Changes

170:5.1 Having summarized the teachings of [[Jesus]] about the ''kingdom of heaven'', we are [[permitted]] to narrate certain later [[ideas]] which became attached to the [[concept]] of the kingdom and to [[engage]] in a [[prophetic]] [[forecast]] of the kingdom as it may evolve in the [[epoch|age]] to come.

170:5.1 Having summarized the teachings of [[Jesus]] about the ''kingdom of heaven'', we are [[permitted]] to narrate certain later [[ideas]] which became attached to the [[concept]] of the kingdom and to [[engage]] in a [[prophetic]] [[forecast]] of the kingdom as it may evolve in the [[epoch|age]] to come.

170:5.2 Throughout the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity first centuries of the Christian] [[propaganda]], the [[idea]] of the kingdom of [[heaven]] was tremendously [[influenced]] by the then rapidly spreading notions of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealism#History_of_Idealism Greek idealism], the [[idea]] of the [[natural]] as the [[shadow]] of the [[spiritual]]—the [[temporal]] as the [[time]] [[shadow]] of the [[eternal]].

170:5.2 Throughout the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity first centuries of the Christian] [[propaganda]], the [[idea]] of the kingdom of [[heaven]] was tremendously [[influenced]] by the then rapidly spreading notions of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealism#History_of_Idealism Greek idealism], the [[idea]] of the [[natural]] as the [[shadow]] of the [[spiritual]]—the [[temporal]] as the [[time]] [[shadow]] of the [[eternal]].

170:5.3 But the great step which marked the transplantation of the teachings of [[Jesus]] from a [[Jewish]] to a [[gentile]] soil was taken when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah] of the kingdom became the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jesus_as_messiah Redeemer of the church], a [[religious]] and [[social]] [[organization]] growing out of the [[activities]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his successors and based on the teachings of [[Jesus]] as they were supplemented by the [[ideas]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha#In_eschatology_and_soteriology Persian] [[doctrines]] of [[good]] and [[evil]].

170:5.3 But the great step which marked the transplantation of the teachings of [[Jesus]] from a [[Jewish]] to a [[gentile]] soil was taken when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah] of the kingdom became the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jesus_as_messiah Redeemer of the church], a [[religious]] and [[social]] [[organization]] growing out of the [[activities]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his successors and based on the teachings of [[Jesus]] as they were supplemented by the [[ideas]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha#In_eschatology_and_soteriology Persian] [[doctrines]] of [[good]] and [[evil]].

170:5.4 The [[ideas]] and [[ideals]] of [[Jesus]], embodied in the teaching of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom, nearly [[failed]] of [[realization]] as his followers [[progressively]] [[distorted]] his pronouncements. [[The Master]]'s [[concept]] of the kingdom was notably [[modified]] by two great [[tendencies]]:

170:5.4 The [[ideas]] and [[ideals]] of [[Jesus]], embodied in the teaching of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom, nearly [[failed]] of [[realization]] as his followers [[progressively]] [[distorted]] his pronouncements. [[The Master]]'s [[concept]] of the kingdom was notably [[modified]] by two great [[tendencies]]:

*1. 170:5.5 The [[Jewish]] [[believers]] [[persisted]] in regarding him as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. They [[believed]] that [[Jesus]] would very soon return actually to [[establish]] the world-wide and more or less [[material]] kingdom.

*1. 170:5.5 The [[Jewish]] [[believers]] [[persisted]] in regarding him as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. They [[believed]] that [[Jesus]] would very soon return actually to [[establish]] the world-wide and more or less [[material]] kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The [[gentile]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Role_of_Jesus Christians] began very early to [[accept]] the [[doctrines]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], which led increasingly to the general [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Pauline_Christianity Redeemer of the children of the church], the new and [[institutional]] successor of the earlier [[concept]] of the purely [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The [[gentile]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Role_of_Jesus Christians] began very early to [[accept]] the [[doctrines]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], which led increasingly to the general [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Pauline_Christianity Redeemer of the children of the church], the new and [[institutional]] successor of the earlier [[concept]] of the purely [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church], as a [[social]] outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly [[natural]] and even desirable. The [[evil]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was not its [[existence]], but rather that it almost completely supplanted the [[Jesus]] [[concept]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity institutionalized church] became a [[virtual]] substitute for the kingdom of heaven which [[Jesus]] had [[proclaimed]].

