Kingdom

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Kingdom Eschatology

• The Vision of Jesus

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KINGDOM

• What comes to mind?
• Powerful King, Emperor, or Ruler
• Land, Castle, Subjects
• 1st century meaning
• The Emperors dream lived out in His territory

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(No Transcript)
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Leges Aureus
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Priene Inscription c. 9 BC
It seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the
opinion of the high priest Apollonius of
Menophilus Azanitus Since Providence, which has
ordered all things and is deeply interested in
our life, has set in most perfect order by giving
us Augustus, whom she filled with virtue that he
might benefit humankind, sending him as a savior,
both for us and for our descendants, that he
might end war and arrange all things, and since
he, Caesar, by his appearance (excelled even our
anticipations), surpassing all previous
benefactors, and not even leaving to posterity
any hope of surpassing what he has done, and
since the birthday of the god Augustus was the
beginning of the good tidings for the world that
came by reason of him which Asia resolved in
Smyrna.
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ROMES POWER

• Military Power
• All weather roads All-terrain vehicles
• no mud, no flood were Rome
• Economic Power
• Every victory increased wealth
• Ideological Power
• Roman citizenship
• for the glory of Rome

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JEWISH PERSPECTIVE

• God is Just
• Experience is unjust
• Concluding Hope Divine Clean-up of the World

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Mark 114-15

• After John was put in prison, Jesus went into
  Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The
  time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is
  near. Repent and believe the good news!"

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Josephus, Life 110

• To a would-be rebel
• I would condone his actions if he would repent
  and believe put his faith in me.

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Luke 1720-21 (TNIV)

• Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when
  the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied,
  The coming of the kingdom of God is not
  something that can be observed, nor will people
  say Here it is, or there it is, because the
  kingdom of God is in your midst.

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Luke 1120

• If I cast out demons by the finger of God, then
  the kingdom of God has come upon you.
• -- Jesus

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What Is The Kingdom?

• Not A Place, Not A Palace, But His PRESENCE.
• The Kingdom is wherever God is!
• Gods Vision of the World Made Real in the Lives
  of His People
• We Must Have A Passion For His Presence!

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Matthew 69-12

• "This, then, is how you should pray    " 'Our
  Father in heaven,    hallowed be your name,
  your kingdom come,    your will be done
        on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us
  today our daily bread.   Forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.

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KINGDOM of GOD

• What if God sat on Caesars throne?
• His will would be done
• His Lordship would not be questioned
• His kingdom would extend all over the earth
• The world would look like heaven

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Jesus 3-pronged strategy

• Preach the Good News
• Heal the Sick
• Eat with Those you Heal

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Matthew 423-25

• Jesus went throughout Galileepreaching the
  good news of the kingdom, and healing every
  disease and sickness among the peoplePeople
  brought to him all who were ill with various
  diseasesand he healed them. Large
  crowdsfollowed him.

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Luke 92-6

• When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he
  gave them power and authority to drive out all
  demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out
  to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the
  sick. He told themWhatever house you enter,
  stay there until you leave that townSo they set
  out and went from village to village, preaching
  the gospel and healing people everywhere.

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1 Corinthians 1117-34

• In the following directives I have no praise for
  youI hear that when you come together as a
  church, there are divisions among youWhen you
  come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you
  eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead
  without waiting for anybody elseFor anyone who
  eats and drinks without recognizing the body of
  the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himselfSo
  then, my brothers, when you come together to eat,
  wait for each other.

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Jesus 3-pronged strategy

• Preach the Good News
• God wants NO ONE excluded
• Heal the Sick
• There is no problem He cannot solve, and there is
  no ailment we will not seek to cure.
• Eat with Those you Heal
• There are no barriers between us that Christ
  will allow!

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How KINGDOM and CHURCH relate

• The People of the Church are the Willing Subjects
  of the Kingdom
• Purpose of the Church is the Purpose of the
  Kingdom
• The Power given to the Church is the Power of the
  Kingdom

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Difficult Questions

• What would my neighborhood look like if God was
  King of the Universe?
• What would our church look like, and what would
  we be doing, if our Purpose matched the Kingdom
  purpose?

