The Kingdom of God

Before I get into this blog post, I want to point out that I have chosen not to include a photo or graphic with this particular blog post.
I googled the phrase "kingdom of God," and the results did not surprise me.
A wide gamut of extremes in images comes up with an internet image search for "the KINGDOM of GOD."
I think the choice to have NO image represent this blog post is the perfect representation of exactly what this post is about.
Read more to find out why...


Want to be a New Testament Church?
Throw out the New Testament.

Does that sound like a harsh and heretical statement?
Perhaps if you read the rest of the blog, you will know more of what I mean by this statement. You might even think it makes sense.

One of the leaders of the Intercessors for Israel prayer group that I have been involved in for 3 years says, "If you want to be a New Testament church like the church in Acts, throw out the New Testament - they didn't have it either."

As much as this statement grates against mainstream Christianity, the deeper point it makes is really the truth.

The early believers in Yeshua were Hebrews. They did not have the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament). They knew and lived the Tanakh, the revealed Word of YHVH, the commands of the King of the Kingdom. Many of them lived during the events of the gospels. Many of them were recipients of the letters and the ministries of Paul and the other apostles. But their "Bible" was the Word of God - the Torah (Law or Books of Moses), the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, etc) - the Ta Na Kh (Tanach, or what Christians call the Old Testament). Their example was the Living Word - Yeshua the Messiah.

They knew that their King, YHVH, was going to send a Messiah for the salvation of all in the Kingdom. They recognized Yeshua as that Messiah...the true KING of Israel. He fit in perfectly as the fullfillment of all YHVH said in the Tanakh, His Word. Yeshua IS the Word. The early believers recognized this...they had read all about Yeshua throughout the Tanakh. They did not have to renounce another religion. They were not asked by Yeshua to give up their adherence to the Torah and Prophets. In fact, Yeshua also preached the Torah and Prophets - the Tanakh. He LIVED it! He wrote the Tanakh; he IS the Tanakh.


Fast-forward to today's "new testament church," who calls itself the "kingdom of God."

I think I'll begin with a story.

Recently, I was sitting around a table with a group of people ranging in age from early 20's to mid-50's. None of them knew me and most did not know each other. As the "get to know you" chit chat began, it became clear that one common factor among all of us was that each of us had past or present experience with a certain church from a well-known mainstream Christian denomination. I am not much of a chit-chat person; I prefer to listen. So I was not really an active participant in the conversation. I was working on something else, but I was listening to what was going on.

This group of people began to compare notes of their experiences with this particular church. The conversation went from the preferred type of music and songs in the worship services to who is a good singer and who is not. From there the conversation turned to what the church was like before "so-and-so" left and when "so-and-so" was there. Sunday school teachers were analyzed; church practices were judged; youth pastors were critiqued; worship service styles were discussed. And then the conversation turned to comparing this church with other area churches...none of which stood up to the group's scrutiny.

Finally, the conversation turned to the latest "Twilight" movie premier screening happening that very night. The conversation moved just as easily into discussion of which character was the favorite and how many times a certain Twilight book had been read in the last few weeks. (For those unfamiliar with this series called Twilight, it is based on a relationship between a vampire and a human.) Then the conversation turned to other recent movies, and then to other activities happening during the weekend.

Never ONCE did anyone talk about YHVH or Yeshua (or their "English" names). No one ever spoke of anything to do with the Kingdom of God, His Word, His relationship with those in His Kingdom.

At the end of the conversation, I was asked directly why I did not attend this particular church. Several people in the group showed surprise that I did not attend a church where so many other people I know go. This surprise turned to silence and a complete change of topic when I answered that I attend several Messianic congregations and that I'm involved in a prayer ministry for Israel.

I have attended many "New Testament" churches from many denominations during my lifetime (in at least 7 cities on 3 different continents) . Each speaks of the "Kingdom of God" and each has their own bit of a different spin on what exactly that means.

From my personal experience, I think it would be safe to say that the "kingdom of God" that Yeshua spoke of and that the church wants to be is something that has been confusing and elusive in much of the history of Christianity. I think this is because we have taken our focus off of the truth and foundation of YHVH's Word and instead we are guilty of making up our own rules and theological foundations, which we base on only a small part of YHVH's Word.

