The Kingdom of God

Mungo said:

Jesus didn't teach that the kingdom of God was 'long into the future':

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Mt 12:28)

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. (Mt 21:43)

And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power." (Mk 9:1)

heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' (Lk 10:9)

nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Lk 17:21)

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Jesus taught that God's heavenly Kingdom would not become fully operational for a long time after his death, and that is why he gave the illustration about "the man of noble birth" that had to travel to a "distant land to secure kingly power".(Luke 19:12) Otherwise, why were the disciples thinking "that the Kingdom of God was going to appear instantly" if it was already there ?(Luke 19:11)

When the wicked Pharisees asked Jesus concerning God's Kingdom, Jesus responded: "The Kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness.....For look ! The Kingdom of God is in your midst".(Luke 17:20, 21) Jesus, as King-Designate of God's Kingdom, was right there "in their midst" or in front of them. But Jesus was just the beginning of one's being selected for the privilege of becoming a "king-priest"; 144,000 others were to follow.(Rev 7:4; 14:1)

Hence, it need be understood that Jesus alone does not make up God's Kingdom, but is the primary king-priest of it. Others would also have to be chosen and sealed with holy spirit and prove loyal till death in order to become a member of God's heavenly Kingdom as "kings and priest".(Rev 5:9, 10; Eph 1:13, 14) Jesus was selected as the first member of God's heavenly Kingdom or government when he was baptized by John the Baptist in 29 C.E. and holy spirit identified him as "approved" as a son of God.(Matt 3:16, 17)

Then, at Pentecost 33 C.E., began the selection of the 144,000 (who will be placed along with Jesus) that would comprise God's heavenly Kingdom.(Acts 2:4) This choosing of the 144,000 has come all the way down to our day, who are noted as being "the remaining ones of ("the woman's") offspring, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness concerning Jesus".(Rev 12:17)

When the "great tribulation" begins (Matt 24:21) it will start with the destruction of false religion, called Babylon the Great at Revelation 17:5 that is identified as a "prostitute" and that has ' committed sexual immorality with the kings of the earth'.(Rev 17:1, 2) Then, just before the second phase of the "great tribulation" that will take down all political governments and their supporters, along everyone else who does not fully support God's heavenly Kingdom in destruction (Rev 19:19-21), the resurrection to heaven of the "chosen ones" will occur.(Matt 24:31)

Jesus was not crowned king of God's heavenly Kingdom until 1914, at which time the Kingdom became operational.(Dan 7:13, 14) At Revelation 6, it lays out a time line of events that would follow Jesus installment as king of God's Kingdom (Rev 6:1, 2), in which "a fiery-colored horse, and it was granted to the one seated on it to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter one and he was given a great sword".(Rev 6:4)

It does not take much examination of history to find out when peace was taken away from the earth (globally) for the 1st time. On July 28, 1914, World War I began so that by the end of the war in 1918 it had involved some 93 percent of the world's population. Before the arrival of World War II, it was called "the Great War" due to its scope.

This was followed by food shortages due to war (Rev 6:5, 6), which, in turn, next came "deadly plague" that had "authority.....over the fourth part of the earth".(Rev 6:8) In the spring of 1918, an outbreak of the Spanish Flu was noted, but by summer it was thought to have quietened down, but came back with a vengeance by the end of the year, so that when it finally died out, anywhere between 50 to 100 million people had died from it. It was far more catastrophic than World War I, effectively taking down a "fourth part of the earth", so that the rider on the "pale horse" named Death reaped in his victims by the "boatloads".

Thus, with Jesus installation as king of God's Kingdom in 1914, in which his first act was to cleanse the heavens of Satan and his demonic hordes (Rev 12:7-9), began "the Lord's day" or "the last days".(2 Tim 3:1; Rev 1:10) We on the earth are the ones who are having great "woes", because "the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time".(Rev 12:12) Satan's "short period time" has almost expired. we are very close to having reached "the end".(Matt 24:14b) But these events spoken of at Revelation 6 were just "a beginning of pangs of distress".(Matt 24:8)

Guestman said:

Jesus called the Kingdom a heavenly government at Matthew 13:11 and in which John the Baptist concurred at Matthew 3:2, telling those coming to him for baptism: "Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near". In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them".(Matt 5:3)

In fact, the words "Kingdom of the heavens" is used some 30 times in Matthew, whereby Jesus established it as a heavenly government (that has at its disposal invisible angelic armies, Rev 19:14; see Isa 37:36 in which one invisible angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers) that will remove all human political governments (pictured as a "wild beast" at Rev 13:1, 2), along with false religion (called Babylon the Great at Rev 17:5) and greedy commerce and all their supporters. Only "the meek" will remain after God's heavenly Kingdom destroys all other people.(Matt 5:5)

Proverbs 2 says that "only the upright will reside in the earth, and the blameless will remain in it. As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous will be torn away from it".(Prov 2:21, 22) Thus, when Jesus taught the "Lord's Prayer" at Matthew 6, he was opening our eyes to the fact that God's heavenly Kingdom will bring about the same clean conditions on the earth as in heaven, removing any and all who are not loyal subjects of that heavenly government.

At Revelation 5, it says those chosen to serve as "kings and priests" in God's Kingdom "are to rule over the earth", not on the earth.(Rev 5:9, 10; John uses the Greek word epi that means both "on" or "over", depending on the context; see Rev 9:11, whereby the word in the KJV is correctly translated as "over", but incorrectly translated as "on" at Luke 23:30 as well at Revelation 5:10)

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'Depending on the context'? And you are the one I should believe understands the context and should change 'on' to 'over'?

Plus, how does this even prove that the Kingdom of God does not come upon the earth?

(Rev. 21:1) "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."

(Rev. 21:24) "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it."

Stranger

Stranger said:

'Depending on the context'? And you are the one I should believe understands the context and should change 'on' to 'over'?

Plus, how does this even prove that the Kingdom of God does not come upon the earth?

(Rev. 21:1) "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."

(Rev. 21:24) "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it."

Stranger

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Jesus stated clearly that God's Kingdom is a heavenly government that would have to be discerned when it went into operation; otherwise why call it a "the Kingdom of the heavens" ? Jesus also stated to his eleven faithful apostles on the night before his death: "In a little while the world (or mankind) will see me no more".(John 14:19)

The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus "has manifested himself once for all time (visibly) at the conclusion of the (Jewish) system of things to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself ".(Heb 9:26) Paul now identifies that "second time he appears (not visibly) it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen (or discerned by the evidence) by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation".(Heb 9:28)

Only Jesus genuine disciples saw him leave and disappear in a cloud (Acts 1:9 in which a cloud denotes invisibility [see Dan 7:13]). At Acts 1:11, an angel said that Jesus will "come in same manner as you have seen him going into the sky", becoming invisible, so likewise only his real disciples were able to discern his ' appearing ' when God's Kingdom was set up in 1914.(see Dan 2:44)

Jesus likened his genuine disciples to "eagles" as being spiritually keen-sighted, saying that "just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together".(Matt 24:27, 28)

These ones have discerned "the carcass" (Luke reads "the body" at Luke 17:37) like an eagle looking for a dead body with its sharp eyesight.(note: an eagle is estimated to be able to see prey from high up half hidden in the brush from a distance of about a mile, being some 8 times better than human eyesight; at an altitude of 1,000 feet over open country, it can spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position; source: website American Bald Eagle Information).

Hence, Jesus identified that God's Kingdom is heavenly, not earthly and that only his true disciples would be able to discern its invisible "appearance" when it was "set up" in 1914. Thus, God's Kingdom will rule "over the earth" (Rev 5:10), for if Jesus were to appear as flesh and blood again, then he would just have put the ransom "in the toilet" and Jesus would have become a liar, for he said that "world will see me no more". He came to the earth only once to fulfill the Father, Jehovah God's will, providing a ransom for "many".(Matt 20:28; John 6:38)

Guestman said:

Jesus, as King-Designate of God's Kingdom, was right there "in their midst" or in front of them.

