The Beatitudes Part III

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The Beatitudes Part III

To understand the Kingdom we must first understand the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of G-d". These terms are used interchageably (see Mt. 4:12-19 = Mk. 1:14-17; Mt. 5:3 = Lk. 6:20; Mt. 10:7 = Lk. 9:2; Mt. 13:31 = Mk. 4:30; Mt. 13:11 = Mk. 4:11; Mt. 19:14 = Mk. 10:14-15; Mt. 19:21-24 = Lk. 18:22-25.) Both terms refer to the Kingdom of G-d. This is because in Hebrew and Aramaic it is common to substitute the word for "Heaven" for the word for "G-d" so as not to make to common a use of the word for "G-d". An example of this may be found in 1Enoch 6:1-2 [4QEnoch(b)] = Gen. 6:1-2 where "sons' of God" (Gen. 6:2) has been replaced with "sons' of heaven" (1En. 6:1-2). While the term "Kingdom of G-d" does not appear in the Tenach (O.T.) the term "Kingdom of the YHWH" appears twice (1Chron. 28:5; 2Chron. 13:8) and there certainly can be no differance between these two Kingdoms.

It is important to note that in both of the usages of the term "Kingdom of YHWH" the Kingdom refered to is clearly the literal Kingdom of Israel. Now bearing in mind that the Kingdom is Israel, we must now determine if the claim made by Replacement theologians is correct, has the Church replaced Israel as the Kingdom? One of the passages which makes it clear that the Church cannot be the Kingdom spoken of in the New Testament may be found in 1Cor. 15:50-55 which states that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" (1Cor. 15:50) and that as a result when Messiah returns (1Cor. 15:52; 1Thes. 4:16-17; Mt. 24:30-31) mortals will be made immortal (1Cor. 15:50-55).

If this refers to the Church, then no mortal man of flesh and blood can be a part of the Church. This would make no sense at all. Another passage which makes it clear that the Kingdom cannot be the Church takes place in Acts chapter one immediately after Yeshua's (Jesus') resurection. In this text we read that the emmisaries spent forty days studying "the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" with Yeshua (Acts 1:3.) After this incedible forty day study the emmisaries ask Yeshua "Lord, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6.) After forty days of study with Yeshua on the topic the emmisaries still believed that the Kingdom would be a restored Kingdom of Israel, this can only be because this is what they were taught for forty days. If Yeshua had been teaching them for forty days that the Church is the Kingdom, then they would have never asked the question they asked, nor would Yeshua have answered it as he did "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." (Acts 1:7) rather than "Havn't you been listening for the past forty days?!?" (to be continued)