God's Kingdom Rules book

[Shiwiii]

How is this statement accurate in light of scripture?

Ch. 1 par. 9

9 How will God’s Kingdom come? When we pray, “Let
your Kingdom come,” we are asking that the Kingdom take
decisive action. When the Kingdom comes, it will exert its
full power toward the earth. It will remove the present wicked
system of things, including all man-made governments,
and bring in a righteous new world. (Dan. 2:44; 2 Pet. 3:13)

 

I can see how Daniel applies to an extent, but the 2 Peter 3:13 does not. What did Jesus say? 

Luke 17:20&21

"Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

 

How do you reconcile this book with scripture? 

[Melinda Mills]

*** w08 1/1 p. 13 Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? *** Our Readers Ask Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? Many today believe that the answer to the above question is yes. For example, The Catholic Encyclopedia asserts: “The kingdom of God means . . . the ruling of God in our hearts.” The clergy commonly teach this idea. Does the Bible really teach that God’s Kingdom resides in human hearts? Some think that Jesus himself first promoted the idea that God’s Kingdom lies within the hearts of humans. Jesus did say: “Look! The kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21) Some translations here say: “The kingdom of God is within you” or even “inside you.” Are those accurate renderings of Jesus’ expression? Did he really mean that God’s Kingdom is found in human hearts? First, consider what the human heart is. When referred to in the Bible, the figurative heart means the inner person, the source of a person’s thoughts, attitudes, and feelings. The idea that something as sublime as the Kingdom of God resides within the human heart—in the way it changes and ennobles people, for example—may sound appealing, but does it stand to reason? The Bible tells us: “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate.” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus himself said: “From inside, out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth: fornications, thieveries, murders, adulteries, covetings, acts of wickedness.” (Mark 7:20-22) Consider: Cannot much of the misery that we see in the world today be traced back to the sinful hearts of humans? So how could God’s perfect Kingdom come from such a source? Really, the human heart could no more produce God’s Kingdom than a thistle could produce figs.—Matthew 7:16. Second, consider the audience Jesus was addressing when he spoke the words found at Luke 17:21. The preceding verse reads: “On being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them.” (Luke 17:20) The Pharisees were Jesus’ enemies. Jesus stated that those hypocrites were not going to enter God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 23:13) Now if the Pharisees were not to enter God’s Kingdom, could the Kingdom be in their hearts? Impossible! What, then, did Jesus mean? In rendering these words of Jesus, a number of careful Bible translations use wording similar to that found in the New World Translation. Some say that the Kingdom is “among you” or “in the midst of you.” How was God’s Kingdom among those people at that time, including the Pharisees? Well, Jesus was the one whom Jehovah God appointed to be the King of the Kingdom. As the King-Designate, Jesus was right in the midst of those people. He taught about the Kingdom of God and even performed miracles, giving them a preview of what that Kingdom would accomplish. In a very real sense, then, the Kingdom was in their midst. Clearly, there is no Scriptural support for the notion that the Kingdom of God is in the hearts of humans. Rather, it is an actual government, one that will effect dramatic changes on the earth, just as the prophets foretold.—Isaiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 2:44.

[HollyW]

On 9/21/2016 at 8:54 AM, Shiwiii said:

How is this statement accurate in light of scripture?

Ch. 1 par. 9

9 How will God’s Kingdom come? When we pray, “Let
your Kingdom come,” we are asking that the Kingdom take
decisive action. When the Kingdom comes, it will exert its
full power toward the earth. It will remove the present wicked
system of things, including all man-made governments,
and bring in a righteous new world. (Dan. 2:44; 2 Pet. 3:13)

 

I can see how Daniel applies to an extent, but the 2 Peter 3:13 does not. What did Jesus say? 

Luke 17:20&21

"Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

 

How do you reconcile this book with scripture? 

From what Melinda quoted, JWs don't want the Kingdom of God to be in their hearts, they just want it to be close to their hearts, as the Kingdom Rules book points out, the Kingdom is close to Jesus' heart and Jehovah's heart so JWs are told, "Each of us does well to ask, 'Is God's Kingdom close to my heart?'" [pages 6,7]

Good points, Shiwiii about the coming of the kingdom.

