The Kingdom of God
The importance
of this subject cannot be overestimated - the very essence of the preaching of
Christ and the Apostles was about a Kingdom as the following quotations will
show:
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease
among the people” (Matt. 4:23).
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Jesus), because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).
“And he (Jesus) said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God
to other cities also: for therefore I am sent” (Luke 4:43).
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14).
“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city
and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and
the twelve were with him” (Luke 8:1).
“And he (Jesus) sent them (the twelve) to preach the
kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2).
“And they went through the towns preaching the gospel” (Luke 9:6).
“And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he (Jesus)
received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that
had need of healing” (Luke 9:11).
These and many
other passages of scripture could be given to show that long before Christ's
death and resurrection, Christ and the disciples were preaching the good news
of the kingdom. The nature of the kingdom was not disclosed. After Christ's
death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, did the Apostles continue to
preach about the kingdom of God? Let the Scriptures answer:
“But when they (the Samaritans) believed Philip preaching the
things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).
“After Pentecost the Name
(Jesus Christ) was added. For there is none other Name under heaven given among men
whereby we must be saved”
(Acts 4:12).
“And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the
space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the
kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8).
“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him
into his lodging, to whom he (Paul) expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus,
both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets from morning till evening”
(Acts 28:23).
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man
forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).
Is it important
to understand, today, the gospel that Paul preached? Listen:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal.
1:8).
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also
to the Gentiles (Greek)” (Rom. 1:16).
The gospel then,
whatever it is, “is the Power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth.” Is there any other power that will save? Just what then is
the kingdom of God? Is it the Church? Is it the supremacy of God in the hearts
of men? (The Kingdom of God is within you - Luke 17:21).
Let us take a
look at these questions:
IS THE CHURCH
THE KINGDOM?
“And when they (Paul and Barnabas) had preached the gospel to that
city (Derbe) and had taught many, they returned again to
Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming (establish, settle) the
souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that
we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God” (Acts 14:21-22).
Why continue in
the faith? “that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God.”
WERE THESE
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH? Read the next verse.
“And when they had ordained them elders in every church,
and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they
believed (Acts 14:23).
“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together,
they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door
of faith unto the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27).
Those not
blinded by tradition can see that the church is not the kingdom. The Church or
Ecclesia is a body of baptized believers. Paul exhorted them to continue in the
faith, that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Neither shall they say, “Lo here! or Lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God
is within you” (Luke 17:21).
Who is the
"you" in this verse? The Pharisees. Let Jesus tell you who they
were.
“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within
ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt. 23:28).
The marginal
rendering of “within you” is “among you.” “The kingdom of God is within
you” in the Diaglott reads “God's Royal Majesty is among you.”
Christ is God's Royal Majesty. He was among the Pharisees preaching the Gospel
of the Kingdom, but they were too blind to see that Christ was God's Royal
Majesty. The angel said to Mary:
“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a
son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the
Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne
of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of
his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).
This son of the
Highest, heir to David's throne, will yet - very soon we know - sit on the
throne of David to be restored and reign over the house of Jacob (the 12 tribes
of Israel restored) for ever - The Kingdom of God then will be the kingdom of
Israel restored.
Did not Peter on
the day of Pentecost refer to Christ as the “fruit” of David's “loins” “raised
up” to sit on David's throne? “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God
had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts
2:30).
Did not Paul
connect Jesus Christ with the fulfillment of the “sure mercies of David?”
“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no
more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure
mercies of David” (Acts 13:34).
Did not Paul's
enemies accuse him of saying that there is another king, Jesus, contrary to the
decrees of Caesar? (Acts 17:2-7). While preaching at Athens Paul declared:
“Because he (God) hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge
(i.e., rule) the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;
whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead” (Acts 17:31).
Since we have no
record of God raising any one from the dead except Christ, it is easy to see
who is to rule the world in righteousness.
Is Christ ruling
the world in righteousness now? No. Where is Christ now? At the right hand of
the Father. If he is to sit on David's throne restored, will not he have to
come back to the earth? Yes, and we have a definite statement along this line.
