Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Anabaptists are what you call "Kingdom Christians" which is the belief that the church is the earthly visible Kingdom of God on earth and those in the church are kings and priests. This ecclesiology then takes literally what Jehoshua says about His Kingdom not being of this world. Jehoshua's Kingdom is not advanced through voting, fighting wars nor trying to change laws. Those things are of the world, we are people of the Kingdom and we simply preach the gospel which is the solution to man's dilemma.
John 18:36 "Jehoshua 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." The above verses is one of the main reasons why Anabaptists don't involve themselves in politics or believe in serving in the military. They believe that one can only belong to one Kingdom and that is the Kingdom of the Son of God, which does not fight for the causes of worldly Kingdoms. This agrees with Paul who says: 2nd Timothy 2:3-4 3 Thou 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. Imagine being in the army of the United states of America and then telling your commanding officer that you also want to join the Canadian army and split your time between both. That of course would never be allowed and rightfully so. How much more then, if we are in the army of the Davidic King should we not seek to be part of another army? The army of Jehoshua has a mission that has eternal consequences at stake whereas the armies of this world are striving over temporal things. Just as in secular armies full attention, loyalty and dedication is expected the same is true in the army of Jehoshua. Paul exhorts Timothy not to get involved in the affairs of this life. Ask yourself this, are politics and military battles between nations the affairs of this life? Of course they are! Any honest person would say that. So then, why are evangelicals, Protestants and Hebrew roots denominations so entrenched in politics? Why are they so patriotic that they support wars and even cheer them on when they are against Geo-political Israel's enemies? The answer to these questions is deep but on one level, a failure to understand the gospel is the culprit. A failure to rightly divide the word and understand what the Kingdom of God is. Of course, the lust for power and political clout is a huge reason why the aforementioned groups entangle themselves with the affairs of politics and war. These groups have forgotten and ignored what it means to be part of Jehoshua's Kingdom. The failure to realize that His Kingdom arrived 2,000 years ago and is not merely future is one reason both Hebrew roots and evangelicals get themselves tied to the Kingdoms of this world. For Anabaptists, we take Jehoshua and Paul at their words in that we are not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life because our Lord's Kingdom is not of this world. Those who live by this understanding are Kingdom Christians. Luke 17:20-21 20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The evangelicals and Hebrew roots folks have failed to take this verse literally as they believe that the Kingdom is or will be in earthly Jerusalem led by Geo-political Israel. They say that the Kingdom is not here yet and that we are waiting for a future millennium. The Son of God's words refute this idea of any earthly political nation including modern Israel being constituted as the Kingdom of God. This goes for America as well. Jehoshua clearly said that the Kingdom comes without observation meaning we cannot identify it with any of the political nations on earth no matter how much they try to say they are Israel or a Christian nation. In this Kingdom, we do not take up carnal weapons to fight our battles but rather spiritual ones: Ephesians 6:11-12 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For 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. When we fight for the Kingdoms of the world we are falling for the temptation that Satan laid out for Jehoshua: Matthew 4:8-10 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.10 Then saith Jehoshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship Jehovah thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Satan had authority to give the Kingdoms of this world to Jehoshua because he is the god (mighty one) of this world. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4In 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. Luke 4:5-8 5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Here in the Lukan version, Satan says that the Kingdoms of the world were delivered unto him. When we fight the wars of this world either through politics or wars or even the culture wars then we are fighting for Satan's kingdom. While it is acceptable for the those of the world to fight for these things it is not for us as Ephesians 2 says: 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2Wherein 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:3Among 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.4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: We have been raised up with Messiah to reign with Him in the holy of holies. This speaks of us being kings and priests. Before we were quickened we were children of wrath and walked according to the course of this world who god is Satan. Instead, our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Because of this we don't engage in the affairs of this life such a politics, war, fighting the culture wars etc. See, part of the root of the problem with the evangelicals and Hebrew roots folks is that the Kingdom to them is merely future. For the evangelicals, the Kingdom is a Jewish thing and that they (evangelicals) have the heaven in a sky hope. Anabaptists believe that the Kingdom is here now and had been so for 2,000 years. Let's go to scripture and prove this. Understanding this is key in how the church views it's function in this world, both individually and corporately. Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jehoshua came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. At the start of His ministry, Jehoshua said that the Kingdom was at hand (near). This statement makes no sense if He meant 2,000 years later. Luke 11:20-22 20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. By the works Jehoshua was doing by the Spirit (finger of God) the Kingdom was coming upon the nation of Israel in a real way. This shows that the Kingdom is not about Geo-political ideas or even land but rather the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men and women. The binding of Satan is not future in some earthly millennium but rather it took place during Jehoshua's ministry as He bound the strong man (Satan) by doing the works of the Kingdom in setting the captives free from sin. The strong man's palace is his kingdom. Jehoshua bound Satan in order to plunder his kingdom (palace) and spoil him of his goods i.e. his subjects (us) thereby bringing the subjects of Satan's kingdom into God's Kingdom. This what Paul refers to in Colossians 1:12-13: 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The Son of God binding Satan by the works that the Father was doing through Him was Him entering into the palace of the strong man and plundering him (Satan) of his subjects (those who would believe on the Son) and thereby translating them from darkness to light of the Kingdom. This clearly shows that the Kingdom is a present tense reality for believers and not merely future in some earthly millennium. Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jehoshua Messiah, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah." John identifies himself as already being in the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah showing again that the Kingdom is a present tense reality all the way back in the 1st century. Unlike what futurists teach, the proof that one is in the Kingdom is not that they are ruling over others but rather that they are going through tribulation. Revelation 5:9-10 says we are already reigning on the earth: 9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,10 and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. It was the ransom sacrifice of Jehoshua and the shedding of His blood that made men of every tribe and tongue kings and priests. Again, this is a present tense statement. One cannot be a king unless one has a Kingdom to be a king of. John says that one's purchased by the blood of the Son of God are currently reigning on the earth as kings and priests. This was all the way back in the 1st century. The present reality of the Kingdom is evident in scripture and this is how Anabaptists understand the nature of the Kingdom. Because of this, Anabaptists loyalty is strictly to the Kingdom of heaven and not the kingdoms of this world. This is why Anabaptists do not take part in politics, take public office, fight in wars etc. One cannot split loyalty between two different kingdoms. If this is true regarding the Kingdoms of this world how much moreso the Kingdom of God? Anabaptists believe, as scripture says, that those who are God's children are strangers and foreigners here on earth: Hebrews 11:13-14 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. Those that seek New Jerusalem and the new heavens and new earth consider themselves foreigners on this earth and the nations of this earth. This is why true followers of the Son of God do not engage themselves with patriotism and those things that go with it such as participation in the military and and voting. This leads to the final section on Anabaptism and that is "following Jehoshua". Following Jehoshua is at the absolute core of Anabaptism and this is not just some "Christianese" that is parroted by Christians, for Anabaptists this actually means following the instructions of the Son of God and daily picking up one's cross and denying self. For Anabaptists, following Jehoshua means being willing to suffer for Him and identify with His sufferings. This means that they take His words literally when He says: Matthew 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." The context is persecution and Anabaptists accept the fact that if one truly follows the Messiah then they will be hated and suffer for the faith. Our response to this persecution is not to fight back with carnal weapons or strike back in any way but rather to bless for cursing and turn the other cheek. The author of Hebrews says that Jehoshua not theologians are who we are to look too in terms of how we walk out this race: Hebrews 12:2-4 2 Looking unto Jehoshua the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Jehoshua is our example to follow in terms of how we are to react to persecution. The Hebrew roots folks go to the law of Moses to justify fighting back and the evangelicals altogether ignore Jehoshua to justify striking back. However, we are called to endure the contradiction of sinners just as Jehoshua did who is the author and finisher of our faith. The author of Hebrews says to look unto Jehoshua as we run the race set before us. The Son of God is the pattern man and gave us the example to follow as we have not strived resisting unto blood. We have no excuse to fight eye for an eye or defend ourselves when our Lord paid the ultimate price. Luke 14:26-27 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Jehoshua demands absolute loyalty from those that say they follow Him. In fact, this loyalty supercedes that even of wife and children. We are to hate their lives in this world, meaning any part of their life that is not conformed to the Kingdom. We never let our family get in the way of serving the Kingdom and when push comes to shove, we put the Kingdom first hating that part of our loved ones lives that keeps them from being single minded about it. Jehoshua says that those who don't bear their cross cannot be His disciple. The Son of God means what He says and this means that Anabaptists firmly believe that if you don't bear your cross and literally follow the Messiah you are truly not a Christian. Jehoshua says you cannot be His disciple as that exactly what it means to be a Christian. Luke 9:59-62 59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Anabaptists take seriously Jehoshua's command to follow Him. Here, Jehoshua leaves no space for even what would appear to be legitimate excuses. The statement about letting the dead bury their dead in regards to the man wanting to wait until he buried his father goes right along with the command to hate the life of our father. Jehoshua's number one priority for us as His followers is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Those who start out on this journey and turn back, are not fit for the Kingdom of God. Anabaptists take seriously Jehoshua's call to he single minded about the Kingdom which causes them to abstain from engagement in political affairs including military service. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" This is why Anabaptism is the right principle in order to understand the gospel because of it's singlemindedness about the Kingdom of God. Instead of looking to Moses or Paul they look to Jehoshua and then everything else is read within the lens of His words. Unfortunately, the evangelicals and Hebrew roots movement easily gets involved in the affairs of the world's Kingdoms because of their theology. Because Anabaptists look to Jehoshua as the absolute authority on how to practice the faith they avoid entanglement in politics and everything tied into it. Matthew 28:19-20 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jehoshua commands us to go and baptize people from all nations (Gentiles) and teach them to observe all that He (Jehoshua) commanded. Notice He didn't say all that Moses commanded or some future apostle (Paul) but what He (the Son of God) commanded. Nations is understood as the Gentiles so the proposition by the evangelicals that the teachings of Jehoshua are for the Jews is easily refuted here. The centrality of Jehoshua is paramount to Anabaptists, for us He is the word of God. He is God's final revelation to mankind. Staying centered on Jehoshua and His doctrine safeguards one from falling into the trap of being deceived by false prophets. The failure to stay rooted in the King of Israel's teachings has plagued both the evangelical churches and now the Hebrew roots movement. It has also led to a number of cults rising up who have substituted the centrality of the Messiah for a charismatic personality and their writings. Joseph Smith and Ellen White are two of these charismatic persons who have led whole movements away from focusing on Jehoshua and instead have become the standard of truth in their respective denominations. The same can also be said of well established denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches where the word of the Pope/Patriarch is the ultimate authority and several man made traditions have crept into those systems. Even Islam with it's acknowledgement of Jehoshua as a prophet, has given prominence to Muhammad. At some point those in Islam replaced the centrality of Jehoshua with someone else. It's ironic that evangelicals and others criticize Islam for their minimizing Jehoshua and exalting Muhammad yet they themselves have done just that with the downplaying of Jehoshua's teachings and the uplifting of others in His place. While the evangelicals and others pay lip service to Jehoshua and Him being the savior, they deny Him in their doctrines. As stated earlier in this study, I did want to take a quick look at Protestantism. Protestantism basically consists of Anglicanism, reformed theology and Lutheranism. Within these there are variations. Here, I will focus on reformed theology since it is the most popular within the States. Calvinism and reformed theology often get used as interchangeable terms but they are not exactly the same. For the purpose of this study reformed theology is what will be discussed. Reformed theology arose out of the Protestant reformation and men such as John Knox, Ulrich Zwingly, Thomas Cranmer and John Calvin and even Luther are some of the well known "reformers". Reformed theology in this day has become known for predestination calvinistic theology although it historically it has included the wider scope of Lutheranism and Anglicanism. On the surface, reformed theology has some pretty good ideas such as the validity of the 10 commandments and application of the the moral law of Moses for the new covenant believers and a very detailed breakdown of the doctrine and practices of the Church. Reformed theology acknowledges that the sermon on the mount applies to Christians, however they over spiritualize it lessening the importance of literally following the teachings of Jehoshua. One big issue with reformed Protestantism is it's systematic theology. This has led to an overcomplication of the faith once delivered to the saints. Reformed systematic theology has made the faith so intellectual that they have left the simplicity of the Son of God behind. They have created a detailed set of doctrines intricately explained using terms and definitions that our outside the text of the bible. The result is, that in over intellectualizing the faith, they have left Jehoshua out of the equation. The unfortunate result of the reformed view is explaining away the Messiah's tough self denying teachings. A simple "thus saith the Lord" is no t enough for the reformed Christian as they have to over analyze what appear to be simple commands or statements by Jehoshua. Instead of fitting in their theology into the teachings of Jehoshua they have to fit Jehoshua's teachings into the context of their theology. Anything taught by Jehoshua that goes against their systematic theology is reinterpreted to fit that theology rather than the other way around. This is commonplace in reformed camps. They highly esteem scholarship, which in itself is not bad, however they make an idol of it and look down on the so called layman in terms of their ability to interpret scripture. This haughty attitude goes against the very essence of who the Son of God is and what He taught. Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" Can reformed Christians honestly say this about their theology and about themselves? Whereas they teach a super complicated version of Christianity Jehoshua says that in order to enter the Kingdom you must become as a child. This alludes to the simplicity of the faith and of Messiah. Those who over complicate it will not enter into it because they are trying to understand the Kingdom from a primarily intellectual mindset rather than child like faith. Many of the 1st century believers were simple people and many were likely unable to read yet it was their child like faith that saved them and preserved them and caused them to turn the world upside down. These 1st century Christians were the type of people that so called reformed Christians look down on as too simple and not polished enough in theology. This prideful arrogant attitude of reformed Christianity is really a carryover from the Papal church they came out of. In other words it is the spirit of Rome. In fact, if the Protestant reformers were around during the days of the apostolic church in the 1st century they would have persecuted them. That may be a shocking statement but the proof of this is in how the reformers brutally persecuted and murdered the Anabaptists who were very close in doctrine and practice to the apostolic church. I can say this because Anabaptists put the teachings of Jehoshua as being of paramount importance to the way they lived out their faith. The apostolic church lived out and taught that the commandments of the Son of God were required to be kept by those who call themselves Christian. In the early church there was no such thing as a Christian that didn't think the actual teachings of Jehoshua were to be kept literally. Also, the once saved always saved Calvinism of the reformed church has led to the teaching that one does not have to pick up their cross and deny themselves in order to "go to heaven". This of course goes against the plain words of Jehoshua Messiah but when you over intellectualize the faith then that is what happens, simple commands get twisted to mean something they don't. The reformed view of Predestination also complicates matters because it directly affects the preaching of the gospel. Not all but some of those of the reformed school have almost a defeatest mentality when it comes to preaching the gospel due to their teaching that only those predestined before the foundation of the world can be saved. There is this "hands up in the air" attitude often seen in the reform movement when it comes to winning souls as they say "well if there predestined then they will be saved, if not then they won't no matter if they hear the gospel or not". This type of mindset is in start contrast to what God's word says: 1 Timothy 2:3 "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." Of course due to the super intellectual nature of reformed theology they will take such a simple statement above and twist it to fit their limited atonement doctrine. Also, their view that Jehovah God predestined people to eternal torment is blasphemous to say the least. Now let's summarize the case for Anabaptism after having examined the other theologies. Anabaptism emphasizes the teachings of Jehoshua. While this may seem basic and automatic it actually is not a common approach to the faith by most Christians. Anabaptism's core doctrine is the sermon on the mount and is Jehoshua's Kingdom law, which He was prophesied to bring to the Islands (Gentiles) in Isaiah 42:4. Anabaptism is rooted in the simplicity of Messiah and doesn't focus on the more intellectual arguments about systematic theology. Their mindset is if "Jehoshua said it, then we must obey it". The Anabaptists interpret everything in the bible through the lens of the Son of God. While this may seem elementary it is actually rare in both the mainstream church system and in many of the other more sectarian denominations as well. This viewpoint of the Anabaptists gives them a balanced approach in terms of the law vs. The faith alone doctrine. While the Hebrews roots movement looks back to Moses and the Evangelicals look to Paul, Anabaptists put their focus on Messiah and His doctrine. This gives them the understanding that while we are not under the law of Moses we are also not a lawless church as we are under the law of Messiah. The Anabaptist hermeneutic is a Kingdom theology unlike most of the others. Why is this important? Because it emphasizes Christianity as a way of life and that the principles of the Kingdom are to be lived out here and now instead of just waiting for Jehoshua to come back to rescue us. The Hebrew roots movement certainly has carved out a distinct way of life but their lifestyle tends to lead to monasticism and isolation. Because of this evangelizing is not a strength of the Hebrew roots movement. Anabaptism promotes a practical Christianity that lends itself to evangelism due to it's simplicity in Messiah. Denominations that have a complicated theology or promote a monastic type of lifestyle struggle in evangelizing. Anabaptism also offers a hope outside of the kingdoms of this world due to their stance on separation from the state and not wielding the sword. The Anabaptist view of two Kingdoms keeps them out of the political parties and their ideologies. The Anabaptist view can then cut across all boundaries and offer people a real eternal Kingdom in the present. The futuristic view of the Kingdom by many denominations keeps them from being able to offer a present Kingdom to people in need of hope. Instead, these denominations offer them a religious experience and a distant hope for a Kingdom in the future. The Anabaptist doctrine is that the Kingdom has been here for 2,000 years and that this Kingdom has a constitution which is the sermon on the mount. Because of their emphasis on the teachings of Jehoshua the Anabaptists come the closest to mirroring the 1st century apostolic church. The apostolic church was not poisoned with the later systematic theology of Augustine or the sacramentalism of the emerging Catholic church. They also knew nothing of the concept of what the Hebrew roots is. For true Christians, the teachings of the Son of God are gold.
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