Emile,
The doctrine of an earthly paradise pre-dates the Christian Scriptures and is founded in the basic teachings of the Hebrews and then the Christians. The Kingdom of God has been established in the heavens already and we are in its midst. The question is, when will the Kingdom of God exercise its will on the Earth. We are all in expectation of that.
The Apostasy took full bloom after the death of the 'last restraint', the Apostle John. Notice the words of the Apostle John in his inspired writings refers to the "Lord's Day" as coming in the future. He wrote this well after the Holy Spirit was doled out on Pentecost of 33 C.E. Even the Apostle Peter wrote well after the gift of Holy Spirit was given him, that there is a need for patience since God is not slow but 'patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.'
The fact is that your belief in the kingdom of God being within you is founded in ancient platonic teachings and not the Bible. This belief was put forth in among the general Protestant religions by the "higher critics" of the 18th and 19th century who felt their opinion was greater than the teachings of the bible.
The apostate teachings entered the christian faith after the death of the last restraint, the Apostle John. History confirms that the pre-apostate first century Christians including the Apostles continued to wait for the Kingdom of God to be exercised on the earth. A tangible kingdom. Yes the Kingdom of God has exercised its will in the heavens, but we await the establishment of it on the earth. Yes, the apostles and others anointed with holy spirit reign with christ in the heavens, but the others are looking for God's will to be done on the earth as Jesus promised. There are clearly two hopes and one doesn't cancel the other, they are complimentary. |
