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==170:4. JESUS' TEACHING ABOUT THE KINGDOM==

==170:4. JESUS' TEACHING ABOUT THE KINGDOM==

170:4.1 Jesus never gave a precise definition of the kingdom. At one time he would discourse on one phase of the kingdom, and at another time he would discuss a different aspect of the brotherhood of God's reign in the hearts of men. In the course of this Sabbath afternoon's sermon Jesus noted no less than five phases, or epochs, of the kingdom, and they were:

170:4.1 [[Jesus]] never gave a precise [[definition]] of the kingdom. At one time he would [[discourse]] on one [[phase]] of the kingdom, and at another time he would [[discuss]] a [[different]] aspect of the [[brotherhood]] of [[God]]'s [[reign]] in the [[hearts]] of men. In the [[course]] of this [[Sabbath]] afternoon's [[sermon]] [[Jesus]] noted no less than five [[phases]], or [[epochs]], of the kingdom, and they were:

*1. The personal and inward experience of the spiritual life of the fellowship of the individual believer with God the Father.

*1. The [[personal]] and [[Inner Life|inward]] [[experience]] of the [[spiritual]] life of the fellowship of the [[individual]] believer with [[God]] [[the Father]].

*2. The enlarging brotherhood of gospel believers, the social aspects of the enhanced morals and quickened ethics resulting from the reign of God's spirit in the hearts of individual believers.

*2. The enlarging [[brotherhood]] of [[gospel]] [[believers]], the [[social]] aspects of the enhanced [[morals]] and quickened [[ethics]] resulting from the [[reign]] of [[Thought Adjuster|God's spirit]] in the [[hearts]] of [[individual]] [[believers]].

*3. The supermortal brotherhood of invisible spiritual beings which prevails on earth and in heaven, the superhuman kingdom of God.

*3. The [[supermortal]] brotherhood of [[invisible]] [[spiritual]] [[beings]] which prevails on [[earth]] and in [[heaven]], the [[superhuman]] kingdom of God.

*4. The prospect of the more perfect fulfillment of the will of God, the advance toward the dawn of a new social order in connection with improved spiritual living—the next age of man.

*4. The prospect of the more [[perfect]] [[fulfillment]] of [[Doing the will of God|the will of God]], the advance toward the [[dawn]] of a new [[social]] order in [[connection]] with improved [[spiritual]] living—the next age of man.

*5. The kingdom in its fullness, the future spiritual age of light and life on earth.

*5. The kingdom in its fullness, the [[future]] [[spiritual]] age of [[light and life]] on [[earth]].

170:4.2 Wherefore must we always examine the Master's teaching to ascertain which of these five phases he may have reference to when he makes use of the term kingdom of heaven. By this process of gradually changing man's will and thus affecting human decisions, Michael and his associates are likewise gradually but certainly changing the entire course of human evolution, social and otherwise.

170:4.2 Wherefore must we always [[examine]] [[the Master]]'s teaching to ascertain which of these [[five]] [[phases]] he may have [[reference]] to when he makes use of the term ''kingdom of heaven''. By this [[process]] of [[gradually]] [[changing]] man's will and thus affecting [[human]] [[decisions]], [[Michael]] and his associates are likewise [[gradually]] but certainly changing the entire [[course]] of human [[evolution]], [[social]] and otherwise.

170:4.3 The Master on this occasion placed emphasis on the following five points as representing the cardinal features of the gospel of the kingdom:

170:4.3 [[The Master]] on this occasion placed [[emphasis]] on the following five points as [[representing]] the [[cardinal]] features of the [[gospel]] of the kingdom:

*1. The pre-eminence of the individual.

*1. The [[Priority|pre-eminence]] of the [[individual]].

*2. The will as the determining factor in man's experience.

*2. The [[Free will|will]] as the determining [[factor]] in man's [[experience]].

*3. Spiritual fellowship with God the Father.

*3. [[Spiritual]] [[Relationship|fellowship]] with [[God]] [[the Father]].

*4. The supreme satisfactions of the loving service of man.

*4. The [[supreme]] [[satisfactions]] of the loving [[service]] of man.

