New Age Life in the Kingdom of God was made possible by Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's sacrifice.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah - Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . ." (Romans:1:16).
We have seen that Jesus the Messiah - Christ preached "the gospel of the Kingdom" and that he sent his disciples out to proclaim his message before his crucifixion. However, after the Messiah`s - Christ's death and resurrection, another emphasis appeared in the message preached by the apostles, one that had not been possible before Jesus death that Jesus the Messiah - Christ had paid the penalty for human sins! In doing so, he had become the Savior of all who would accept his sacrifice and live the Christian life.
After the Day of Pentecost, the apostles continued to proclaim the Kingdom of God just as they had done when Jesus the Messiah - Christ walked the earth, but now they understood and spoke another dimension: New Age Life in that Kingdom was now possible through the sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah - Christ as Savior of humanity and through his continuing role as our High Priest.
Today, some view the biblical terms "gospel of the Kingdom" and "gospel of Christ" as though they were different messages. In reality, however, they are one and the same. The gospel of the Kingdom is the message Jesus the Messiah - Christ brought and proclaimed. The gospel of the Messiah - Christ is also the message Jesus the Messiah - Christ preached, along with the message regarding his life, death and sacrifice on our behalf, which makes possible new age life in that Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is attained only through Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's central role as the personal Savior of all who would enter that Kingdom.
The apostles' enhanced understanding becomes more evident in their epistles and other messages after Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's death and resurrection. The people of the Messiah`s - Christ's day expected a conquering Messiah who would throw off the yoke of the Roman rulers of Judea and establish a new kingdom. Christ's disciples recognized Him as that Messiah - Christ (Matthew:16:16), which in Greek means anointed; the same as the Hebrew word "Messiah" (John:1:41; 4:25). The term anointed signified the one who had been chosen to be King of that Messianic Kingdom.
New understanding of the Messiah
Jewish believers of the early Church would have understood the phrase "the gospel of the Messiah - Christ" as a message encompassing far more than just the person of Jesus the Messiah - Christ. Since the word Christ means "Messiah," they understood the apostles' message as "the gospel of the Messiah"; the good news of the King of the coming Kingdom of God. To them, the good news was not just that the Messiah - Christ had died for the sins of humanity, but that the Messiah had come and would return, establishing His Kingdom and fulfilling the many prophecies of His glorious reign.
The concept of a Kingdom established by the Messiah was not new to Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's followers. Scripture records that "they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately" (Luke:19:11). When Jesus the Messiah appeared to them again after His resurrection, the disciples asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts:1:6).
What the disciples failed to grasp during Jesus lifetime, was that the Messiah, whom they expected would arrive as a conquering king, would first have to die to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind. Even when Jesus the Messiah - Christ revealed this truth to the disciples, they refused to accept it. Not long before His death, "Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!'" (Matthew:16:21, 22). Not only did they not understand this aspect of the Messiah`s - Christ's mission, but they flatly refused to believe it.It is understandable, then, that the disciples were shocked when their Leader, whom they expected to overthrow the ruling Roman occupational government, was arrested. "Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (Matthew:26:56). Confused and devastated by this unexpected turn of events, they scattered as Jesus was tried, condemned and executed as a criminal.
Later, after they received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts:2:1-4), the disciples came to understand that, as the Scriptures had prophesied, the Messiah would have to die and be resurrected. The apostle Peter, in his first inspired sermon to the Jews gathered at Jerusalem, proclaimed that David, in one of his psalms, "spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah - Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay" (Acts:2:31, NIV).
Personal rescuer, or Savior, needed
Peter had to focus the minds of the Jews of his day on the Messiah`s - Christ's atoning sacrifice and role as a personal rescuer, or Savior, rather than only as a national leader: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact . . . Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah - Christ" (Acts:2:32, 36, NIV). When those who were convicted asked, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts:2:37, 38, NIV). Thousands responded to this call to repentance—a changed life—and were baptized.
Peter helped them to see that God's promises regarding the Holy Spirit and salvation (verses 17, 18, 21, 33, 40) were possible only because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah (verses 24, 30-33, 36). Those to whom Peter spoke had not understood the need for the Messiah's sacrifice for their personal sins, nor had they realized that the One they had just condemned to death was in fact the Messiah for whom they all longed. The apostles labored to correct these misunderstandings.
Peter's next public message made clear how Christ's atoning, saving work leads to the coming Kingdom of God: "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Messiah - Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts:3:18-21).
This magnificent message, which moved thousands more to believe, illustrates the way the gospel had been preached since the beginning, how it involved Christ as the suffering Messiah and how it was a message of the "restoration of all things"; the wonderful hope of the Messiah`s - Christ's return as King of a yet future Kingdom.
Where Christ's sacrifice leads
The apostle Paul saw with great clarity the significance of Christ's sacrifice and where it ultimately leads. In his first epistle to the Corinthians, he described the message he taught: "... I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians:15:1-4).
Jesus Christ's sacrificing of His life in our place is certainly good news. His paying the death penalty for us is wonderful news!
But Paul's description of the gospel he preached did not end there. After beginning with Christ's magnificent role in our personal salvation, he continued his explanation of the reason Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's resurrection is so important to the salvation of all humanity: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now the Messiah - Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in the Messiah - Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians:15:19-22).
All will be resurrected to life again
Notice that Paul says all will eventually be made alive. He continued by showing that this will occur in stages: "But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are the Messiah`s - Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power" (1 Corinthians:15:23, 24).
Earlier we read of Christ's rule as King of that coming Kingdom. But notice that His assuming power as King is preceded by the resurrection of "those who are Christ's at His coming"!
Throughout this chapter, Paul explains this wonderful aspect of the gospel message he taught. In verses 50-53 he explained when and how we can enter the Kingdom of God: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit in-corruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [in death], but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
This is the awe-inspiring purpose for Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection—the resurrection of many, many more to eternal life to "inherit the kingdom of God"! (verse 50). The Messiah`s - Christ's followers are to "inherit," or enter, the Kingdom "at the last trumpet" (verse 52), the great blast that signals the Messiah`s - Christ's return to rule the earth forever (Matthew:24:30, 31; Revelation:11:15).
We see that immortal life in His kingdom is made possible by Jesus the Messiah - Christ, "who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy:1:10).
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Prophecies of the Coming Kingdom of God
Prophecies about the marvelous world God has planned for us, the Kingdom of God.
What kind of future does God have in store for planet earth? Through His prophets God reveals many specific details of how this world will be transformed in the Kingdom of God. Notice a few prophecies about the marvelous world God has planned for us:
A world of unparalleled peace
". . . They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid . . ." (Micah:4:3-4).
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah:11:9).
Wild animals' nature transformed
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them . . ." (Isaiah:11:6).
A world of agricultural abundance
"'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it . . . They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them'" (Amos:9:13-14).
". . . I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase" (Ezekiel:34:26-27).
Wastelands transformed
". . . Waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water . . ." (Isaiah:35:6-7).
Sickness and disease healed
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing" (Isaiah:35:5-6).
Mankind given a new heart and spirit
"Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them . . . that they may walk in my statutes and keep my judgments and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel:11:19-20).
Nations will learn God's ways
"Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD . . . He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion the law shall go forth . . .'" (Micah:4:2).
Jesus the Messiah - Christ will rule the world
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end . . ." (Isaiah:9:6-7).
What kind of future does God have in store for planet earth? Through His prophets God reveals many specific details of how this world will be transformed in the Kingdom of God. Notice a few prophecies about the marvelous world God has planned for us:
A world of unparalleled peace
". . . They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid . . ." (Micah:4:3-4).
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah:11:9).
Wild animals' nature transformed
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them . . ." (Isaiah:11:6).
A world of agricultural abundance
"'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it . . . They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them'" (Amos:9:13-14).
". . . I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase" (Ezekiel:34:26-27).
Wastelands transformed
". . . Waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water . . ." (Isaiah:35:6-7).
Sickness and disease healed
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing" (Isaiah:35:5-6).
Mankind given a new heart and spirit
"Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them . . . that they may walk in my statutes and keep my judgments and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel:11:19-20).
Nations will learn God's ways
"Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD . . . He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion the law shall go forth . . .'" (Micah:4:2).
Jesus the Messiah - Christ will rule the world
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end . . ." (Isaiah:9:6-7).
The Promise of a Coming Kingdom
Jesus the Messiah - Christ and the apostles preached the gospel, the good news of the Kingdom of God. But exactly what is that Kingdom?
"And 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).
We have seen that Jesus the Messiah - Christ and the apostles preached the gospel; the good news of the Kingdom of God. But exactly what is that Kingdom?
There are many ideas about the Kingdom of God. Some think it is the church. Others believe it is an ethereal concept that resides in the hearts of Christians. Some think it is the collective good of humanity.
What do the scriptures say? What is the Kingdom of God?
The word translated "kingdom" throughout the New Testament is the Greek word basileia, which denotes "sovereignty, royal power, [and] dominion" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, "Kingdom"). A careful examination of the scriptures reveal that the next phase of the Kingdom of God is nothing short of a world-ruling monarchy that God will establish on this earth through Jesus the Messiah - Christ as His vice-regent!
An overview of world governments
This amazing truth is made clear in many Bible verses. The prophet Daniel was inspired to record a description of world governments spanning a period of thousands of years. His prophecy, recorded in Daniel:2:28-45, describes King Nebuchadnezzar's vision of five world-ruling empires. When we read these verses, we see that the fifth kingdom, the Kingdom of God, is a literal kingdom that has not yet come to earth.
In this passage, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed of a huge image of a man consisting of a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet composed of a mixture of iron and clay.
God gave Daniel, a prophet in Nebuchadnezzar's court, the ability to interpret dreams (Daniel:1:17; 2:28). Through God's inspiration, Daniel revealed that the four divisions of this image were actually four successive world empires. God, through Daniel, identified the first of the kingdoms, the head of gold, as the Babylonian Empire (Daniel:2:38). The next two kingdoms are identified in Daniel:8:1-21. This chapter records a subsequent vision that foretold and gives more detail about the second and third empires. These two kingdoms are identified as "the kings of Media and Persia" and "the kingdom of Greece." History confirms that the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire (recorded in Daniel:5:30, 31), which was in turn toppled by the Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great.
In chapter seven these four kingdoms are pictured again, this time as four beasts. This vision characterizes the empires as wild animals, predicting their harsh and oppressive domination of their subjects.
The fourth kingdom is characterized as especially cruel. History records that Alexander's Grecian kingdom was succeeded by the Roman Empire. This kingdom is shown here as challenging the very authority of God and persecuting His saints (Daniel:7:25). It has 10 horns (verse 7), which are 10 extensions or resurrections of the fourth great world-ruling empire (verse 24). These resurrections of this fourth kingdom continue through history to our day, and the final resurrection of this empire is depicted as existing at Jesus Christ's return (verses 8-14).
Human governments replaced by God
It is in the days of this fourth kingdom that God will replace these earthly kingdoms with His Kingdom. "And 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). We see that the fourth kingdom continues to rule until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth.
God's Kingdom; foretold repeatedly in Daniel; is the same Kingdom about which Jesus the Messiah - Christ preached. There can be no mistake about the nature of this Kingdom. The four kingdoms described in Daniel 2, 7 and 8 ruled over people and lands. They were great world empires with dominion and power to rule, warring against and conquering other nations. They had kings, governments, laws and subjects. They were literal kingdoms, whose ruins are visible to this day.
So, too, will the Kingdom of God be a literal kingdom ruling over the whole earth. Daniel:7:27, speaking of the establishment of this Kingdom, adds: "Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him" (NIV).
Major powers will fall
The wonderful news of the coming Kingdom of God is the heart and core of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's message for humanity. Jesus will return to earth and establish this Kingdom. He will be the ruler of the Kingdom of God as God`s vice-regent. Notice this prophecy of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's return: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our LORD and of His Messiah - Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation:11:15). Jesus the Messiah - Christ will assume rulership over literal kingdoms on earth.
The governments of mankind, with their inherent inability to solve human problems that are rooted in humanity's inability to choose the right way to live (Proverbs:16:25), will be replaced by a form of government that can at last solve those problems. Jesus Christ Himself will rule the nations of the earth!
This is the gospel; the good news that Jesus Christ taught. The focus of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's message was the announcement of a coming world government (Luke:21:31). This government will not be ruled by selfishly motivated humans but by Jesus the Messiah - Christ himself, under the direction of Almighty God!
Daniel was not the only prophet to speak of this time. Micah:4:1-3 also describes this time of unprecedented peace: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.
"Many nations 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 the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
As described in this passage, when Jesus the Messiah - Christ establishes His government, humanity will begin to recognize the blessings that come from obedience to God's ways and laws and will stream to Him to learn that way of life. Christ will settle disputes between peoples and will have to "rebuke strong nations" that reject His direction and authority.
Prophecies of Jesus Christ's ruler-ship
Isaiah, speaking of the future reign of Jesus Christ, describes what kind of ruler He will be: "... The government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty Hero, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever . . ." (Isaiah:9:6, 7).
"Judgment and justice" will be hallmarks of the Messiah`s - Christ's coming ruler-ship, in contrast to the injustice, short-sightedness and oppression that all too often characterize the governments of the world. Peace will break out throughout the world-in marriages, families, communities and nations. As prophesied, "there will be no end" to peace under Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's reign. The Prince of Peace will bring calm and goodwill to a world that has never known true peace.
Under Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's righteous ruler-ship, mankind will at last learn God's ways and experience this wonderful peace. Educational institutions will teach people how to live, not just how to make a living. Biblical principles for healthy and lasting relationships will be thoroughly explained. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah:11:9). The multiple millions of people who have never known God's laws or ways will at last have access to that wonderful, saving knowledge.
Causes of humanity's problems
Humankind has had thousands of years to experiment with governments, administrations and lifestyles, so why have we been unable to solve our problems?
Human government has not succeeded because, in the final analysis, humanity simply does not know how to live. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God warns that "it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah:10:23).
Solomon, king of ancient Israel, put it bluntly: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs:14:12; 16:25).
Sadly, mankind has proved the truth of those words for generations. Under human rule, the world has never seen a time that was free of war, strife, turmoil and suffering. Conditions today are so grave that mankind has the ability to erase human life from earth many times over!
Why should this be?
Our world is threatened by overwhelming problems because we have rejected God. God Himself has made this clear over the centuries through His prophets. Under God's inspiration, King David wrote of mankind: "They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one" (Psalm:14:1-3).
The prophet Jeremiah also noted that humans are largely blinded by the deceit of their own evil motives and intents. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah:17:9).
Humanity separated from God
The prophet Isaiah added: "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity ...
"Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace" (Isaiah:59:1-4, 7, 8).
God's ways are different from man's. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah:55:8, 9).
The apostle Paul described the inevitable results of rejecting God and His way of life: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans:1:28-32).
Jesus the Messiah- Christ will intervene to save humanity
Left to itself, mankind would annihilate all life from earth. Does this sound shocking? It is. But Jesus the Messiah - Christ himself said it is so! Describing the time immediately before His return to earth, he said: "It will be a time of great distress; there has never been such a time from the beginning of the world until now, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Matthew:24:21, 22, New English Bible).
Jesus the Messiah - Christ tells us that he must intervene to save us from ourselves. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew:24:29, 30).
This glorious event is described in greater detail in Revelation:19:11-16: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
The millennial Kingdom and beyond
Jesus the Messiah - Christ will usher in a literal kingdom, the Kingdom of God, on earth. But this is not the end of the story. Notice Revelation:11:15: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And 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!'"
We have seen that Jesus the Messiah - Christ will establish his reign over the nations in a literal kingdom. This kingdom is depicted in Revelation:20:3-7 as lasting 1,000 years. Yet, in the verse quoted just above, we are told that "He shall reign forever and ever." In other words, the thousand-year reign (commonly called the Millennium, Latin for "thousand years") is just the beginning of Jesus Christ's eternal reign in the Kingdom of God.
Indeed, the millennial reign that Jesus the Messiah - Christ shares with the resurrected saints; to whom the Kingdom will be given; will take place for the very purpose of offering entry into the eternal Kingdom of God to all mankind. Millions of physical human beings alive at the return of Jesus Christ will live into the Millennium, and in turn many generations of humans will be born and live during that time. They will all be given an opportunity to be changed from this physical life and body to spirit, to be granted eternal life and to enter into the eternal Kingdom of God.
The truth that the Kingdom of God is ultimately an eternal kingdom, not just a thousand-year period, is made plain by Jesus the Messiah - Christ. In Matthew:19:16, we read of a wealthy young man who asked Jesus the fundamental question: "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have new age life?" Jesus went on to explain what the young man must do. When it became clear that he was not willing to do what Jesus commanded, Jesus Christ went on to say in verse 24 that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Here, entry into the Kingdom of God is equated with new age life.
Yes, the millennial reign of Jesus the Messiah - Christ will open the door for millions of human beings, then already being ruled by the Kingdom of God, to be saved and actually enter into the eternal Kingdom of God. The Millennium, a time of unparalleled peace, happiness and prosperity, will be just a foretaste of the even greater eternal Kingdom!
Transformed heaven and earth
After the thousand years are ended, yet another incredible sequence of events is prophesied, as we read in Revelation:21:1-7: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth - a new order of things, for the first heaven and the first earth - the old order of things had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God ... And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'
"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.'"
Access to the tree of life — new age life life, from which humanity has been cut off since the time of Adam and Eve (Genesis:3:22-24) will be given to those who obediently keep God's commandments as given by THAT PROPHET Jesus (Revelation:22:14).
New Age Life as children of God awaits those who enter His Kingdom.
"And 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).
We have seen that Jesus the Messiah - Christ and the apostles preached the gospel; the good news of the Kingdom of God. But exactly what is that Kingdom?
There are many ideas about the Kingdom of God. Some think it is the church. Others believe it is an ethereal concept that resides in the hearts of Christians. Some think it is the collective good of humanity.
What do the scriptures say? What is the Kingdom of God?
The word translated "kingdom" throughout the New Testament is the Greek word basileia, which denotes "sovereignty, royal power, [and] dominion" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, "Kingdom"). A careful examination of the scriptures reveal that the next phase of the Kingdom of God is nothing short of a world-ruling monarchy that God will establish on this earth through Jesus the Messiah - Christ as His vice-regent!
An overview of world governments
This amazing truth is made clear in many Bible verses. The prophet Daniel was inspired to record a description of world governments spanning a period of thousands of years. His prophecy, recorded in Daniel:2:28-45, describes King Nebuchadnezzar's vision of five world-ruling empires. When we read these verses, we see that the fifth kingdom, the Kingdom of God, is a literal kingdom that has not yet come to earth.
In this passage, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed of a huge image of a man consisting of a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet composed of a mixture of iron and clay.
God gave Daniel, a prophet in Nebuchadnezzar's court, the ability to interpret dreams (Daniel:1:17; 2:28). Through God's inspiration, Daniel revealed that the four divisions of this image were actually four successive world empires. God, through Daniel, identified the first of the kingdoms, the head of gold, as the Babylonian Empire (Daniel:2:38). The next two kingdoms are identified in Daniel:8:1-21. This chapter records a subsequent vision that foretold and gives more detail about the second and third empires. These two kingdoms are identified as "the kings of Media and Persia" and "the kingdom of Greece." History confirms that the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire (recorded in Daniel:5:30, 31), which was in turn toppled by the Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great.
In chapter seven these four kingdoms are pictured again, this time as four beasts. This vision characterizes the empires as wild animals, predicting their harsh and oppressive domination of their subjects.
The fourth kingdom is characterized as especially cruel. History records that Alexander's Grecian kingdom was succeeded by the Roman Empire. This kingdom is shown here as challenging the very authority of God and persecuting His saints (Daniel:7:25). It has 10 horns (verse 7), which are 10 extensions or resurrections of the fourth great world-ruling empire (verse 24). These resurrections of this fourth kingdom continue through history to our day, and the final resurrection of this empire is depicted as existing at Jesus Christ's return (verses 8-14).
Human governments replaced by God
It is in the days of this fourth kingdom that God will replace these earthly kingdoms with His Kingdom. "And 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). We see that the fourth kingdom continues to rule until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth.
God's Kingdom; foretold repeatedly in Daniel; is the same Kingdom about which Jesus the Messiah - Christ preached. There can be no mistake about the nature of this Kingdom. The four kingdoms described in Daniel 2, 7 and 8 ruled over people and lands. They were great world empires with dominion and power to rule, warring against and conquering other nations. They had kings, governments, laws and subjects. They were literal kingdoms, whose ruins are visible to this day.
So, too, will the Kingdom of God be a literal kingdom ruling over the whole earth. Daniel:7:27, speaking of the establishment of this Kingdom, adds: "Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him" (NIV).
Major powers will fall
The wonderful news of the coming Kingdom of God is the heart and core of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's message for humanity. Jesus will return to earth and establish this Kingdom. He will be the ruler of the Kingdom of God as God`s vice-regent. Notice this prophecy of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's return: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our LORD and of His Messiah - Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation:11:15). Jesus the Messiah - Christ will assume rulership over literal kingdoms on earth.
The governments of mankind, with their inherent inability to solve human problems that are rooted in humanity's inability to choose the right way to live (Proverbs:16:25), will be replaced by a form of government that can at last solve those problems. Jesus Christ Himself will rule the nations of the earth!
This is the gospel; the good news that Jesus Christ taught. The focus of Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's message was the announcement of a coming world government (Luke:21:31). This government will not be ruled by selfishly motivated humans but by Jesus the Messiah - Christ himself, under the direction of Almighty God!
Daniel was not the only prophet to speak of this time. Micah:4:1-3 also describes this time of unprecedented peace: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.
"Many nations 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 the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
As described in this passage, when Jesus the Messiah - Christ establishes His government, humanity will begin to recognize the blessings that come from obedience to God's ways and laws and will stream to Him to learn that way of life. Christ will settle disputes between peoples and will have to "rebuke strong nations" that reject His direction and authority.
Prophecies of Jesus Christ's ruler-ship
Isaiah, speaking of the future reign of Jesus Christ, describes what kind of ruler He will be: "... The government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty Hero, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever . . ." (Isaiah:9:6, 7).
"Judgment and justice" will be hallmarks of the Messiah`s - Christ's coming ruler-ship, in contrast to the injustice, short-sightedness and oppression that all too often characterize the governments of the world. Peace will break out throughout the world-in marriages, families, communities and nations. As prophesied, "there will be no end" to peace under Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's reign. The Prince of Peace will bring calm and goodwill to a world that has never known true peace.
Under Jesus the Messiah`s - Christ's righteous ruler-ship, mankind will at last learn God's ways and experience this wonderful peace. Educational institutions will teach people how to live, not just how to make a living. Biblical principles for healthy and lasting relationships will be thoroughly explained. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah:11:9). The multiple millions of people who have never known God's laws or ways will at last have access to that wonderful, saving knowledge.
Causes of humanity's problems
Humankind has had thousands of years to experiment with governments, administrations and lifestyles, so why have we been unable to solve our problems?
Human government has not succeeded because, in the final analysis, humanity simply does not know how to live. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God warns that "it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah:10:23).
Solomon, king of ancient Israel, put it bluntly: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs:14:12; 16:25).
Sadly, mankind has proved the truth of those words for generations. Under human rule, the world has never seen a time that was free of war, strife, turmoil and suffering. Conditions today are so grave that mankind has the ability to erase human life from earth many times over!
Why should this be?
Our world is threatened by overwhelming problems because we have rejected God. God Himself has made this clear over the centuries through His prophets. Under God's inspiration, King David wrote of mankind: "They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one" (Psalm:14:1-3).
The prophet Jeremiah also noted that humans are largely blinded by the deceit of their own evil motives and intents. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah:17:9).
Humanity separated from God
The prophet Isaiah added: "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity ...
"Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace" (Isaiah:59:1-4, 7, 8).
God's ways are different from man's. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah:55:8, 9).
The apostle Paul described the inevitable results of rejecting God and His way of life: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans:1:28-32).
Jesus the Messiah- Christ will intervene to save humanity
Left to itself, mankind would annihilate all life from earth. Does this sound shocking? It is. But Jesus the Messiah - Christ himself said it is so! Describing the time immediately before His return to earth, he said: "It will be a time of great distress; there has never been such a time from the beginning of the world until now, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Matthew:24:21, 22, New English Bible).
Jesus the Messiah - Christ tells us that he must intervene to save us from ourselves. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew:24:29, 30).
This glorious event is described in greater detail in Revelation:19:11-16: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
The millennial Kingdom and beyond
Jesus the Messiah - Christ will usher in a literal kingdom, the Kingdom of God, on earth. But this is not the end of the story. Notice Revelation:11:15: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And 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!'"
We have seen that Jesus the Messiah - Christ will establish his reign over the nations in a literal kingdom. This kingdom is depicted in Revelation:20:3-7 as lasting 1,000 years. Yet, in the verse quoted just above, we are told that "He shall reign forever and ever." In other words, the thousand-year reign (commonly called the Millennium, Latin for "thousand years") is just the beginning of Jesus Christ's eternal reign in the Kingdom of God.
Indeed, the millennial reign that Jesus the Messiah - Christ shares with the resurrected saints; to whom the Kingdom will be given; will take place for the very purpose of offering entry into the eternal Kingdom of God to all mankind. Millions of physical human beings alive at the return of Jesus Christ will live into the Millennium, and in turn many generations of humans will be born and live during that time. They will all be given an opportunity to be changed from this physical life and body to spirit, to be granted eternal life and to enter into the eternal Kingdom of God.
The truth that the Kingdom of God is ultimately an eternal kingdom, not just a thousand-year period, is made plain by Jesus the Messiah - Christ. In Matthew:19:16, we read of a wealthy young man who asked Jesus the fundamental question: "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have new age life?" Jesus went on to explain what the young man must do. When it became clear that he was not willing to do what Jesus commanded, Jesus Christ went on to say in verse 24 that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Here, entry into the Kingdom of God is equated with new age life.
Yes, the millennial reign of Jesus the Messiah - Christ will open the door for millions of human beings, then already being ruled by the Kingdom of God, to be saved and actually enter into the eternal Kingdom of God. The Millennium, a time of unparalleled peace, happiness and prosperity, will be just a foretaste of the even greater eternal Kingdom!
After the thousand years are ended, yet another incredible sequence of events is prophesied, as we read in Revelation:21:1-7: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth - a new order of things, for the first heaven and the first earth - the old order of things had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God ... And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'
"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.'"
Access to the tree of life — new age life life, from which humanity has been cut off since the time of Adam and Eve (Genesis:3:22-24) will be given to those who obediently keep God's commandments as given by THAT PROPHET Jesus (Revelation:22:14).
New Age Life as children of God awaits those who enter His Kingdom.
How You Can Enter the Kingdom
Do you know how to enter the Kingdom of God?
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew:6:33).
Salvation through Jesus' life, death and resurrection is central to the gospel message. Jesus the Messiah died, was buried and was resurrected for a reason: so we could inherit everlasting life in the Kingdom of God (John:3:16). This astounding part of the gospel; the entering into the Kingdom of God; is what so few understand. It is synonymous with salvation. Without understanding this part of the gospel, one cannot understand what salvation is. Do you know how to enter this Kingdom, to attain the salvation of which the Bible speaks?
Entering into the Israel of God!
What will salvation; new age life in the Kingdom of God really mean to those who receive it? We have seen that salvation is the transformation from a fleshly, mortal human being into an immortal son of God. Notice how the book of Hebrews expresses it: "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy [separate from evil, repentant and converted human beings] are of the same family" (Hebrews:2:10, 11, NIV).
Have you ever grasped this before? Those who enter the Kingdom of God are all "of the same family"! All will be God's children, brought "to glory"; a glorified state (1 Corinthians:15:42-44) by Him. This is what salvation is all about. "So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises' . . . 'And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me'" (Hebrews:2:11-13, NIV).
That Jesus is not ashamed to regard them as His own brothers (and sisters) shows just how personal this family relationship is. Those who enter the Kingdom of God will share even God's divine nature (2 Peter:1:4) for all eternity.
God will make those who enter His Kingdom fully like Jesus the Messiah - Christ! The apostle John is explicit: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! . . . Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John:3:1-3).
Yes, human beings who enter the Kingdom of God will be given the glorious honor of being like the resurrected, glorified Jesus the Messiah -Christ. "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with the Messiah - Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans:8:16, 17, King James Version).
This is the awesome potential of all who receive new age life as members of the Israel of God!
The reward of the saints
The promised reward of the saints, or salvation as it is often called, occurs at the resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians:15:50-52). This takes place when Jesus the Messiah - Christ returns at the last trumpet and the kingdoms of the world become "the kingdoms of God and of His Anointed one Jesus the Messiah - Christ" (Revelation:11:15). Those who are resurrected from mortal life to immortality will enter his Kingdom and assist the Messiah Jesus in a 1,000-year reign on earth (Revelation:20:4-6).
The gospel of the Kingdom of God reveals that Jesus the Messiah - Christ will set up his Kingdom on earth with his resurrected saints. The gospel reveals that the saints; the faithful followers of Jesus Christ resurrected to eternal life at His return; will be actively involved in ruling with the Messiah Jesus in the Kingdom of God when it is established (Revelation:5:10). Prophecies in the book of Isaiah reveal that the Messiah - Christ will begin working with the human beings left alive after His return to teach them His ways. The resurrected saints will assist the Messiah - Christ in bringing about complete spiritual and physical healing of the nations (Isaiah:30:20, 21; 35:1, 5, 6).
Jesus the Messiah's faithful followers, now given eternal life, will assist him as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God (Revelation:1:6). They will become spirit beings and live forever (1 Thessalonians:4:14-17; 1 Corinthians:15:42-44; 50-54).
This is God's incredible promise to them: "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation:21:7). What does this inheritance include? Hebrews:2:6-8 indicates that our ultimate destiny is to participate in ruler-ship over the earth as glorified, immortal sons of God!
A call to action
When we hear and understand the gospel of the Kingdom of God, Jesus expects us to repent and believe the good news about this Kingdom (Mark:1:14, 15). His Kingdom is something we must seek to enter (Mark:10:23, 25)(Mat:6:33).
Accepting Jesus' command to repent and believe this message, this good news, is the first step. We can turn to God for forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus the Messiah - Christ and begin to live by the laws of the Kingdom of God as taught by Jesus who was THAT PROPHET prophesied by Moses as the one who would come like unto him. Those who refuse to live God's way of life as revealed through his son Jesus the Messiah will be refused entrance into the Kingdom of God and new age life (1 Corinthians:6:9, 10; Galatians:5:19-21; Ephesians:5:5).
Jesus warned of obstacles that can prevent our entrance into the Kingdom (Matthew:5:20; 19:23-25; Mark:9:47; Luke:18:17; John:3:5). To enter the Kingdom, we must gain a proper outlook a humble, teachable, childlike attitude; accompanied by real repentance - change of heart, be baptised according to Jesus' command and as a result receive God's Holy Spirit (Matthew:18:3; John:3:3, 5; Acts:2:38).
Seeking God's Kingdom must become our highest priority, no matter what the difficulties. Paul said, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts:14:22). Jesus encourages us to overcome these difficulties by keeping the Kingdom of God as our primary goal (Matthew:6:33). He urges us to pray for God's Kingdom to come (Matthew:6:10).
When our lives are devoted to seeking God's Kingdom, our outlook will be like that of the patriarchs as recorded in Hebrews 11. Notice these inspiring words about their orientation: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth ... Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (verses 13, 16). The patriarchs considered themselves "strangers and pilgrims" because they looked forward to the Kingdom of God. Their lives were centered on that Kingdom, not on their physical, material life.
Road map for the Kingdom
God reveals His wonderful truth to those He is calling now (John:6:44). Jesus the Messiah - Christ said His message would be preached at the end time before His second coming. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew:24:14).
The message Jesus brought is called, appropriately, the good news; the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and it really is good news, the most wonderful news imaginable to mankind. Jesus the Messiah - Christ is asking you to believe that good news and act upon the message with faith obedience and "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew:6:33). If you do, says Jesus the Messiah - Christ in Luke:12:32, it will be God's pleasure to give you the Kingdom!
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew:6:33).