170:5.7 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church], as a [[social]] outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly [[natural]] and even desirable. The [[evil]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was not its [[existence]], but rather that it almost completely supplanted the [[Jesus]] [[concept]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity institutionalized church] became a [[virtual]] substitute for the kingdom of heaven which [[Jesus]] had [[proclaimed]].

170:5.8 But [[doubt]] not, this same ''kingdom of heaven'' which [[the Master]] taught exists within the [[heart]] of the [[believer]], will yet be [[proclaimed]] to this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church], even as to all other [[religions]], [[races]], and [[nations]] on [[earth]]—even to every [[individual]].

170:5.8 But [[doubt]] not, this same ''kingdom of heaven'' which [[the Master]] taught exists within the [[heart]] of the [[believer]], will yet be [[proclaimed]] to this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church], even as to all other [[religions]], [[races]], and [[nations]] on [[earth]]—even to every [[individual]].

170:5.9 The kingdom of [[Jesus]]' teaching, the [[spiritual]] [[ideal]] of [[individual]] [[righteousness]] and the [[concept]] of man's [[divine]] [[fellowship]] with [[God]], became [[gradually]] submerged into the [[mystic]] [[conception]] of the [[person]] of [[Jesus]] as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redeemer_%28Christianity%29 Redeemer]-[[Creator]] and [[spiritual]] head of a socialized [[religious]] [[community]]. In this way a [[formal]] and [[institutional]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] became the substitute for the [[individually]] [[spirit]]-[[led]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.9 The kingdom of [[Jesus]]' teaching, the [[spiritual]] [[ideal]] of [[individual]] [[righteousness]] and the [[concept]] of man's [[divine]] [[fellowship]] with [[God]], became [[gradually]] submerged into the [[mystic]] [[conception]] of the [[person]] of [[Jesus]] as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redeemer_%28Christianity%29 Redeemer]-[[Creator]] and [[spiritual]] head of a socialized [[religious]] [[community]]. In this way a [[formal]] and [[institutional]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] became the substitute for the [[individually]] [[spirit]]-[[led]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.10 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was an [[inevitable]] and useful [[social]] [[result]] of [[Jesus]]' life and teachings; the [[tragedy]] consisted in the [[fact]] that this [[social]] [[reaction]] to the teachings of the kingdom so fully displaced the [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of the real kingdom as [[Jesus]] taught and lived it.

170:5.10 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was an [[inevitable]] and useful [[social]] [[result]] of [[Jesus]]' life and teachings; the [[tragedy]] consisted in the [[fact]] that this [[social]] [[reaction]] to the teachings of the kingdom so fully displaced the [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of the real kingdom as [[Jesus]] taught and lived it.

170:5.11 The kingdom, to the [[Jews]], was the [[Israel]]ite [[community]]; to the [[gentiles]] it became the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. To [[Jesus]] the kingdom was the sum of those [[individuals]] who had [[confessed]] their [[faith]] in the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]], thereby declaring their wholehearted [[dedication]] to the [[doing of the will of God]], thus becoming members of the [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of man.

170:5.11 The kingdom, to the [[Jews]], was the [[Israel]]ite [[community]]; to the [[gentiles]] it became the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. To [[Jesus]] the kingdom was the sum of those [[individuals]] who had [[confessed]] their [[faith]] in the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]], thereby declaring their wholehearted [[dedication]] to the [[doing of the will of God]], thus becoming members of the [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of man.

170:5.12 [[The Master]] fully [[realized]] that certain [[social]] results would appear in the world as a [[consequence]] of the spread of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom; but he [[intended]] that all such desirable [[social]] [[manifestations]] should [[appear]] as [[unconscious]] and [[inevitable]] outgrowths, or [[natural]] fruits, of this [[Inner Life|inner]] [[personal]] [[experience]] of [[individual]] [[believers]], this [[purely]] [[spiritual]] [[fellowship]] and [[communion]] with the [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]] which indwells and activates all such believers.

