Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]

135:5.1 In order to [[understand]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s [[message]], account should be taken of the [[status]] of the [[Jewish]] people at the time he [[appeared]] upon the [[stage]] of [[action]]. For almost one hundred years all [[Israel]] had been in a quandary; they were at a loss to [[explain]] their continuous subjugation to [[gentile]] overlords. Had not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught that [[righteousness]] was always rewarded with [[prosperity]] and [[power]]? Were they not [[God]]'s [[chosen people]]? Why was the throne of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] desolate and vacant? In the [[light]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Mosaic_law Mosaic doctrines] and the precepts of the [[prophets]] the [[Jews]] found it [[difficult]] to explain their long-continued [[national]] desolation.

135:5.1 In order to [[understand]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s [[message]], account should be taken of the [[status]] of the [[Jewish]] people at the time he [[appeared]] upon the [[stage]] of [[action]]. For almost one hundred years all [[Israel]] had been in a quandary; they were at a loss to [[explain]] their continuous subjugation to [[gentile]] overlords. Had not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] taught that [[righteousness]] was always rewarded with [[prosperity]] and [[power]]? Were they not [[God]]'s [[chosen people]]? Why was the throne of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] desolate and vacant? In the [[light]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Mosaic_law Mosaic doctrines] and the precepts of the [[prophets]] the [[Jews]] found it [[difficult]] to explain their long-continued [[national]] desolation.

135:5.2 About one hundred years before the days of [[Jesus]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] a new [[school]] of religious [[teachers]] arose in [[Palestine]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology apocalyptists]. These new [[teachers]] evolved a system of [[belief]] that accounted for the sufferings and [[humiliation]] of the [[Jews]] on the ground that they were paying the penalty for the [[nation]]'s [[sins]]. They fell back onto the well-known [[reasons]] assigned to [[explain]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylonian] and other captivities of former times. But, so taught the apocalyptists, Israel should take [[heart]]; the days of their [[affliction]] were almost over; the [[discipline]] of God's [[chosen people]] was about finished; God's [[patience]] with the [[gentile]] foreigners was about [[exhausted]]. The end of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Law Roman rule] was synonymous with the end of the age and, in a certain sense, with the end of the world. These new [[teachers]] leaned heavily on the [[predictions]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], and they consistently taught that [[creation]] was about to pass into its final [[stage]]; the kingdoms of this world were about to become the kingdom of God. To the [[Jewish]] [[mind]] of that day this was the [[meaning]] of that phrase—the kingdom of heaven—which runs throughout the teachings of both John and Jesus. To the Jews of Palestine the phrase " kingdom of heaven " had but one meaning: an absolutely righteous state in which God (the Messiah) would rule the nations of earth in perfection of power just as he ruled in heaven—" Your will be done on earth as in heaven. "

135:5.2 About one hundred years before the days of [[Jesus]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] a new [[school]] of religious [[teachers]] arose in [[Palestine]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology apocalyptists]. These new [[teachers]] evolved a system of [[belief]] that accounted for the sufferings and [[humiliation]] of the [[Jews]] on the ground that they were paying the penalty for the [[nation]]'s [[sins]]. They fell back onto the well-known [[reasons]] assigned to [[explain]] the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylonian] and other captivities of former times. But, so taught the apocalyptists, Israel should take [[heart]]; the days of their [[affliction]] were almost over; the [[discipline]] of God's [[chosen people]] was about finished; God's [[patience]] with the [[gentile]] foreigners was about [[exhausted]]. The end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Law Roman rule] was synonymous with the end of the age and, in a certain sense, with the end of the world. These new [[teachers]] leaned heavily on the [[predictions]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], and they consistently taught that [[creation]] was about to pass into its final [[stage]]; the kingdoms of this world were about to become the kingdom of God. To the [[Jewish]] [[mind]] of that day this was the [[meaning]] of that phrase—the kingdom of heaven—which runs throughout the teachings of both John and Jesus. To the Jews of Palestine the phrase " kingdom of heaven " had but one meaning: an absolutely righteous state in which God (the Messiah) would rule the nations of earth in perfection of power just as he ruled in heaven—" Your will be done on earth as in heaven. "

135:5.3 In the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] all [[Jews]] were [[expectantly]] asking, " How soon will the kingdom come? " There was a general [[feeling]] that the end of the rule of the [[gentile]] nations was drawing near. There was present throughout all Jewry a lively [[hope]] and a keen [[expectation]] that the [[consummation]] of the [[desire]] of the ages would occur during the lifetime of that [[generation]].

135:5.3 In the days of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] all [[Jews]] were [[expectantly]] asking, " How soon will the kingdom come? " There was a general [[feeling]] that the end of the rule of the [[gentile]] nations was drawing near. There was present throughout all Jewry a lively [[hope]] and a keen [[expectation]] that the [[consummation]] of the [[desire]] of the ages would occur during the lifetime of that [[generation]].

135:5.4 While the [[Jews]] differed greatly in their estimates of the [[nature]] of the coming kingdom, they were alike in their [[belief]] that the [[event]] was impending, near at hand, even at the door. Many who read the [[Old Testament]] [[literally]] looked expectantly for a new [[king]] in [[Palestine]], for a regenerated [[Jewish]] [[nation]] delivered from its enemies and presided over by the successor of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David King David], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Messiah] who would quickly be acknowledged as the rightful and [[righteous]] ruler of all the world. Another, though smaller, group of devout [[Jews]] held a vastly different view of this kingdom of God. They taught that the coming kingdom was not of this world, that the world was approaching its certain end, and that " a new heaven and a new earth " were to usher in the [[establishment]] of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_140#140:1._PRELIMINARY_INSTRUCTION kingdom of God]; that this kingdom was to be an everlasting [[dominion]], that sin was to be ended, and that the [[citizens]] of the new kingdom were to become [[immortal]] in their [[enjoyment]] of this endless [[bliss]].

135:5.4 While the [[Jews]] differed greatly in their estimates of the [[nature]] of the coming kingdom, they were alike in their [[belief]] that the [[event]] was impending, near at hand, even at the door. Many who read the [[Old Testament]] [[literally]] looked expectantly for a new [[king]] in [[Palestine]], for a regenerated [[Jewish]] [[nation]] delivered from its enemies and presided over by the successor of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David King David], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Messiah] who would quickly be acknowledged as the rightful and [[righteous]] ruler of all the world. Another, though smaller, group of devout [[Jews]] held a vastly different view of this kingdom of God. They taught that the coming kingdom was not of this world, that the world was approaching its certain end, and that " a new heaven and a new earth " were to usher in the [[establishment]] of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_140#140:1._PRELIMINARY_INSTRUCTION kingdom of God]; that this kingdom was to be an everlasting [[dominion]], that sin was to be ended, and that the [[citizens]] of the new kingdom were to become [[immortal]] in their [[enjoyment]] of this endless [[bliss]].

135:5.5 All were [[agreed]] that some drastic purging or purifying [[discipline]] would of necessity precede the [[establishment]] of the new kingdom on [[earth]]. The [[literalists]] taught that a world-wide [[war]] would ensue which would destroy all unbelievers, while the [[faithful]] would sweep on to [[universal]] and [[eternal]] [[victory]]. The spiritists taught that the kingdom would be ushered in by the great [[judgment]] of [[God]] which would relegate the unrighteous to their well-deserved judgment of [[punishment]] and final destruction, at the same time elevating the believing saints of the [[chosen people]] to high seats of [[honor]] and [[authority]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man], who would rule over the redeemed [[nations]] in [[God]]'s name. And this latter [[group]] even believed that many devout [[gentiles]] might be admitted to the fellowship of the new kingdom.

135:5.5 All were [[agreed]] that some drastic purging or purifying [[discipline]] would of necessity precede the [[establishment]] of the new kingdom on [[earth]]. The [[literalists]] taught that a world-wide [[war]] would ensue which would destroy all unbelievers, while the [[faithful]] would sweep on to [[universal]] and [[eternal]] [[victory]]. The spiritists taught that the kingdom would be ushered in by the great [[judgment]] of [[God]] which would relegate the unrighteous to their well-deserved judgment of [[punishment]] and final destruction, at the same time elevating the believing saints of the [[chosen people]] to high seats of [[honor]] and [[authority]] with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man], who would rule over the redeemed [[nations]] in [[God]]'s name. And this latter [[group]] even believed that many devout [[gentiles]] might be admitted to the fellowship of the new kingdom.