*5. The transcendency of the spiritual over the material in human personality.

*5. The [[transcendency]] of the [[spiritual]] over the [[material]] in [[human]] [[personality]].

170:4.4 This world has never seriously or sincerely or honestly tried out these dynamic ideas and divine ideals of Jesus' doctrine of the kingdom of heaven. But you should not become discouraged by the apparently slow progress of the kingdom idea on Urantia. Remember that the order of progressive evolution is subjected to sudden and unexpected periodical changes in both the material and the spiritual worlds. The bestowal of Jesus as an incarnated Son was just such a strange and unexpected event in the spiritual life of the world. Neither make the fatal mistake, in looking for the age manifestation of the kingdom, of failing to effect its establishment within your own souls.

170:4.4 This world has never seriously or [[sincerely]] or [[honestly]] tried out these [[dynamic]] [[ideas]] and [[divine]] [[ideals]] of [[Jesus]]' [[doctrine]] of the ''kingdom of heaven''. But you should not become [[discouraged]] by the [[apparently]] slow [[progress]] of the kingdom idea on [[Urantia]]. [[Remember]] that the order of [[progressive]] [[evolution]] is subjected to sudden and unexpected [[periodical]] [[changes]] in both the [[material]] and the [[spiritual]] worlds. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_120 bestowal of Jesus] as an [[incarnated]] [[Creator Son|Son]] was just such a [[strange]] and unexpected [[event]] in the spiritual life of the world. Neither make the [[fatal]] mistake, in looking for the age [[manifestation]] of the kingdom, of [[failing]] to [[Self Realization|effect]] its [[establishment]] within your own [[souls]].

170:4.5 Although Jesus referred one phase of the kingdom to the future and did, on numerous occasions, intimate that such an event might appear as a part of a world crisis; and though he did likewise most certainly, on several occasions, definitely promise sometime to return to Urantia, it should be recorded that he never positively linked these two ideas together. He promised a new revelation of the kingdom on earth and at some future time; he also promised sometime to come back to this world in person; but he did not say that these two events were synonymous. From all we know these promises may, or may not, refer to the same event.

170:4.5 Although [[Jesus]] referred one [[phase]] of the kingdom to the [[future]] and did, on numerous occasions, intimate that such an [[event]] might [[appear]] as a part of a world [[crisis]]; and though he did likewise most certainly, on several occasions, definitely [[promise]] sometime to [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING return] to [[Urantia]], it should be [[recorded]] that he never [[positively]] linked these [[two]] [[ideas]] together. He [[promised]] a new [[revelation]] of the kingdom on [[earth]] and at some [[future]] time; he also [[promised]] sometime to [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:4._THE_RETURN_OF_MICHAEL come back] to this world in [[person]]; but he did not say that these two [[events]] were synonymous. From all we [[know]] these [[promises]] may, or may not, refer to the same [[event]].

170:4.6 His apostles and disciples most certainly linked these two teachings together. When the kingdom failed to materialize as they had expected, recalling the Master's teaching concerning a future kingdom and remembering his promise to come again, they jumped to the conclusion that these promises referred to an identical event; and therefore they lived in hope of his immediate second coming to establish the kingdom in its fullness and with power and glory. And so have successive believing generations lived on earth entertaining the same inspiring but disappointing hope.

170:4.6 His [[apostles]] and [[disciples]] most certainly linked these two teachings [[together]]. When the kingdom [[failed]] to [[materialize]] as they had [[expected]], recalling [[the Master]]'s teaching concerning a [[future]] kingdom and remembering his [[promise]] to come again, they jumped to the conclusion that these [[promises]] referred to an identical [[event]]; and therefore they lived in [[hope]] of his immediate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming] to [[establish]] the kingdom in its fullness and with [[power]] and [[glory]]. And so have [[successive]] believing [[generations]] lived on [[earth]] entertaining the same [[inspiring]] but [[disappointing]] [[hope]].

==170:5. LATER IDEAS OF THE KINGDOM==

==170:5. LATER IDEAS OF THE KINGDOM==