Kingdom Now. Is this Heaven on Earth?

The more I dig into the false teachings making their way through the “modern” Christian church, the more saddened I get. There’s a “new” teaching called Kingdom Now Theology. But wait, I can hear the question forming in the back of your mind: “What’s wrong with studying God’s Kingdom?”

Which Kingdom are you actually studying? (photo from gotquestions.org)

Nothing, if you’re using kingdom theology at its most basic definition. It’s the area of theology that studies the Kingdom of God, a legitimate and beneficial part of Christian theology as a whole. But there are theological movements labeled as “kingdom theology” that aren’t talking about the same thing.

Got Questions says the first red flag is a biggie: God lost control of the world to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, God has been trying to reestablish control over the world by seeking a special group of believers – known as “covenant people,” “overcomers,” or even “Joel’s army.”

Through these “special” people, social institutions like governments and laws would be brought under God’s authority. Their belief is that because believers are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus, we (again, the “Special” people) have all authority in heaven and on Earth, and “we” have the power to believe for and speak into existence things that are not. That’s how “we” bring about the Kingdom Age.

One of the more controversial parts of this “theology” is the belief that secular or non-Christian society will never succeed. Hence, Kingdom Now opposes the separation of church and state. Sort of feels like a not-so-veiled attempt at controlling other people, doesn’t it?

Other Kingdom Now beliefs include that, as the Body of Christ (which SHOULD be the church, not a small group of people), we ARE Christ. In other words, we have His divine nature.

And they don’t believe in the Rapture. They explain the “Rapture” as the “feeling of rapture or excitement” when the Lord returns to receive the Kingdom from our hands. In other words, everyone will be “caught up” emotionally when He returns.

Here’s an honest question: Why does Jesus NEED to return if we’re the ones setting everything right? Why do we need Him at all? After all, we seem to be doing His work for Him.

Kingdom Now SOUNDS Biblical.. note the details?

Also, among the unbiblical beliefs is something called “replacement theology.” It has to do with the future of Israel. All of the prophecies in the Old and New Testaments actually apply to the church instead of Israel, who the Bible calls “God’s chosen people.” I’ve never been able to find that switch in the Bible, which, last I checked, was the inspired and authoritative Word of God, “God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Either the Bible is the Word of God, or it isn’t. There’s no picking and choosing, nor any adding or subtracting.

The idea that the all-powerful God who spoke things into existence by merely using words suddenly needs a “special” group of people to take back control of the Earth would be hilarious if it wasn’t outright blasphemy.

Got Questions points out Isaiah 14:27, which says, “for the Lord Almighty has planned, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” The short answer is no one.

As for men having the power to speak things that aren’t into existence? That’s God’s territory and His alone. I’d be willing to bet all the tea in China that He doesn’t take too kindly to men that try to usurp it from Him. Ask Lucifer how that “usurping” thing went. Man attempting to elevate himself to God’s level is the thing Satan has been trying to get men to do since the Garden of Eden. “You shall be LIKE God…” Wasn’t that what he told Eve?

Isaiah 46:9 says, “For I am God, and no other is God, even none like me.” I think that sums it up, doesn’t it?

And the Rapture? It’s not an “emotional experience” at all. The Greek word “harpazo” from the original manuscript is translated as “seize, carry off by force,” or “to snatch out or away.” There’s nothing emotional about it. It’s a physical experience, and it’s never been as close as it is today.