How did Israel respond when the kingdom was in its midst?
The kingdom was in the midst of Israel, and for the most part they rejected it. A little flock accepted it, but the nation as a whole rejected it, saying, 'Away with him, crucify him.' Thus the kingdom's presence did not produce national acceptance but rather rejection and crucifixion.
Les explains that the kingdom was in the midst of Israel, and for the most part they rejected it. A little flock accepted it, but the nation rejected it, saying, 'away with him, crucify him.' The crucified King, after His burial and resurrection, goes to Heaven, so the Kingdom is now in Heaven, because the Kingdom is where the King is. Les stresses that Paul never alludes to Christ as the King of the Church, and we are never to address Him as our King. As members of the Body, we are joint heirs with Him, part and parcel of Him—He is the Head, and we are the Body—a far different relationship than that of subjects under a King.