The Kingdom
“My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would fight, so
that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36) If
anyone knows anything about Jewish history, it is the wars and suffering, from fighting all the
surrounding nations even till this present day. One can only imagine how volatile Jesus’ teachings were
on loving your enemies. This He spoke before His death and resurrection. Full understanding of it
wasn’t grasped until the Day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, they with all boldness
preached Jesus crucified and raised from dead. They now understood His kingdom was not of this
world, but of the world to come. Their only concern for their own lives was that they were messengers
of the Gospel, and the world needed to hear the good news.
Before Jesus was betrayed, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from
You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” This Peter spoke because Jesus told Him the things He
would suffer, that He would be killed, but also that He would be raised on the third day. “But He
turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of
the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:22-23) Yet later we learn the kind of death
Peter would suffer to glorify God. (John 21:19) Every citizen of Jesus’ kingdom must be mindful of the
things of God, not thinking as the world thinks, as though there was no resurrection, but as God thinks.
We are representatives of His kingdom. Just as men seek to honor their nobilities and likewise praise in
return, so do we, as them, but for the King of kings. We behave here as though we were once actually
with Jesus before His throne, commissioned by Him, and sent to earth, to bear witness to the truth and
do His will. Therefore all of us who name the name of Christ, take heed, that we don’t do here, what
we wouldn’t do there, for He is judged by our behavior. It is the duty of every citizen to honor his king
and to abide by his laws. However, our citizenship is in heaven, our honor is to the King of kings and
we obey His laws rather than mans when these two are contrary. (Acts 4:19)
Every church using Jesus for political means falls into the same condemnation as Peter when Jesus
rebuked him, the zealots who were blind to the real Kingdom, and those who wanted to make Jesus
King over Israel. None of these at that time understood what Jesus’ presence meant. They were all
earthly minded defending earthly kingdoms. Jesus came to tell us that He is the Gate, to show us the
Way that leads to life, and to prove these things were so by His death and resurrection.
For the world to condemn Christ for what He has not commissioned His followers to do, is the same as
to blame a corporation for a man who misused a tool which cut off his fingers, that is, if the tool first
passed inspection and was sold to a licensed contractor, who then cut off his fingers by reckless
behavior or for reason of intoxication. For this man to blame the manufacturer for his foolishness is
ludicrous! This is like those from other nations who think that Hollywood represents the moral standard
and behavior of all Americans or that a person is from China simply because they are Asian. Jesus has
given us His words and will, and enforced it by His death, however we must follow accordingly.
Therefore if we wear His righteousness faithfully to the end, we shall at last, join Him at the blessed
Marriage Supper.
If those who named the name of Christ would have followed His example of suffering and death, the
reproach on Christianity would never have been sealed. There would have been no true merit, with
which to reward them for such heinous crimes. Human nature, not Divine nature, would have justly
suffered the blame of all these murders, wars, and violence throughout the history of the church,
because Christians would never have used violence as a means to anything. However the tragic reality
of today is that multitudes throughout history have used Christianity for their own vain and futile
purposes, and have misled the ignorant and deceived them so that Christ has suffered the blasphemies
of human persons who would have otherwise loved and adored such a King, who had accomplished
such a marvelous work in the hearts of men, that they should lay down their lives and love their
enemies. Yet thousands of believers are teaching the world that Jesus didn’t really mean what He said,
that His grace is not sufficient for thee, and that there is no resurrection, whereby we must give an
account for adhering to both the foolish teachings and deeds of those who set themselves at variance
with their Master for despising the very heights of love He came to bring and teach.
Any person who claims Christianity yet kills their enemies denying Jesus’ teachings, mocks the faith
and stains it, putting Christ to an open shame.
Every system belonging to this world is under the influence and dominion of the prince of this world.
Therefore, should we be all the more afraid to defend what is ruled by the enemy of our Lord! Any
person who assaults another in self defense is behaving as one without faith, charity, and patience.
For God so loved the world! (John 3:16) How then shall we slay those for whom Christ died? That is
unless we are poorer than the poorest of the poor, as those without hope.
