What is the "kingdom of God" that God made available in Jesus Christ? It is a present, universal, spiritual and eternal kingdom. The primary meaning of the word "kingdom" is not "realm" or "territory", but "reign, rule and authority." It is not a physical residential kingdom with a specific and limited location, for the rule and reign of God cannot be thus limited. It is not a natural kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom ­ the lordship of Christ in the hearts of his people; His authority guiding and directing their lives. It is not a visible kingdom of outward observation:

"Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, 'The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20,21)

It is not physical:

"the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)

It is not of this earthly world:

"My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." (John 18:36)

(Some would attempt to interpret Jesus' words as meaning "not of this world-system," but such fails to account for the context.) It is a kingdom that can only be entered by spiritual new birth:

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' .... "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3,5)

"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

Jesus would not allow the people to force him into their mold to be a natural, physical King:

"Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone." (John 6:15)

Today, many people still want to impose that upon Him. They believe He came to sit on old King David's earthly, natural throne in Jerusalem, and that somehow He failed to achieve His Father's goal of making Him a political ruler. They imply that Jesus Christ came at His first advent as a political revolutionary seeking to overthrow the estabished political rule in Israel. They indicate that He offered a kingdom to the Jews, but they rejected it, so He withdrew the offer, postponed what he came for, and went to "Plan B" ­ died on the Cross, establishing a parenthetical mystery kingdom until His second Coming. At His second advent they believe He will acomplish what He failed to do the first time, that is to become the Priest-King in Jerusalem.

This is the premise of the theory that is called "pre-millennialism." But I, personally, can find no biblical basis for the expectation of a physical kingdom here on earth ­ a one thousand year millenial kingdom. In fact, such an expectation seems to be contrary to everything the Scripture says about the Kingdom. The kingdom is not limited in duration to a thousand years, but is eternal; the kingdom is not physical, but spiritual; the kingdom is not Jewish, but universal.

Neither did Jesus come to re-establish the old Davidic kingdom and thereby bring "good government" to the world; to reform society by enforcing high and moral and ethical standards. This is the premise of what is called "post-millennialism; reconstructionism; or theonomy." The premises of both pre-millennialism and post-millennialism blind Christian believers to the present spiritual reality of the kingdom of God. Both miss the point of Jesus' statement, "My kingdom is not of this world." ­ this physical world - (John 18:36). So many Christians today are as deceived about the Kingship of Jesus as were the Jews of Jesus' day. It is no wonder that they are not shouting "Hosanna!", nor allowing Jesus to reign in their lives in godliness.

The kingdom, or authority, or rule of God is a spiritual reality in this present age, and it will appear in its final, perfected form in the eternity of the new heavens and new earth when Christ returns. The kingdom was established by Christ at His first advent, but only to those with eyes to see, spiritually. When He comes again, the whole world will see the power and glory of that present spiritual and eternal kingdom. There is the "already" sense of the kingdom and the "not yet" sense of the same eternal kingdom.

Jesus is King. He is King "after the order of Melchisedec...King of Righteousness... King of Peace." (Hebrews 6:20-7:2) "His throne is forever." (Hebrews 1:8) He is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 17:14).

Christians are "a kingdom of priests" as was God's intent (Exodus 19:5,6). We are a "royal priesthood, holy nation" (I Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10). Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ:

"For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13,14)

Jesus is King for Christians right now. But Christians must never cease to learn the lessons of the Old Testament which were illustrative examples for us (I Cor. 10:11,12): Watch out for the Babylonians who try to carry off spiritual Israelites (Christians) into their false religious systems of idolatry with false pastoral kings. Watch out for the Babylonians with their false moral systems where ethical rules and regulations reign supreme. Watch out for the Babylonians and their false eschatalogical systems with far-out fantasies of what to expect in the physical future. As Christians we have all that God has to give us right now in Jesus Christ. "God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 1:3).

Christians are still like those persons present at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We are still shouting, chanting, singing "Hosanna" to the King. We "sing unto the Lord" (Isa. 12:5; Ps 98:1; Zech 2:10; Ps. 137:3).

Is Jesus Christ reigning as sovereign in your life? ...as King? ...as Lord? Is Jesus Christ King in the kingdom of your heart? Are we prepared to let Jesus Christ reign and rule over the collective kingdom of His church? Are we praying evangelistically that Jesus Christ might reign as King over all peoples? These are the questions we must ask ourselves individually and collectively, as we understand that "Jesus Is King."

