What do you think about Kingdom Community ? We want to share with you concerning this point. Hopefully you will be blessed by God as you read this article.
KINGDOM COMMUNITY
Genesis 1:1 stated, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". God has a planning in creating everything. When He said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness, let them have dominion over the earth" He intends in order to man that has the same image and likeness with Him, is trusted to command this earth. God's focus is this earth. While many Christians have a focus is Heaven. Chairs of the "church" is fulfilled with people that want to go to Heaven. The preachers also said, "Believe in Jesus, comes into the Heaven". Adding with the teaching of the rapture of the saints, makes people eager want to be "rapture" to the somehow place. All of these is contradicted with God's planning.
God's will is the man rule over this earth. His will is in order to Heaven's Kingdom comes to this earth. His aim is in order to His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Philippians 3:20-21 stated, "For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body…". So from Heaven we are waiting Christ manifestation in earth. Earth…earth…earth, that's the God's focus.
In completion His planning, then The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it ( Genesis 2:15 ). Before holding the power on earth, God's willing in order to man holds the power on the garden of Eden. His big planning started with the small thing, such the God's way. Man that put in the garden of Eden, needs to be processed in order to rule over the earth. One of the processes that should happen to man is to be fallen into death. Many people think that God frightened when man fall into sin and in a hurry plan to save through Jesus Christ. Indeed God planned all of this according to what is written in Romans 8:20, "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope ".
Through the long process from the garden of Eden, downfall, redemption by Jesus Christ, until man come to the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the bride, the Lamb's wife (Revelation 21:9-10). It is explain in these verses that the New Jerusalem ( the bride of the Lamb ) comedown from heaven ( verse 10 ) for reign as a King ( Revelation 22:5 ). Thus fulfill the God's planning in Genesis 1:26, as we quote that man rule over the earth. Jesus Christ as King of kings ( Revelation 19:16 ), and His bride as kings, reign this earth.
What is the real purpose Jesus Christ have come into this earth? Of course that He have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly ( John 10:10 ). And it is right that the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil ( I John 3:8 ). The intend of His coming as stated in John 10:10, has a related to the human being presence; while the intend of His coming as stated in I John 3:8, related to the devil presence. But what the intend of His coming to this earth that related to His own presence? In John 18:37 stated, "…Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice ". Jesus have come to this earth because He is the King. And He should bear witness to the truth (truth = reality = the quality of being real / real existence ). It means that He has come to this earth to reveal the reality that He is the King. Then He clarify that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice ( verse 37 ). His brides are everyone who is of the truth and hears the voice of Jesus and admit Jesus is the King. So the intent of Jesus coming is to clarify that He is the King, and this has implication that Jesus will reveal His Kingdom in this earth.
So the deepest intent of Jesus coming is that He will reveal His Kingdom in this earth. Finally all the kingdoms of the world have become Lord's Kingdom and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15, "…the Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ" ). This is according to the prophecy in Daniel 2:44, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed ; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people ; it shall break in pieces and consume all this kingdoms, and it shall stand forever ".
When Jesus have come into this earth, He said, "…I will build My church…" ( Matthew 16:18 ). Congregation terminology or church nowadays has been in disorder and being the same meaning with denomination. Indeed the meaning of both terminology very different, like the sky and the earth. Nowadays many Christians randomly call church is denomination, and denomination is church without guilty feeling or sad, as if all of them is just ordinary. So, what is the difference between church and denomination? The difference is this; Church is built by Jesus, while denomination is built by leaders ("Diotrephes – Diotrephes", III John 9 ). The one is built by the heavenly man, the other is built by the earthly man. The one is built by the spiritual man and the other is built by the natural man. The one is "Revelation chapter 12" Church, the other is "Revelation chapter 17" Church. If God gives us an understanding concerning the difference between the women in Revelation 12 and the women in Revelation 17, so we will not disparage both of these terminologies. Church is church, denomination is denomination. And the intent of Jesus coming is to build His Church.
Church terminology and concept in the New Testament is very simple, but it is not shallow. In the New Testament, church is believers community ( spirit, soul and body ) in some certain city. That's why the name of the church in the New Testament is just related with the name of the city, for example, the church in Jerusalem, the church in Rome, the church in Corinth, etc. So, what is the relation between church and the kingdom of heaven / the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are two terminologies that have the same meaning, because in the New Testament both of these terminologies is used in turn. The kingdom of heaven refers to the kingdom that exist in heaven, while the kingdom of God refers to the kingdom belongs to God. The kingdom of heaven can not be seen by physical eye, while a church can be seen by physical eye. For entering into the kingdom of heaven should be born again and also, through many tribulations ( Acts 14:22 ), but for being church's member it's enough just be born again. The kingdom of heaven is not coming yet fully in this earth, but church is already coming fully in this earth. But because church is breaking into thousands denominations, so nowadays church can not be seen by physical eye anymore. If church is not breaking, in Jakarta city for example, only have one church, that is the church in Jakarta. But nowadays the church in Jakarta is breaking, and the members ( those who are be born again ) scattered in many denominations in Jakarta.
Before we define the kingdom community, hopefully we understood that being member of the church just only as beginning step. Need more the following steps for gaining the kingdom of heaven. And Acts 14:22 distinct clearly that the following steps will be full of tribulations and discipline. If we called and got grace from God, so for the time being after we through tribulations and disciplines, God will bestow the kingdom of heaven to us. Getting the kingdom of heaven is definite experience, as certain as be born again experience. If we really undergo this experience, so Philippians 3:20-21 that we quote before becomes clear for us. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will manifest Himself and bring the kingdom of heaven into this earth. For the time being we have to be patient in waiting the kingdom of heaven manifest into this earth.
Now the time has come to define Kingdom Community terminology according to the title we choose. Kingdom community that we meant is a group of people that be born again that seeking and learning about the kingdom of heaven and in disciplinary process by the Holy Spirit to gain the kingdom of heaven. Including in this community, the people that have gained the kingdom of heaven but still learning and be perfected. Kingdom community is not majority group, because in fact not many Christians ( already be born again ) want to undergo tribulation for the sake of gaining the Kingdom of heaven. Most of Christians satisfied enough with physical blessing and live in peace during follow to God in this earth. But this condition is to fulfill the commandment of God that many to be called, but a little to be chosen. But there is a confirmation and consolation by God for the minority as stated in Luke 12:32, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom".
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Rev 21:2 And the city the holy Jerusalem new I saw coming down from the heaven from the God having been prepared as bride having been adorned to the man of her 3 And I heard voice great from the throne saying look the tent of the God with the men and he will tent with them and themselves peoples of him will be and himself the God with them will be
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