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Greater Things : Books : VISION OF ALL : Overview : |
In the overview of the parallels in Book of Mormon history, we considered both temporal and spiritual applications. The distinction made between parallels to an individual and those to a nation is representative of a general subdivision that can be made of the whole Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is both religious and governmental. Our response to both realms will be measured in the day of judgement, so we would do well to understand what each entails and be engaged in promoting them accordingly. Consider this categorization enumerated in Table 2.
| Table 2 | |
| Kingdom of God | |
| Religious | Political |
| gospel | governmet |
| spiritual | temporal |
| individual | collective |
| personal | national |
| word of the Lord | law of the Lord |
| law of Moses | Abrahamic covenant |
| focus of the Gentiles | preoccupation of the Jews |
| Jews' blunder | Gentiles falter |
| Christ's first coming | Christ's second coming |
| priests & preistesses | kings & queens |
| Lord of lords | King of kings |
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References: 1 Ne. 22:3; Isa. 5:24; Rev. 1:6; Matt. 21:42-44; 3 Ne. 15:4; 3 Ne. 28:7; D&C 45:16; 3 Ne. 20:26,27; 16:10,11; 2 Ne. 28:32 |
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Neglecting the Governmental Realm
As Christians, we pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (3 Ne. 13:9 = Matt. 6:10.) Yet many professing Christians forget about the political realm of God's kingdom -- often even going so far as actively opposing it. When Christ reigns in our midst during the millennium, "he will be [our] king and [our] lawgiver." (D&C 45:59.) How can we think to receive an inheritance in God's kingdom on earth today if we do not understand the government of God and seek to establish it here upon the earth? Pointing to our ultimate salvation, John said that Christ "hath made us kings and priests unto God...." (Rev. 1:6.) Does God offer mankind a choice of either becoming a priest/priestess or a king/queen, as if they could obtain one and not inherit the other? Our living prophet has proclaimed: "The cause of freedom is a most basic part of our religion. Our position on freedom helped get us to this earth and it can make the difference as to whether we get back home or not."(14) Still, sometimes we have tended to hearken to Satan as he whispers in our ear: "There is no need to get involved in the fight for freedom -- all you need to do is live the gospel."(15) Sometimes we are not aware, or we forget that there is a need to continually work to maintain not only our spiritual, but also our temporal freedom in order to retain both.Whether or not Christians rally to their foreordained assignments, Satan and his innumerable hosts have been hard at work. There is no lack of evidence that the devil's forces are laboring to establish a counterfeit kingdom -- and they have been highly successful. (1 Ne. 22:22.) Having been evicted from the pre-mortal counsels because he sought to usurp the agency of man, Satan is now continuing that assault against freedom (in both realms, spiritual and temporal) here upon the earth. (Moses 4:3; JST-Rev. 12:1,7,17; 13:1,7; 1 Ne. 14:13.) Once again, he is "[rebelling] against God, and [seeks] to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ." (D&C 76:28.)
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Endnotes:
14. Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Deseret Book, SLC, Utah, 1988, p. 656.
15. Ibid.
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