Vintage

You will not find the Kingdom of God in the index to your atlas. It is not marked on any map. The kingdoms marked in the atlas are those that provide the headlines for the daily news bulletins: the United Kingdom, America, Russia, Israel, France, Germany and China etc. The Kingdom of God is not mentioned in the news.

Yet the signs around us, as reported in the news media etc, confirm Bible teaching that this kingdom will soon be established. It will become the only kingdom on this earth, possessing all the earth’s territories and resolving all of man’s problems. This is the message of Almighty God Himself, contained in His own inspired revelation to man — the holy Bible. That revelation, in both Old and New Testaments, traces and unfolds to the student the complete picture of the Kingdom of God, both in the past and in the future.

God’s Chosen People Became the Kingdom of God

The Bible teaches that in days of old, the God of heaven and earth chose for Himself the Hebrew people, the children of Israel. He made unique and far-reaching promises to their forefathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, promises relating to the nation that sprang from them:

“Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants (seed) forever.” (Genesis 13:14-15)

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants (seed) after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:7-8)

This was the land was to belong to them and a particular descendant of Abraham, as the promise stated:

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

The people that descended from the patriarchs became that nation. Their early growth and sojourn in Egypt is ancient history. God led them out of Egypt under the hand of Moses. At Mt Sinai He entered into a covenant with them:

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:4-6)

The people agreed with all that God had asked of them through Moses. Their covenant (binding agreement) with Him was sealed in blood of sacrificed oxen:

Then he (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” (Exodus 24:7-8)

The continuation of the nation depended upon them keeping their covenant with God. This Kingdom was established in the land then known as Canaan, the land that God had promised to Abraham.

Note: This was not the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham. The promise stated that Abraham was to be there himself, which means it can only be fulfilled after Abraham has been resurrected.

For some 400 years God was Israel’s King, and they prospered under his hand. When they forgot their God, He allowed the surrounding nations to over run them. When they came to their senses and cried to Him for help, He raised up judges who freed them from their oppressors and led them back to God. This is the theme of the Book of Judges.

God’s People Demand an Earthly King

But eventually human nature prevailed. Israel wanted to be like the surrounding nations and have a human king to rule over them and lead them into battle:

But the thing displeased (the prophet) Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Samuel 8:6-7)

The kings who reigned over Israel were there at the discretion of God Himself and reigned on His behalf. David was undoubtedly Israel’s greatest king. He acknowledged his throne was that of the Lord:

“And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.” (1 Chronicles 28:5)

Later in Solomon’s reign it was said of him:

Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness. (2 Chronicles 9:8)

Many centuries later God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, confirming that God was still their king:

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. (Isaiah 43:15)

The Children of Israel failed to live up to the covenant that they had made with God:

“I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.” (Jeremiah 35:15)

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to over-run the land. He besieged Jerusalem until in the year 586 the walls were breached. Zedekiah, the last king was captured and forced to watch the slaying of his sons. Then his own eyes were put out and he was led away captive to Babylon. However, God made a promise that one day the kingdom would be restored:

Thus says the Lord GOD; “Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” (Ezekiel 21:26-27 KJV)

God has foretold that at the right time his kingdom will be restored to Israel:

At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 3:17)

Downtrodden Jerusalem is assured of happier days when she becomes the capital of the world. She will be the centre from which the glory of the lord will shine forth to the entire world:

Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously. (Isaiah 24:23)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

Jesus to be the Future King

Israel reached its pinnacle under King David, described as a man after God’s own heart:

He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13:22)

God made a wonderful promise to David concerning the continuation of his kingdom and throne, through a chosen descendant, promised since the earliest days:

“I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

The angel Gabriel testified to Mary that this descendent of David was to be her own son:

“You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” (Luke 1:31-32)

Jesus Christ was the person referred to in the promise made to David:

When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. …And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

Being a descendent of David, Jesus bore our nature and was subject to the same trials and temptations as we are. But being also the Son of God, he had his Father’s character, and was able to overcome the temptation to sin. Therefore by his righteousness Jesus proved his right to the Kingdom and the throne:

Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:21-22)

The Kingdom was Taught by Jesus

From the start of his work, the gospel or ‘good news’ of this Kingdom was the focal point of Jesus’ teaching, beginning in Galilee:

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Matthew 9:35)

He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” (Luke 4:43)

The prayer that he taught his disciples, known to all as the Lord’s Prayer contains these words:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

When this prayer is repeated by countless number of Christians around the world, they may not understand that they are praying for the coming of God’s kingdom upon the earth.

