Kingdom That Turned the World Upside Down

Warning, neither my views nor the views of the author are politically correct. This book tore me apart. It contradicted most of the theological thinking that I had been taught all my life. But it was right. We read this book as a family, one chapter a day. I am thankful we did because some of the chapters take 24 hours or more to digest and accept. Everything the author writes is based on taking the Bible literally. Especially on taking the teachings of Jesus literally. For the last ten years I have always believed that the Bible is absolute truth from cover to cover*. Before reading this book I had been reading through the gospels and they had made me very uncomfortable, and for good reason. What this book explains is that the church today simply does not take Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom literally. We have explained them away to a drastic measure. I think this is really sad since all of the legit criticism of the world toward Christianity might be otherwise averted. This book takes a look at what it is like to actually obey Jesus' commands. It will definitely step on the toes of nearly every Christian who reads it. In light of the corruption in the church today I would label this book a necessary read for anyone and everyone who can accept it. I recently recommended a copy to the pastor of my Bible church and he is loving it. The Author uses the labels Kingdom Christian, Kingdom message, and Kingdom Doctrine to distinguish those who actually take Jesus' teachings literally. My best friend read the book recently, he disagreed with a lot of things but my friends arguments against it are only based on his gut instinct and current church tradition, not on the Bible. He is a speed reader so considering the rate he must have been pummeled by the information I'm glad he accepted as much of it as he did. I have recently re-read the book multiple times. I do not agree with the author when he states that all women should wear head coverings when they pray (based on 1 Corinthians 11). I think Paul was probably talking to women who had very short hair since the apostle lists long hair as a natural head covering. *I believe the Bible can be taken literally, as long as the passage is read in full context and the original purpose and audience of the text is understood. I believe that when the Bible is metaphorical it indicates that it is metaphorical by being careful to label the passage as a vision or parable. I believe that the Psalms are very different from poetry today and that they also can be taken literally, I say this because Jesus used them to argue theology with the pharisees. I believe that any church doctrine, theology, or tradition that contradicts the Bible must be thrown out. I do believe the creation took place in six days less than ten thousand year ago. Watch the Kent Hovind seminars to find out more about how the Bible is absolute truth. The more recent versions of the seminars are a lot more scientifically based and are a lot more c

This book is a very important tool for anyone who wants to obey Jesus Christ's commands and follow Him. Bercot shows from scripture and from the early Christian writers that followers of Jesus are to be obedient citizens of the Kingdom of God. Without a proper understanding of the role the Kingdom plays in God's salvation plan for mankind, it is much more difficult for a believer to comply successfully with Jesus' teachings. Bercot does an excellent job! ***Highly recommended.***

In David Bercot's typical style, he carefully and gently outlines the "true" teachings of the Kingdom of God as Jesus taught them. Many of us think that we are pleasing to God, but are we? Really? Christ spoke about being born again only a couple of times (if that many). However, His preaching was almost always about the Kingdom of God. He even instructed His disciples to..."And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mattheew 10:7). I have found over the past 25+ years as a Christian that most churches do not preach the Kingdom of God but some sort of wordly, evangelical "knock-off". David Bercot meticulously and wonderfully lays out before the reader in a concise and easy-to-read format what the Kingdom of God is, as Jesus taught. He never displays his own opinions, an admirable trait in any teacher, but uses only scripture and the "course of performance" of the first generation Christians to describe what the Kingdom of God really is. If you are serious about your walk in and with Jesus Christ, then you had better read and meditate upon the pages of this book. For most it will be a startling awakening. I have read it several times and am currently reading it again. It will alarm you concerning your own misconceptions of the Kingdom. It may possibly confirm what the Holy Spirit has already been telling you and it will encourage and excite you to walk even closer with Jesus. God bless you as you endeavor to please your Lord.

People who are wise in their own conceit will not like this book. People who see the horrible abuses in the church today will embrace it. Why? Because it shows very clearly that salvation apart from *obeying* Jesus Christ, (the King,) is impossible. The Kingdom of God/Heaven is *the* central emphasis of Jesus' earthly ministry, yet, it is virtually forgone in today's church. Such was not the case in the early church, as those believers followed the Lord Jesus unto death itself. Why the inescapable difference? Bercot contrasts today's church with the early church and shows very clearly how and why things are so different today. It basically boils down to a persistent and willful disregard of the plain and literal teachings of Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, one doctrine after the next has been advanced, tried, and exchanged for a successive progression of watered down truth and beliefs. Do you think the Reformation was a return to true Biblical Christianity? That its truths were "recovered" after centuries of repression? You would be in error, as the early church followed Jesus literally. Their writings contrast starkly with those of each successive generation, and show that they were faithful to the King and His Teachings. David Bercot puts those teachings alongside today's teachings and offers every reader the choice of which path to follow. A "Kingdom Christian" is simply someone who strives to take Jesus literally and follow him faithfully. It is not a code word or quasi-denomination. As Bercot points out, there have been Kingdom Christians in all eras of church history, as the testimony of the Donatists, Waldensians, Anabaptists, and many others clearly shows. (Where those groups are today is not a valid reason to discount those who followed Jesus originally.) The rewards for following the King are tremendous. The consequences for rejecting Him are terrible. Those who keep their garments from being defiled will walk with Jesus in white, for they will be worthy. (Rev 3:4) Those who enter into the marriage supper without a wedding garment will be at first shocked, then ultimately cast into outer darkness. (Mat 22:13) If there is no consequence other than "loss of rewards" for the disobedient and willful Christian, then surely there is little cause for following the King unto death. If heaven is promised to the proud and unclean, then righteousness is a joke, and there is no incentive to persevere. Such will have weeping and gnashing of teeth for their persistent folly. Jesus' Words are clear and unequivocal. Read this book to see just how far away from God many Christians actually are, and reacquaint yourself with the promised rewards assured to them who either obey or disobey the King. Phariseeism is nothing new.

I know this author, and he and I have had a split of directions in the past. Despite that, I think this book is awesome. The author really is one of the leading experts on the writings of the early church, despite the fact that he's a lawyer and not officially a theologian or historian. His familiarity with the writings of the 2nd & 3rd century church is really unsurpassed by anyone who writes on the level of us normal people. He is a superb and interesting writer, and this book, like almost all of his others, will grip you so that you can't put it down. If you would like to see a vibrant, real Christianity being lived out, this is an excellent description of the days when it was, readable, interesting, and historically accurate.