Kingdom Principles

The Kingdom of God Versus the Government of Man

on earth once again, using a small nation of slaves as His prototype. He expressed His divine desire through Moses, stating: “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites (Exodus 19:5-6). Here we see God’s intent for the nation to be governed by heav en from heaven and to be an expression of His Kingdom on earth. Israel rejected theocracy, the rule of a gracious and loving King who would protect and provide for them. Instead, they substituted a king for the King. Their decision led to calamitous consequences. The Fall of man was not the loss of heaven but rather the loss of the Kingdom government of heaven on earth. Any honest human taking a serious look at the conditions of our planet would have to conclude that earth is in need of a new, or in this case, an alternative form of government. The spiritual, social, economic, physical, envi ronmental, and cultural conditions of our earth demand a govern ment that is superior to any we have yet invented. Perhaps the answer to man’s need for an effective and just government is found in the first official words of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago as He announced His primary mission and commented on the human condition: From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17).

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Here we note that Jesus’ assessment of man’s spiritual and social hunger and poverty of soul can be satisfied only by receiving the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom is the only source of true joy for

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