Lord Jesus: My Kingdom is not of this world.

[Guest guest]

" Religious truth is not absolute but relative, that Divine

Revelation is continuous and progressive, that the Founders of all

past religions, though different in the non-essential aspects of

their teachings, 'abide in the same Tabernacle, soar in the same

heaven, are seated upon the same Throne, utter the same speech and

proclaim the same Faith.' His Cause, they have already demonstrated,

stands identified with, and revolves around, the principle of the

organic unity of mankind as representing the consummation of the

whole process of human evolution. This final stage in this

stupendous evolution, they assert, is not only necessary but

inevitable, that it is gradually approaching, and that nothing short

of the celestial potency with which a divinely ordained Message can

claim to be endowed can succeed in establishing it. " 1

 

" When it comes to the subject of the Kingdom of God there seems to

be no end to the carnal minded reasoning of man as to what it is,

where it is and how it will come to pass. For many there is a long

held belief that, any minute, Jesus will appear in the sky to take

away (rapture) those who are saved and bring them into heaven to

enjoy the Kingdom of God. The " end time " means the destruction of

this universe and all wicked people and the establishing of a new

world in some far away oasis called, " heaven. " Still others believe

that God's Kingdom will come as a result of Christians becoming

politically active and getting elected to office and ruling the

earth through the power of outward government.

 

Things have not changed much in the thinking of God's people in the

two thousand years since Jesus Christ came. At that time the people

of Israel were also waiting for the Kingdom to appear and when Jesus

came declaring that the " kingdom was at hand " they could not

understand what he was talking about.

 

One of the more profound statements of Jesus was given when he was

demanded of the Pharisees to tell them when the Kingdom of God would

come. To this Jesus answered that, " the Kingdom of God cometh not

with observation. " Luke 17:20

 

To this day the people of God are told to expect an outward physical

appearance of Christ's Kingdom and yet here is the clear and perfect

answer given by our Lord concerning this " The Kingdom of God is

within you. " Luke 17:21

 

Jesus told Pontius Pilate that, " My Kingdom is not of this world. " "

 

 

1. Shoghi Effendi, Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi, Wilmette,

Ill: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1975