When Jesus met with the apostles during the forty days after his resurrection, the ‘kingdom’ was the main theme of what he had to say to them:

(Jesus was) seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Prior to ascending to heaven Jesus assembled the apostles together on the Mount of Olives. They knew something special was about to happen and asked him about the kingdom:

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:6-7)

Their question confirms the fact that the disciples correctly understood that the kingdom was yet future, still to be restored to Israel, as implied in Jesus’ answer.

The Kingdom was Taught by the Apostles

The preaching of the kingdom of God is continued in the book of Acts:

When they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)

The Apostle Paul preached the kingdom of God:

Paul went into the synagogue (at Ephesus) and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8)

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him (Paul) at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23)

Territory of the Kingdom

The main differences between the future kingdom of God and the Old Testament kingdom are that its influence will be worldwide, and that in Jesus it will have only one all-powerful and infallible ruler.

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be — “The Lord is one,” and His name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

The worldwide extent of the future kingdom is taught in a number of places in the Scriptures. For example in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream given to Daniel we are told that God will set up the kingdom upon the ruins of the kingdoms of men, and that it will fill the earth:

In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44)

Most nations will resist the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. However, as God has promised the nations to His son, as his inheritance, it will be necessary for them to be subdued:

Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. (Psalm 2:8-11)

Eventually nations will submit to the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is then that the vision seen by the Apostle John will become a reality:

There were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)

The Followers are to be Co-Rulers with Christ

The Bible reveals that Christ will return in power and glory to reward his faithful and obedient servants — both Jews and Gentiles:

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

In the parable of Christ’s judgement of believers, Jesus taught that the faithful also are to inherit the kingdom:

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)

They are to be co-rulers with the Lord Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God:

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (2 Timothy 2:12)

In the Book of Revelation we find the saints singing a new song of praise to the Lord Jesus Christ:

You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

Obviously the saints are to be subordinate to the Lord Jesus Christ, as we see in the letter to the church at Laodicea:

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:21-22)

Daniel was a God fearing prince of Israel, captured by Nebuchadnezzar when he destroyed the Kingdom. He was taken back to Babylon, where over 500 years before the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, he had been told the same thing by an angel:

“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

“The Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” (Daniel 7:22)

Who are the Saints of the Most High?

The saints are simply those who have believed in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and have lived a faithful life in obedience to his commandments. Many of the New Testament letters (epistles) are addressed to those called to be saints:

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3)

Those men and women accounted worthy of the honour of the Kingdom will be like Jesus — immortal beings, partakers of the Divine Nature. It is the gift of God through His son, Jesus Christ.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Glad Tidings

The gospel of the coming Kingdom or God is good news — glad tidings. It is the only answer to this world’s evils — the cure for the bleeding wounds and breaking hearts of afflicted mankind. Sadly it is a cure that most men and women do not want to hear, as they desperately seek in vain to provide an answer themselves. But for those who will listen the good news of the gospel provides a religion that makes sense in these difficult days.

There are Scriptural reasons for believing that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is very close and that mercifully, there is not much time left to the present rulers of this world. When that day comes it will be too late for us to try to prepare for his coming. The choice is ours. Jesus gives us good advice:

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

It is our sincere wish that you, along with us, might share that honour in the day of his return.

Please let us know when you have read these notes, and we will be pleased to send you the next set of notes. All we ask is that you actually read the studies and look up the Bible references in your own Bible.

You may contact us (James, Ellen or Jean) by email: info@biblenews.org