 

[Shiwiii]

20 hours ago, Melinda Mills said:

*** w08 1/1 p. 13 Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? *** Our Readers Ask Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? Many today believe that the answer to the above question is yes. For example, The Catholic Encyclopedia asserts: “The kingdom of God means . . . the ruling of God in our hearts.” The clergy commonly teach this idea. Does the Bible really teach that God’s Kingdom resides in human hearts? Some think that Jesus himself first promoted the idea that God’s Kingdom lies within the hearts of humans. Jesus did say: “Look! The kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21) Some translations here say: “The kingdom of God is within you” or even “inside you.” Are those accurate renderings of Jesus’ expression? Did he really mean that God’s Kingdom is found in human hearts? First, consider what the human heart is. When referred to in the Bible, the figurative heart means the inner person, the source of a person’s thoughts, attitudes, and feelings. The idea that something as sublime as the Kingdom of God resides within the human heart—in the way it changes and ennobles people, for example—may sound appealing, but does it stand to reason? The Bible tells us: “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate.” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus himself said: “From inside, out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth: fornications, thieveries, murders, adulteries, covetings, acts of wickedness.” (Mark 7:20-22) Consider: Cannot much of the misery that we see in the world today be traced back to the sinful hearts of humans? So how could God’s perfect Kingdom come from such a source? Really, the human heart could no more produce God’s Kingdom than a thistle could produce figs.—Matthew 7:16. Second, consider the audience Jesus was addressing when he spoke the words found at Luke 17:21. The preceding verse reads: “On being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them.” (Luke 17:20) The Pharisees were Jesus’ enemies. Jesus stated that those hypocrites were not going to enter God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 23:13) Now if the Pharisees were not to enter God’s Kingdom, could the Kingdom be in their hearts? Impossible! What, then, did Jesus mean? In rendering these words of Jesus, a number of careful Bible translations use wording similar to that found in the New World Translation. Some say that the Kingdom is “among you” or “in the midst of you.” How was God’s Kingdom among those people at that time, including the Pharisees? Well, Jesus was the one whom Jehovah God appointed to be the King of the Kingdom. As the King-Designate, Jesus was right in the midst of those people. He taught about the Kingdom of God and even performed miracles, giving them a preview of what that Kingdom would accomplish. In a very real sense, then, the Kingdom was in their midst. Clearly, there is no Scriptural support for the notion that the Kingdom of God is in the hearts of humans. Rather, it is an actual government, one that will effect dramatic changes on the earth, just as the prophets foretold.—Isaiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 2:44.

interesting interpretation. I look at other scriptures that speak about the heart and I just can't fit the idea you presented into the scripture. For example why would Jesus use the phrase "in your heart" if it didn't really fit? 

 

Luke 5:22 " Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?"

 

Surely, Jesus knew that the thinking portion of our bodies is not the heart but rather our brain. Did Jesus mean just close to the brain?

 

Or how about here: 

John 5:42 " but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts."

Was Jesus really saying that the love of God could be in a human heart? 

[Evacuated]

1 hour ago, Shiwiii said:

Was Jesus really saying that the love of God could be in a human heart? 

No. More in the sense of Jer 31:33.

[Shiwiii]

13 minutes ago, Eoin Joyce said:

No. More in the sense of Jer 31:33.

So you believe that the law was not within their heart and Jesus didn't really mean what He said?

 Also, what is your take on Jesus speaking about the thoughts within their heart?  

Was this just mistaken and worded incorrectly by John? 

 

[JW Insider]

14 hours ago, Shiwiii said:

So you believe that the law was not within their heart and Jesus didn't really mean what He said?

 Also, what is your take on Jesus speaking about the thoughts within their heart?  

Was this just mistaken and worded incorrectly by John?

Shiwii,

So you believe that mercy and compassion is in your bowels? As you can see from the quick Bible word-study below the word "bowels" (the same bowels that spilled out from Judas) also refers to the place where our mercy and compassion comes from.

Perhaps you think it was just incorrectly worded by John when he said "whosoever . . . shutteth up his bowels, how can the love of God dwell in him?" (1 John 3:17) [The words "of compassion" are not even in the original Greek.]

I hope no one ever gets constipated (or requires a heart transplant, or artificial heart, for that matter).

