The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is one of those teachings that has been just out of my reach for many years.  There have been times when I thought I understood it, but then it was whisked away as quickly as it came.  I have asked many learned teachers and friends to explain it to me, only to receive answers that I could trace the meaning of, but not abide.  I have returned to study it once again, and the pieces have finally clicked into place for me to begin to comprehend.  My understanding of The Kingdom will not be popular with many people I know, but I must begin to collect my understanding of it in order to keep it.  I write this blog today as a place to collect those verses and thoughts that have formed my current understanding and conviction.

When I first began studying The Kingdom, I sought primarily in the gospels.  They are full of references to both the Kingdom of God and The Kingdom of Heaven.  My first task was to determine if those were indeed the same or different kingdoms.  It is my present position that they are the same. I see that the writers of the gospels use the terms interchangeably as Yeshua explains His purpose, which is to "proclaim the Good News of The Kingdom of God." (Luke 4:43). He likewise sends His disciples out to proclaim that "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!" (Matthew 10:7).  For the purpose of this blog, I will be using the terms "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of Heaven" to reference the same kingdom.

It is when The Ruach ha Kodesh brought me to scriptures in Deuteronomy that my questions about "The Kingdom" began to flesh out with an answer. This context from Deuteronomy really helped me understand the concepts of all "the kingdoms" of the earth and how "The Kingdom of God" is different.

First, one must understand that other kingdoms truly exist.  In reference to the sun, moon, and stars, scripture reveals that YHVH has "allotted them to all the peoples under all the heavens" (Deut 4:19).  The context is that they have been allotted for worship.  They are the leaders of earthly kingdoms to which all nations, with one exception, belong.   

Next, one must understand that YHVH has taken Israel out of Egypt "to be a people for His own inheritance" (Deut 4:20).  If He has taken a people, they are His subjects, and He is their king.  

A Kingdom

THE Kingdom 

Israel

A few chapters later, it is revealed that at the time of being chosen, Israel was "the least of all peoples" (Deut 7:7).  This is interesting to note on the front end because this will drastically change.

So, I believe that The Kingdom of God / The Kingdom of Heaven is YHVH's kingdom.  It is made up of His inheritance (Deut 4) which He found kicking in blood (Ez 16) and took for His own...to nurse and grow.  It is a mystery, as it is both genetic and spiritual...and men are often unable to perceive how it grows (Mark 4:27).  Here is what I currently understand about it:

• All nations have been allotted to "gods" i.e.: the sun, moon, and stars. Deut 4:19 

• YHVH chooses a man...Abram / Abraham (Gen 12).  He becomes a family (Gen 21).  The family becomes a nation.  The nation is captive in Egypt (Exodus 1:9).

• YHVH chooses Israel to be a people for "His own inheritance." Deut 4:20.  Recall that all other nations are under the authority of other "gods."

• YHVH chooses them "not because [they] are more numerous than all the peoples...for [they] are the least of all peoples." Deut 7:7

• YHVH enters covenant with Israel. Ezekiel 16:1-14

• The blessings and the curses come upon Israel.  Much time passes.  It is evident that the curses are winning and that Israel will soon be banished from The Land.  Deut 28 

• In walks the "Head Fake." (A term I borrowed from Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture. It means something like...wow, from the work you were doing right under my nose, I didn't see that coming!) 

• The Kingdom of God is built from that small nation, described as the "least" in Deut 7.  It grows by drawing individuals away from the nations who are governed by other "gods" through the grafting or adoption process.  This is facilitated by the coming of The Messiah, Yeshua! Previously, individuals would have had to PHYSICALLY leave their home (like Ruth) in order to join themselves to Israel.  With the advent of Messiah Yeshua and His role as the Perfect High Priest, that changes.  He opens the ability to BE GRAFTED INTO Israel to anyone in any nation who chooses to drop his/her allegiance to his/her gods and come into covenant with The God of Israel by faith in Israel's Messiah. NOTE:  PEOPLE BEING GRAFTED IN ARE JOINING ISRAEL, NOT REPLACING HER.

•  Yeshua came to proclaim this message.  The Kingdom of Heaven is "at hand!"  Matt 3:2

• Since the death and resurrection of Yeshua, people from EVERY NATION have been able to be grafted in to ISRAEL (Romans 11).  Other nations belong to other gods.  Israel belongs to YHVH.  The ONLY way to come to YHVH is through accepting the Messiahship of Yeshua, coming into covenant, and BECOMING Israel.  THIS is The Kingdom of God!

• The Kingdom of God is somewhat secret (Mark 4:11).  The man who spreads the seed "he himself doesn't know how" the seeds sprout (Mark 4:27).  "It is like hametz, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened" (Matt 13:33).  Mankind can see that The Kingdom of God spreads, but is unable to perceive how.  It is truly the work of YHVH and is for Him to understand.

• And, the "Head Fake"...The Kingdom of God has been silently drawing citizens away from other kingdoms for the past 2,000 years...right under the noses of the other kingdoms of earth!    HallaluYAH!!!  

"Look up now, at the sky, and count the stars --if you are able to count them....So shall your seed be."

Gen 15:5 

And so it is.  

I have pledged my allegiance to the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua, The One who has authority over death...The One who has grafted me into the commonwealth of Israel.  Have you?  

On the next starry night, I will be looking for you...