GOD'S NEW WORLD, DAY 26 (salvation & judgment)
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The paradox of the kingdom of God. The book of Revelation is clear – it is precisely by dying for their faith that the martyrs “overcome” the “beast”, the “world” and all the enemies of God. Jesus showed us the way to true victory – by giving up his life on the cross, he defeated the “principalities and powers” (cf. Col. 2.14-15). Despite the fact that everyone – including the disciples – believed that Jesus’ death was a defeat and proof that he was not the Messiah after all (cf. Lk. 24.19-24), the New Testament consistently insists that the opposite was in fact the case . The cross was Jesus’ “enthronement” as Messiah, as King of Israel, and constituted his victory over the true enemies of the people of God – sin, death and all the forces of evil (cf. Eph. 6.12). The New Testament tells us again and again, lest we miss it – the kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom. That is to say, God’s powerful reign functions in the opposite way from human regimes. For Go