 

---------quotes are from King James Version-----------

	Act 1:18	Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels G4698 gushed out.
	2Co 6:12	Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. G4698
	2Co 7:15	And his inward affection G4698 is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
	Phl 1:8	For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels G4698 of Jesus Christ.
	Phl 2:1	If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels G4698 and mercies,
	Col 3:12	Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels G4698 of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
	Phm 1:7	For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels G4698 of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
	Phm 1:12	Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: G4698
	Phm 1:20	Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels G4698 in the Lord.
	1Jo 3:17	But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels G4698of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

[Shiwiii]

On 9/24/2016 at 4:45 AM, JW Insider said:

Shiwii,

So you believe that mercy and compassion is in your bowels? As you can see from the quick Bible word-study below the word "bowels" (the same bowels that spilled out from Judas) also refers to the place where our mercy and compassion comes from.

Perhaps you think it was just incorrectly worded by John when he said "whosoever . . . shutteth up his bowels, how can the love of God dwell in him?" (1 John 3:17) [The words "of compassion" are not even in the original Greek.]

I hope no one ever gets constipated (or requires a heart transplant, or artificial heart, for that matter).

 

 

No, That is exactly my point. It is within our being that these things dwell. Our minds are separate from our heart, because our mind is carnal. Our heart is our real desire, thus where the "thoughts" dwell. 

[Witness]

On 9/22/2016 at 4:08 PM, Melinda Mills said:

*** w08 1/1 p. 13 Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? *** Our Readers Ask Is God’s Kingdom in Your Heart? Many today believe that the answer to the above question is yes. For example, The Catholic Encyclopedia asserts: “The kingdom of God means . . . the ruling of God in our hearts.” The clergy commonly teach this idea. Does the Bible really teach that God’s Kingdom resides in human hearts?

Believe me, Melinda, I’m not picking on you, since these are not your words.  I do have thoughts on this Wt 08.

On 9/23/2016 at 0:51 PM, Shiwiii said:

Really, the human heart could no more produce God’s Kingdom than a thistle could produce figs.

According to scripture, the heart can be purged of “thistles” through the power of Holy Spirit,  James 4:8; (Prov 20;30); 1 John 1:9; Heb 8:10; Rom 5:5 (Heb 3:12), and by shedding the carnal mind and adopting the mind of Christ.   1 Cor 2:16; Phil 4:7

“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Heb 10:22

On 9/23/2016 at 0:51 PM, Shiwiii said:

Some translations here say: “The kingdom of God is within you” or even “inside you.” Are those accurate renderings of Jesus’ expression? Did he really mean that God’s Kingdom is found in human hearts?

They must have forgotten their own Kingdom Interlinear Greek which says, “neither will they say Look! Here or There; look! For the kingdom of the God inside of you is.”

On 9/23/2016 at 0:51 PM, Shiwiii said:

As the King-Designate, Jesus was right in the midst of those people. He taught about the Kingdom of God and even performed miracles, giving them a preview of what that Kingdom would accomplish. In a very real sense, then, the Kingdom was in their midst. Clearly, there is no Scriptural support for the notion that the Kingdom of God is in the hearts of humans. 

I agree with the reasoning that the Kingdom was “in your midst” because of Jesus’ presence among the people.  Also, though, if Christ is truly King over our lives (in our heart, mind, soul Matt 22:37) he governs our footsteps deciding what is best for us; we follow the laws he has outlined that give life.   Should we equate his Kingship with our earthly understanding of kings and kingdoms, or broaden our spiritual understanding to view it with the mind of Christ as something not of this world?  Heb 8:2

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”  John 18:36

Although God’s “tent” or house was always been with His faithful ones, it is no longer also a stationary physical place, but within each chosen heart that accepts it. 

In 2 Sam, God made the point to David that he moved with the people from “place to place” with “a tent as my dwelling”.  2 Sam 7:5-7  His choice was not to build a “house of cedar” but man’s desire that he conceded to.  2 Sam 7:7; Acts 7:49; 17:24

“To David he said, “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Sam 7:12-13

God’s new house or tent is built on Christ, he as the corner stone and his subsequent chosen “living stones.”  1 Pet 2:5,6; Heb 3:6; 11:10; Eph 2:10, 20-22; Rev 3:12; 21:14

John 14:2 – “In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes) (G3438). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.” AMPC

 G3438 - monḗ (from 3306 /ménō, "to remain, abide") – an abiding dwelling-place (i.e. not transitory). 3438 /monḗ ("an individual dwelling")

This word is also found in John 14:23: “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. “AMPC

On 9/23/2016 at 0:51 PM, Shiwiii said:

Rather, it is an actual government, one that will effect dramatic changes on the earth, just as the prophets foretold.

