Caliphate v. Kingdom Of G-d

Is there any real difference between what Muslims call "the Caliphate" and what Christians call "the Kingdom of G-d"?

Here is a definition of the Caliphate from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate

A caliphate (from the Arabic: خلافة‎ khilāfa, meaning "succession") is an Islamic state led by a supreme religious and political leader known as a caliph – i.e. "successor" – to Muhammad. The succession of Muslim empires that have existed in the Muslim world are usually described as "caliphates". Conceptually, a caliphate represents a sovereign polity (state) of the entire Muslim faithful (the Ummah, i.e. a sovereign nation state) ruled by a single caliph under the Constitution of Medina and Islamic law (sharia).

However, it is not easy to find a clear Christian definition of "the Kingdom of G-d". Try looking it up on the Internet, and you will find lots of confused mumbo-jumbo. It's almost as if Christians don't want to know what it means and perhaps really don't want it to come about. So why do Christians continue to pray using the words Jesus gave to them: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done"?

I think most Christians would argue that the Kingdom of G-d represents the direct rule of man by G-d through the divine personage of Jesus Christ, while the Muslim concept of the Caliphate represents the indirect rule of man by Allah through the human personage of the Caliph. In other words, the two are distinguished chiefly by the physical presence or absence of G-d in the earthly realm.

I suggest you read the Book of Revelation. It clearly implies that the will of G-d as implemented by the returned Jesus Christ (who will rule the nations with a rod of iron) will be at least as stringent as Sharia law, and in fact it seems to be described in terms even more horrible than anything we have heard about Sharia law.

Isn't it obvious that at least conceptually what the Caliph will enforce under Sharia law is the equivalent of what Jesus will enforce in the Kingdom of G-d? Do Christians actually believe that in addition to forgiving their sins, G-d will tolerate their continuation in a sinful lifestyle following the great and terrible Day of the Lord? Have they not read and understood the following?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:17-18 KJV

America's sex / drugs / rock and roll lifestyle does not fit within "the law" as invoked by Jesus, and yet we don't understand why many Muslims call us The Great Satan.

I believe it's time to look beyond the alleged differences among the three religions which stem from the patriarch Abraham (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and to examine their similarities.

Unfortunately the rabbis, priests, and imams willingly embrace the differences because they are more interested in seeing G-d punish their perceived enemies than they are in doing G-d's will. As Jesus said:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:44-45 KJV

If there are to be punishments, it is G-d who should be doing the punishing. But if a group of people decide that it's time to institute the Caliphate or the Kingdom of G-d, then who are the rest of us to stand in their way? Certainly, any Christians whose faith and understanding goes beyond the mere repetition of the words "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done" will know that the only righteous way to counter their fear of the Caliphate is to do every nonviolent thing they can to bring about the Kingdom of G-d.

To do anything else is to deny the Gospel of Jesus.