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Luke 17:20
Lacey23:
about Luke 17:20
[20] Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, [21] nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is WITHIN you.
This scritpure just revealed taht the kingdom of God is within us, within our grasp. We just need to get rid of our pride, greed, etc, in order to see it but its already wthin us. at first i thought the kingdom of God was referred to Heaven then i started thinking about Jesus's being ascended to his Father. Why did he have to raise himself up into the clouds if he's to return to the heaven within us, then i realized that the Kingdom of God isn't Heaven, but that the Kingdom of God is within us. All I know is that God and Jesus is in Heaven. I'm trying to understand where Heaven is. People refer heaven as up above, some call it a higher place, maybe a different dimension. I know that God is spirit, and not physical. Is Heaven the same as Kingdom of God or is it different? Is Heaven also within us? Please help me understand. Sorry if I 'm starting another post- hope its okay?
Denise
YellowStone:
Hi Denise, I realize that this is a repost, but the Scriptures answer your question :)
Good to have you back. I think I remember you. :)
You asked:
Do you remember the scripture where it talked about Jesus returning to His Father after his resecurection, sp. and His Father resides in Heaven,and Jesus said Heaven is within us, It kind of makes it a bit confusing. does it mean GOd is within us, and if God is within us already, then Jesus is within us too. Its not a place. It's just that GOd lives in all of us?
This is really a tough question because it draws on the distinction between Heaven and God's Kingdom.
Luk 17:20 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:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
This would seem that the Kingdom of God is infact spiritual and although it is within us, it is not yet fully attainable.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Here we are shown the distinction between the Kingdom and of Heaven. Christ, is not so much asking for us to pray for the coming of the kingdom, (for it is already within us) but rather, that it will be shown to us.
Christ gives us further witness to the kindom being something (spiritual) inside of us when he speaks to the Pharisees.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
When Christ says: "But within" I believe he is saying that although the Pharisees do have the Kingdom of God within them, (possibly because all is within God) their carnal being regarding lust and pride for themselves has all but shut the kingdom out. This is interesting, because on the outside, they must have looked very impressive and knowledgeable. (Sounds like many preachers of today) :)
But as you say, many believe that Heaven is from above, even Christ used the term.
Jhn 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
But what was Christ really meaning when he said "from above:
Above - anothen {an'-o-then} [509]
1) from above, from a higher place
a) of things which come from heaven or God
2) from the first, from the beginning, from the very first
3) anew, over again
Could it be that heaven is from "above" inasmuch as it is a higher place or dimension, rather than a place somewhere beyond the furtherest galaxy? :)
I think this makes a lot of sense, considering that the entire universe is within God. It is my understanding that when the Kingdom is finally made known to us, we will see things for as they truly are for the first time. We cannot even begin to imagine to what extent we have been blinded by sin, lust and pride. :)
I hope this helps a little Denise,
Your brother in Christ,
Darren
Kat:
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say—Lo, here! or, There. For lo! the kingdom of God, is, among you. (Rotherham)
Luke 17:21 Nor shall they say, Lo here! or, behold, there! For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. (MKJV)
It can also be translated 'among' and 'in your midst,' so it shows that it is something that comes near to people as well as being within. Maybe like the Holy Spirit may be with us helping us, before it actually comes indwelling.
--- Quote --- but that the Kingdom of God is within us.
Is Heaven the same as Kingdom of God or is it different? Is Heaven also within us?
--- End quote ---
Mark 1:15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent, and believe the gospel.
If the Kingdom is drawing near, then it can not be within.
Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Here it is called the "kingdom of heaven," using both words together, it is the same.
And also notice "My Father in Heaven", and again in Matt. It says it's about doing the "will of the Father," it's those obeying by the spirit indwelling.
Mat 5:48 Therefore be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.
So There are many times kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God are used, depending on what is being emphsized.
They both are talking about the realm of the Father in Heaven.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
rocky:
I find these interesting too:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
YellowStone:
Kat my dear sister, you wrote:
So There are many times kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God are used, depending on what is being emphsized. They both are talking about the realm of the Father in Heaven.
I'm not sure if I agree that the "Kingdom of God" is talking about a realm of the Father in Heaven.
Let us look at how the phrase: "kingdom of God is used.
kingdom (of God) used 71 times
Kingdom basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} [932]
1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule
a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but
rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom
b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah
c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians
in the Messiah's kingdom
2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king
3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah
It would appear that the Kingdom of God is different in context between the Kingdon of Heaven at least some of the time.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Did not Christ in effect say: "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the royal power, kingship, dominion, rule of God is come upon you." Kingdom in this instance is not a realm.
Christ did not teach us to pray for the coming of Heaven. (which is a realm)
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Rather, he differentiated the realm of heaven from that of the coming Kingdom, which we know means the coming royal power, kingship, dominion and rule.
I am not saying that God does not have these same Kingdom attributes in Heaven, where He now rules without question, that would be foolish. ::)
However, are we not trying to the best of our ability and praying heartfelt for God to totally remove Satan from out lives, to remove carnality from our being, so that we can live today under the total rule of God.
All is within God, and God is within all. However, God's Kingdom is not made know to anyone until God drags the said person to him, through Christ.
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This is when and how one get's their first taste of the Kingdom, or dominion of God; for one begins to see God for who and what he really is and we begin to seek in earnest his Kingdom or rule.
Please let me know what you think of this post as it differs from your take. It is not my wish to offend.
Your brother in Christ,
Love,
Darren
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