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i doubt that is what was meant there; that would be "the king is in your midst" after all.

Guestman said:

Otherwise, why were the disciples thinking "that the Kingdom of God was going to appear instantly" if it was already there ?

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misunderstanding, seeing and not seeing, believing the kingdom was the same as worldly kingdoms are, etc. The kingdom is and was in our midst, meaning it manifests from our choices, etc.

Guestman said:

Hence, it need be understood that Jesus alone does not make up God's Kingdom

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ergo the "in your midst" ref is negated

VictoryinJesus said:

Questions concerning the Kingdom of God

I have not studied theology. When I read scripture, it seems to speak things multidimensional, things I do not quite understand. I would like to trust it.................t) and then the restoration of the Lord's Kingdom. Christ taking David’s Throne?

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You must realize that the whole world is the kingdom of God as stated by Jesus. Any injustice will be punished by Him and you need not worry about it. Your view of the punishment is revenge but His view of punishment is to transform the soul. If somebody has stolen your money, don’t pray to God to punish that person. Everything is recorded by Him unlike the courts which register the case only when a complaint is given.


The enquiry by God takes place immediately. Sometimes you find no punishment from God and you are scolding God. The silence of God means that the enquiry was completed and the judgment was “no punishment”. In the previous birth, you might have stolen money from that person and today you paid along with the compound interest. In this case there cannot be punishment and the enquiry was over. Since you do not know this, you mistake God for His silence.


Suppose such background is not there, then you will get your money with interest in some other way which is compensated by God. That person will lose the money along with the interest. You will see it with your eyes. But suppose you cursed that person with revenge, you will receive the punishment in addition to the above. Kauravas stole a share of wealth of Pandavas and finally they lost their whole kingdom. Pandavas gained the total kingdom which is double the share. But Draupadi was cursing Kauravas aspiring always for the revenge.


She was also punished for this as she lost all her children. Therefore, we should not scold even our enemy even by words or mind. God takes care of the entire case. If the injustice wins, it is a black mark for His administration only. He is well aware of it and will take the necessary action. He is more serious in your case than yourself. Unlike the court, He does not require registration of case or witness or advocate. When Hiranyakashipu tortured Prahlada, Prahalada kept silent and did not curse him in any way.


The Lord took very serious action in that case. Thus you have to keep God at every step as the basis in the worldly life also (Pravrutti). Jesus told that unless you excuse others, you cannot be excused by God. Your enemy will be punished if he does not excuse others. Such behaviour which indicates the full faith on God at every step of the life is divine Dharma in Pravrutti or Nivrtutti.

bbyrd009 said:

i doubt that is what was meant there; that would be "the king is in your midst" after all.

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When Jesus was on the earth, he was King-Designate. Jesus knew that his becoming king was still far into the future (Luke 19:12), for he had not yet proved loyal to death in order to receive the "crown of life".(Rev 2:10) At Revelation 2:10, it points to the fact that those who are chosen to be "kings and priests" must prove their loyalty to Jehovah God up till death before they could become members of God's Kingdom, that also guarantees immortality for them.(1 Cor 15:50-55)

It should not be a foregone conclusion that Jesus would prove loyal till death, for he was tempted with the largest bribe in human history, that of "all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth" being placed before him as if his if he were to do just one act of worship to Satan.(Luke 4:5, 6) At that time, Jesus still had well over 3 years left on Jehovah's timetable for him before his assigned work would be accomplished, which included an ignominious death.(Dan 9:24-27)

Jesus told his apostles that "he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised up".(Matt 16:21) Jesus knew that had to prove loyal till his execution in order for his role as king to be "written in stone", just as the apostle Paul showed concerning himself, in which he wrote to Timothy just prior to his death sentence at the hands of Nero in about 64 C.E., that "I have run the race to the finish. I have observed the faith......there is reserved ("reserved", Greek apokeitai meaning "to be laid away, reserved") for me the crown of righteousness".(2 Tim 4:7, 8) A reservation is not complete until the person comes to the desk in order to claim it by paying for it.

