The Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven) as the Reign of an Orderly Father-God's Civilizing Ideas, Upright Behavior Habits & a Receptive Child-like Attitude to Fatherly Direction: Based on a History of Encoded Fatherly Traits and a Way (Logos) passed down from an Ancient Lineage of Patriarchal Fathers; projected onto the Father God-idea that encapsulates Healthy Fatherhood and Tribal Fairness, Unity and Civility:
From The Kingdom of Heaven: The Kingship of the High Beyond (words in brackets my own):
… Speaking linguistically, the Greek word translated as "kingdom" means that which is controlled by a central authority. It is generally the rule of kings, but it was also applied to the Archon of Athens, who was elected. It can mean the place that is ruled, the people who are ruled … It can mean the capital city of an empire or the ruler's castle. Our English word "basilica," meaning the seat of power for a bishop comes from this word. Generally, it refers to the concept of hereditary rule, the passing of authority from one generation to the next. [Scripturally, the Father God is passing on His Divine DNA through the genus of Christ that is freely gifted to the Christian. In the language of Jordan Peterson:
Part of the concept of God that underlies the Western ethos is the notion that whatever God is is expressed in the truthful speech that rectifies pathological hierarchies, that isn't all it does, it also confronts the chaos of being itself and generates habitable order, that's the metaphysical proposition, and that's best conceptualized as at least one element of God; and so I would think about it as a transcendent reality that's only observable across the longest of time-frames.
Okay, so here's some propositions and they're complicated and they need to be unpacked so I'm just going to read them and that'll have to do for the time being.
God is how we imaginatively and collectively represent the existence of an action of consciousness across time; as the most real aspects of existence manifest themselves across the longest of time-frames but are not necessarily apprehensible as objects in the here and now.
So what that means in some sense is that you have conceptions of reality built into your biological and metaphysical structure that are a consequence of processes of evolution that occurred over unbelievably vast expanses of time and that structure your perception of reality in ways that it wouldn't be structured if you only lived for the amount of time that you're going to live and that's also part of the problem of deriving values from facts because you're evanescent and you can't derive the right values from the facts that portray themselves to you in your life-span which is why you have a biological structure that's like 3.5 billion years old.
So God is that which eternally dies and is reborn in the pursuit of higher being and truth. That's a fundamental element of the hero mythology. God is the highest value in the hierarchy of values; that's another way of looking at it. God is what calls and what responds in the eternal call to adventure. God is the voice of conscience. God is the source of judgment, mercy, and guilt. God is the future to which we make sacrifices and something akin to the transcendental repository of reputation. Here's a cool one if you're an evolutionary biologist. God is that which selects among men in the eternal hierarchy of men.
So men arrange themselves into hierarchies and men rise in the hierarchy and there's principles that are accordant that determine the probability of their rise and those principles aren't tyrannical power, they're something like the ability to articulate truth and the ability to be competent and the ability to make appropriate moral judgements and if you can do that in a given situation then all the other men will vote you up the hierarchy so to speak and that will radically increase your reproductive fitness and the operation of that process across long expanses of time looks to me like its codified in something like the notion of God the Father.
It's also the same thing that makes men attractive to women because women peel off the top of the male hierarchy. The question is: 'what should be at the top of the hierarchy'? And the answer right now is tyranny as part of the patriarchy but the real answer is something like the ability to use truthful speech, let's say in the service of well-being and so that's something that operates across tremendous expanses of time and it plays a role in the selection for survival itself which makes it a fundamental reality].
Though it is consistently translated in the NT as "kingdom," we can think of it as a "dominion," "that which is under a central authority," "being controlled by a leader," or, more simply as "rule" or "reign." In English, the word that comes closest to this idea is that of a "kingship" since it includes both the realm, the authority, and the reign of a king.
However, the word translated as "king" is broader than our "king." The word always means that which is controlled by a specific person, a "basileus," which means "leader," "prince," "commander," or "king." …
The primary meaning of ouranos is "the sky," that is the vault above us when we look up. The blue sky, the clouds, the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars are all part of heaven. More generally, the word metaphorically means everything outside of our world. This is generally called the rest of the universe and "the universe" is another meaning of the word. The heavens especially include everything "above" our world both in a literal and figurative sense. The sky was the realm of the ethereal, the spiritual, and the absolute. The objects there were not earthly because they didn't fall to earth like the material stuff we know. They were thought to be closer to abstract ideas and universal ideals than material objects.
… we get from the Greek idea of "heaven" and "up in the sky." This "height" is very important to Christ in a philosophical sense and for much of his wordplay. Heaven is the realm of the highest concepts. It is beyond earth both in the sense of being physically out of reach and in the sense of being higher in the sense of superior.
The phrase, "realm of the stars," might capture more of the feeling since "stars" has a double meaning of the celestial objects and famous people. The region was the home of the "stars" of the period, for the Greeks, these were the gods, but for the Jews, it was the patriarchs and prophets. However, that would exclude the clouds, Sun, and moon, which were all also beyond earth. …
What is it "Like"
Christ offers many analogies ("parable" is the Greek word for analogy) for "the kingdom of the skies." … Christ says that the realm of the stars is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. Does this means that it is like the merchant or the search for pearls? The latter seems more likely. Another example is when Christ says it is like a king throwing a wedding feast. Again, though the subject of the sentence is the king, the comparison is to the complete picture: the king throwing a wedding for his son.
From these many analogies, however, we get a complex picture of the idea of the kingdom of the heavens.
… Is Heaven the Afterlife?
There are several statements that Christ made that seem to indicate that the “kingdom of heaven” is not merely the afterlife or the Christian community, but the entire social order of the world as established by God. For example, Christ said: Mat 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
How does this statement make any sense of the kingdom of heaven is the afterlife or the community of believers? However, if the kingdom of heaven describes the worldly order of things, and that order changed with the coming of Christ, then it does make sense. After Christ’s coming, human society began to change: the meek began to inherit the earth. Those ruled by spirit were no longer totally dominated by those who ruled by violence. Today’s, though our world is far from perfect, this process is very far advanced compared with the ancient world. Today, those who are violent are much less successful than those who embrace more cooperative methods. Much of the world is ruled by consent rather than coercion. This results from our increased understanding of the world.
Christ refers many times to the afterlife as "eternal life" or "life everlasting." However, in none of these references does he equate it or even mention it in the context with "the kingdom of heaven" or even "heaven." When Christ talks about the "kingdom of heaven," he uses very different terms and analogies than he does when he talks about "life everlasting."
In the Gospels, "the kingdom of heaven" is described as many things--a growing tree, yeast in bread, a net that catches all fish, and a place of harvest that includes both weeds and wheat. At least part of what is meant is the last judgment, separating saints from sinners, but that is only a part of what is meant.
For example, if Christ was referring to the afterlife, how can the afterlife change in the way that Christ describes the kingdom of heaven? How can it start small and grow like a mustard seed? How does it get mixed through everything like the dough? This does describe the community of believers but specifically how they affect and change the worldly order arising from our increased understanding.
This kingdom is hidden, a secret. In Matthew 6:6, Christ departs from his usual formulation of describing God as the “Father in heaven” and instead describes Him as “Father in secret.” The Greek word is kryptos, which means “secret” or “hidden.” We cannot see the kingdom of heaven in our everyday lives, because we are too close to it. We see heaven by looking at the sky. The sky literally covers everything in the sense that we might say, “the big picture.” So the kingdom Christ talks about is a hidden, big picture of what is really going on.
[It is the secret/hidden philosophical ideas of righteous patriarchy that grows healthy functional families and communities: where good men and fathers rule in a spirit of gentle persuasion (non-violent, non-manipulative methods of influence) and lead by noble example; reigning in industriousness, protecting and providing, while leading with kindness, caring-thoughtfulness, and win-win fairness. Rather than in a spirit of selfishness, greed, exploitation and violence].
The kingdom of heaven includes all types of people, but it makes a judgment filtering out the good from the bad. There is “a natural selection,” but only because God’s will works through nature. The hierarchy of the kingdom of heaven is important but it is something more than the mere judgment of men. … the "kingdom of heaven" may be a state of understanding. This is what Christ describes in Mark 12:34 "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
[Mark 12:34 - LOST IN TRANSLATION:
The adverb "far" is only used twice by Jesus, once in a parable where he refers to a great distance. The word, however, refers both to far in space and time. Jesus is commenting here on the scribe repeating back to him what the two commandments from the Old Testament. The word "far" here when used about speaking means "to speak at length." So "not far" means "to speak concisely." The sense is that these two commandments summarize the Law and therefore describe the realm of the Divine. Source:
https://christswords.com/main/node/703]
According to Christ, the Universal Reign is:
Near or coming to all places and times. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent [Re-Choose]: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt. 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mysterious, but we can understand it. Matthew 13:11 Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
… Promotes both new and traditional values. Matthew 13:52 Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.
How the Superiority of the Understanding Evolves
The universal rule starts small and grows big and has lots of room. Matthew 13:31 The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
It gets mixed through everything. Matthew 13:33 The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
There are secret keys to its control. Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [Note: According to Binding and loosing - Wikipedia: "bind and to loose simply means to forbid by an indisputable authority and to permit by an indisputable authority." So Jesus is handing over the cultural power to permit or forbid that which will lead to the kingdom of heaven. According to gotquestions.org:
Jesus’ words meant that Peter would have the right to enter the kingdom himself, that he would have general authority symbolized by the possession of the keys, and that preaching the gospel would be the means of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shutting it against unbelievers. … The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed." … When the apostles “bound” something, or forbade it on earth, they were carrying out the will of God in the matter. When they “loosed” something, or allowed it on earth, they were likewise fulfilling God’s eternal plan. In both Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, the syntax of the Greek text makes the meaning clear: “Whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens” (Matthew 16:19, Young’s Literal Translation). Or, as the Amplified Bible puts it, “Whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”
Jesus taught that the apostles had a special task on earth. Their words of authority, as recorded in the New Testament epistles, reflect God’s will for the church."
From this perspective, permitting Kingdom-behavior and forbidding unrighteous behavior plants the cultural "seeds"of good habits, which produces the Kingdom on Earth like a small seed growing into a large tree. Who has lived in or visited a neighborhood or block or a city that has slowly degenerated due to anti-Kingdom ideas and philosophies leading to Fatherless homes, a disrespect of fathers in general, growing the "seeds" that sprout into dysfunctional families from selfishness, greed and exploitation; and so how much is it worth to them, like a pearl of great price, to leave that area and be in a better neighborhood or city?]
The Hierarchy of Understanding
There is a hierarchy among people under the universal rule [kingdom realm]. Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
[Those who do it and teach the kingdom-way are called the great in the kingdom's hierarchy.] Both those who break minor [ethical] commandments and teach others to do so can still be part of it. Matt 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Humility makes you great under it. Matt 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Those who are In and Out of the Awareness of the Universal Reign
In Spirit: Matthew 5:3 Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In Spirit: Those who are hounded for [perfectly living the kingdom-way]. Matthew 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Out of Spirit: Those who aren’t better than [outdoing the] scribes and Pharisees. Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness [behavior] shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Out of Spirit (Those who are only praising Christ or God) & In Spirit (Those whose actions follow God’s will): Matthew 7:21 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Very In Spirit:: Those who become like little children. Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Hard to Get In Spirit: The [super rich who cling to their wealth valuing money more than their family and making society better]. Matt 19:23 Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In Spirit: [Those who God orchestrates as teachers of the Way]. Matt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
Out of Spirit: Those who have other priorities. Matt 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, …
In Spirit: Those who are productive. Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
In Spirit: Those who are vigilant and patient. Matt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Those who are out of Spirit want to keep others out of Spirit. Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites [play actors]! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
