The Kingdom of God

WHAT is it ? WHAT is it NOT ?

HOW does one gain "admission" to God's Kingdom? Who decides?

A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)

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This tablet correlates closely with The SOVEREIGNTY of God (link)
and The GOSPEL of GOD (link)
AND: The KINGDOM of GOD is NOW (link)

9/00; 5/01; 7/01; 9/01; 12/01; 1/02; 2/02; 5/02; 6/02; 7/02; 9/02; 10/02; 3/03; 5/03; 7/03; 8/03; 9/03; 11/03; 2/04; 6/04; 7/04; 10/04; 1/05; 4/05; 5/05; 12/05; 1/06; 2/06; 12/06; 1/14/07

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Daniel 2: 44 (NIV) In the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will set-up a Kingdom, that will never be destroyed -- nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms, and bring them to an end.... but it will itself endure forever.

Luke 4: 43 (KJV and NASV) God-Incarnate speaking: "I must preach the Kingdom of God, for I was SENT for this purpose."

Luke 16: 16 (NASV) Jesus speaking: "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John (the Baptist). Since then, the gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached.... and everyone in forcing his way into it. (Amplified Bible says: "Everyone strives to go into the Kingdom in his own way, rather than by God's way.")

Matthew 6: 33 (KJV) But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.... and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 17: 20 (RSV) God-the-Son speaking: "The Kingdom is not coming with signs to be observed -- for behold, the Kingdom of God is in your midst."

(And, see other splendid Biblical references, below.)


What IS the "Kingdom of God" that Jesus/God spoke of so frequently? What is the Kingdom NOT ? How does one gain admission to this "Kingdom of God"? If you're admitted to God's "Kingdom", can you be expelled -- and, if so, when.... and by whom?

FIRST.... here is my understanding of what the "Kingdom of God" IS NOT : The Kingdom of God is NOT a post-mortem reward -- reserved-for and restricted-to the "members" of a certain sectarian "religion".... those who have recited a designated creed.... those who have bowed before a specific man-made altar. NOR is the Kingdom of God an "award" -- after "judgment", by a "celestial tribunal" -- for those who have "led a good life".... and for those who have claimed allegiance to (what some call) the "correct" church-doctrine.

NOW.... HERE is my personal definition of what the "Kingdom of God" IS :
The Kingdom of God is the spiritual dwelling-place of God, and God's people.... where God's accepted individuals unite with God, and with each other, to carry out the plans and purposes of God. The "Kingdom of God" exists both now, in this life on Earth; and in the life-to-come, for Godspeople (God's people [link]).... those individuals whom GOD has decided to include in His Kingdom. Admission to the "Kingdom of God" is not predicated on humanly effort or "decision", or upon "good works", or upon the recitation of a creed.... and "admission" is not dependent upon one's "church" membership, or upon the approval of any human-being.... or any group of humans.

In this first "tablet", I will begin with what I consider to be one of the most important spiritual-Biblical truths about God, and "The Kingdom of God".... and about the relationship of "Godspeople" (God's people) with God. In a way, this understanding about God is rather obvious; but its acceptance and application have frequently been complexified or befuddled, in some of today's "institutional churches" -- as well as in certain rigid "religions" of the past.

My thesis is as follows: Apparently, there are some rigid "believers" in certain "religions" who claim that God has granted to them an awesome authority.... the right to decide, for God, which human-beings are "qualified" to be admitted into "God's Kingdom". And.... these same rigid zealots seem to believe that THEY have the authority to evaluate.... on behalf of God.... the doctrinal "correctness" (the "faith") of human-beings of other religious "persuasions".

IF there are indeed those who accept the notion that God has "ordained" certain humans, and certain "churches" with the authority to speak for God.... then we of various other "faiths" must ask: which "church", and which religious "leaders", have been so empowered.... BY GOD? Which "faith" is "right".... which set-of-beliefs is "wrong"? That is, how is it possible for us individuals who are fervently seeking God's "truth", to correctly identify which churches, and which churchy humans we should "accept" and believe.... and which ones we should deny, and reject? My "answer" to these rhetorical questions -- my understanding -- is expressed in the following paragraph:

Study the Biblical references quoted below -- concerning the Kingdom of God. I understand the intention of these scriptures about the "Kingdom of God"..... especially the direct quotations of Jesus/God..... to be as follows: The "Kingdom of God" belongs to God. God came into the world, as Jesus, for a number of God's own "reasons"; but one of the main purposes was to "preach the Kingdom of God" (see Luke 4: 43, below) -- and to explain that God's "Kingdom" belongs to God, and is ruled by God -- and that God's Kingdom is NOT ruled by a "CHURCH OF MEN", or by rules and laws and dogmas, or by rites and rituals and creeds of certain earthly humans -- or by any designated human "religion" (see my chapter on Restrictive Doctrinism). That is, the Kingdom of God is under the control of God alone..... not under the control of God plus a denominational church, nor God plus a group of men, nor God plus a set of superstitions, sacraments, and ceremonies. (See link Why God came into the world, as Jesus.)

Read the following scriptural quotations, out loud, so that you will "hear" and "see" what God is saying. Some of these are repeated from those quoted above. NOTE that Jesus never states that He was sent for the purpose of preaching the "Gospel of Jesus".... and Jesus never states that He was sent to preach the "Kingdom of Jesus." (See link Jesus is God; God is in Jesus.)

Mark 1:14 (KJV) Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand."

Luke 4: 43 (KJV and NASV) Jesus speaking: "I must preach the Kingdom of God, for I was SENT for this purpose."

Luke 17: 20 (NRSV) Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, and He answered, "The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is among you."

....Same; Luke 17: 20 (RSV) Jesus speaking: "The Kingdom is not coming with signs to be observed -- for behold, the Kingdom of God is in your midst."

Daniel 2 (NIV) 44 "In the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will set-up a Kingdom, that will never be destroyed; nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms, and bring them to an end..... but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands.....

Matthew 4: 17 Jesus speaking: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand"

Matthew 4: 23 (KJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom...... (same RSV and NEB).

Matthew 6: 33 (KJV) Jesus speaking: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness".

Revelation 1: 4 (NRSV) Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and freed us from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us to be a Kingdom.... priests serving His God and Father.... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

John 18: 36 (NRSV) Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not from this world. If my Kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from here.

John 3: 3 (NRSV) Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God, without being born from above."

Psalm 22: 28 (NASV): "For the Kingdom is the Lord's; and He rules over the nations."

1 Corinthians 15: 50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God -- nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Luke 16: 16 (NASV) Jesus speaking: "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John (the Baptist). Since then, the gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. (Amplified Bible says: "Everyone strives to go into the Kingdom in his own way, rather than by God's way.")
Same (KJV) 16 Jesus speaking: The Law and the Prophets were, until John. Since that time, the Kingdom of God is preached -- and every man presseth into it.

( JNT personal note: Some humanly "churches" and "religions" attempt to convince their "members" to believe that human-beings can "enter" or achieve the Kingdom of God by individual effort, or by self-determination, or by planning and scheming, or by pretense. )

Matthew 6: 10 (KJV) Jesus speaking (in the "Lord's Prayer"): Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.... 13 For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory -- forever.

Matthew 13: 11 (NRSV) He (Jesus) answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has NOT been given."

Acts 28: 23 (NRSV) (Concerning Paul's testimony to the "Jewish leaders" of the time.) After they (the "Jewish leaders") had set a day to meet with him (Paul), they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening Paul explained the matter to them, testifying to the Kingdom of God, and trying to convince them about Jesus -- both from the Law of Moses, and from the prophets.... 30 Paul lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, and without hindrance.

God makes the rules of the Kingdom of God. He (alone) decides who "enters" the Kingdom..... and when an individual enters. God determines who is abiding by His rules; who is "doing" enough to please Him; who is "obeying"; who is "righteous"(link); who is "serving" correctly; who is "sinning" (link); who is "giving" adequately.... and God decides all the answers to all the other questions that may arise concerning those individuals whom God has "approved".... and accepted to be His own.

It is my understanding that the "opposite" side of this assertion is also true.... no human being, no group of humans, no earthly "church", no self-accredited church leader, no preacher, no priest, no rabbi, no mullah, no board of deacons, no bishop, no pope, no "insider" group of men-selected-by-other-men...... NO human-beings have the right or the authority or the assignment, from God, to make decisions, determinations, or judgments, for God, concerning the "spiritual" status and acceptability of any other human-being.... AND no earthly humans have been designated to decide who will, or who will not, enter the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 2:13 (NRSV) And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him, when He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us, with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.... 18 Do not let anyone disqualify you.... insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause -- by a HUMAN way of thinking.


Summary remarks: The "Kingdom of God" is indeed "now".... and "later". God's people "enter" The Kingdom individually -- at a time specified by God -- after they have been prepared and "awakened", by God. The inhabitants of the "Kingdom of God" are chosen (link) by God Himself.

Yes, there is a Kingdom of God's people -- now, in this world.... in this life.... and there is a Kingdom of God to come -- a "Heaven" -- to be inhabited by the same "Godspeople".... irrevocably "called" and "chosen" by God. This Kingdom of God, whether now or later, is controlled by God alone -- both on this Earth.... and in the life-to-come. Admission to The Kingdom is not predicated upon the authority or "recommendation" of church-groups.... or upon the approval of preachers, priests. rabbis, imams or mullahs.... or upon one's own self-appraisal.


Note these additional beautiful verses from God's Bible.... concerning God, and the Kingdom of God:

Psalm 29: 10 (NIV) The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King.... forever. 11 The LORD gives strength to His people. The LORD blesses His people, with peace.

Isaiah 33: 22 (NRSV) For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our King. He will save us. (See link Salvation is God's decision -- not man's.)

Psalm 103: 19 (NIV) The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His KINGDOM rules over ALL. 20 Praise the LORD, you His ANGELS -- you mighty ones who do His bidding.... who obey His word.

Daniel 4: 25 (NRSV) (Daniel re: Nebuchadnezzar's vision) "You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. You shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you.... until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the KINGDOM of MORTALS -- and GIVES IT to WHOM HE WILL."

Matthew 13: 24 He (Jesus) put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first, and bind them in bundles to be burned.... but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

2/26/06