Not of this world

narscissa · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 21 Nov 2003 Posts: 38

Our Saviour said His kingdom is not of this world. Further He stated that if it were, in fact, of this world, then would His servants fight so that He would not be handed over to those intent upon killing Him.

The disciples were expecting a different sort of Messiah, an earthly king rather than an heavenly & spiritual one. They were naturally disappointed when, instead of overthrowing the hated Roman rule and enthroning Himself in their midst as King, Christ allowed Himself to be crucified -- put to death and sealed in a tomb as if He were nobody.

Modern day disciples -- or at least some folks who claim to be His disciples -- re-enact this error continually. Whenever they imagine that they must take up the use of compelling power -- be that military or legislative force -- to make others around them (non-believers included!) have to live in accordance with Christian morality, they are refusing the cross and displaying their willful ignorance of the real nature of Christ's kingdom. When they allow themselves to stoop to the level of shallow, crass, rude politicking to attempt to trample the rights and liberty of conscience of others, claiming they have a divine imperative to clean up the world through the use of compelling force, they are like so many Peters whipping out swords and hacking off innocent ears with them. And as He said to Peter, could they but HEAR the word of the Lord, they would hear Him admonishing, "Put that sword away -- you know not of what spirit you are!!"

Except that this time around they will not be so fortunate as the disciples. The disciples merely experience disappointment a few days which was totally eclipsed by greater joy in our Master's resurrection. This time around their error will lead them eventually to the position where they will readily accept the mark of the Beast (remember, it can be in the forehead as well as the hand, so merely keeping the right day for Sabbath is not enough to avoid it!) and eventually turn on their own brothers and sisters, kindling the fires of persecution against them despite having once known better. (Yes, some of them even now are in our midst spreading not merely their confusion but the actual deadly deception which has potential to ensnare the very elect.) The glorious triumph -- this time the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead in Christ -- will not be so for them, for they will have allied themselves against the God of Heaven, and forfeited their inheritance in His kingdom -- a kingdom which is not of this world.

narscissa · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 21 Nov 2003 Posts: 38

"God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power." {DA 759.1, emphasis mine.}