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==170:1. CONCEPTS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN==

==170:1. CONCEPTS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN==

170:1.1 In connection with the recital of Jesus' sermon it should be noted that throughout the Hebrew scriptures there was a dual concept of the kingdom of heaven. The prophets presented the kingdom of God as:

170:1.1 In [[connection]] with the [[recital]] of [[Jesus]]' [[sermon]] it should be noted that throughout the [[Hebrew scriptures]] there was a [[dual]] [[concept]] of the ''kingdom of heaven''. The [[prophets]] presented the kingdom of God as:

*1. 170:1.2 A present reality; and as

*1. 170:1.2 A present [[reality]]; and as

*2. 170:1.3 A future hope—when the kingdom would be realized in fullness upon the appearance of the Messiah. This is the kingdom concept which John the Baptist taught.

*2. 170:1.3 A [[future]] [[hope]]—when the kingdom would be [[realized]] in fullness upon the [[appearance]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah]. This is the kingdom [[concept]] which [[John the Baptist]] taught.

170:1.4 From the very first Jesus and the apostles taught both of these concepts. There were two other ideas of the kingdom which should be borne in mind:

170:1.4 From the very first [[Jesus]] and [[the apostles]] taught both of these [[concepts]]. There were two other [[ideas]] of the kingdom which should be borne in [[mind]]:

*3. 170:1.5 The later Jewish concept of a world-wide and transcendental kingdom of supernatural origin and miraculous inauguration.

*3. 170:1.5 The later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Jewish concept] of a world-wide and [[transcendental]] kingdom of [[supernatural]] [[origin]] and [[miraculous]] [[inauguration]].

*4. 170:1.6 The Persian teachings portraying the establishment of a divine kingdom as the achievement of the triumph of good over evil at the end of the world.

*4. 170:1.6 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha#In_eschatology_and_soteriology Persian teachings] portraying the [[establishment]] of a [[divine]] kingdom as the [[achievement]] of the [[triumph]] of [[good]] over [[evil]] at the end of the world.

170:1.7 Just before the advent of Jesus on earth, the Jews combined and confused all of these ideas of the kingdom into their apocalyptic concept of the Messiah's coming to establish the age of the Jewish triumph, the eternal age of God's supreme rule on earth, the new world, the era in which all mankind would worship Yahweh. In choosing to utilize this concept of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus elected to appropriate the most vital and culminating heritage of both the Jewish and Persian religions.

170:1.7 Just before the [[advent]] of [[Jesus]] on [[earth]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews] combined and [[confused]] all of these [[ideas]] of the kingdom into their [[apocalyptic]] [[concept]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah]'s coming to establish the age of the Jewish [[triumph]], the [[eternal]] age of [[God]]'s [[supreme]] rule on [[earth]], the new world, the era in which all [[mankind]] would [[worship]] [[Yahweh]]. In choosing to utilize this [[concept]] of the ''kingdom of heaven'', [[Jesus]] elected to appropriate the most [[vital]] and culminating [[heritage]] of both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_religion Persian religions].

170:1.8 The kingdom of heaven, as it has been understood and misunderstood down through the centuries of the Christian era, embraced four distinct groups of ideas:

170:1.8 The ''kingdom of heaven'', as it has been [[understood]] and misunderstood down through the centuries of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_christianity Christian era], [[embraced]] four distinct [[groups]] of [[ideas]]:

*1. The concept of the Jews.

*1. The [[concept]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Jews].

*2. The concept of the Persians.

*2. The concept of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha#In_eschatology_and_soteriology Persians].

*3. The personal-experience concept of Jesus—" the kingdom of heaven within you. "

*3. The [[personal]]-[[experience]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]]—" the ''kingdom of heaven'' within you. "

*4. The composite and confused concepts which the founders and promulgators of Christianity have sought to impress upon the world.

*4. The [[composite]] and [[confused]] [[concepts]] which the founders and promulgators of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology Christianity] have sought to impress upon the world.

170:1.9 At different times and in varying circumstances it appears that Jesus may have presented numerous concepts of the " kingdom " in his public teachings, but to his apostles he always taught the kingdom as embracing man's personal experience in relation to his fellows on earth and to the Father in heaven. Concerning the kingdom, his last word always was, " The kingdom is within you. "

170:1.9 At [[different]] times and in varying [[circumstances]] it appears that [[Jesus]] may have presented numerous [[concepts]] of the " kingdom " in his [[public]] teachings, but to his [[apostles]] he always taught the kingdom as [[embracing]] man's [[personal]] [[experience]] in relation to his fellows on [[earth]] and to [[the Father]] in heaven. Concerning the kingdom, his last word always was, " The kingdom is within you. "

170:1.10 Centuries of confusion regarding the meaning of the term " kingdom of heaven " have been due to three factors:

170:1.10 Centuries of [[confusion]] regarding the [[meaning]] of the term " kingdom of heaven " have been due to [[three]] [[factors]]:

*1. The confusion occasioned by observing the idea of the " kingdom " as it passed through the various progressive phases of its recasting by Jesus and his apostles.

*1. The [[confusion]] occasioned by [[observing]] the [[idea]] of the " kingdom " as it passed through the various [[progressive]] [[phases]] of its recasting by [[Jesus]] and his [[apostles]].

*2. The confusion which was inevitably associated with the transplantation of early Christianity from a Jewish to a gentile soil.

*2. The [[confusion]] which was [[inevitably]] associated with the transplantation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity early Christianity] from a [[Jewish]] to a [[gentile]] [[soil]].

*3. The confusion which was inherent in the fact that Christianity became a religion which was organized about the central idea of Jesus' person; the gospel of the kingdom became more and more a religion about him.

*3. The [[confusion]] which was [[inherent]] in the [[fact]] that [[Christianity]] became a [[religion]] which was [[organized]] about the central [[idea]] of [[Jesus]]' [[Personality|person]]; the [[gospel]] of the kingdom became more and more a [[religion]] about him.

==170:2. JESUS' CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM==

==170:2. JESUS' CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM==