Through history there were many kingdoms and empires with great kings and rulers. Each one of them had their own vision and conception of reigning. .
Different values, commandments, precepts and other differences could be found between them.
Scripture shows another kingdom, namely the kingdom of God. Through the assignment I will introduce and investigate this kingdom and what it is like. I will focus on and evaluate the kingdom in relation to biblical, theological and historical material and furthermore its relation to the church.
With these things in mind I would like to bring enlightenment to how the understanding of the Kingdom of God influences our lives as followers of Christ.
The Kingdom of God.
The Bible presents many references and indications of the kingdom of God. In order to grasp and explain the idea of the kingdom of God, its meaning and what it is like, there is a necessity to illustrate the secular perception of what a kingdom is.
Oxford Dictionary states a kingdom as "a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. "1 This kind of kingdom is the one that the Israelites on Jesus' time expected, which is contradictory to the kingdom we find presented in scripture, since it is primarily dynamic and not surrounded and restricted by geographical borders. Secondly a godly kingdom suggests the sovereignty of God over the Creation and people since his reign is eternal and all-embracing (Daniel 4:34). As Paul states in one of his epistles, this authority and sovereignty is mediated through Christ. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.2 Carson states that this kingdom includes everyone and is universal, but that is not the kingdom that is found in the New Testament and is preached by Jesus. (Carson, 2010).
With Jesus' coming, the angels, John the Baptist and the heavenly voice from the Father all proclaim and witness that the kingdom of God is present among humans.
Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. ... For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you." ... The Romans could not see the difference between the church and the synagogue. ... (Luke 9:27) Jesus always described the Kingdom of God in the here and now. "He said therefore, 'What is the kingdom of God like? ...
He gave the church gifts, and he is preparing the Church to become his bride without blot or blemish. ... We are to address those who have not heard as well as to those who are no longer in living contact with the Gospel, the Good News of the reign of God. It is by fulfilling the mission of Christ that the church, reconciles all things to God. Through its ministry of service and proclamation, the Church participates in and points to the reality of the Kingdom of God. ... There is no doubt that the Church is one, "There is one body and one spirit," Paul wrote, "just as you were called to the...
Baptism is performed through many symbols and rituals which make up the elements and commitments made to God, through Gods instructions performed in the Church. ... The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" ... Prayers of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism The Priest recites a prayer over the person being baptized asking God to rid them of any evil spirits that may reside in the community and prepare them to enter into the kingdom of God without bad influences that might turn them away from God. ... Anointing with Chrism The person being baptized ...
Homosexuals and the society within which they live are encouraged by the Church to live harmoniously and to act justly in accordance with God's plan for each one of us. ... It prohibits procreation and consequently rejects God. ... The Catholic Church's beliefs are grounded in God's wisdom upon the issue. Under no condition does the Church approve of same-sex marriage, having strong convictions that it is contrary to God's plan for matrimony. ... This similarity lacks the symbol of God's union with His people and, Christ's union with the Church. ...
The person I interviewed was Miles Carrington, who is an Elder of the church Kingdom Hall. ... Their church meetings are held three times a week regularly. ... The church has about 120 people who attend Kingdom Hall. ... The arrangement of the church was nice and welcoming. ... And he told me that the focus of teaching derives from the Bible as the Kingdom of God as the solution....
I propose that we create a government in the image of the kingdom of God. ... In this glorious kingdom of the Lord All free Men are guaranteed the right to property. ... God shall rule through this holy congragation and the aforemention congregation shall rule through the individual churches, specifically the reverands and ministers. ... In untamed wilds of the west, we are duty bound to bring the word of God to the Heathen Natives and to control them as the church sees fit. ... This is the Divine Will and Manifest Destiny, which is to expand the Kingdom of God from sea to shining to sea. ...
The emperor was portrayed to have been chosen by God. ... The East Orthodox Church were unwilling to accept the popes claim that he was the sole head of the church. So the two leaders of both churches excommunicated each other and the church split into two. ... Like I said in the last paragraph, he was considered to be chosen of God to rule. He had absolute power over his kingdom. ...
The family is so to speak, the first cell of the society and the church, since she helps his members to be, as well, agents of the history of the salvation, and alive signs of the loving plan of God on the world. The family also is at the same time the great mystery of God. Like "domestic church", she is the wife of Christ. ... The Christian family builds in addition the Kingdom to God in history by means of those same daily realities that touch and distinguish their condition of life. ... The love and the life constitute therefore the nucleus of the salvÃfica mission of the Christian...
The movement spread across Europe and supporters of it faced violent persecution in areas such as France and the Italian Kingdoms, which were strictly Catholic. ... The Church was able to "control the taxation of church wealth and appointments to high positions in government.... Kings also wanted to use church-owned lands and thus must gain authority independent from the Church. ... Moreover, priests were seen as a gateway to God, giving them even more influence over society. ... " (McKay, Hill, Buckler, Crowston, Wiesner-Hanks 339) This meant that one only needed to have faith for G...