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What Does The Kingdom Look Like?

• A People Full of Grace
• The Fair Employer (Mt 201-16)
• Parable of Talents (Mt.2514-30//Lk 1911-27)
• A Generation of Reconciliation
• The Good Samaritan (Luke 1025-37)
• The Merciful Love and Unloving Servant (Mt
  1823-35)
• The Prodigal Son (Luke 1511-32)

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When CHURCH and KINGDOM conflict

• Parable of the Good Samaritan
• The negative characters were on their way to
  church!
• The Pharisees
• Blocking entrance to the kingdom, due to their
  own traditions and preferences
• Missed the spirit/heart of the law
• Jew/Gentile Split // Prodigal Son
• Dont let them in!

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When CHURCH and KINGDOM unite

• All are welcome
• All is forgiven
• All are equal
• All belongs to God
• All are sought after!

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Where Is God?

• God was in Christ, reconciling the world to
  himself (2 Cor 519).
• In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
  bodily (Col 29).
• We find the will of God in Christ Jesus (1
  Thess 518)

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Kingdom Past, Present, Future

• Past (in Jesus) Luke 1120
• Present (in Church) Col 113 Rev 19
• Future (in heaven) Acts 1422 2 Tim. 41, 18 2
  Peter 111

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4 Views of the Kingdom
HEAVENLY and FUTURE
EARTHLY and FUTURE
HEAVENLY and PAST/PRESENT
EARTHLY and PAST/PAST PRESENT
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What Is The Kingdom?

• Where Heaven and Earth Meet
• Where Past and Future Meet
• Thus, Gods vision of the world made real in each
  moment and in every opportunity

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Kingdom is Always Coming!
1 of 3

• The kingdom was near when Jesus began his
  ministry (Mt 32 417), was near during his
  ministry (Lk 1011) and it was still near 40
  years after Pentacost (Lk 2131).
• According to Jesus, the Kingdom had been
  advancing since days of JB (Mt 1112), but in a
  sense did not include JohnLk 728), prostitutes
  were entering the kingdom (Mt 2132), yet some
  were still to see kingdom come (Mk 91).

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Kingdom is Always Coming!
2 of 3

• The Pharisees had the kingdom, but it will be
  taken away from them (Mt 2143), since they did
  not allow others to enter (Mt 2313). Yet Jews
  expected the coming kingdom (Mk 1110 Lk
  1415), and some faithful were waiting for the
  kingdom (Mk 1543 Lk 1911).
• Jesus also taught the kingdom was
  futuresomething the faithful will receive at
  Jesus return Mt 2534).

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Kingdom is Always Coming!
3 of 3

• Thus the kingdom can come upon you (Lk 1120 /
  Mt 1228), be in or among you (Lk 1720-21),
  be both near, future, and past. One can be
  not far from the kingdom (Mk 1234)
• Disciples ask about who is greatest in kingdom
  (Mt 181)
• We will see the prophets and patriarchs in the
  kingdom, but the Pharisees thrown out (Lk 1328)

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What is the Good News of the Kingdom?

• If the kingdom of God is always near, always
  coming, always about to break open, then how do
  we preach and proclaim the good news of the
  kingdom of God (Mt 935 Lk 443 Lk 81)?
• Jesus told the story of the kingdom in parables
• Parables are lived-out stories in which Gods
  view of the world is made known in real life!

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What is the Good News of the Kingdom?

• The disciples were sent out to preach the
  kingdom of God (Lk 92) and to say the kingdom
  of God is near you (Lk 109). We are to seek his
  kingdom (Lk 1231), because the Father is pleased
  to give it to you (Lk 1232)
• We must receive the kingdom in order to enter it
  (Lk1817)
• Jesus kingdom is not from this world (Jn 1836)
• Because the kingdomis Jesus! (John)

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What Does The Kingdom Call For?

• Repentance and Belief
• Forgiveness of Sins And Debts
• Renovation of Hearts