THE TWELVE DISCIPLES DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE

[Doug]

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

Some say that the kingdom Jesus was preaching was not the earthly Davidic kingdom, but it was a spiritual kingdom. The question is, if the disciples were taught that the kingdom was spiritual, why did they ask Jesus if he was going to restore the kingdom on earth? Why would the disciples still be looking for their kingdom if they knew it was within them?...........[Acts 1:6 KJV] "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"........Take note, they asked if the kingdom would be restored AGAIN. What kingdom existed before this? It was the earthly kingdom overseen by David.

 

[ScottA]

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

Some say that the kingdom Jesus was preaching was not the earthly Davidic kingdom, but it was a spiritual kingdom. The question is, if the disciples were taught that the kingdom was spiritual, why did they ask Jesus if he was going to restore the kingdom on earth? Why would the disciples still be looking for their kingdom if they knew it was within them?...........[Acts 1:6 KJV] "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"........Take note, they asked if the kingdom would be restored AGAIN. What kingdom existed before this? It was the earthly kingdom overseen by David.

Israel as a people chosen by God was all about making manifest the greater things of the kingdom of God, as a mere example of that which is greater. Hence Jesus' popular "the kingdom of heaven is like..." and "which is greater?" parables. That's what Israel was--as a light unto the nations--it was all parables by nature...that all the nations and people of the world would witness and see, as for learning--learning of God and the kingdom of God, in parables played out in the living examples of Israel who went before the Spirit.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46​

So, yes, even the disciples of Jesus were so accustom to that nature of things visible and of this world--even they expected Jesus, if not the first time, to come the second time conquering as King David did. Thus, after Jesus had told his disciples that he would not build his Church by flesh and blood, but by the Spirit come from God--even the early fathers of the Church propped up Peter (a man of flesh and blood) to lead them until Jesus returned--also by flesh and blood: Which then became the foretold "lie" causing "strong delusion" still most popular and taught as doctrine in the church even to this day.

Is it any wonder that the descendants of Israel still seek a flesh and blood Messiah? After all, yes, the Church dropped the ball, and returned to flesh and blood and the things of this world.