To be honest, I know I have spent much of my Christian life holding to and repeating the teachings that surrounded me. I only noticed that these teachings might be off track when I began to experience different and contradictory teachings from different churches and teachers/pastors. I have come to realize that the ONLY foundation I should stand upon is the Word of the KING, YHVH, whose Kingdom I want to belong to. I have also come to realize that many who say they are in the Kingdom of God don't actually stick to the laws of the Kingdom and don't teach the King's ways according to His own Word.

Now, before I continue into the real purpose of this blog post, let me clear up any doubt about what I believe about the New Testament (B'rit Hadashah). The statement I made at the beginning of this blog, "throw out the New Testament," should not be taken at face value only. I hope you can see that my point behind the statement (and the point of my friend in Intercessors for Israel) is that the New Testament CANNOT be taken alone as the basis for living in the Kingdom of God. It MUST stand on the foundation of the Tanakh. Of course the B'rit Hadashah is important! It completes the Word of YHVH...it tells the rest of the story! But to try to stand on the New Testament alone does NOT work because it is not a foundation. The Torah is the ETERNAL (everlasting, unending, for all generations to come) foundation for everything relating to the Kingdom of YHVH. If you throw out any part of YHVH's foundation, you have nothing left upon which to stand.

Yeshua, the Cornerstone of YHVH's foundation, warned us that many would think they were in the Kingdom based on their own definitions of "Kingdom of God," but they would find out that the King of the true Kingdom did not know them and they would not be allowed in.

Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that Day, many will say to me, `Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will tell them to their faces, `I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!'"

We are only fooling ourselves if we base our relationship with the King on a false definition of "Kingdom." We MUST live according to the laws and commands of the King in order to be counted in His Kingdom. This means that we MUST read the King's Word and live according to His Word. Yeshua stated very clearly in John 14:10 that He was united with the Father and the Father with Him and that His words were not His own initiative but that the Father living in Him was doing His own works. Yeshua continues by saying, "If you love me, you will keep my commands....Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him" (verses 15 & 21).
It is clear that if Yeshua is one with the Father and only speaks the Father's words, then He is talking about the Tanakh, as well as what He, as the Son of YHVH, revealed about the Tanakh in His teachings during His ministry.

If that is true, then it is also true that we cannot understand the Kingdom of God unless we understand that Israel was and is the Kingdom of God!

This brings me to the purpose of this blog post:

ISRAEL - YHVH's Chosen People.
ISRAEL - YHVH's Light to the nations.
ISRAEL - YHVH's Kingdom of priests for the nations.

Take a look at YHVH's own words on this very important topic:
(and don't just gloss over the Scriptures)

Genesis 12:1-3
"Now YHVH said to Avram, 'Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.'"

Already YHVH has promised Avram that the nation of His descendants will be a blessing to all the world (a light to the nations).


Exodus 19:5,6
[YHVH speaking to the Israelites in the desert just after the exodus from Egypt], "'Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you will be a kingdom of priests for me, a nation set apart.' These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el."

What is the point of having a nation of priests who are to serve YHVH and serve the people if there are no other people to serve? A nation of priests is to serve the other nations...a LIGHT to the nations!


Isaiah 49:1-7
Coastlands, listen to me...YHVH called me from the womb; before I was born, he had spoken my name. He has made my mouth like a sharp sword while hiding me in the shadow of his hand; he has made me like a sharpened arrow while concealing me in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, through whom I will show my glory." But I said, "I have toiled in vain, spent my strength for nothing, futility." Yet my cause is with YHVH, my reward is with my God. So now YHVH says - he formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to have Israel gathered to him, so that I will be honored in the sight of YHVH, my God having become my strength - he has said, "It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the offspring of Israel. I will also make you a light to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth." Here is what YHVH, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to the one despised, whom the nations detest, to the servant of tyrants: "When kings see you, they will stand up; princes too will prostrate themselves, because of YHVH, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."


