Kingdom Principles

Kingdom Principles

relinquish ownership. We possess the earth as a trust, as stewards, as “kings” under the High King of Heaven. The King gave us domin ion over the earth, not as owners but as vassal-kings to extend His heavenly government to the earthly realm. He gave us rulership, not ownership. We have the privilege to rule the earth, and with that privilege also comes the responsibility of wise and righteous man agement. And we are accountable to the King for how we manage our domain. It is also on this prerogative of Kingship and Lordship that God could, without the permission of its current inhabitants, promise Abraham the land of Canaan as a birthright. Today we see this understanding of crown land applied in the nation of Israel. The ancient Jewish law handed down through Moses stipulated that no property sales in Israel were permanent because the land belonged to God: The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine and you are but aliens and My tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land (Leviticus 25:23-24). Israelites were free to occupy their own plot of land, develop it, cultivate it, live off of it, and even pass it on to their heirs. They were not to sell it, however, especially to non-Israelites. If financial cir cumstances necessitated selling the property to a fellow Israelite, the law made provision for the land to be returned. Every 50 years Israel celebrated a Year of Jubilee, during which time any land that had changed hands since the previous jubilee year automatically revert ed to the original possessor. In Israel today, a similar principle is in effect. When young couples in Israel marry, the Israeli government provides or assists them with their first house. Why? Because there is no private own ership of property in Israel. Officially, the land belongs to God.

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