The Kingdom of God: A Book for Everyone

The Kingdom of God

- A Book for Everyone

by brother Jim

All Scripture quotations were taken from various

translations of the Holy Bible in public domain

(bracketed words, emboldening, and

some quotation marks are by the author).

Some portions of Scripture quoted within the text

and referenced were paraphrased by the author.

Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2016, 2020, 2021 & 2022

by brother Jim, with various subtitles.

This revised edition Copyright © 2023 by brother Jim.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Section One: An Overview

Section Two: The Standard

Section Three: An Afterlife

Epilogue

Introduction

This book explains who God is and what He requires both initially and progressively in order for someone to have a relationship with Him—claimed to be possible through Christian beliefs as God reveals and applies them to an individual.

Anyone acquainted with Christianity likely has at least some confusion and misunderstanding regarding it. Even dedicated followers of Christianity find themselves divided and at times perplexed by its variations. Besides the mysteries contained in the Holy Bible, there exists a vast array of sometimes contradictory, extra-Biblical literature to compound the problem. These obstacles, however, can be overcome.

While through the years there were books written similar to this one and some still available, they usually contain opinions and interpretations specific to their authors’ particular Christian sect. This book was composed with no such assertions and motivations where at all possible. It was purposely penned in such a manner as for much of its explanations to be generally accepted by nearly all authentic Christians. It is perhaps the most unbiased, and comprehensive yet concise, of its kind available. Oftentimes several sides of an issue will be presented leaving it up to the reader to choose their preference.

Those who have discovered even just some of the Truths written herein think it is of such a great prize that they want everyone to receive the same benefits given them. While these Christian believers probably have additional and possibly even slightly different understandings of God’s Kingdom than what you are about to read, they hopefully know that the most eternally important aspects of Christianity are herein contained. True, committed Christians care about your soul and where it will end up after you die more than they do far lesser things such as minor differences of opinion and interpretation. Each faction of Christendom would likely prefer if something additional was included within these pages regarding doctrines specific to their denomination or church but that is beyond the practical purpose and scope of this handbook. While of necessity major areas of difference are touched upon, God must be trusted to further direct His children and prospective children where He may, where needed.

Since Christians are sometimes at a loss of words when trying to explain the Kingdom of God, writings such as this one can be greatly helpful: Its simple explanations may assist those inexperienced at witnessing to others the Truths of Christianity, to more easily and accurately share their beliefs.

It was also meant this book be written in a plain enough way so as to be read and mostly understood even by those who may have only basic academic skills and/or who do not have any knowledge whatsoever of Christianity. Therefore, a reader who may possess more advanced learning abilities or Christian knowledge may find its wording too simplistic or some of its information too elementary. These should not underestimate the deeper scope and value of this work, however, since seeded throughout the text are many nuggets of insightful, godly Wisdom—some of which is all but lost to today’s Church. Decades ago, upon hearing a sermon regarding how the prophet Elisha asked for twice the spirit, or power, of his mentor the prophet Elijah, this writer without hesitation asked God for twice the Wisdom of King Solomon: you decide.

One audience of this handbook will no doubt be those who have never deliberately or successfully applied Christianity to their life. But Christian disciples also will find invaluable the explanations for what actually happened and continues happening to them in the spiritual realm. Included are many helps to promote and quicken that ongoing process. Even those mature ones who have followed Christianity for some time will find here many new and more easily understood ways of defining the Good News of Christ Jesus, and practical keys to an even more victorious and fulfilling life.

Perhaps much of the impotency characteristic of the church at large in the world today is due to its members having either forgotten or never properly and completely learned all the basic principles of Christian Truth. There exist imbalances, some great. So, for established believers this book can be a guide and reference aid to reinforce or even rebuild their foundation, thereby providing access to more of God’s Power and blessing for both others’ lives and their own.

True Christianity is not a subject which can be studied like any other. Someone cannot merely read a book about it, make a strictly intellectual and objective decision regarding its worth and application and then experience lasting success. The natural mind and heart can too easily either disregard or distort much of what is written here or elsewhere concerning the Christian life. It is only when these things are read or heard and considered along with God’s Spirit being present to miraculously bear witness and apply His divine Power, whereby someone can then truly understand God’s Truths and genuinely succeed and eternally profit.

Therefore, it is not even asked that you believe as being true what is written in this handbook solely because it is so claimed. God exists alive and active in the world today: If you will ask Him from a sincere heart what is Truth and what is not, He will through His Spirit attempt to reveal it to you. God is where you are now, for He has declared: The Kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15), all around you. It is suggested that before you continue reading, then, that you first prayerfully ask God the Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, to reveal to you what herein is absolute Truth and to protect you from anything that might be error. Only God is perfect.

It would also be highly advantageous to periodically reread this writing so God’s Spirit can use something in it as an added witness to what He is doing in your life at that particular time. This is not a how-to manual. We humans cannot do most of the things of Christianity, as God must do them through us, for us. This is a book of awareness, then, as to what God may be attempting to do or will someday attempt in you.

As many know, it is customary in literature to capitalize some personal pronouns referring to God, although guidelines vary. In this handbook most personal pronouns referring to Deity, as well as the virtues and manifestations of God directly related to Him and His Power (e.g., Truth, unconditional Love, godly Faith, Grace), in order to imply such, are capitalized.

Instances referred to in the text where God supernaturally manifests His Spirit in the life of a mortal being thereby uniting both divine and human, or even when the exact source is unclear, upper and lower case are combined in such words as S(s)pirit and V(v)oice—for both ‘clarification of ambiguity’ and as needed reminders.

Because of the extensive use of quoted matter and hence the numerous quotation marks, when words are used in a special way such as in the above or when inferring facetiousness, the British English tradition of single rather than double quotes were chosen to better set them apart.

If someone somewhere in the world could in their lifetime access only one Christian book, this one was intended to give them as close to 100% as possible what they would need to know to become all of what God wants them miraculously to be.

This handbook was 30 years in the making.

Lastly, there is something for everyone in this book, hence its subtitle.

*       *       *

SECTION ONE: An Overview

As was stated in the Introduction, this book explains who God is and what He requires in order for someone to have a relationship with Him—claimed herein to be possible through Christian beliefs.

True Christianity is not just a religion but a personally experienced relationship between God and the human beings He created. Many who consider themselves true Christians do not even think of it as a religion, per se. On the other hand, some people have wrongly made Christianity into a subjective, merely intellectual religious philosophy. This book will explain, among other things, the differences between these two very different applications, the true and the not so true.

Pure Christianity is based upon the greatest-selling book of all time, the Holy Bible (aka the Word; the Scriptures), along with whatever God through His Spirit supernaturally reveals—and these two Sources will agree. There may be additional factors as well.

The Words of God

The Holy Bible is considered by many of its followers to be God’s ultimate and absolute Word of authority to humankind. Many believe that the men who wrote it did so in direct obedience to what was dictated to them by God’s Spirit. Many also believe that if something in the original manuscripts of the Bible should not have been included or is in any way error, God would have foreknown this and somehow miraculously intervened to prevent it. The Bible is also thought by some to be complete in that in it, God gave mankind everything He wanted human beings to know.

The holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15b–17 WEB

God’s written Word is also believed by the purist to be something which should be literally interpreted in most cases, unless God’s Spirit and at times common sense specifically indicates otherwise regarding a particular section. God’s Wisdom must often also be applied because practicality can sometimes be an enemy to God’s Spirit and Truth, denying the miraculous.

The Holy Bible is not just one book but a compilation of many books and letters written by about 40 men over a period of 1,500 to 1,800 years (opinions vary), the last ones written nearly two thousand years ago. Divided into two main sections, the first and oldest part is the Old Testament (OT) or Old Covenant, the second the New Testament (NT) or New Covenant. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties, each party agreeing to certain obligations on their part, in this case between God and humankind (or segment thereof).

The original OT manuscripts were written mostly in Hebrew, and some Aramaic/Chaldee. The NT was first penned mostly in the everyday form of the Greek language in use at that time, Koine. Because they were written such a long time ago, however, little if any of the original manuscripts exist. What have survived are hundreds of ancient copies or parts thereof. Even though these old writings were written and copied by hand, considering their volume and duplication there are mostly only minor differences between them.

Today, there are more than a thousand translations of the Holy Bible in many languages. It would be unrealistic to expect these newer versions to be absolutely accurate in every single detail, since languages change over the years, often do not interplay well and translators are not perfect and all-knowing. However, translations are close enough to the originals for someone to understand most if not nearly all of what was intended (if not all)—especially since God’s Power is available to help someone understand. In other words, while some Bible versions and translations may be better than others, any of them are likely good enough for a person to profitably start their search for Truth if done along with the blessing and guidance of God’s Spirit.

The OT contains a history of early civilization and God’s dealings with it, and explains the Laws by which God commanded Jewish people (the Hebraic race) to live. The Hebrews were that ethnicity chosen by God to be His people for the first few thousand years of His interaction with human beings, those with whom God made His first Covenant and Laws.

It became evident, however, that Hebrews did not have within themselves what was needed to obey God—and neither does anyone. So, 2,000 years ago God made a new agreement open to all races of people on earth. Because it was impossible for people to truly obey all God’s Laws by their own strength and resources, the New Covenant provided to those who would receive them, added, supernatural abilities necessary for someone to obey. These are called Graces or Grace (the latter term often used both singularly and as a plural).

The NT states that God’s chosen people are no longer a specific race but are those from all ancestries who each personally submitted to the authority of the New Covenant and who specifically received from God whatever was miraculously needed to obey its Laws. These people are called Christians, and collectively, the C(c)hurch—although the word church is also used in other senses, such as the name given to buildings used for Christian gatherings or when referring to the meetings themselves.

Peter opened his mouth and said, ‘Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.’ Acts 10:34–35 WEB

(The Church might also be called the Assembly or the B(b)ody of Christ. Other names for Christians are: believers, saints, children of God, the redeemed, disciples, brothers and sisters, brethren, converts, etc.)

Who God Is

While most likely people of all cultures by and large accept the idea that there are or were gods of one type or another, in Truth there is one God above all possible and so-called others. He is Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is in them.

Most Christians believe that God exists as three supreme beings: The Father, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit/Ghost. But even though we as humans might consider God to be three distinct persons, each of them views themselves collectively as just one God (or, Deity). This is because all three persons of God are in perfect union and agreement in heart and mind, are joined together by a unifying Spirit, and operate in complete harmony. So then, they are one God in unity but exist as three persons of differing manifestation and function. In the Bible the three persons of God are jointly called: the Godhead, God, Yahweh (for the Hebraic YHWH, adding two vowels to the consonants for pronounceability), etc. Christians also refer to them as the Trinity (tri for three and nity for unity). Definitions of the Trinity will vary among Christians, some of these explanations difficult to understand and so analogies are often used. For instance, a Christians may state that God is three persons and yet exists as one being; such as an apple being comprised of an outer skin, inner flesh, and core of seeds; three parts of just one complete item. Such explanations usually fall short.

Some non-Christian people might insist that Christianity, therefore, has three Gods and not one, partly because human minds often need to compartmentalize and simplify something in order to understand it. The three persons of God would insist to the contrary: they say they are one God.

All things were made by him [Christ Jesus]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3 KJV

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [i.e., Jesus], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7 KJV (Certain manuscripts.)

One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. Ephesians 4:6 RV

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. 1 Corinthians 8:5–6 ASV

[Jesus] said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18b KJV

There are also numerous synonyms for each of the three persons of God, used both in the Holy Bible and in this book. The Father is also called: Heavenly Father, Father God, God the Father, LORD/LORD, etc. The Son Jesus is also termed: Christ or Messiah (meaning the Anointed One sent by God), Savior, Lord, the Word, the Living Word, etc. The Holy Ghost has other names such as: Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit, Spirit of God, Counselor, Spirit of the Living God, Comforter, Spirit, etc.

Part of the reason one person of God refers to Himself as a Father is not only because He has a Son, Jesus, but also because like many good parents He has an abundance of Love He desires to pour out upon His children. This in part is why the human race exists, to be recipients (and hopefully also conduits) of God’s Love.

See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1a WEB

The Heavenly Father and His Son currently live in the highest heavenly, spirit domain (this is also called the Third Heaven, or, Upper[most] Heaven). The Holy Ghost also lives in the spirit realm but presently somewhere here on or just above the earth (the lower heavens).

The Son of man [Jesus] who is in heaven. John 3:13b DRB

"‘Nevertheless I [Jesus] tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter [paraclete; i.e., Holy Ghost] will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.’" John 16:17 KJV

Christ [Jesus], when he [God] raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly. Ephesians 1:20b–22 WEB

But it was not always this way.

Some History

No one knows when God first existed or even if He had any beginning at all, if He just always was. Thinking about this any further will boggle the mind, be an unnecessary distraction, and humankind really does not need to know. What can be known is that at some point God created the heavens and earth, and additional spirit beings called angels. The number of angels is likely vast but they are all highly organized and controlled.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1 RV

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the LORD; and there is none else.’ Isaiah 45:18 RV

To illustrate the spiritual kingdom, in the world there is a chain of command, a hierarchy, within most entities of two or more people. A country may have at its head a president or prime minister or such, under them in authority a vice president or similar assistant, then under them political ministers or cabinet members and so on down the line of government rule. Likewise, a nation’s military will have a chief commander, then perhaps under them one or more generals, and so on in descending rank.

Larger businesses also have in place a chain of command, with a president or CEO as its leader. But some businesses are owned by partners, and it is a well-known fact that if the partners are perfectly equal in authority, then the chance of failure is higher. Most people can well imagine how confusing and full of conflict any organization or government would be if it had, for example, two equipollent presidents. For the most part this is why there is such a thing as a chain of command, to ensure that an entity has the best chance to succeed and be the most productive, to avoid unresolved conflicts that would cause crippling interferences.

It could be said as being a law of the universe: For any entity (including God’s Kingdom) consisting of more than one person to peaceably operate, have the greatest possibility of survival and flourish, it must have someone to be at its head and, hence, the final voice of authority, vision and direction. (Unless, of course, it is the three persons of God Himself, who are one.)