Hence, Paul understood that though he had built a record of faithfulness over many years, he had to prove loyal till death in order to receive "the crown of righteousness". A person can be loyal for many years, but they can also renege on their loyalty and their prospect of receiving "the crown of righteousness" would then be lost.(see Eze 33:13)

Thus, in speaking with the Pharisees at Luke 17:20, Jesus told them, not that ' the Kingdom has not come with striking observableness ' as in the past tense, but rather that "the Kingdom ("Kingdom", Greek basileia meaning "royalty, rule, a realm", whereas the Greek word rendered for "king" is basileuo meaning "to rule") is not coming (Greek erchetai, "middle voice of a primary verb" or in the state of being accomplished, but yet more to come, like being "in the middle of a project") with striking observableness" in the future tense, pointing to its yet future arrival.

Jesus could thence say to the wicked Pharisees that "the Kingdom of God is in your midst" as King-Designate, knowing that his loyalty till death will then give him the right to be king of God's Kingdom at Jehovah's appointed time in 1914.(see Dan 7:13, 14)

seems like a pretty torturous way to avoid the kingdom in your midst right now, but ok

bbyrd009 said:

seems like a pretty torturous way to avoid the kingdom in your midst right now, but ok

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Shabbat shalom, bbyrd009.

I just said this to the Swami, but it's important here, too.

The dialogue in Matthew 13 happened in this way:

Matthew 13:11-23
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (the secrets about the Kingdom from the sky), but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom (the Kingdom's message) , and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (immediately) with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended (immediately he is led into sin).
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
KJV

Did Israel know of this Kingdom? Sure they did! It was the VERY SAME KINGDOM over which David and Shlomoh (Solomon) ruled! How do we know this? It's simple: King David SAID it was really YHWH God who was the King!

1 Chronicles 29:10-11
10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
KJV

Shlomoh (Solomon) admitted it, as well:

1 Kings 3:5-15
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
KJV

And, all Israel, every year, reads Isaiah 52:7:

Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (rescue); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
KJV

Paul copied this into his epistle to the Romans:

Romans 10:14-15
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher (a herald)?
15 And how shall they preach (how shall they announce as a herald), except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
KJV

And, this is linked through the verses ahead to Joel 2:

Romans 10:11-13
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (disappointed).
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
KJV

This is quoted from Joel 2:32: (Remember, chapter and verse divisions were added much later and are not inspired by God.)

Joel 2:25-3:2
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
KJV

So, "saved" = "delivered" or "rescued." "Salvation" = "deliverance" or "a rescue."

It was THIS future Kingdom to which Yeshua` was alluding!

Therefore, it is not to any nebulous form of "divine knowledge" to which Yeshua` was referring; He was talking about knowledge about this future Kingdom of Israel - YESHUA`S Israel!

GINOLJC, the kingdom of God is within you and was with you. Just read and understand Revelation 21. Luke 17:20 & 21 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you".

evidence 1. John 14:20 "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.". John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him".

evidence 2. Revelation 21:7 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son".

Retrobyter said:

It was THIS future Kingdom to which Yeshua` was alluding!

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well, i disagree, i do not think that Christ perceived the kingdom as "future" at all, but rather conditional upon following Him. Iow a spiritual state is being described there that had already happened in the past, was occurring at that moment somewhere, and would occur in the future, wherever someone manifests Christ.

The alternative to me seems to be to believe that Jesus still needs to do something in order for the kingdom to manifest on earth, which imo is where "it is finished" should be applied, rather than how it is usually applied, to mean "i have no free will," or "i have no part in the kingdom," or "all i have to do is believe in Jesus," etc

bbyrd009 said:

well, i disagree, i do not think that Christ perceived the kingdom as "future" at all

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the Kingdom is a far and near application. as with redemption. the Kingdom was "at hand", then and now, but fully realized future. for we live in hope, so there is more to come, spiritually and physically. Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it".

bbyrd009 said:

i doubt that is what was meant there; that would be "the king is in your midst" after all.

