Part 3 Kingdom in Turmoil

John and Jesus were born in a whirlwind of political intrigues and conspiracies. Joseph and Mary, who were both of the House of king David, fled to Egypt, in order to keep Jesus safe, because Herod knew Jesus was the rightful King. After He began His mission to seize the Kingdom in Judea, Jesus became very popular with the people, but was still in danger. His own family warned him that it was dangerous to go to Jerusalem where his enemies would seize him at the first opportunity and kill him or whisk him away to the secret fortress at Hyrcania, never to return.

"Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?" John 7:25

Herod the Great had been ruthless, but not as ruthless as others before him. Whereas the Hasmoneans had tried to expel heathens, Herod realized that heathens were good for business, which, of course, made the Romans happy and wealthy or, in some cases, wealthier. In true politician style, Herod gave the appearance of a moral leader. Then, as now, his efforts could not fool anyone but the immoral.

He tried to give an aspect of religious fervor by rebuilding the spectacular temple which became the center of Judea’s social welfare state. He built other buildings that some Jews would find offensive, but was careful in what areas they were constructed. He tried to avoid overt acts that might enrage the people. Even the money he issued was careful not to include an image that might cost him his own head.

Herod was Idumean and, therefore, also in violation of the constitution of Israel. Idumeans were a tribe living in the Negev desert, south of Judea. They were opportunistic converts to Judaism about 100 years earlier. They could be citizens, but not king.

The Jews’ desire to be separate often led to mistrust and resentment. Beside the special treatment they received from Rome, in Alexandria, the Jews had obtained a privileged legal position. They had their own separate citizenship called, politeuma, with their own elders sitting at council, their own assemblies, and, most of all, their own courts and magistrates (elohiym). This special treatment was not without cost and the Jews were often victims of hate and violence, segregation and expulsion, due to envy and jealousy.

The Romans were also having problems with the dissipation of their own nation. A strong family had been the backbone of Roman society and success. But now, the state filled the role of Father, something forbidden by Jesus’ doctrines in Matthew 23:9.

Like the Romans, the Hellenized Jews centralized power, compelled charity, equitably converted private property, franchised rights, enticed the slothful to apathy, and appealed to the avarice of every sort. Religious orders became abstract philosophies mixed with entertainment, superstition, and pride, rather than ministrative service within God’s kingdom. The state took on the role of benefactor. Sanctioned religions became institutions to divert, distract, and appease the people, while the state usurped their rights, subdued their virtue, and picked their pockets through ambuscade.

“The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful.”¹

Rome was a religious state itself. Believing in religious freedom, it did not require any particular form of worship. Rome knew that the superstitious worship of divinity should be left in the hands of the preaching priests or priestesses where, if anything went wrong, there was a pious scapegoat to blame. Pragmatic Sadducees seldom indulged in superstition.

What Rome did was incorporate the temples, first, the pragmatic commercial temples and, then, the pietistic. Both might care for the sick, the aged, the poor, and the needy through Corban and corvee' systems of finance. Rome stood as protectors of the trust and faith of the people and became moral judges, exercising authority over the people when they failed to meet their charitable responsibility, as the legislators and magistrates saw it.

The religious altars were no longer institutions like those of Abraham and Moses. They were not designed to keep men free under God, but had become the opiate of the people. Government steadily moved from being public servants to being masters who were served by the public. Men were edaciously devoured in mind, body, and soul by the fornicating participation in these man-made institutions. While robed Pharisees sang their songs of self-righteousness, the people were steadily delivered into bondage under the guise of modernizing ancient systems of charitable welfare with guaranteed entitlements of socialism.

God’s governmental plan for man was designed to make him stronger as an individual within the family, community, and, of course, nationally. It was intended to function by the perfect law of liberty. These ideas of free bread and the guaranteed public dole weakened the people who became a seed ground for wantonness and sloth, which led to fear, allowing control, bringing suffering and dissipation, as power centralized in the hands of the elite.

People in Rome lived in the “greatest nation on earth”; However, in abundance, they did not strengthen the poor, but weakened them with benefits. They were the freest country in the world, but every man oppressed his neighbors with taxes, regulations, and democratic rule of the minority by the majority. They were the richest country in the world, but their wealth was dissipated in debt and usury. They had a system of law, science, and morality, but had become ignorant of the nature of God. They were educated and confident, with few in history that could match their accomplishments, but they were destined for destruction.