“And he (God) shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution
of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets
since the world began” (Acts 3:20-21).
Restitution
means, according to Webster, to restore that which was lost. Note this
question:
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying
Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
(Acts 1:6).
The disciples
were taught to pray “Thy Kingdom Come.” The Ecclesias, usually the poor of this
world, were “rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom.”
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of
this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to
them that love him?” (James 2:5).
We read: “And I
say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 8:11).
From what has
been said concerning the kingdom of God so far, it is safe to assume that it
will be established here in the earth and that "the kingdoms of this
world" will some day “become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ”
(Rev. 11:15).
The second
chapter of Daniel speaks definitely on this point.
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and
it shall stand for ever” (Dan. 2:44).
The God of
heaven is to set up a Kingdom. Note what is said of it:
1.
It shall never be
destroyed.
2.
It shall not be left
to other people.
3.
It shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms of men.
4.
It shall stand
forever.
The locality of this Kingdom is to be the whole earth -
the present locality of the kingdoms of men. The rulers in this kingdom will be
immortalized – “Kings and Priests” who reign on earth (Rev. 5:10). That is the
reason the Kingdom will not be left to other people. Being immortal they cannot
die. Rulers in the kingdoms of men die, and others take their places - not so
in the Kingdom of God.
In the Apostolic
days, before baptism, people “believed Philip preaching
the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ.”
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women” (Acts 8;12).
Two things stand
out in this verse: The
1.
Things of the Kingdom
of God, and
2.
(things of the) Name
of Jesus Christ.
Let us look at
the things that concern a kingdom.
1.
God's Royal Majesty,
Christ, is to be the King.
2.
The territory,
“And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one
Lord, and his name one” (Zech. 14:9).
3.
Rulers - the immortalized saints - Kings and
Priests. “And hast made us unto our God: Kings and Priests: and we shall reign
on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them: and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4).
4.
Subjects -
(a) The restored
12 tribes of Israel the immediate subjects, who will be ruled over by the 12
Apostles. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne
(David's throne restored) of his glory, ye (the 12 Apostles) also shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).
(b)
Mortal Nations - "All dominions shall serve and obey him" (Dan.
7:27).
5.
The seat
of government - Jerusalem - the city of the Great King. The Lord
“shall choose Jerusalem again” (Zech. 2:12). “Beautiful for situation, the joy
of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the
great King” (Ps. 48:2).
6.
Capitol
City - In this
City - Jerusalem - the throne will be established. “And the key of the house of
David will I lay upon his (Christ's) shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall
shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Isa. 22:22). “For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his
(Christ's) shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). “He shall
be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall
give unto him (Christ) the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32).
7.
Laws – “And many nations shall come, and say,
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God
of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for
the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah
4:2).
These seven
things should be understood and believed before one is ready for baptism into
the only “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Only One Name: “Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Jesus made it
very clear before he went to heaven “that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations (Jews and Gentiles), beginning
at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Study every Bible conversion from the day of
Pentecost on through the Acts, and you will find all submitted to baptism into
the One Name.
THE KINGDOM OF
ISRAEL - or THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, or THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The thing for
which Paul was “Bound” with a chain (Acts 28:20); all such
expressions meant much to Jews in Apostolic days.
“For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and
to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am
bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20).
If you ask
people today what Paul meant by being bound with a chain for the Hope of
Israel, they will look with pity upon you. What difference does it make what
Paul hoped for, so long as our hope is Heaven - the “saint's
secure abode?”
A person who
understands what is meant by the Kingdom of God will tell you that God had at
one time a Kingdom and that "he (God) hath chosen Solomon my son
to sit upon the throne of the Kingdom of the Lord over Israel" (I Chron. 28:5).
"Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord
as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed
him" (I Chron. 29:23).
Is that kingdom
still in existence? No. What happened to it? When Solomon died (slept with his
fathers) Rehoboam came to the throne. To keep up all his wives and concubines,
Solomon needed a full purse. Taxes were high. The people demanded relief.
