Spirit of Prophecy Counsels Relating To Church-State Relationships

Christ's Kingdom Not Established By Force Of Arms But By Implanting A New Principle In The Heart

They [the Jews] expected the Messiah to prove His claims by mighty deeds of conquest, to establish His empire on the ruins of earthly kingdoms. This expectation Christ answered in the parable of the sower. Not by force of arms, not by violent interpositions, was the kingdom of God to prevail, but by the implanting of a new principle in the hearts of men. SPCCSR 9.1

“He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.” Matthew 13:37. Christ had come, not as a king, but as a sower; not for the overthrow of kingdoms, but for the scattering of seed; not to point His followers to earthly triumphs and national greatness, but to a harvest to be gathered after patient toil and through losses and disappointments.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 35. SPCCSR 9.2