The condition for His effective Kingship/Lordship in our lives is still that of faith - our receptivity of His activity. The condition is still the obedience of listening to what the Lord Jesus Christ ­ Jesus as King ­ wants to do in our lives, individually and collectively.

Jesus is King ­and we can still shout, "Hosanna!"

Full article: http://www.christinyou.net/pages/jesusking.html

Hey Julius,
This has seeds of truth, but by necessity (must) make changes to other things. The real point of this article? Replacement Theology /Supercessionism, plain & simple. I don't disagree that we live in a taste of the spiritual kingdom, which is, & is to come. But what's the ultimate point that this guy (& the point of your constantly coming back around to) is getting at? Replacement theology. Once again I ask you Julius: after His resurrection & just before His ascension, why didn't Jesus correct those poor, dumb, blind, ignorant, unspiritual & uninformed/unenlightened (by this view) apostles in Acts 1 when they asked Him "when will you return to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Why did He not correct them, but further solidify their ignorance & deception (according to you) by saying "it's not for you to know the times and seasons my Father has established"? Was Jesus trying to deceive them? If it was word play, why didn't Luke point this out immediately in the account he wrote considerably later? I'm not arguing that we are not in a spiritual kingdom now, but what you always seem to be really getting at is that God/Jesus is not going to keep their words laid out in Genesis through Revelation concerning an end times restoration & revival in Israel.

So are you saying the FULLNESS OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD is in effect NOW? This is it? People being beheaded for their faith daily, sin rampant, etc. but this is THE FULLNESS OF THE KINGDOM NOW? This is a taste of the kingdom friend, but I am looking forward to the fullness of it when He comes & establishes it COMPLETELY in the earth. And Israel, as much as you don't like that & "boast against the root" (something Paul warned of in Romans 11) is part of that plan because of election, prophecy, & the mystery of God at the consummation & end of all things.

You may not like that, but it doesn't make it untrue. The issue of Israel is about the faithfulness of God to keep His promises & His Word. The Abrahamic covenant is referred to over and over as "an everlasting (that means for all time) covenant". It is about faith yes, but we were grafted in to the root, not the other way around with the root into U.S. And God is able to graft them back in who were hardened and disbelieve, but whom He elects & does all by His mighty, righteous, right hand.

And to believe nothing anymore is material at all, you have to totally throw out Daniel's prophecies or totally misinterpret/reinterpret them ("sealed up until the time of the end"). This is why I believe the devil has so viciously attacked Daniel through all the demonic doctrines of Devils cults, because these passages (which Jesus Himself quotes at the end, concerning the abomination of desolation & beyond) are KEY to the end. Not even Daniel was given the understanding. Nor apparently the apostles. It was sealed until the time of the end. But now the preterists have "the understanding" by mutilating or ignoring it? No way.
There is a mystery to the kingdom no doubt. There's a seed of it now, but not the ultimate once and for all fullness. Just like we have a seed of many things spiritually that will not be made perfect/complete until the resurrection/2nd coming. When the Kingdom is FULLY established.
God Bless,
Jeff

Jeff,

Before we go any further, since you have thrown this term "Replacement Theology" around rather loosely, can you tell all of us what YOUR definition of it is, in a couple of sentences? What exactly is Replacement Theology from your point of view? This term is obviously used in a derogatory way and I think it is important that we all know what you mean by it. Do you think you can convey that to us in a few sentences?

I was looking into the Patriot Bible that was mentioned recently on SI, and I see where it says, America is now Israel (which I disagree with). To me that is Replacement Theology. When another physical country replaces the physical country of Israel.

When Paul was speaking of the "Israel of God", referring to the Church, I don't see that as Replacement Theology, because Paul was clearly talking about the spiritual kingdom of God and not the physical country of Israel on earth.

And also in Rom 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" Paul is clearly distinguishing between physical Israelites and spiritual (born-again) ones.

There is the heavenly "Israel" and the earthly and the heavenly does not replace the earthly. I'm sure you agree with me on this.

Now that you know I don't think the Church replaces the physical country of Israel, to dispel confusion with this term, what is your definition of Replacement Theology? I'm confused myself as I am sure others are as to how you are using it.

Jeff, will you reply with what how you define RT?