But humankind did not invent the hierarchical concept, as there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9); the earthly is patterned after the heavenly. There is a chain of command among spirit beings, and it existed long before people.

In ancient times, chief among the angels God created was one named Lucifer. This angel was made so powerful and magnificent by God that it puffed up Lucifer with pride, which resulted in arrogance—an extreme offense to God (being destructive both individually and corporately). This pride led Lucifer to mistakenly believe he could be equal to God, and so along with other angels (it is thought one-third of them) Lucifer rebelled against God’s ultimate authority and tried to establish himself as a bigger leader than what God made him. Of course, God could not let that happen (again, because there can only be one head of any successful organization, and because Lucifer was created and not the Creator), so Lucifer and his angelic followers were thrown out of God’s original hierarchy of authority. At least some of these fallen angels made the earth and the lower heavens their home, Lucifer their leader.

How you have fallen from heaven, shining one [Lucifer], son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Isaiah 14:12–15 WEB

Even Lucifer’s God-given name was taken away, his name changed to Satan. He is also referred to by several other names: the devil, our adversary, spirit of error, anti-christ, spirit of the anti-christ, the serpent, etc. Many of these terms are also often used to designate the combined evil force of both Satan, other fallen angels, and entities through whom they work.

Later came a main event of creation when God made the first two humans intended to be His earthly children. God named them Adam and Eve and placed them here on earth in what is called the Garden of Eden. In that Garden, God also set the Tree of Life which when continually eaten from allowed an otherwise mortal being to instead be immortal.

God gave Adam just a few simple but necessary rules by which to live, and He also gave Adam authority over all earthly things (which possibly could have even included the fallen angels). God also warned Adam that there was a universal law in effect, later termed the Law of Sin and Death. This Law essentially states that if a human being disobeys God’s rules, then they will not be allowed to eat from the Tree of Life and therefore will die, spiritually and eventually physically. (Disobeying God has many names in addition to sin: trespasses, missing the mark, transgression, iniquity, lawless deeds, lawlessness, idolization or idols of the heart, selfishness, falling short, etc.—though each word or phrase has its own nuance.)

And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’ And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth’ . . . . And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 1:26–28, 2:7–8 KJV

Satan tricked Adam and Eve into disobeying God, and as penalty God was forced to cast the couple out of the Garden. The result was these two children of God lost their God-given authority over the earth, lost access to the Tree of Life, and Satan and his fellow evil angels were allowed control over the earth. Adam and Eve were placed under the Law of Sin and Death, and consequently every person since is born under that same curse.

Disobeying God was not the only mistake made by Adam and Eve in the Garden. Perhaps their greater error was when after they disobeyed, instead of running to God and asking Him to forgive and help them to not again disobey, they ran away and tried to hide—as does every person since, and sadly so. However, because God can see everywhere and knows all things, no one can ever hide from Him.

Some have incorrectly judged God as being unfair, believing that they themselves should not be under the Law of Sin and Death just because of what Adam and Eve did. But this is falsely believed because they do not realize—as they are not willing to admit—that anyone and everyone would have done the same thing: it is human nature, a price of autonomy.

Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; so death passed to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 WEB

The same situation that arose between God and Satan/Lucifer also potentially exists between God and each human being. People generally do not want to be told what to do even when it is for their own good, wanting to decide for their own selves (an exception being those who do not want the responsibility of a negative outcome of their decisions, instead blaming others).

Several thousand years then passed during which men and women multiplied upon the earth. But people became such an offense to God because of their selfish desires and behavior, that He could no longer bear all the suffering and pain they inflicted upon one another. So, God in His Anger and resultant Holy Wrath devastated the earth with a great flood, saving only eight individuals, and animals and other creatures, who God helped survive in an ark, a ship. It was through these eight whereby God intended to again try to have children He could love and who would love Him and one another.

Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. Yahweh said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them’ . . . . The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. God said to Noah, ‘I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth.’ Genesis 6:5–7, 11–13 WEB

God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 1 Peter 3:20b WEB

However, after the Flood the same evilness again grew. God was so sorry that He had destroyed most of the human race before, that He did not want to do it a second time. God had a different idea: religion, for starters.

The [Intended] Failure of Religion

As was stated, God chose a certain race of people, namely the Hebrews, to be the people through whom He would bring religion to the world, and He gave them Laws by which they were to live. God told these Hebraic people that if they would obey the religion of Laws given them (known as Judaism, and their followers, Jews), then for the first time since Adam and Eve it would be possible for more than just a handful of people to have a relationship with God.

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.’ Exodus 6:6–7a KJV

For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:6 WEB

Meanwhile, in other parts of the world and with the devil’s help, other cultures were inventing their own forms of religion. Likely because of their lack of knowledge and understanding concerning the forces of nature, and hence their perceived need to appease gods they superstitiously