Thisnumbersdisconnected, I would agree with you to a degree... Its an indubitable fact that there is this now-reality as well as an eventuality to the kingdom of God. But in most cases "the now-reality" is downplayed or minimal in presentations and meanings. The focus is upon eventuality (this is in modern teaching if it ever occurs). Scripture tells a different narrative.
Matt 6:33 tells us what? "Seek first the KOG and all these things will be added to you." The all these things were articulated in verse 25 (what you shall eat, what you shall drink, nor for your body (as to clothes). So here we have a KOG text that gives us a few clues about what it is and what its about.
Q. When do we seek the KOG?
A. In the now of this life.
Q. When will all these things be added to us?
A. After we partake and are in the kingdom of God.
Q. Thus, when does the kingdom of God exist other than the hereafter?
Q. Are we going to be concerned about food, drink and clothes in heaven?
A. Obviously this text is talking about a now-reality.
Another verse Luke 17:21 tells us that "The kingdom of God is within you, and all around you." It first indicates a now-reality (apparently regardless of level or degree of sanctification).
Of the 138 direct mentions of KOG/KOH, 80 depict and articulate a "now-reality" 29 deal with its eventuality and thirty other texts have mixed aspects, which has given rise to the "then-now-future."
What has interested me in this subject is the NT use of what I call "terms of not belonging." And there are a ton of them, all descriptive of who and what the follower of Christ is (some 178 different mentions). You're familiar with all of them, but lets start with steward, soldier, alien and stranger... These do not belong to the context in which they exist. This is not just a contextual reference of the way believers were seen within the context in which they lived. It was and always should have been the very "worldview" we were to have about ourselves and our approach to the world order around us.
Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) about being a "new creation" in Christ. "Old things passed away (dead), behold ALL things are become new.
Q. What part of all isn't new in considerations of the word ALL?
A. (Do I really need to answer this one)
So profound is this "newness" another text joins in: Phil 3:2-11 (NASB). This text deals with physical-world belonging and identity that people commonly flaunt, which Paul says has to be treated as dung in our mind IN ORDER THAT (His words) we may gain Christ and be found in Him, not bearing a righteousness of our own... WOW! That is a HEAVY text for anyone willing to read it for what it is saying, without their theological glasses on, whew!
Continuing the terms of not belonging I mentioned earlier, another term drives my point home... Paul refers to us twice as Ambassadors! (isolated this could mean almost anything, but within the context of 176 more mentions of "terms of not belonging" and the few supporting texts I've shared here (among the many others) this is not an anomaly we can dismiss.)
Q. What is an Ambassador?
A. ONe who represents one realm to another in which he or she does not belong.... Wow!
Then Paul says later in Phil. 3, Our citizenship is in heaven, which adds perspective to this "not belonging" bit. We have a citizenship, that is a "now-reality" within the context of a physical world. And we represent our realm to the realms of non-new creation people in the kingdoms of men. Citizenship means we have a responsibility, its not just an award on the wall like a diploma.
This is a powerful message of far reaching aspects. It bears up historically and ecclesiastically... But it is also obscured to most church people because of an event long ago that has been built upon for so long people can't see around it. But the scriptures are open to those who would press in, ask questions and take off the interpretive means they've been handed, which just so happens to support this other narrative so commonly accepted...
When Paul warns the Corinthians about "another gospel" it means that there are charades and frauds parading as truth in order to deceive many. At what point, when we strip the gospel Christ and Paul taught of its very essence and dynamics, does our gospel start to fit in to that category Paul called "another gospel?"
I am reminded of the parable Christ purposely told in such a way that insincere hangers on could not get. But it has been appointed that many could know, which remains in our own time.
All I can say is that this understanding, so minimally presented here has blessed me tremendously. Its changed everything for me. But its a message that has many an enemy, especially in what we call church. They, along with the secular order will lead the charge in persecuting it and quelling it. The proof is that it has happened that way for centuries. And when this teaching reaches out again in the west, the same pathology will reappear amongst the nicest and brightest people you could ever meet...
