The Bible’s answer
God’s Kingdom is a real government
established by Jehovah God. “The kingdom of God” is also
called “the kingdom of heaven” in the Bible, since it rules from heaven. (Mark 1:14, 15; Matthew 4:17, King James
Version) It shares
many attributes of human governments, yet it is superior to them in every way.
·
Rulers. God has appointed Jesus Christ as King of the Kingdom and has
given him more authority than any human ruler could ever have. (Matthew 28:18) Jesus uses this power only for good, since he
has already proved to be a reliable and compassionate Leader. (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:40, 41; 6:31-34; Luke 7:11-17) Under God’s direction, Jesus has selected
persons from all nations who will “rule as kings over the earth” with him in
heaven.—Revelation 5:9, 10.
·
Duration. Unlike human governments, which come
and go, God’s Kingdom “will never be brought to ruin.”—Daniel 2:44.
·
Subjects. Anyone who does what God requires can
be a subject of God’s Kingdom, without regard for ancestry or birthplace.—Acts 10:34, 35.
·
Laws. The laws (or commandments) of God’s
Kingdom do more than just prohibit wrong behavior. They raise the moral
character of its subjects. For example, the Bible says: “‘You must love Jehovah
your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole
mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is
this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39) Love of God and neighbor moves subjects of
the Kingdom to act in the best interests of others.
·
Education. While God’s Kingdom sets high standards
for its subjects, it also teaches people how to meet those standards.—Isaiah 48:17, 18.
·
Mission. The Kingdom of God doesn’t enrich its
rulers at the expense of its subjects. Instead, it will accomplish God’s will,
including the promise that those who love him will live forever on a paradise
earth.—Isaiah 35:1, 5, 6; Matthew 6:10; Revelation 21:1-4.
LEARN MORE at www.jw.org
No comments:
Post a Comment