Rehoboam refused to arbitrate.
"And the king (Rehoboam) answered the people roughly, and
forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the
counsel of the young men, saying, My father (Solomon) chastised you with whips,
but I will chastise you with scorpions" (I Kings 12:13-14).
This caused a
revolt. Ten tribes led by Jeroboam went North to Samaria, the Capitol of the
northern kingdom. Two tribes - Benjamin and Judah, remained at Jerusalem. It is
an interesting study to trace the history of these two kingdoms. Hoshea was the
last king to reign over the ten tribes and Zedekiah was the last king to reign
over the two tribes. Note carefully what Ezekiel said about this wicked king,
Zedekiah:
"And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is
come, when iniquity shall have an end; Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the
diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same (omitting italics)
exalt low (i.e. Gentile governments) and abase high (i.e. Israel) I will
overturn, overturn, overturn it (the Kingdom); and it shall be no more until he
(Christ) come whose right it is; and I will give it him" (Ez. 21:25,27).
God's word
provides for a restoration of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah - the House of
Jacob - or the whole twelve tribes. Note what the angel said to Mary:
"He (Jesus) shall be great, and shall be called the Son of
the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
What is meant by
the House of Jacob? The whole 12 tribes of Israel. Note what the following
says:
"Turn, O backsliding children…I will give you pastors
(teachers, the 12 Apostles over the 12 tribes and saints over the whole earth
in the Age to Come) according to mine heart, which shall feed you with
knowledge and understanding (the way then will be so plain that a wayfaring
man, tho' a fool will not err therein)" (Isa. 35:8).
"At that time, they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the
Lord. And all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the Name of the Lord,
to Jerusalem; neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their
evil heart. In those days the house of Judah (two tribes) shall walk with the
house of Israel (ten tribes) and they shall come together out of the land of
the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers
(Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)" (Jer. 3:14-15,17-18).
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise
unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah (two tribes) shall
be saved, and Israel (ten tribes) shall dwell safely; and this is his name
whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:5-6).
Dense indeed is
the person who shuts his eyes to these glorious promises - all yet future - and
all to be fulfilled right here on the earth.
READER - Is it
clear now to you what Paul meant when he said "For the Hope of Israel I am
bound with this chain?"
Israel (the ten
tribes and the two tribes) have suffered untold miseries.
The time of
Jacob's Trouble - spoken of in Jeremiah is perhaps now (February 16, 1947) -
but read the last part of God's promise - it cannot fail: "Alas! for that
day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble;
BUT HE SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT" (Jer. 30:7).
Israel's
deliverance is only a matter of time, believe it or not. For the doubting
Thomases, let one more quotation be given:
"Behold I will take the children of Israel (the 12 tribes)
from among the heathen (Gentile Nations) whither they be gone, and will gather
them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them
one nation (when Saul, David and Solomon reigned, Israel was one nation) in the
land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king (Christ) shall be king to them
all: and they shall be no more two nations (the 2 tribes - kingdom of Judah and
ten tribes - the kingdom of Israel) neither shall they be divided into two
kingdoms any more at all" (Ez. 37:21-22).
THE KINGDOM OF
GOD is a Divine Institution to be set up by the Almighty - the purpose being to
"gather in one all things in Christ."
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth; even in him" (Eph. 1:10).
RIGHTEOUS RULERS - those
taken out by the gospel will rule the world in righteousness - CHRIST is the
King of this "New Order" - He must reign until all enemies - even the
last enemy "death" shall be destroyed.
"For
he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is DEATH" (I Cor. 15:25-26).
This "New
Order" will last for 1,000 years –
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was
given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness
of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; AND THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS"
(Rev. 20:4).
The whole earth
shall be filled with God's glory –
"And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole
earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen" (Ps. 72:19).
"THERE
SHALL BE NO MORE CURSE."
"And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him" (Rev. 22:3).
No wonder God's
people pray "THY KINGDOM COME."
- O.L. Dunaway