 In a sense, it is both, but not with a central physical location.  We can allow ourselves to worship in spirit and in truth, filling our heart, mind and soul with truthful words, which leads to the gift of God’s spirit upon us; a spiritual government we choose to submit to, to guide our lives, directed by the laws written on the heart. Heb 8:10

The “firstfruits” or firstborn “living stones” of the Temple, offer themselves as sacrifices for all of the Kingdom’s children in imitation of their Master. John 17:19;  When God’s Temple/tabernacle “comes down from heaven”, it is with His presence in Spirit, Christ, and his Bride, as God’s “tent”. This “tent” nourishes all of His children who then make their “home” with Him.  Isa 49:18; Rev 22:17; Isa 55:1; Rev 22:2; Ezek 47:12

“I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

“See, the tent of God is among humans!

skay-nay'; apparently akin to G4632 and G4639; a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively):—habitation, tabernacle.
    He will make his home with them,  John 14:23
        and they will be his people. John 17:6; Isa 43:10,21
God himself will be with them,  Rom 2:29; John 14:17
    and he will be their God.
 He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
    There won’t be death anymore.
There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain,
    because the first things have disappeared.” Rev 21:3,4

“None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them”.  Heb 8:11

The Kingdom in its fullness, arrives when the Temple is completed by the revealing of the capstone of the Temple, which joins the Bride, the remaining “144,000”.  Rom 8:12-14; Zech 4:7; Col 3:1-4

Psalm 19 gives us an idea of the tabernacle of God to be extended throughout the earth in the Kingdom.

“He has set up a tent (H168 – tabernacle(s) (198x), tent(s) (141x), dwelling (2x), place(s) (2x), covering (1x),home (1x).

 for the sun (the Messiah Matt 17:2; Rev 1:16; Rev 22:16)

 which is like a bridegroom (John 3:29; Rev 21:2;22:17) coming out of his chamber,
or like a champion who rejoices at the beginning of a race. (Rev 12:10)
 Its circuit  (H8622 - tek-oo-faw'; or תְּקֻפָה tᵉquphâh; from H5362; a revolution, i.e. (of the sun) course, (of time) lapse:—circuit, come about, end.)

 is from one end of the sky to the other, and nothing is hidden from its heat .  [Isa 30:26 references this word as “sun”, with the “moon”, (the woman, New Covenant/Bride, Rev 12:1) reflecting this light.]

This dwelling place of God’s spirit where he resides in each faithful chosen heart is also considered God’s “footstool”.   
“Let us go to his dwelling place,
    let us worship at his footstool, (Isa 66:1) saying,
‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
    may your faithful people sing for joy.’”For the Lord has chosen ZION,
desiring it as his dwelling place.
“This is my resting place forever.
Here I will live,
because I desire to do so."  Ps 132:7-9,13,14

God’s dwelling place, sanctuary, His “footstool”, is Zion.  He dwells within the hearts of those who belong there, where His spirit resides.  2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; 1 John 4:13, Rom 8:9. 

Within these hearts, “the kingdom of God inside of you is” (Kingdom Interlinear Greek)

Who are the "fine trees" Matt 7:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shiwiii]

16 hours ago, Witness said:

 

 

 

I do not take credit/responsibility for those statements. These are actually quotes from Melinda from the WT and not me. 

[Witness]

1 hour ago, Shiwiii said:

I do not take credit/responsibility for those statements. These are actually quotes from Melinda from the WT and not me. 

I hope I haven't confused you, Shiwii.  I was addressing Melinda's quote from the Watchtower.

17 hours ago, Witness said:

Believe me, Melinda, I’m not picking on you, since these are not your words.  I do have thoughts on this Wt 08.

Hope it's cleared up (?)

[Shiwiii]

yes, I know. I just didn't want others to assimilate those statements to me. It was just a mistake in who's name you used as being quoted. Look back and you can see where it was a quote from Melinda, but my name was used. 

 

No problems though, just wanted point that out.