In case you missed, it they tried to make Him king. That is a pretty good indication they truly wanted Him as an earthly king.
The plan of God was always for there to be a "church age" before the millenial kindom of the Messiah. Why were the disciples (in Acts) still asking Jesus when the kingdom would begin, even after the crucifixion, if there would not be a physical earthly kingdom in the future? Jesus did not tell them it was not coming, but he did say it's timing was none of their business.
It is interesting that you point out the kingdom question in Acts, after so many premellenialists point to the transfiguration as fulfillment of the "some standing here will not taste death" statement. And quite honestly, if you expect me to buy that generation = race line, forget it. There are too many new testament scriptures that point to the immediacy of the kingdom to be ignored.
At the time the disciples were asking the question in Acts, there wasn't any point in answering them, because in a few days they received the Holy Spirit and realized that like their question in Matthew 24, they didn't know enough to ask an intelligent question on the subject. They were asking the question based on Jewish assumptions about the Messiah that were totally wrong.
Besides the fact that He explicitly said His kingdom was not in a place that could be pointed to, but within us.
Yes, because for those he was talking to and us, that is how we become part of the kingdom, since it a future event.
I love it! Christ Himself defines His kingdom as a spiritual thing and you disagree with Him? Priceless.
None. Now why did Jesus put the now in his statement (from my previous post) if there would not be a later physical millenial kingdom. And why did you leave that part of the verse out when you quoted it? You are avoiding my point. You don't want to talk about the Scriptures that show Preterism to be a sham.
Yes, ok, according to you Jesus came to the earth to set up a kingdom in spite of what the prophets said, chickened out when the people tried to make Him king, then changed His mind again when Pilate questioned Him. He could have called twelve legions of angels to be the military force for His kingdom and you think the recalcitrant Jewish leadership was an obstacle He couldn't overcome?
Do you really believe God lacked the military force to overcome the Pharisees or even Rome?
If Christ wanted an earthly kingdom, name one thing that could stand in His way.
I left out the "now" because I am referring to verses, not directly quoting them. I suppose if you insist on being childish about it I can start quoting every verse.