Module
2 Lesson 1: Mysteries of the Scriptures – Kingdom of God
Now that we’ve already
dealt with the history of the OAC, warts and all without the typical sugar
coating, let’s delve into the doctrine of “spiritual” interpretation. Here we
will look at how the phrase “Kingdom of God” is interpreted “spiritually”.
The original document
was updated in Afrikaans on April 10th, 2012.
Original Afrikaans:
“…Vir ons eerste onderwerp in Module twee
gesels ons oor die Koninkryk van God (Hemel). Ons moet die volgende vrae oor
die Koninkryk van God be-antwoord:
Vraag: Wat is die Koninkryk van God?
Antwoord: Dit is die Koninkryk waarin die wil van God gedoen word en
waar God
alleenheerser is.
1 Korinthërs 4:20 Die Koninkryk van God bestaan nie in woorde nie maar in krag.
Romeine 14:17 Want die koninkryk van God is nie spys en drank nie, maar
geregtigheid en vrede en blydskap in die Heilige Gees.
Vraag: Waar is die Koninkryk van God?
Antwoord:
Mattheus 6:33 Soek eers die Koninkryk van God en sy geregtigheid en al hierdie
dinge sal vir julle bygevoeg word.
Ontleding: God gee ons ‘n opdrag om die Koninkryk te soek en daarna sal
al Sy
verborgenhede aan ons
geopenbaar word…”
English translation:
“…For our first topic
in Module two we’ll discuss the Kingdom of God (Heaven). We must answer the
following questions about the Kingdom of God:
Question: What is the Kingdom of God?
Answer: It is the Kingdom wherein the will of God is done and where
God is the only ruler.
1 Corinthans 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Question: Where is the Kingdom of God?
Answer:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Analysis: God gives us an instruction to seek the Kingdom and afterwards
all His mysteries will be revealed to us…”
To the author and readers of the
original document:
No, that is not what it says.
There is absolutely no mention of mysteries to be revealed.
Please read the previous verses
very carefully:
Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no
thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these
things.
You can also read Luke 12:27-31.
Solomon prayed for wisdom and knowledge and it was given to him (2 Chronicles
1:11-12). By trusting in the LORD and doing good you will be fed (Psalms 37:3).
Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God (Deuteronomy
8:3, Matthew
4:4). We should not walk as
other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds (Ephesians 4:17-32, Philippians
3:7-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, 1 Peter 5:6-7).
The kingdom of God is
righteousness, peace and joy in
the Holy Ghost (Romans
14:17). There appears to be some confusion regarding the kingdom of God and heaven. Let me explain it in simple terms. There is a difference
between a king’s kingdom and his castle. A king’s castle is his dwelling place
and the kingdom is the realm or region governed by the king. In both instances
the king is still king.
According to Strong’s,
the word “kingdom” in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word basileia and is defined as:
properly royalty, that is, (abstractly) rule,
or (concretely) a realm (literally or
figuratively): - kingdom, + reign.
The kingdom of God is where God rules as
King and it begins with our hearts and minds.
Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which
was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
When we accept Him as King,
the Holy Spirit works in our lives and we become strangers and pilgrims here on
earth (Hebrews
11:13, 1 Peter 2:11). When we accept Him as King, we
become partakers of the heavenly calling and become heavenly citizens (Hebrews 3:1,
Philippians
3:20).
To first seek His kingdom means
to place Him first by seeking His will over our own. I think Jesus summed it up
beautifully when He said you should love the Lord your God with all your heart,
soul and mind, and your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:29-31,
Luke 10:25-28).
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Vraag:
Wanneer sal ek dit kan doen?
Antwoord: Vandag, want God sal nie so onregverdig wees om ‘n opdrag aan
my te gee wat ek nie kan uitdra nie.
Mattheus 6:20 Maak vir julle skatte bymekaar in die hemel waar geen mot of
roes verniel nie en waar diewe nie inbreek en steel nie.
Ontleding: Hier gee God weereens ‘n opdrag aan my as sielsmens om te
verrig. Hier sien ek dat ek vandag die Koninkryk van God moet vind om hierdie
taak te kan uitdra. Met ander woorde dit is dus moontlik om die Konikryk van
God vandag te kan vind, nê?…”
English translation:
“…Question: When can I do this?
Answer: Today, because God won’t be so unfair as to give me an
instruction that I couldn’t carry out.
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Analysis: Here again God gives me an instruction as a soul man to carry
out. Here I see that today I must find the Kingdom of God to carry out this
task. In other words it is thus possible to find the Kingdom of God today,
right?…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
The fear of the LORD is treasure (Isaiah
33:6). We seek the kingdom of God when we seek His will over our own
evil fleshly lusts and desires. Our focus should be on Jesus and not on the
temporary things of this world (2 Corinthians 4:2-18, Hebrews 12:1-2).
To read it in the correct
context, read the other verses together:
Matthew 6:20-23 But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But
if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore
the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.
You can also refer to Luke 12:22-34.
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Markus
9:1 Jesus sê vir Sy dissipels en die skare, daar is sommige van die wat
hier staan wat die dood sekerlik nie sal smaak voordat hulle die Koninkryk van
God met krag sien kom het nie.
Ontleding: Hierdie mense met wie Jesus hier gepraat het is almal alreeds
dood en Jesus het pertinent gesê dat van hulle die Koninkryk met krag sou sien
kom, m.a.w die Koninkryk van God het gekom, al in daardie mense se leeftyd. Dit
bewys dat dit vir my moontlik is om die Koninkryk te sien kom met krag…”
English translation:
“…Mark 9:1 Jesus says to His disciples and the crowd, there are some
that stand here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God
come with power.
Analysis: These people with whom Jesus spoke are all dead already and
Jesus pertinently said that some of them would see the Kingdom of God come with
power, i.e. the Kingdom of God came already, in those people’s lifetime. This
proves that it’s possible for me to see the Kingdom come with power…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Do you really believe those
people are dead? Did you ever read what Jesus said in the previous verses (Mark 8:34-38)?
You may also want to read Matthew
16:24-28, Luke 9:23-27, John 3:15-16, John 5:24-25,
John 6:47-51,
John 8:51
and John
11:25-26.
Anyway, after Jesus was
crucified, everyone thought that was the end of Him, that He was dead and
buried, finish and klaar...
He overcame DEATH! He came back
from the dead and showed Himself alive for forty days to His disciples by many
infallible proofs (Acts 1:3, Acts 2:29-32). Earlier in that forty day
period He first had to ascend to His Father (John 20:17) before returning to
His disciples so that they could physically touch Him (Luke 24:39-43). During that
forty day period He gave commandments to His chosen apostles through the Holy
Ghost and spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:2-5).
Before He ascended into heaven He promised that they would receive power and
the Holy Ghost (Acts
1:8). Afterwards He ascended into heaven and sat on the right hand
of God (Mark
16:19, Luke 24:50-51). Acts 2:1-21 gives a detailed
account of how the Holy Ghost was poured out on them as promised. The kingdom
of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Lukas
17:20 En toe Hy deur die Fariseërs gevra is wanneer die koninkryk van God
sal kom, het Hy hulle geantwoord en gesê: Die koninkryk van God kom nie met
sigbare tekens nie.
Lukas 17:21 En hulle sal nie sê: Kyk hier! of: Kyk daar! nie; want die
koninkryk van God is binne-in julle.
Ontleding: Hier word dit vir ons baie duidelik dat die Koninkryk van God
nie met sigbare tekens kom vir my nie maar dat dit binne in my is. Word dit nou
vir jou duidelik waar jy moet soek na die Koninkryk? Ja! Binne in jouself! Kom
ons soek dit!…”
English translation:
“…Luke 17:20 AND 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:
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for behold, the
kingdom of God is within you.
Analysis: Here it gets very clear to us that the Kingdom of God won’t
come with visible signs but that it’s inside me. Is it now clear to you where
you must look for the Kingdom? Yes! Inside yourself! Come let’s seek it!…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Jesus was in their presence
when the Pharisees questioned Him, but they were too blind to “see” Him as the
Son of God. They were unaware of how close the kingdom of God had come to them.
See also Matthew
12:28 and Luke 10:8-11.
You quote verses 20-21. Now
let’s read a little further:
Luke 17:22-25 And he said unto the
disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of
the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here;
or see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that
lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under
heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer
many things, and be rejected of this generation.
The kingdom of God is
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost
(Romans
14:17). The words of the kingdom are sown in our hearts (Matthew 13:19,
Matthew 22:37,
Mark 12:30,
Luke 10:27).
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Johannes
3:3 sê Jesus vir Nikodemus, as iemand nie weer gebore word nie, kan hy die
Koninkryk van God nie sien nie.
Ontleding: Hier sien ons dat ons wel die Koninkryk van God vandag kan
sien.
Johannes 3:5 Jesus sê weer, as iemand nie wedergebore word uit water en Gees
nie, kan hy in die koninkryk van God nie ingaan nie.
Ontleding: Hier sien ons nou dat ons die Koninkryk van God vandag kan
ingaan mits ons wedergebore word uit water en gees…”
English translation:
“…John 3:3 says Jesus to Nicodemus, if someone is not born again, he
cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Analysis: Here we see that we can see the Kingdom of God today.
John 3:5 Jesus says again, if someone is not born again out of water and
Spirit, he can’t enter into the kingdom of God.
Analysis: Here we see now that we can go into the Kingdom of God if we
are born again out of water and spirit…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Jesus gives us the living water
(John 4:10-14
, John
7:37-39) which is the Holy Ghost and we should walk in the Spirit (Galatians
5:16-24). If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians
5:17, Galatians 6:14-15). The kingdom of God is righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Markus
10:14 sê Jesus, Laat die kindertjies na My toe kom en verhinder hulle nie,
want aan sulkes behoort die koninkryk van God.
Markus 10:15 Voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, elkeen wat die koninkryk van God nie
soos 'n kindjie ontvang nie, sal daar nooit ingaan nie.
Ontleding: Bogenoemde tekse bewys dat die Koninkryk van God aan
kindertjies behoort en dat hulle alleen dit kan ontvang en ingaan…”
English translation:
“…Mark 10:14 Jesus says, Suffer the little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
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.
Analysis: Above-mentioned texts prove that the Kingdom of God belongs to
little children and that they alone can receive and enter it…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Take note of what it says in Mark 10:15,
we must receive the kingdom of God as a
little child. Please also read Matthew 18:3 and Luke 18:17. Nowhere does it say
that little children alone can receive and enter the kingdom of God. In all
instances it says as a little child.
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Vraag:
Wat dan nou van ons groot mense, het ons dan geen kans om ook toegang tot die
Koninkryk van God te verkry nie?
Antwoord: Ons het alreeds in Joh
3:5 gelees dat dit noodsaaklik is om wedergebore te word uit water en gees
om die Koninkryk van God vandag te kan ingaan. Hierdeur kry ‘n grootmens dan
die voorreg om uit God gebore te word en daardeur verkry hy toegang tot Gods
Koninkryk…”
English translation:
“…Question: What then now about us adults, have we then no chance of
also gaining access to the Kingdom of God?
Answer: We already read in Joh
3:5 that it’s necessary to be born again of water and spirit to enter the
Kingdom of God. Hereby an adult gets the privilege to be born out of God and
thereby the entrance to God’s Kingdom…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Matthew 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little
child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto
you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.
Original Afrikaans (continued):
“…Johannes
3:4 Nikodemus sê vir Hom, hoe kan ‘n mens wat oud is, gebore word? Hy kan
tog nie ‘n tweede keer in die skoot van sy moeder ingaan nie.
Johannes 3:6 sê Jesus vir hom wat uit vlees gebore is, is vlees en wat uit
Gees gebore is, is gees.
Ontleding: Nou word dit vir ons duidelik dat ons die vleeslike geboorte
reeds deurgegaan het en daarin opgegroei het en dat ons nou die geleentheid kry
om die geestelike geboorte te ondergaan waardeur ons dan die Koninkryk van God
soos ‘n kindjie kan ontvang…”
English translation:
“…John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is
old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
John 3:6 said Jesus to him which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Analysis: Now it becomes clear to us that we have already been through
the fleshly birth and grew up in it and that now we get the opportunity to
undergo the spiritual birth whereby we can receive the Kingdom of God like a
little child…”
To the author and readers of
the original document:
Those that are in the flesh
cannot please God (Romans 8).
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
We are only justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Original
Afrikaans (continued):
“…Dit bring ons by die
einde van Lesing 1 van Module 2. In ons volgende lesing gaan ons gesels oor die
geestelike geboorte …”
English translation:
“…This brings us to the
end of Lesson 1 of Module 2. In our next lesson we are going to discuss the
spiritual birth...”
Thus ends the fourth attempt by the
author of the original document to insult your intelligence.
Summary:
I think this is enough for now to
understand “spiritual interpretation” which is not spiritual at all, but an
attempt to hide the salvation in Jesus Christ which is available to all who
believe.
The form of “spiritual
interpretation” which we have seen in the original Afrikaans document is more
akin to Gnosticism, Alexandrian philosophy and the theory of realized
eschatology. These are based on man’s knowledge and wisdom.
A Gnostic typically
claims to have knowledge (Gnosis) of esoteric spiritual mysteries and the
material world is shunned. Gnosticism appears to be a second century
development.
Philo Judaeus (25
BCE–50 CE) was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, a
Roman province in Egypt. Philo Judaeus used philosophical allegory to attempt
to fuse and harmonize Greek philosophy with Jewish philosophy. His method
followed the practices of both Jewish exegesis and Stoic philosophy. He tried
to interpret the ancient Jewish Scriptures by the aid of Greek philosophy, to
expound the Old Testament in terms of Plato's thought and to discover
allegorical meanings where none were intended.
Traditional Jewish
forms of exegesis appear throughout rabbinic literature, which includes the Mishnah,
the Talmud and the Midrash literature. The OAC do not teach the Mishnah, Talmud
or Midrash and the “spiritual interpretation” which we read in the original
Afrikaans document is nothing like exegesis.
Stoic philosophy on the
other hand was a pagan philosophy and they thought that the best indication of
an individual's philosophy was not what a person said but how that person
behaved.
Realized eschatology is
an eschatological theory popularized by C. H. Dodd (1884–1973). This type of
theology will build upon a single word to build a case, but when whole chapters
disagree with the case, the chapters are believed to be unreliable. The nature
of such interpretation is subjective. Such subjective interpretation goes to
great lengths to make a literal point if it supports the case, but rejects the
point as non-literal or in error if it contradicts their point of view. The
selection of proof texts is always motivated by the desire to make a case for
this theology, but in the process many Scriptures which contradict this
theology are ignored. Adherents to this theology have a low view of inspiration
and revelation.
While there are
obviously some present forms of the kingdom of God operating spiritually in the
world, these do not exhaust the prophecies that relate to future consummation. A
spiritual kingdom was indeed introduced by Jesus Christ in His first coming,
but a literal kingdom is still a future eschatological event.
While they recognized a
spiritual kingdom on earth as in Romans 14:17, they also expected future
fulfillment of such passages as Luke 22:29-30 which prophesied a future
kingdom in which the disciples would sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes
of Israel. All such passages, however, are dismissed as not worthy of literal
interpretation in realized eschatology. It is, of course, obvious that the
kingdom was in a sense present wherever Jesus spoke and acted in the name and
power of God—to that extent “the kingdom of God has come” because the
long-hoped-for advent of the Messiah had taken place.
Further reading:
