[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Timotheist

An assumption among many commenting on this thread so far is that salvation (eternal life) and entrance into the kingdom of God are synonymous terms. I propose that the saved are a larger group, of which a percentage participate in the kingdom. So that would mean the terms are NOT synonyms.

I'm not so sure that the apostle Paul, or the believers in Colossae, would agree with you here.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
Colossians 1:13 ESV

When the apostle writes that the Father "has delivered us from the domain of darkness", is he not referring to our salvation? If not, what deliverance is he referring to? When the apostle writes that we've been transferred to "the kingdom of his beloved Son", is he not referring to the kingdom of God? If not, what kingdom is he referring to?

I think we would all do well to not unreservedly parse out what is, and what is not, the kingdom of God, and who is, and who is not a part of or a participant in this kingdom. To be sure, the Millennial Kingdom will be an era and a place which will become the ultimate fulfillment of "thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven". I would submit that any part of and participation in the Millennial Kingdom we may enjoy will be based upon how much, or how little, we were a part of and a participant in the kingdom of God coming to Earth as it is in Heaven. The same apostle Paul also advised the Philippians to "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling". So maybe we all would do better with fewer firm declarations about the kingdom of God, and be working out our own salvation with a little more fear and a little more trembling, lest we fall into the category of becoming people who are "so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good". Just sayin....
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