Patrick Jane Forums | Theology, Anthropology, Conspiracy

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Jesus was saying the kingdom of God would not come with attentive watching, but would come unexpectedly, suddenly. This can be seen from Luke 17:26-30 in which judgment came suddenly.

Jesus referred to the kingdom as coming near to them by his presence (Luke 10:11), he was among them and therefore the kingdom of God was there.

The disciples were expecting a visible kingdom to immediately appear, not a spiritual kingdom within the believer (Luke 19:11).

Jesus said to expect a kingdom that would be visible, as is lightning (Luke 17:24).

Zephaniah 3:15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Joel 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

The verses above, and others, speak of the Lord as being in the midst of Israel (Isaiah 12:6 Ezekiel 28:22 Hosea 11:9 Zechariah 2:11).

Zechariah 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

Scripture speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as being in the midst of Israel and is the meaning of Luke 17:21 in saying the kingdom of God is within you.