170:5.12 [[The Master]] fully [[realized]] that certain [[social]] results would appear in the world as a [[consequence]] of the spread of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom; but he [[intended]] that all such desirable [[social]] [[manifestations]] should [[appear]] as [[unconscious]] and [[inevitable]] outgrowths, or [[natural]] fruits, of this [[Inner Life|inner]] [[personal]] [[experience]] of [[individual]] [[believers]], this [[purely]] [[spiritual]] [[fellowship]] and [[communion]] with the [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]] which indwells and activates all such believers.

170:5.13 [[Jesus]] foresaw that a [[social]] [[organization]], or [[church]], would follow the [[progress]] of the true [[spiritual]] kingdom, and that is why he never [[opposed]] [[the apostles]]' [[practicing]] the [[rite]] of [[John the Baptist|John]]'s [[baptism]]. He taught that the [[truth]]-loving [[soul]], the one who [[hungers]] and [[thirsts]] for [[righteousness]], for [[God]], is admitted by [[faith]] to the spiritual kingdom; at the same time the [[apostles]] taught that such a [[believer]] is admitted to the [[social]] [[organization]] of [[disciples]] by the outward rite of [[baptism]].

170:5.13 [[Jesus]] foresaw that a [[social]] [[organization]], or [[church]], would follow the [[progress]] of the true [[spiritual]] kingdom, and that is why he never [[opposed]] [[the apostles]]' [[practicing]] the [[rite]] of [[John the Baptist|John]]'s [[baptism]]. He taught that the [[truth]]-loving [[soul]], the one who [[hungers]] and [[thirsts]] for [[righteousness]], for [[God]], is admitted by [[faith]] to the spiritual kingdom; at the same time the [[apostles]] taught that such a [[believer]] is admitted to the [[social]] [[organization]] of [[disciples]] by the outward rite of [[baptism]].

170:5.14 When [[Jesus]]' [[immediate]] followers recognized their partial [[failure]] to [[realize]] his [[ideal]] of the [[establishment]] of the kingdom in the [[hearts]] of men by the [[spirit]]'s [[domination]] and [[guidance]] of the [[individual]] [[believer]], they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for [[the Master]]'s [[ideal]] of the kingdom the [[gradual]] [[creation]] of a visible [[social]] [[organization]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain [[consistency]] and to provide for the [[recognition]] of [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[fact]] of the kingdom, they [[proceeded]] to set the kingdom off into the [[future]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements#Church_and_ecclesia church], just as soon as it was well [[established]], began to teach that the kingdom was in [[reality]] to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ].

170:5.14 When [[Jesus]]' [[immediate]] followers recognized their partial [[failure]] to [[realize]] his [[ideal]] of the [[establishment]] of the kingdom in the [[hearts]] of men by the [[spirit]]'s [[domination]] and [[guidance]] of the [[individual]] [[believer]], they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for [[the Master]]'s [[ideal]] of the kingdom the [[gradual]] [[creation]] of a visible [[social]] [[organization]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain [[consistency]] and to provide for the [[recognition]] of [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[fact]] of the kingdom, they [[proceeded]] to set the kingdom off into the [[future]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements#Church_and_ecclesia church], just as soon as it was well [[established]], began to teach that the kingdom was in [[reality]] to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ].

170:5.15 In this [[manner]] the kingdom became the [[concept]] of an [[Epoch|age]], the [[idea]] of a [[future]] [[visitation]], and the [[ideal]] of the final [[redemption]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints saints] of the [[Most High]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity early Christians] (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of [[the Father]]-and-[[Sonship|son]] [[idea]] embodied in [[Jesus]]' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-[[organized]] [[social]] [[fellowship]] of the [[church]]. The church thus became in the main a [[social]] brotherhood which effectively displaced [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] and [[ideal]] of a [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]].

170:5.15 In this [[manner]] the kingdom became the [[concept]] of an [[Epoch|age]], the [[idea]] of a [[future]] [[visitation]], and the [[ideal]] of the final [[redemption]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints saints] of the [[Most High]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity early Christians] (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of [[the Father]]-and-[[Sonship|son]] [[idea]] embodied in [[Jesus]]' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-[[organized]] [[social]] [[fellowship]] of the [[church]]. The church thus became in the main a [[social]] brotherhood which effectively displaced [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] and [[ideal]] of a [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]].

