HisHolyChurch

In our last Newsletter we saw that when Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world he was saying that His kingdom was at hand, but it was not part of the government of Pontius Pilate.

We have all heard the phrases the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. The word Kingdom in the Greek is “basileia” and is defined “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule… not to be confused with an actual kingdom, but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom”.

In the days of the gospel much of the Mediterranean was ruled over by the Roman Empire, and its Pax Romana. Pompey and his army, while out policing the world, had been invited as an international peace keeping force to settle a dispute between Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, who were engaged in civil war to determine the rightful king in Judea. The Romans stayed at the invitation of the Pharisees.

What should have been for the welfare of the people was in fact a descent into slavery. Israel and Rome had both declined from free republics with law and mercy administered by the people and for the people into nations of subjects, who were little more than the human resources for one despotic ruler after another.

Eventually Pontius Pilate was appointed the Prefect, or chief financial officer, of Roman interests in the area, not the governor of Judea itself. Those commercial and strategic interests had grown over the years. With their position of influence and power in the region, the Romans and even the Pharisees were engaged in a steady process of establishing an alien power and authority by the offer of benefits and the subsequent imposition of regulations and ordinances.

Rome had no authority to appoint a king, but it was clear that Roman support of any king guaranteed their position of power. Pontius Pilate is terribly misunderstood in our modern view of history. He did not normally judge cases dealing with common crimes, but only insurrection or rebellion against the status quo. Political stability was good for business.

In John 18:36 Jesus was not saying that his kingdom was not at hand on this planet, He was telling the judge of that Roman court, that Israel Anointed King’s “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule…” is not subject to a Roman “constitution, order, or government.”

In plain English He Said:

“Pilate, you have no jurisdiction” over “My right to Rule”.

Pilate, as a judge, agreed that Jesus’ claim is legitimate and that Rome had no jurisdiction in the matter. He even washes his hands of the case. We will examine the ramifications of Pilate’s position, but for now it is important to realize the jurisdictional nature of these events.

Jesus was the head of an autonomous government. When He said “then would my servants fight” He was talking about an adversarial conflict in a world court. The word “fight” is not from the Greek word “machomai” “to fight, of armed combatants, or those who engage in a hand to hand struggle.” Nor is it the Greek word “polemos” meaning “a war…a fight, a battle ”.

It is the word “agonizomai” which means “to enter a contest” or “to contend with adversaries”. It is derived from the word “agon” meaning “an assembly.”

Jesus was not going to plea in an adversarial dispute that might grant jurisdiction to this assembled Roman court. That would be a violation of the Ten Commandments. He would be consenting or bowing before the ruling judges or “gods” of Rome.

One of the best kept secrets of the modern religious establishment is exactly who these “gods” were that we were not to bow down to, make covenants with, or serve.²

If Jesus went under the authority of a Roman judge, everyone who sought the salvation of His kingdom would be brought under that same one world Imperial power. There were clear prohibitions against any king of God’s government to treaty with another nation³ that might diminish the rights of the individual freeman. Jesus would not enter into such agreement even to avoid his own torture and death.

Moses was sent to set the people free from Egypt. Jesus came to set men free in spirit and truth in a more complete covenant than God had provided under Moses. God did not send Jesus to start a church that would allow, even encourage, people to go back into a government like Egypt. God told us to never go back there again,⁴ but men continue to do so century after century.

In the slavery of Egypt the people were supplied welfare by a central government in bad times, but were required to pay at least 20% of everything they earned every year to the government.⁵ Moses delivered them from that authority.

It has been written that:

“Redemption is deliverance from the power of an alien dominion and the enjoyment of the resulting freedom. It involves the idea of restoration to one who possesses a more fundamental right or interest. The best example of redemption in the Old Testament was the deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage, from the dominion of the alien power in Egypt.”⁶

The best example of redemption in the New Testament was the kingdom of God preached and appointed by Christ, for it set the people as free. Moses had set a nation free centuries before and so did Jesus. He came to set men free from the sin of greed, tyranny, and sloth, which will set us free in spirit and truth.

The Bible tells us the slothful shall be under tribute⁷ and the covetous shall be made merchandise⁸. But no tyrant rises to power without the aid of the tyranny in the hearts of the people who support them.

The struggle for an honorable state of liberty matures the hearts and souls of men. No nation shall be free until a portion of the population give up the desire to rule over their neighbor for their personal gain⁹ and security¹⁰. No nation shall obtain and preserve freedom under God until they strive equally for their neighbors’ life and liberty, as they should for their own.

The answer to our spiritual and temporal salvation is in the “gospel of the kingdom”. But we must examine and judge the truth of scriptures in the context of an honest account of history with humility and diligence.

Next Newsletter: Case Dismissed.

Whose side was Pilate on? What was the Pharisees big mistake? How did their actions set the people free from Rome?

• http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/notofthisworld.html
• Why did Jesus tell Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world? 
•  In 8×5 Booklet form
• Not of this world…Not of which world?
• http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/worldkingdom.pdf
• Standard printable 8 1/2 by 11 form
• Not of this world…Not of which world?
• http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/worldkingdomst.pdf