Tuesday, July 22, 2025
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).
Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here?
Due to a miserable (!) failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth, today’s Scripture and context (verses 20,21) have been twisted out of shape to teach something they do not teach and never did teach. They do not describe God’s current dealings with man at all, but typify what He did with Israel in time past. Peter’s ministry—an extension of Christ’s earthly ministry—concerns Israel rising to kingdom glory, God’s salvation and blessing going to the world (Gentiles) in Israel’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom (Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 2:32; Luke 24:47; John 4:42; Acts 1:6; Acts 3:24-26). However, Paul’s ministry is God’s salvation and blessing going to the world (Gentiles) through Israel’s temporary fall and without her kingdom (Romans 11:11-14). Though Christendom has neglected it for 20 centuries, we dare not miss this important distinction!
Just because God did something in time past does not mean He is doing it in the but now, and just because He is doing it in the but now does not mean He will keep doing it in the ages to come. Though He is not growing His earthly people (Israel) now, Romans 11:25-29 indicates He will return to that after He closes our program and completes us the Church the Body of Christ: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
We are not Israel, and we have not replaced Israel, so we are wise in our own conceits (we think we are someone we are not) if we believe we are Israel or that we have replaced Israel….

