Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
What does it mean when Jehoshua said His Kingdom is not of this world? In modern Christendom the idea of Christians nor engaging in the political process, government positions including military service seems strange however at one time that's exactly how the early Christians viewed such matters.
Today the phrase "not of this world" is plastered all over cars and t shirts of professing Christians yet many of them participate and entangle themselves in the affairs of this life just like those who do not profess the faith. In this study I want to view scriptures that show us that Christians are indeed not to be of this world meaning they don't engage in the affairs of this life which includes the political system as well as military service or positions in government. John 18;33-36 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Jehoshua was indeed King of the Jews and In fact all of Israel, however He did not come sit on an earthly throne in the Geo-political Israel of that day. Jehoshua told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world (kosmos). The word Kosmos (Strongs 2889) means "orderly arrangement, government, constitution, heavenly hosts, arrangement of the stars, inhabitants of the earth, circle of the earth, universe, human race, world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly." Jehoshua's Kingdom is not of this orderly arrangement of human affairs on this earth. He says that if His Kingdom were of this world that His servants would fight and not let Him being handed over to the Jews. He uses this fact that His Kingdom is not from this earth and from somewhere else. What is the significance of Jehoshua's statement regarding His Kingdom not being of this world for Christians? We need to look to the apostolic church and see how they viewed the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah as well how they viewed the Kingdoms of this world. In Acts 2 Peter preaches the first public sermon after the resurrection of the Messiah and he focuses on the Davidic covenant being fulfilled in Jehoshua's resurrection and ascension into heaven. The sermon is focused on the Kingship of Jehoshua. It is also the most successful sermon in the history of Christianity. Hebrews 1 also shows us the enthronement of Jehoshua in connection with His ascension into heaven. Something significant took place at Jehoshua's resurrection and ascension. It was the beginning of the new creation the inauguration of the Son of God's Kingdom. Both Paul and John tell us that the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah was a present reality in the book of Colossians (1:12-13) and Revelation (1:8-9) respectively. One thing is clear when reading the new testament is that Jehoshua was already King and His Kingdom had already begun in the first century. So what does this have to do with whether or not we are to engage in political, military and government affairs? Well, let's remember the words of the Son of God? Matthew 12:25-26 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand. Although here Jehoshua is talking about infighting within a Kingdom bringing it to desolation, it could also apply to divided loyalties. In fact, I submit that if one has divided loyalties between the Kingdom of Jehoshua and the affairs of this life it will cause infighting within the Kingdom. Why is this? Because inevitably those divided loyalties will pit Christian against Christian. Take for example the split between American Christians in regards to the democrat and Republican parties. This has caused major infighting in the Church to where fellowship has been broken. It is shameful that Christians have actually fought with their brothers and sisters over which party is better and more in tune with Godly principles. This is actually Satanic and these Christians have traded in the Kingdom of God for the Kingdoms of this world. Christians in America getting involved in politics has ruined their witness among those in the world and has rendered the mainstream church ineffective in turning the world upside down. Actually, in terms of the mainstream Church, their witness due to the obvious hypocritical support of Donald Trump has likely been ruined for at least a generation. "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Paul says that Satan is the god of this world. All the Kingdoms of this world have been given to him by Jehovah God as he had permission to offer them to the Messiah: Luke 4:5-8 5And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6 And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.7 If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine.8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship Jehovah thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. During Jehoshua's 40 days in the wilderness Satan offered Him the Kingdoms of this world. Satan said that they kingdoms of this world had been given to him to give to whoever he (Satan) wills. Jehoshua did not dispute this fact but simply rejected Satan's offer and refused to worship (honor) him and quoted Deuteronomy 6:13-14 which says: 13Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; and him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear by his name.14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; This shows that when people desire rulership in the Kingdoms of this world they are in effect bowing down and honoring (worshiping) Satan. They are going after other gods which in this case is Satan who is the god of this world. See, we as believers in the Son of God have our own Kingdom in which we are kings and priests. Once we seek to be a king in the Kingdoms of this world then we no longer are a king in the Kingdom that truly matters. Satan made it clear that the Kingdoms of this world have been given to him and of course they have been given to him by Jehovah God. The Father has set apart a people for His own possession, a Kingdom of priests and kings. 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" God has purchased us as His own possession from darkness into His marvelous light. What is the darkness He purchased us from and what is the light He brought us into? Paul answers that for us in Colossians 1:12-13 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The power of darkness is Satan's kingdom which the kingdoms of this world are a part of. The light is the Kingdom of God's dear Son where we reign as kings and priests. Let's look at Ephesians 2 for a perfect example of this dichotomy of the two Kingdoms: Ephesians 2:1-6 (KJV) 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: In time past before being begotten by the Spirit of Jehovah God we walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air, Satan. Remember, in 2nd Corinthians Satan is called the god of this world by Paul as He is the prince of this world and it's Geo-political kingdoms. Those who are still walking according to the course of this world are referred to as children of wrath and disobedience as they are children of the god of this world i.e. Satan. However, when we are begotten from above by the Spirit we are raised up together in Jehoshua to sit in the heavenly places with Him. The heavenly places refers to the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary. What is Jehoshua doing in the holy of holies? He is reigning as King and High Priest on the throne of David (Zechariah 6:91-15). If we sit together with Him in the holy of holies then we are also reigning as kings and priests with Him as 1 Peter 2;9, Rev 1:5-6 and Revelation 5:9-10 also state. Ephesians 1;3 states this as well: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" The spiritual blessings that we have been blessed with in Jehoshua is the offices as kings and priests. Ephesians 2 is actually similar to 1 Peter 2:9 in that God purchased us from being children of wrath by begetting us from above and raising us up to sit in heavenly places with Messiah reigning as a Royal priesthood. When we were walking according to the course of this world then it was natural for us to seek the things of this world that it's kingdoms has to offer. This includes political office or entanglement in it's affairs. When we are children of this world then we have a stake in who is president and we also have a stake in our country being powerful hence the willingness to join the military and fight wars on behalf of our country. When we are begotten by God we leave these desires of the Kingdoms of this world behind as we are now new creations in the Son of God. We now are kings and priests of a heavenly Kingdom which is based in New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12). When we go back to entangling ourselves with the affairs of this life then we trade in our kingship and priesthood for the world. Make no mistake we can't have both as Jehoshua said one cannot serve two masters: Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" Mammon is specifically speaking about riches but the principle is still the same, you cannot serve two masters. If the Kingdom of God's dear Son is not of this world then trying to serve in the Kingdoms of this world via politics, war etc. is trying to serve two masters, which Jehoshua says cant be done without hating one of them. In fact, Paul reiterates Jehoshua's sentiment in 2 Timothy: 3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jehoshua Messiah.4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. Let's look at this verse by verse as Paul says some key things that are mostly overlooked by the institutional Church system. Verse 3, he says that we are soldiers of Jehoshua Messiah. Anyone who has been in the military knows that it would not be tolerated for you to join up with a military of another country while at the same time part of the military of the country you are from. If this principle is true in earthly carnal Kingdoms how much moreso in the Son of God's Kingdom? As soldiers of Jehoshua Messiah we should be 100 percent loyal and dedicated to His Kingdom. There is no room for allegiance to the Kingdoms of this world in any way whatsoever. In the natural if you were to have allegiance to any other countries military while In the U.S. military you would be guilty of treason. Why wouldn't the same be true of an even more important heavenly Kingdom? The Son of God tells us that we are to be single minded about the Kingdom of God: Matthew 6:22 "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" Jehoshua says that if we are single minded about the Kingdom of God then our whole body will be full of light (the holy Spirit). The context of the above statement in is regards to serving money and building treasures here on earth but applies to any aspect of life. Devotion and allegiance to any other than the Kingdom will cause us to be filled with darkness (Matthew 6:23). The pressures and the allure of the world can easily distract a believer and there will be pressure from those in the world to conform with worldly ways and not be so devoted to the Kingdom, however Paul exhorts us to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jehoshua. The reason why many professing Christians deny picking up their cross and be good soldiers of Jehoshua Messiah is because they don't want to endure the hardness that comes with it. As any soldier knows there is a certain amount of hardness one must endure. Verse 4 of 2 Timothy 2 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." Paul is clear here in that as soldiers of Jehoshua Messiah we are not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life. Ask yourself this, is politics and war the affairs of this life? Any honest Christian would say "absolutely". If this is the case then why are the majority of American Christians yoked up to politicians most notably Republicans and the Neo Conservative movement? Better yet, why do American Christians encourage the country to go to war against it's enemies and even encourage the young members of the church to join and fight in those wars? The simple fact is that mainstream Churchianity and even many of the non mainstream ones have completely disobeyed Paul's words and instead have chosen the Kingdoms of this world over the Kingdom of the Son of God. Many ex military folks know that when you join the military there is a definite single mindedness that is needed in order to be a good soldier. You have no time to be worrying about things going on in the outside world. This is ten fold when you are deployed during war time. We must ask ourselves, as Christians are we at war? Again, any honest Christian would have to answer with a resounding "YES"! If you as an American soldier allow yourself to be entangled with the affairs of civilian life while at war you will have to answer to your superiors such as the Seargent, commanding officer etc. They will not be pleased with you and rightfully so. How much more true is this when it comes to the army of the Son of God? Paul says that we must avoid getting entangled with the affairs of this life in order to please