver and the rest of that most precious possessions which the Jews had, and which the owners treasured up [and hid] underground against the uncertain fortunes of war.”[x]

We must never forget to remember that “to be in the Kingdom is to obey the will of God. We can immediately see that the Kingdom is not something which primarily has to do with nations and peoples and countries. It is something which has to do with each one of us. The Kingdom is in fact the most personal thing in the world. [and] ”the Kingdom demands the submission of our will, our heart, and our life. It is only when each one of us makes his or her personal decision and submission that the Kingdom comes.”[xi]

“When Jesus told this story, he told the kind of story that anyone in Palestine as well as those living in the east would recognize. In this parable the main point is the joy of the discovery that made the man willing to give up everything to make the treasure without a doubt his very own. Nothing else in the parable really matters. It would be a sad thing, if it were only in churches, in so-called holy places, and on so-called religious occasions that we found God, and felt close to him.” [xii] There is so much more that Jesus taught about His kingdom. Lord willing, we will be able to consider them soon. This morning I just want to remind us that every Christian is already an inhabitant of the kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God has been advancing for the past two thousand years. Sometimes it has been rapid and other times it’s been quite slow. In places it has even died only to rise again. But it is pressing forward and will continue to do so until the literal bodily return of Jesus Christ the King of all Kings.

Our growth in Christ’s kingdom starts small just like a mustard seed. For instance, although Jesus reigns over His kingdom, He still does not completely reign in the minds and hearts of His subjects. We are stubborn rebellious creatures and it takes time to change into becoming beautiful Christ-like creatures. The extent to which He does reign will have either a positive or negative impact upon the society in which His people reside. Concerning the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, I hope all Christians living today will grow to the level that they will echo the chorus of Garth Hewitt’s song “Ten Measures of Beauty,” which I believe expresses the sentiment of a certain Palestinian Jew, known to His followers as “The Prince of Peace.”

May the justice of God fall down like fire

And bring a home for the Palestinian.

May the mercy of God pour down like rain

And protect the Jewish people.

And may the beautiful eyes of a Holy God

Who weeps for His children

Bring His healing hope for His wounded ones

For the Jew and the Palestinian.[xiii]

[ii] My sermon: “Truth Exists and Knowing It Really Does Matter.” Available on the web: http://s128601634.onlinehome.us/sermons/truth_exists.htm

[iii] [iii] James Stuart Russell, The Parousia, Kingdom Publications, Bradford, Pa. Page 9.

[iv] Zhava Glaser, ‘Today’s Rituals: Reminders or Replacements’, Issues .3, cited in Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon? ©Stephen Sizer 2004, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester LE1 7GP, England, page 235.

[v] Ibid, p. 235.

[vi] Ibid, p.235.

[vii] When Time Shall Be No More, Paul Boyer © 1992 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, The Belknap Press of Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma. P. 203.

[viii] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews: 8: 5: 2.

[ix] —Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Ibid, p. 84

[xii] Ibid, p. 85

[xiii] Christian Zionism: p.264