135:5.6 Some of the [[Jews]] held to the [[opinion]] that [[God]] might possibly establish this new kingdom by direct and [[divine]] [[intervention]], but the vast [[majority]] believed that he would interpose some [[representative]] intermediary, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah]. And that was the only possible [[meaning]] the term [[Messiah]] could have had in the [[minds]] of the [[Jews]] of the [[generation]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] and [[Jesus]]. [[Messiah]] could not possibly refer to one who merely taught God's will or [[proclaimed]] the [[necessity]] for [[righteous]] living. To all such [[holy]] [[persons]] the [[Jews]] gave the title of [[prophet]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism The Messiah] was to be more than a [[prophet]]; the [[Messiah]] was to bring in the establishment of the new kingdom, the kingdom of God. No one who failed to do this could be the [[Messiah]] in the [[traditional]] [[Jewish]] sense.

135:5.6 Some of the [[Jews]] held to the [[opinion]] that [[God]] might possibly establish this new kingdom by direct and [[divine]] [[intervention]], but the vast [[majority]] believed that he would interpose some [[representative]] intermediary, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah]. And that was the only possible [[meaning]] the term [[Messiah]] could have had in the [[minds]] of the [[Jews]] of the [[generation]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] and [[Jesus]]. [[Messiah]] could not possibly refer to one who merely taught God's will or [[proclaimed]] the [[necessity]] for [[righteous]] living. To all such [[holy]] [[persons]] the [[Jews]] gave the title of [[prophet]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism The Messiah] was to be more than a [[prophet]]; the [[Messiah]] was to bring in the establishment of the new kingdom, the kingdom of God. No one who failed to do this could be the [[Messiah]] in the [[traditional]] [[Jewish]] sense.

135:5.7 Who would this [[Messiah]] be? Again the [[Jewish]] [[teachers]] differed. The older ones clung to the [[doctrine]] of the son of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidic_line David]. The newer taught that, since the new kingdom was a heavenly kingdom, the new ruler might also be a [[divine]] [[personality]], one who had long sat at God's right hand in [[heaven]]. And strange as it may appear, those who thus conceived of the ruler of the new kingdom looked upon him not as a [[human]] [[Messiah]], not as a mere man, but as " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man the Son of Man] "—a Son of God—a heavenly Prince, long held in waiting thus to [[assume]] the rulership of the [[earth]] made new. Such was the [[religious]] background of the Jewish world when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] went forth proclaiming: " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_matthew#Chapter_3]

135:5.7 Who would this [[Messiah]] be? Again the [[Jewish]] [[teachers]] differed. The older ones clung to the [[doctrine]] of the son of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidic_line David]. The newer taught that, since the new kingdom was a heavenly kingdom, the new ruler might also be a [[divine]] [[personality]], one who had long sat at God's right hand in [[heaven]]. And strange as it may appear, those who thus conceived of the ruler of the new kingdom looked upon him not as a [[human]] [[Messiah]], not as a mere man, but as " [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man the Son of Man] "—a Son of God—a heavenly Prince, long held in waiting thus to [[assume]] the rulership of the [[earth]] made new. Such was the [[religious]] background of the Jewish world when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] went forth proclaiming: " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_matthew#Chapter_3]

135:5.8 It becomes apparent, therefore, that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s announcement of the coming kingdom had not less than half a dozen [[different]] [[meanings]] in the [[minds]] of those who [[listened]] to his impassioned preaching. But no matter what significance they attached to the phrases which John employed, each of these various [[groups]] of Jewish-kingdom expectants was intrigued by the proclamations of this [[sincere]], [[enthusiastic]], rough-and-ready preacher of [[righteousness]] and [[repentance]], who so solemnly exhorted his hearers to " flee from the wrath to come. "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist]

135:5.8 It becomes apparent, therefore, that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s announcement of the coming kingdom had not less than half a dozen [[different]] [[meanings]] in the [[minds]] of those who [[listened]] to his impassioned preaching. But no matter what significance they attached to the phrases which John employed, each of these various [[groups]] of Jewish-kingdom expectants was intrigued by the proclamations of this [[sincere]], [[enthusiastic]], rough-and-ready preacher of [[righteousness]] and [[repentance]], who so solemnly exhorted his hearers to " flee from the wrath to come. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist]

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_135 Go to Paper 135]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_135 Go to Paper 135]</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 135 - John the Baptist]]

[[Category:Paper 135 - John the Baptist]]