170:5.16 [[Jesus]]' [[ideal]] [[concept]] largely [[failed]], but upon the [[foundation]] of [[the Master]]'s [[personal]] life and teachings, supplemented by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Greece Greek] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_religion Persian] [[concepts]] of [[eternal]] life and augmented by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo]'s [[doctrine]] of the [[temporal]] [[contrast]]ed with the [[spiritual]], [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] went forth to build up one of the most [[progressive]] [[human]] [[societies]] which has ever existed on [[Urantia]].

170:5.16 [[Jesus]]' [[ideal]] [[concept]] largely [[failed]], but upon the [[foundation]] of [[the Master]]'s [[personal]] life and teachings, supplemented by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Greece Greek] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_religion Persian] [[concepts]] of [[eternal]] life and augmented by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo]'s [[doctrine]] of the [[temporal]] [[contrast]]ed with the [[spiritual]], [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] went forth to build up one of the most [[progressive]] [[human]] [[societies]] which has ever existed on [[Urantia]].

170:5.17 The [[concept]] of [[Jesus]] is still alive in the advanced [[religions]] of the world. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity Paul's Christian church] is the [[socialized]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism humanized] [[shadow]] of what [[Jesus]] [[intended]] the ''kingdom of heaven'' to be—and what it most certainly will yet become. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his successors partly [[transferred]] the issues of [[eternal]] life from the [[individual]] to the [[church]]. [[Christ]] thus became the head of the [[church]] rather than the [[elder]] [[brother]] of each [[individual]] [[believer]] in [[the Father]]'s [[family]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his contemporaries applied all of [[Jesus]]' [[spiritual]] implications regarding himself and the [[individual]] [[believer]] to the [[church]] as a [[group]] of [[believers]]; and in doing this, they struck a deathblow to [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] of the [[divine]] kingdom in the [[heart]] of the [[individual]] believer.

170:5.17 The [[concept]] of [[Jesus]] is still alive in the advanced [[religions]] of the world. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity Paul's Christian church] is the [[socialized]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism humanized] [[shadow]] of what [[Jesus]] [[intended]] the ''kingdom of heaven'' to be—and what it most certainly will yet become. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his successors partly [[transferred]] the issues of [[eternal]] life from the [[individual]] to the [[church]]. [[Christ]] thus became the head of the [[church]] rather than the [[elder]] [[brother]] of each [[individual]] [[believer]] in [[the Father]]'s [[family]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his contemporaries applied all of [[Jesus]]' [[spiritual]] implications regarding himself and the [[individual]] [[believer]] to the [[church]] as a [[group]] of [[believers]]; and in doing this, they struck a deathblow to [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] of the [[divine]] kingdom in the [[heart]] of the [[individual]] believer.

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] has labored under great [[embarrassment]] because it [[dared]] to lay claim to those [[mysterious]] [[powers]] and [[privileges]] of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be [[exercised]] and [[experienced]] only between [[Jesus]] and his [[spiritual]] believer [[brothers]]. And thus it becomes [[apparent]] that membership in the [[church]] does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is [[spiritual]], the other mainly [[social]].

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] has labored under great [[embarrassment]] because it [[dared]] to lay claim to those [[mysterious]] [[powers]] and [[privileges]] of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be [[exercised]] and [[experienced]] only between [[Jesus]] and his [[spiritual]] believer [[brothers]]. And thus it becomes [[apparent]] that membership in the [[church]] does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is [[spiritual]], the other mainly [[social]].

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater [[John the Baptist]] is due to arise [[proclaiming]] " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]], who [[proclaimed]] that the kingdom is the will of his [[heavenly Father]] [[dominant]] and [[transcendent]] in the [[heart]] of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible [[church]] on [[earth]] or to the [[anticipated]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING second coming of Christ]. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of [[Jesus]], such a restatement as will undo the [[work]] of his early followers who went about to create a socio-philosophical [[system]] of [[belief]] regarding the [[fact]] of [[Michael]]'s [[sojourn]] on [[earth]]. In a short time the teaching of this [[story]] about [[Jesus]] nearly supplanted the preaching of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] of the kingdom. In this way a [[Tradition|historical]] [[religion]] displaced that teaching in which [[Jesus]] had blended man's highest [[moral]] [[ideas]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] with man's most [[sublime]] [[hope]] for the [[future]]—[[eternal]] life. And that was the [[gospel]] of the kingdom.