How easy it is to simply crush our enemies with hydrogen bombs, rather than to sell everything we
own, take our families and few belongings to the land of our enemies, so as to live among them as
Christians, loving them, for the hope that they may be won to Christ, that He may receive the reward
of His suffering. Instead of sending our children to the Military we should send them to the nations to
preach the Gospel, training them to save men’s lives not destroy them as it is written, “You know not
what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives but to save
them.” (Luke 9:51-56) This is the duty of every Christian: to bear witness to the truth, teach the
Gospel, love their enemies, and bear their crosses. Our cross is but for a moment, but the promised
bliss of heaven lasts for eternity. I use the word duty because many think they are doing God a favor
by getting “Saved,” or from some service they provide, but Jesus said, “Does he thank that servant
because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have
done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done
what was our duty to do.’”
Grace is the ability to live in the Kingdom of God while on earth, understanding that these earthly
empires know not what they do, nor where they are going for the error of their ways.
The ways of war, self defense through means of violence, defending earthly kingdoms, and accepting
the protection of others who use violence to provide it for you, are not the ways of Christ. We are
called to be peacemakers. Christ went to war against the prince of evil, through the sacrifice of
Himself, for the kingdom of Heaven. So do all His followers. He told us to love our enemies, not
murder them. Our enemies in every category are to be shown agape by the saints. The primary reason
believers defend themselves, war, etc. is because of unbelief. The other reason is ignorance.
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18) Though we, the
church, walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal but mighty through God, (2 Corinthians 10:2-3) for we, the church, wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) The only sword the church is to take
up is the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17) Let the sinners defend their earthly kingdoms (for this is
all they have) while we advance the Lord’s; not through shedding blood but by shedding our feet with
the Gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15) You do not advance a heavenly kingdom through earthly means,
but by spiritual!
Just as every good soldier is willing to die for his country, to fight for the freedom of his people, and to
make war on all of their enemies, so is the follower of Christ willing to die for his heavenly country,
making war on all of hell, plundering Satan’s kingdom through the Gospel of peace, setting captives
free from his diabolic rule. True freedom comes only through Christ, not war, self defense, or anything
by which a person must use violence. Those who think otherwise are thinking as men think, carnally
minded, whose understanding is darkened.
Did God create man so they would war? I do not believe so, and because I don’t believe He did, I do
not use violence as a means to any end. What is there to defend here on earth but the Gospel? What do
we have on earth, that we may use it to end war, but the Gospel of peace? Violence is not an end, but
a seed, which produces more violence. Peace and self sacrifice is a seed which will produce more of
the same kind. What is there to lose that later we do not gain by an eternal measure? Is there going to
be war in the New Jerusalem? Was there war in the Garden of Eden? Thy will be done on earth as it is
in heaven. Animals have not the intellect that we do, nor can they receive Christ and become partakers
of the Divine nature. Why then do we like brute beasts, fight and war? All of nature defends their
territories; however as Christians we are citizens of another kingdom.
Will there be violence in heaven? Certainly not! This means that any person who defends himself using
violence is living below the kingdom level. Jesus told Pilate that he would have no power over Him
unless it had been given to him from above. We may say the same thing about Stephen who was
stoned, Peter who was crucified, as well as others throughout history. We ought to live now as if we
are living in the Kingdom now.
Violence does not save life, it destroys life; though it may save the flesh, it cannot deliver from hell;
rather it sentences the soul of the offender to death and to stand before the Judge with no hope of
pardon! People say that violence will teach others to fear the consequences of their actions; but after
the revelation of Christ, must they, who know not what they do, perish from our lack of understanding
and mercy and faith? or from our lack of Christ likeness? Our birth into this world is the beginning of
death, but as Christians, our death in this world is the beginning of life! Is our love so cold and our faith
so weak and our minds so blinded that we cannot know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings?
Agape is the only command Jesus gave to His disciples when their enemies attack. The only good fight
is the fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12) We are to pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which
no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
Concerning Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian Regiment, we know that many who met Christ were
changed so that they left all and followed His ways after His death.
The reason why Jesus asked his followers to take up a sword shortly before His betrayal is so He could
tell His disciples before all of His enemies to put it down.
When Christ cleansed the temple it was not violence but zeal that consumed Him. He did no bodily
harm to any person, but destroyed the money changers in a similar manner as the prophets did idols.
This radical approach was intended to create fear in the hearts of those who were hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin.