The kingdom of Jesus Christ was brought into existence in the First Century A. D.

pponent says, "If you review the response you can easily see the highlighted questions answered." Well, thevery firsthighlighted question was: Question #1:WHAT time was fulfilled? I'll submit that Jesus hearkened right back to Daniel's prophecy in Dan 2 (and other prophesies) and emphatically stated, "The 'TIME' is 'fulfilled'." I again ask my opponent,"WHAT " time " was " fulfilled?"I would like to see a thorough answer to that. It's actually quite simple and John already answered it in v.7 stating there is one coming mightier than I(The prophecy of John the Baptist is stated in Mal. 3:1-2:"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:R06; The time being fulfilled is John the baptists preaching coming to an end and the beginning of the teaching Jesus sought to do with the gospel/His ministry has now began. I rebut and ask you again when did this kingdom come exactly? Not a rough estimate give me a year exactly. If you cannot do that then you have no further argument/evidence to back up your claim that you say it has already passed. . Questions for My Opponent 1. (a) Did John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the seventy commissioned by Jesus, and the twelve all proclaim that the "kingdom of heaven is at hand"? (b) If so, did they mislead all of their listeners? Did they say it was at hand? But of course, yet as I stated before at hand could be tomorrow, could be next week could be next year or next century. "At hand" is too vague to pinpoint and settle on so you have to go by the signs and which ones have come to pass and which havent. 2. Jesus said in Mark 9: 1, "... some of them that stand here, whichshall not taste of death, till they haveseen the kingdom of God come with power." Let's take a look at Luke 9:27-37:"But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.R06; This is the vision they saw. Keep in mind it was a vision not an entering of the kingdom. This is how "some" people saw the kingdom. 3. (a) Did Paul state that he and the Colossian Christians were in the kingdom in Col 1: 13? (b) Did John state that he was in the kingdom in Rev 1: 9? Let's begin at v.12 Giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light(The truth and understanding). Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness(the world) and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. He didn't say he entered the kingdom here either the text varies by versions you use so you must be careful deciphering the scriptures like this. For reference let's view ps 19:7 "the law of the lord is perfect CONVERTING the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." The law and word are one in the same with the Lord and it is a changing power that can give you an understanding(Light) like no other." Rev 1:9 John is simply speaking as the brother and teacher of the word nothing more." 4. IF "yes" to the prior two questions, could you explain how Paul, John, the Colossians, and the first readers of Revelation were in the kingdom, yet you teach that it has not yet appeared " and explain it without depending entirely on your guesses on the meanings of highly figurative apocalyptic language in Revelation? Read prior statement please. 5. (a) Does John 5: 28-29 state that there will comean hourwhen all in their graves, both good and evil, will come forth? Is that what you believe, or do you have to concoct two different literal, bodily resurrections? John 5 refers to the first ressurection when judgement will begin. It is a bodily ressurection." (b) Is thedayorhourspoken of in John 5 and I Cor 15 thesame day, or are you having to divorce the two based upon your guesses on Revelation? John 5 and 1 cor 15 are the same event . John 5 refers to the 1st resurrection and judgement of the living and dead. 1 cor 15 refers to the 1000 years of peace that take place in Jesus" 6. (a) Does Ezekiel 37 speak of a resurrection? (b) If so, is it an actual, literal, bodily resurrection? (c) Is it possible to have a resurrection of a cause? The dry bones in the valley is another topic but it does slightly brush on the topic of the first ressurection here:"And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.R06; This is still in reference to the first resurrection. R06; 7. Are constructing your entire position on the kingdom based upon your own guesses and speculations concerning the highly figurative Jewish apocalyptic literature of John"s vision, the Apocalypse? My position is based on more than just Johns vision but let me ask you this instead does the lion eat straw to this day? Or will the lion eat flesh? Let's take a look at Isa 11:1-12: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.R06; R06; This prophecy will be fulfilled after the return of Christ. To say this has already came to pass discredits Isaiah the prophet and all biblical knowledge associated with him. This is plain as day so I ask you again does the lion eat straw. 8. (a) Based upon I Cor 15, is thehour in which all in their graveshear His voice andcome forthsynonymous with thedestruction of the last enemy, death? No. The destruction of death happens after the 1000 years of peace. To answer your next two questions you need to have a firm understanding of what the great tribulation truly is. The 1000 years of peace IS Christ's specific reign that is mentioned for his kingdom the reign ends after the 1000 years because there will be no need/use for a kingdom once we all become celestial beings and can no longer sin. The father and son will reign as the temple but their will be no kingdom needed once the last enemy is destroyed. " Review Rev 21:21-27 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." So I hope that answers my dear opponents questions. Here are mine: 1. Has Israel been gathered? If so does the lion eat straw? 2. If the Kingdom has come then when exactly did the apocalypse take place? 3. If the 1000 years of peace has passed then why hasn't the father descended? Why aren't we celestial if we are in the kingdom. 4. Who made the first resurrection if it already came to pass and if it has why are we still living and dying? 5. Define the kingdom either it is spiritual, heavenly, or physical.