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Shalom, again, bbyrd009.

Guestman is right. The Greek word "entos" TYPICALLY means "within," BUT can also mean...

NT:1787 entos (en-tos'); from NT:1722; inside (adverb or noun):
KJV - within.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Vine's Expository Dictionary says,

WITHIN
Note: This is a translation of (a) entos: see INSIDE, No. 1; in Luke 17:21 the RV marg., "in the midst of," is to be preferred; the kingdom of God was not in the hearts of the Pharisees; ....
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

The key is found in the pronoun, humoon (using an "oo" for an omega), which is a PLURAL word. In the KJV, which distinguishes between the second person singular (thou, thee, thy, thine) and the second person plural (ye, you, your, yours), the word is "you." We might not catch onto this right away, because we use "you" for both singular and plural today, but He was talking to a GROUP of people, specifically, the ones who were interrogating Him, the P'rushiym or Pharisees. So, when the Scripture says,

Luke 17:21
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
KJV

Yeshua` was NOT talking to an individual! He was talking to the group of people! Thus, "within" a group of people is talking about someone or something being "within that group" or "in the middle of that group." Yeshua` WAS in the middle of that group of people:

Luke 17:20
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
KJV

The word "observation" is from the Greek word "parateereeseoos" for "inspection" or "occular evidence." In other words, there won't be any "pomp and circumstance!" He will come JUST as He did in His first advent. Yeshua` IS the embodiment of the Kingdom. No King, no Kingdom! When the King Apparent is present, so is the potential for the Kingdom.

This is not open for debate; "and that's the way it is," is what Walter Cronkite would have said in conclusion.

101G said:

the Kingdom is a far and near application. as with redemption. the Kingdom was "at hand", then and now, but fully realized future. for we live in hope, so there is more to come, spiritually and physically. Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ...

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Shalom, 101G.
Actually, "to be glorified" means "to be made to glow brightly." "Glory," coming from "doxa" in Greek, is the same word that is used in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

1 Corinthians 15:40-41
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
KJV

When it comes to human glory, we think in terms of finery such as the wearing of gold, silver, and precious stones that all reflect light, that only kings and wealthy people could afford. But the glory "above-the-sky" (Greek: epouranios) is to be found in the various brightness and colors of the sun, moon, and the multitude of stars.

That we will indeed glow with various brightnesses and colors is to be found in several locations of Scripture:

First, we have Moses who, after spending time with YHWH on the mount, had to wear a veil over his face because his skin glowed!

Exodus 34:29-35
29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
KJV

Second, we have the vision that Peter, James, and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration: (Remember: Chapter and verse divisions are artificial; they came much later than when the original text was written and are NOT inspired by God.)

Matthew 16:27-17:9
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
KJV

Luke 9:26-36
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
KJV

Pictures and movie re-enactments do not do justice to this scene. They always show the glow as a soft, unearthly glow, but Matthew's account said, "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." This was not some mere glow; it was BRIGHT LIGHT! Furthermore, Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah (Elias) also glowed! They "appeared in glory."

Third, we read of Paul's encounter with Yeshua`:

Acts 21:39-22:11
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
22:1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according t
o the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
KJV

So, Paul was BLINDED by the light brighter than the noon sun when He saw Yeshua`!

Finally, coming back to 1 Corinthians 15, we read on:

1 Corinthians 15:42-49
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life-giving) spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
KJV

So, there is ample reason to believe that, when we are resurrected, we, too, will glow in the presence of God and be like our Master and Savior, the Son of God, Yeshua` the Messiah. I would encourage everyone to look up the word "glory" and see where this word is used in Scripture.

bbyrd009 said:

well, i disagree, i do not think that Christ perceived the kingdom as "future" at all, but rather conditional upon following Him. Iow a spiritual state is being described there that had already happened in the past, was occurring at that moment somewhere, and would occur in the future, wherever someone manifests Christ.

The alternative to me seems to be to believe that Jesus still needs to do something in order for the kingdom to manifest on earth, which imo is where "it is finished" should be applied, rather than how it is usually applied, to mean "i have no free will," or "i have no part in the kingdom," or "all i have to do is believe in Jesus," etc

Click to expand...

Shalom, bbyrd009.

He DOES need to do something before His Kingdom will be realized; He must COME BACK!

However, He does this by His Father's will, and His return is conditional, and it is NOT contingent on anything a Gentile believer must do:

Matthew 23:37-39
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
KJV

Yeshua` was quoting from Psalm 118:26:

Psalm 118:22-26
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
KJV

This tells me a couple of things: First, the "house of the LORD," the "Temple," must first be re-built.
Second, the Hebrew of this sentence in verse 26 is...
Baruwkh haba' b-shem YHWH.

At every seaport and airport in Israel, you will find the words "baruwkhiym haba'iym.": It's the plural of "baruwkh haba'."


The phrase means "Welcome, comers!"
Therefore, this phrase means "Welcome, Comer in-the-name of-YHWH." Because "shem" also refers to "authority," the phrase can also be rendered, "Welcome, Comer on-the-authority of-YHWH."

This speaks to two needs: First, the children of Israel must accept that He, Yeshua`, IS the Messiah - the "Comer on the authority of YHWH." Second, that they will WELCOME Him back!

Also, one must understand that, although the Kingdom is yet to come in the future (because the Messiah is yet to return in the future), we can still consider ourselves subjects of His Kingdom in advance! Indeed, we are told to occupy until He returns, and instructed to ...

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
KJV

Mark 16:15-16
15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
KJV

When asked specifically if the Kingdom would be restored, He said,...

Acts 1:6-11
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven (the sky) as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven (the sky)? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven (the sky), shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (the sky).
KJV

We are AMBASSADORS to these nations in which we live:

First, note:

NT:2643 katallagee (kat-al-lag-ay'); from NT:2644; exchange (figuratively, adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor:
KJV - atonement, reconciliation (-ing).

NT:2644 katallassoo (kat-al-las'-so); from NT:2596 and NT:236; to change mutually, i.e. (figuratively) to compound a difference:
KJV - reconcile.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ (in the Messiah), he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (God who has traded places with us through Yeshua` the Messiah), and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation (trading places);
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (God in the Messiah was trading places with the world), not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (trading places).
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ (the Messiah), as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead (on the Messiah's behalf), be ye reconciled to God (trade places with God).
21 For he (God) hath made him (the Messiah) to be sin for us, who (the Messiah) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (the Messiah).
KJV

Verse 21 shows the trade:
Yeshua` the Messiah, in spite of His righteousness, or rather, His Father's righteousness in Him, became our sin;
we, in spite of our sin, become the righteousness of God in the Messiah.

It's not a fair trade, but it is a just one. This is how God can justify us and make us His children.

Shalom, again, bbyrd009.
I should also mention that Yeshua` DID see the Kingdom as being yet future. He as much as said so in His parables:

Luke 19:11-28
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens (the children of Israel, particularly the Jews) hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
KJV

Matthew 25:31-46
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
KJV

Food for thought.

Guestman said:

Jesus stated clearly that God's Kingdom is a heavenly government that would have to be discerned when it went into operation; otherwise why call it a "the Kingdom of the heavens" ? Jesus also stated to his eleven faithful apostles on the night before his death: "In a little while the world (or mankind) will see me no more".(John 14:19)

The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus "has manifested himself once for all time (visibly) at the conclusion of the (Jewish) system of things to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself ".(Heb 9:26) Paul now identifies that "second time he appears (not visibly) it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen (or discerned by the evidence) by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation".(Heb 9:28)

Only Jesus genuine disciples saw him leave and disappear in a cloud (Acts 1:9 in which a cloud denotes invisibility [see Dan 7:13]). At Acts 1:11, an angel said that Jesus will "come in same manner as you have seen him going into the sky", becoming invisible, so likewise only his real disciples were able to discern his ' appearing ' when God's Kingdom was set up in 1914.(see Dan 2:44)

Jesus likened his genuine disciples to "eagles" as being spiritually keen-sighted, saying that "just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together".(Matt 24:27, 28)

These ones have discerned "the carcass" (Luke reads "the body" at Luke 17:37) like an eagle looking for a dead body with its sharp eyesight.(note: an eagle is estimated to be able to see prey from high up half hidden in the brush from a distance of about a mile, being some 8 times better than human eyesight; at an altitude of 1,000 feet over open country, it can spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position; source: website American Bald Eagle Information).

Hence, Jesus identified that God's Kingdom is heavenly, not earthly and that only his true disciples would be able to discern its invisible "appearance" when it was "set up" in 1914. Thus, God's Kingdom will rule "over the earth" (Rev 5:10), for if Jesus were to appear as flesh and blood again, then he would just have put the ransom "in the toilet" and Jesus would have become a liar, for he said that "world will see me no more". He came to the earth only once to fulfill the Father, Jehovah God's will, providing a ransom for "many".(Matt 20:28; John 6:38)

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(Rev. 21:24)

Stranger

Retrobyter said:

Shalom, 101G.
Actually, "to be glorified" means "to be made to glow brightly." "Glory," coming from "doxa" in Greek, is the same word that is used in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

1 Corinthians 15:40-41
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
KJV

When it comes to human glory, we think in terms of finery such as the wearing of gold, silver, and precious stones that all reflect light, that only kings and wealthy people could afford. But the glory "above-the-sky" (Greek: epouranios) is to be found in the various brightness and colors of the sun, moon, and the multitude of stars.

That we will indeed glow with various brightnesses and colors is to be found in several locations of Scripture:

First, we have Moses who, after spending time with YHWH on the mount, had to wear a veil over his face because his skin glowed!

Exodus 34:29-35
29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
KJV

Second, we have the vision that Peter, James, and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration: (Remember: Chapter and verse divisions are artificial; they came much later than when the original text was written and are NOT inspired by God.)

Matthew 16:27-17:9
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
KJV

Luke 9:26-36
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
KJV

Pictures and movie re-enactments do not do justice to this scene. They always show the glow as a soft, unearthly glow, but Matthew's account said, "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." This was not some mere glow; it was BRIGHT LIGHT! Furthermore, Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah (Elias) also glowed! They "appeared in glory."

Third, we read of Paul's encounter with Yeshua`:

Acts 21:39-22:11
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
22:1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according t
o the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
KJV

So, Paul was BLINDED by the light brighter than the noon sun when He saw Yeshua`!

Finally, coming back to 1 Corinthians 15, we read on:

1 Corinthians 15:42-49
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life-giving) spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
KJV

So, there is ample reason to believe that, when we are resurrected, we, too, will glow in the presence of God and be like our Master and Savior, the Son of God, Yeshua` the Messiah. I would encourage everyone to look up the word "glory" and see where this word is used in Scripture.

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GINOLJC, and happy Father day, true, but in human form, just a smile is a glow to me, and inward, when we say or do something for someone else and we see a difference, there's an inner glow in us which no man can see but the Father. the connection for me is, when two can have a conversation within before a single word is spoken outward.

peace in Christ Jesus

Retrobyter said:

No King, no Kingdom! When the King Apparent is present, so is the potential for the Kingdom.

This is not open for debate

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so you say, but to my mind this denies Christ wadr. Christ is present right now, and embodied, and "the kingdom is within you" does not = "Jesus is physically in your midst as king," else you would be seeking a kingdom of the world, like pretty much every other Christian waiting for Jesus to come and save them. Again. Or however that is perceived.

The king is enthroned already. I am not waiting for Jesus to come and establish a worldly kingdom, as we have multiple examples of Him turning that down already. This fits with my desire also, which is my first clue that it is not God's plan. I have watched many people, believers, follow the path of Judas, betraying Jesus with a kiss, thinking to manipulate God with belief, and i would ask anyone who believes in Rapture or some other Physical Return what was the sin of Judas?

Kissing Jesus on the cheek? Identifying Jesus to the Sanhedrin? None of those are sins.