Him that chose us to be a soldier. Paul here is speaking of the Father Jehovah God as the one who chose us for His Son's army. Verse 5 2 Timothy 2: "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." This verse above is in the context of being a good soldier of Jehoshua and not entangling ourselves with the affairs of this life. To strive lawfully in our walk with the Son of God we must avoid entanglement with politics, military service and other worldly affairs so that we get the crown on judgment day. Many Christians will find out the hard way that day that their love of politics and there support of war and encouraging Christians to participate in it will keep them from getting the crown of the eternal Kingdom. See, we do not take up the weapons of this world in our war with the enemy. Look what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians as matches up with the motif that we as Christians do not fight for the Kingdoms of this world: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Paul says that we do not war after the flesh, meaning we do not fight as the world does with physical weapons but rather we have spiritual weapons to fight a spiritual war. Paul says our warfare is not carnal (in the flesh) even though we ourselves our in the flesh. In fact, the weapons that we have as Christians is more mighty than any fleshly weapons as Paul our weapons are mighty and pull down spiritual strong holds. These spiritual strong holds are the demonic forces of Satan's kingdom. When we disobey the words of scripture and pick up carnal weapons then we forfeit our right to the spiritual one's. We will then become powerless to wage war against the devil. We have a heavenly Kingdom (New Jerusalem) a heavenly King (Jehoshua), we are part of a heavenly army and we use spiritual weapons. Ephesians 6 gives us a detail of the weapons that are at our disposal: Ephesians 6:11-13 1Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Paul again emphasizes that we do not wrestle (fight) against flesh and blood but rather against the forces of Satan (prinicipalities and powers). This is why he exhorts us to take up the whole armour of God in our fight against Satan as carnal weapons will be of no use. It is only by taking up the armour of God that we will be able to stand in the day of trial. Let's now briefly look at the weapons at our disposal: Ephesians 6:14-17 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Unfortunately, many professing Christians they have opted for carnal weapons of war such as guns. Why choose those when we have these awesome spiritual weapons mentioned by Paul? First off, we have the breastplate of righteousness. This righteousness comes from obeying the teachings of the Son of God which ironically speaks against fighting and striving for worldly kingdoms. Christians, by picking up carnal weapons actually disqualify themselves from having the breastplate of righteousness as Jehoshua teaches to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek. The gospel of peace, one of the most devastating weapons against Satan's kingdom is the gospel of the Kingdom. Interestingly, this weapon against Satan is a weapon that is described as "peace". The gospel of the Kingdom brings peace and healing to those who believe in it and have faith in it. It's by the preaching of the gospel that people get spoiled (stripped away) from Satan's kingdom and are translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:12-13). Next, we have the shield of faith and without faith it is impossible to please Jehovah God.(Hebrews 11:6). Hebrews 11 details the amazing faith of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the old testament. It was faith that allowed them to subdue kingdoms, to recieve their dead with the hope of the resurrection promised by Jehovah God and not accept deliverance. Faith is what allowed them to endure the most severe trials. The author of Hebrews says this about those who overcame by faith: Hebrews 11:37-39 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: What the world esteems highly God esteems lightly and what the world esteems lightly God esteems highly. Those who are persecuted for the sake of the Kingdom yet endure through their faith are more worthy than the world and those the world esteems highly. Even when saints have to dwell in the caves of the earth and walk about in tattered clothing or sheepskins the world is not worthy of them. What a powerful weapon against Satan! This is why throughout history that the Church has always grown stronger when Christians are being martyred as faith of one dedicated sold out saint inspires others. Then we have the helmet of salvation which assures us of our covenant relationship with the Father and the Son. We also have the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. What is meant here by the word of God is not a 66 book canon but rather the gospel of the Kingdom of which Jehoshua is the living example of that, His manner of life and His doctrine (teachings). These are the weapons we bring to the fight against Satan and his forces. The true Christian realizes this is a spiritual war and does not engage in the wars of the Kingdoms of this world nor uses it's weapons. We have examples over and over from the bible where the believers did not strike back at their enemies. This is because they knew that this world was not theirs to fight over and their weapons were spiritual not carnal. Philippians 3:18-20 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul laments former professors of the faith because they failed to continue in the upward call of God in Jehoshua Messiah by forgetting those things which are behind (worldly things) and pressing forward in the Kingdom in order to reach the prize (eternal life in the Kingdom).(verses 13 and 14 of Philippians 3). These apostates have traded in God for the false god of pleasure and luxurious living (whose god is their belly). Paul says they mind earthly things which in context is pleasurable and luxurious living. He then says but our (Christians) citizenship is in heaven. This is what it truly means to not be of this world which means you don't mind earthly things such as political affairs, involvement with military, striving after corporate success and soft and luxurious living. Our citizenship is in heaven and that's why we don't mind earthly things because our hope and salvation comes from New Jerusalem where Jehoshua will come down from to consummate His Kingdom.
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