Both Rome and Israel, then called Judea, had strayed from their origins. They had forgotten the mystery of their kingdoms' successes and the importance of maintaining a free society. They rationalized their departure, denied their decay, and indulged in their decadence. Once overcome by vanity, they were no longer a strong and viable nation, but rapidly became a scourge to liberty, a barricade against freedom.

Anyone coming along saying, ”Repent, for there is a better way, a better system, a better government or Kingdom at hand designed by God,” was in danger of receiving the brunt of their vain patriotism and wrathful pride. To tell these contemporary, progressive, and arrogant elitists that the ancient paths were better than the modern ones devised by men for themselves was as dangerous as entering a den of vipers.

It was then that John the Washer and Jesus the Anointed began preaching Repent the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Paraphrased from Matthew 3:2, 4:17

Table of Contents

of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

Peace be to this house,

The Prologue of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-0Prologue.php

1. The Kingdom of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     Is Righteousness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-1IsRighteousness.php

     A Man as King of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-2AManasKing.php

 

2. Abraham Uncivilized of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The City State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-1TheCityState.php

     Two kingdoms/ The Merchants of Men of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-2MerchantsofMen.php

      The Hindu Connection of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-3HinduConnection.php

     Abraham and the Legend, The Prodigal Son
     Our king and our god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-4Legend.php

     The Code of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-5code.php

     Abraham and the Family of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-6Family.php

 

3. The Altar of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     Moses and the Altars of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-1AltarsofClay.php

     The Altar of Sin of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-2Sin.php

     Sacrifice of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-3Sophistry.php

 

4. Moses, Moses of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Civil State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-1CivilState.php

     Gods Many of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-2godsmany.php

     No Kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-3NoKings.php

     Servant Priests of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-4Servants.php

 

5. Joshua’s Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    White Altars of Joshua
     King over us of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-1WhiteAltars.php

     Adultery of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-2Adultery.php

     Fear, Faith and Foolishness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-3RearFaith.php

 

6. The World of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    Of Rome and Judea of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-1Rome.php

     The Remarkable History of Israel of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-2Israel.php

     Rome the Believer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The Commander in chiefs
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-3RomeBeliever.php

     A Father’s offer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-4TheOffer.php

     The Hasmonean Appeal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     Socialization of Rome
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-5SocialAppeal.php

     The Love of kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-6LovingKings.php

 

7. Factions at the Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Pharisees and The Sadducees of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-1Factions.php

     The Essenes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The Healers of a Nation
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-2Essene.php

 

8. A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-1KingBorn.php

     What is redemption? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-2Redemption.php

     Kingdom in Turmoil of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-3Turmoil.php

     The New Deal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-4NewDeal.php

 

9. Temples and Churches of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-1TemplesandChurches.php

     Investing in Diana of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-2InvestinDiana.php

     One Father of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-3OurFather.php

     Arts of the Temples of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-4TempleArts.php

     The Temple of Satan of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-5SatansTemple.php

     The Royal Treasury of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-6RoyalTreasury.php

10. Two Paths of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     God’s dominion from the Beginning of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The revenue of the wicked
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-1Paths.php

     Beams in our eyes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     Removing the Beam
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-2Beams.php

     These two Kingdoms of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-3TwoKingdoms.php

    Faith is actions of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-4Action.php

     The kingdom appointed to Liberty of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-5AppointedLiberty.php

 

11. Where is the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    The kingdom comes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-1Kingdom.php

    Eating in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-2Eating.php

    Washing in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-3Washing.php

     Where is the Church? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-4Where.php

     We are all kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-5AllKings.php

 

12. Apostasy of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Ship of State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-1Ship.php

     The Allurement of Wolves of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-2Wolves.php

     The Church of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php

     The Separate Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php

13. The Kingdom of Heaven of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    The State of the Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-1Heaven.php

    Seeking the kingdom, The Law of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-2SeekLaw.php

    What does the Kingdom look like? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-3looks.php

    Assembling a congregation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
    Where to start seeking the kingdom of God
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-4Start.php

Appendix of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    Appendix 1. Kingdom of Heaven and God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-1Appendix.php

    Appendix 2. The things He says of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-2AppenSaid.php

     Appendix 3. What is Worship? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-3AppenWorship.php

     Appendix 4. Who are the Nicolaitans? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-4AppenNicolaitan.php

     Appendix 5. Who is a god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-5Appengods.php

     Appendix 6. Oaths and Swearing of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-6AppenOaths.php

    The Cover of the book, Thy Kingdom Comes
The Elixir of Love.
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwa.php

     About the Author of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwb.php

 

Other publications:
The Covenants of the gods
The Free Church Report