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater [[John the Baptist]] is due to arise [[proclaiming]] " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]], who [[proclaimed]] that the kingdom is the will of his [[heavenly Father]] [[dominant]] and [[transcendent]] in the [[heart]] of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible [[church]] on [[earth]] or to the [[anticipated]] [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING second coming of Christ]. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of [[Jesus]], such a restatement as will undo the [[work]] of his early followers who went about to create a socio-philosophical [[system]] of [[belief]] regarding the [[fact]] of [[Michael]]'s [[sojourn]] on [[earth]]. In a short time the teaching of this [[story]] about [[Jesus]] nearly supplanted the preaching of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] of the kingdom. In this way a [[Tradition|historical]] [[religion]] displaced that teaching in which [[Jesus]] had blended man's highest [[moral]] [[ideas]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] with man's most [[sublime]] [[hope]] for the [[future]]—[[eternal]] life. And that was the [[gospel]] of the kingdom.

170:5.20 It is just because the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]] was so many-sided that within a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Early_heresies few centuries] students of the [[records]] of his teachings became divided up into so many [[cults]] and [[sects]]. This pitiful subdivision of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian believers] results from [[failure]] to [[discern]] in [[the Master]]'s manifold teachings the [[divine]] [[Union|oneness]] of his matchless life. But someday the true [[believers]] in [[Jesus]] will not be thus spiritually divided in their [[attitude]] before unbelievers. Always we may have [[diversity]] of [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and [[interpretation]], even varying [[degrees]] of [[socialization]], but lack of spiritual [[brotherhood]] is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.20 It is just because the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]] was so many-sided that within a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Early_heresies few centuries] students of the [[records]] of his teachings became divided up into so many [[cults]] and [[sects]]. This pitiful subdivision of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian believers] results from [[failure]] to [[discern]] in [[the Master]]'s manifold teachings the [[divine]] [[Union|oneness]] of his matchless life. But someday the true [[believers]] in [[Jesus]] will not be thus spiritually divided in their [[attitude]] before unbelievers. Always we may have [[diversity]] of [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and [[interpretation]], even varying [[degrees]] of [[socialization]], but lack of spiritual [[brotherhood]] is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of [[Jesus]] an [[eternal]] [[nature]] which will not [[permit]] them forever to remain unfruitful in the [[hearts]] of [[thinking]] men. The kingdom as [[Jesus]] [[conceived]] it has to a large extent [[failed]] on [[earth]]; for the time being, an outward [[church]] has taken its place; but you should [[comprehend]] that this [[church]] is only the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva larval] [[stage]] of the thwarted [[spiritual]] kingdom, which will carry it through this [[Materialism|material]] [[Epoch|age]] and over into a more [[spiritual]] dispensation where [[the Master]]'s teachings may enjoy a fuller [[opportunity]] for [[development]]. Thus does the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] become the [[cocoon]] in which the kingdom of [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] now [[slumbers]]. The kingdom of the [[divine]] [[brotherhood]] is still alive and will [[eventually]] and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the [[beautiful]] [[unfolding]] of its less [[attractive]] [[creature]] of [[metamorphic]] [[development]].

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of [[Jesus]] an [[eternal]] [[nature]] which will not [[permit]] them forever to remain unfruitful in the [[hearts]] of [[thinking]] men. The kingdom as [[Jesus]] [[conceived]] it has to a large extent [[failed]] on [[earth]]; for the time being, an outward [[church]] has taken its place; but you should [[comprehend]] that this [[church]] is only the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva larval] [[stage]] of the thwarted [[spiritual]] kingdom, which will carry it through this [[Materialism|material]] [[Epoch|age]] and over into a more [[spiritual]] dispensation where [[the Master]]'s teachings may enjoy a fuller [[opportunity]] for [[development]]. Thus does the so-called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] become the [[cocoon]] in which the kingdom of [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] now [[slumbers]]. The kingdom of the [[divine]] [[brotherhood]] is still alive and will [[eventually]] and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the [[beautiful]] [[unfolding]] of its less [[attractive]] [[creature]] of [[metamorphic]] [[development]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_170 Go to Paper 170]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_170 Go to Paper 170]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 170 - The Kingdom of Heaven]]

[[Category:Paper 170 - The Kingdom of Heaven]]