Isaiah 51:1-11
"Listen to me, you pursuers of justice, you who seek YHVH: consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug - consider Avraham your father and Sarah, who gave birth to you; in that I called him when he was only one person, then blessed him and made him many. For YHVH will comfort Zion, will comfort all her ruined places, will make her desert like Eden, her Aravah like the garden of YHVH. Joy and gladness will be there, thanksgiving and the sound of music. Pay attention to me, my people! My nation, listen to me! For Torah will go out from me; I will calm them with my justice as a light for the peoples. My righteousness is at hand, my salvation goes out, my arms will judge the peoples. The coastlands are putting their hope in me, trusting in my arm. Raise your eyes toward the skies, look at the earth below. The skies will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like clothing. Those living on it will die like flies; but my salvation will be forever, and my justice will never end. Listen to me, you who know justice, you people who have my Torah in your heart: don't be afraid of people's taunts, don't be upset by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like clothing, the worm will eat them like wool; but my justice will be forever, and my salvation for all generations. Awake! Awake! Arm of YHVH, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days of old, as in ancient generations!... Those ransomed by YHVH will return and come with singing to Zion; on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee..."


Isaiah 2:1-3
This is the word that Isaiah the son of Amotz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of YHVH's house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and all the nations will stream there. Many peoples will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of YHVH, to the house of the God of Jacob! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Zion will go forth Torah, the word of YHVH from Jerusalem.

(This is also found in Micah 4:1-2.)


Zechariah 8:20-23
"ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'In the future, peoples and inhabitants of many cities will come; the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say, "We must go to ask YHVH's favor and consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot. I'll go too." Yes, many peoples and powerful nations will come to consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot in Jerusalem and to ask YHVH's favor.' ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'When that time comes, ten men will take hold - speaking all the languages of the nations - will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, "We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."'"


Luke 2:32
Simeon says that Yeshua is "a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel."



Acts 13:45-47
...but when the Jews who had not believed saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and spoke up against what Saul was saying and insulted him. However, Saul and Barnabas answered boldly: "It was necessary that God's word be spoken first to you. But since you are rejecting it and are judging yourselves unworthy of eternal life - why, we're turning to the Gentiles! For that is what YHVH has ordered us to do: 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, to be for deliverance to the ends of the earth.' "


This brings us to a major question: what about the church in all of this?
If the kingdom really is all about Israel, then how does the church fit in? What about those from the nations of the world who belive in and follow Yeshua?

Good question.
Hard question, if we don't understand who ISRAEL is.
Replacement Theory says that the church has become the "spiritual Israel," and that the Jewish people no longer hold a place in YHVH's plan (or in receiving the promises).

But if we understand the truth of Israel as YHVH's chosen people, then we understand that those Gentiles who choose to follow the KING and live in the Kingdom of YHVH are joined to the Kingdom, the community of YHVH's chosen nation. We Gentiles who follow Yeshua and all He taught (including YHVH's Torah) are grafted into the Kingdom of Israel.

If you really want to begin to dig into the depths of this simple but amazingly unfathomable truth, then study Romans 11. I have included some bits of Romans 11 here, but to really grasp the importance and the truth, of course, takes deeper study (of the entire Word of YHVH).

Romans 11
[1-2] "In that case, I say, isn't it that God has repudiated his people?" Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Israel, from the seed of Avraham, of the tribe of Binyamin. God has not repudiated his people, whom he chose in advance.

[7, 11-12] What follows is that Isra'el has not attained the goal for which she is striving...."In that case, I say, isn't it that they have stumbled with the result that they have permanently fallen away?" Heaven forbid! Quite the contrary, it is by means of their stumbling that the deliverance has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy. Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world - that is, if Israel's being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter - how much greater riches will Israel in its fullness bring them!

[15-18] For if their casting Yeshua aside means reconciliation for the world, what will their accepting him mean? It will be life from the dead!...But if some of the branches were broken off, and you - a wild olive - were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, then don't boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you.

[23-31] Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in. For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree! For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won't imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Israel, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; and that it is in this way that all Israel will be saved. As the Tanakh says, "Out of Zion will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins." With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs' sake, for God's free gifts and his calling are irrevocable. Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have received mercy now because of Israel's disobedience; so also Israel has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God's mercy. For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order that he might show mercy to all.


Amazing Truth! What would my understanding of this be if not for the Torah, for the foundation of the Tanakh, for the Word of YHVH and the truth of His Kingdom!


Finally, let me leave you with this encouraging reminder...
Yeshua has made us - Israel and all who are grafted in by believing in Him - to be a Kingdom of priests... a Light to the nations!

Revelation 1:4-6
Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth's kings. To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, priests for God, his Father - to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever.
Amen.



In the Kingdom of Yeshua,

Gina