Salvation through Jesus' life, death and resurrection is central to the gospel message. Jesus the Messiah died, was buried and was resurrected for a reason: so we could inherit everlasting life in the Kingdom of God (John:3:16). This astounding part of the gospel; the entering into the Kingdom of God; is what so few understand. It is synonymous with salvation. Without understanding this part of the gospel, one cannot understand what salvation is. Do you know how to enter this Kingdom, to attain the salvation of which the Bible speaks?
Entering into the Israel of God!
What will salvation; new age life in the Kingdom of God really mean to those who receive it? We have seen that salvation is the transformation from a fleshly, mortal human being into an immortal son of God. Notice how the book of Hebrews expresses it: "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy [separate from evil, repentant and converted human beings] are of the same family" (Hebrews:2:10, 11, NIV).
Have you ever grasped this before? Those who enter the Kingdom of God are all "of the same family"! All will be God's children, brought "to glory"; a glorified state (1 Corinthians:15:42-44) by Him. This is what salvation is all about. "So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises' . . . 'And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me'" (Hebrews:2:11-13, NIV).
That Jesus is not ashamed to regard them as His own brothers (and sisters) shows just how personal this family relationship is. Those who enter the Kingdom of God will share even God's divine nature (2 Peter:1:4) for all eternity.
God will make those who enter His Kingdom fully like Jesus the Messiah - Christ! The apostle John is explicit: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! . . . Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John:3:1-3).
Yes, human beings who enter the Kingdom of God will be given the glorious honor of being like the resurrected, glorified Jesus the Messiah -Christ. "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with the Messiah - Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans:8:16, 17, King James Version).
This is the awesome potential of all who receive new age life as members of the Israel of God!
The reward of the saints
The promised reward of the saints, or salvation as it is often called, occurs at the resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians:15:50-52). This takes place when Jesus the Messiah - Christ returns at the last trumpet and the kingdoms of the world become "the kingdoms of God and of His Anointed one Jesus the Messiah - Christ" (Revelation:11:15). Those who are resurrected from mortal life to immortality will enter his Kingdom and assist the Messiah Jesus in a 1,000-year reign on earth (Revelation:20:4-6).
The gospel of the Kingdom of God reveals that Jesus the Messiah - Christ will set up his Kingdom on earth with his resurrected saints. The gospel reveals that the saints; the faithful followers of Jesus Christ resurrected to eternal life at His return; will be actively involved in ruling with the Messiah Jesus in the Kingdom of God when it is established (Revelation:5:10). Prophecies in the book of Isaiah reveal that the Messiah - Christ will begin working with the human beings left alive after His return to teach them His ways. The resurrected saints will assist the Messiah - Christ in bringing about complete spiritual and physical healing of the nations (Isaiah:30:20, 21; 35:1, 5, 6).
Jesus the Messiah's faithful followers, now given eternal life, will assist him as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God (Revelation:1:6). They will become spirit beings and live forever (1 Thessalonians:4:14-17; 1 Corinthians:15:42-44; 50-54).
This is God's incredible promise to them: "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation:21:7). What does this inheritance include? Hebrews:2:6-8 indicates that our ultimate destiny is to participate in ruler-ship over the earth as glorified, immortal sons of God!
A call to action
When we hear and understand the gospel of the Kingdom of God, Jesus expects us to repent and believe the good news about this Kingdom (Mark:1:14, 15). His Kingdom is something we must seek to enter (Mark:10:23, 25)(Mat:6:33).
Accepting Jesus' command to repent and believe this message, this good news, is the first step. We can turn to God for forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus the Messiah - Christ and begin to live by the laws of the Kingdom of God as taught by Jesus who was THAT PROPHET prophesied by Moses as the one who would come like unto him. Those who refuse to live God's way of life as revealed through his son Jesus the Messiah will be refused entrance into the Kingdom of God and new age life (1 Corinthians:6:9, 10; Galatians:5:19-21; Ephesians:5:5).
Jesus warned of obstacles that can prevent our entrance into the Kingdom (Matthew:5:20; 19:23-25; Mark:9:47; Luke:18:17; John:3:5). To enter the Kingdom, we must gain a proper outlook a humble, teachable, childlike attitude; accompanied by real repentance - change of heart, be baptised according to Jesus' command and as a result receive God's Holy Spirit (Matthew:18:3; John:3:3, 5; Acts:2:38).
Seeking God's Kingdom must become our highest priority, no matter what the difficulties. Paul said, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts:14:22). Jesus encourages us to overcome these difficulties by keeping the Kingdom of God as our primary goal (Matthew:6:33). He urges us to pray for God's Kingdom to come (Matthew:6:10).
When our lives are devoted to seeking God's Kingdom, our outlook will be like that of the patriarchs as recorded in Hebrews 11. Notice these inspiring words about their orientation: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth ... Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (verses 13, 16). The patriarchs considered themselves "strangers and pilgrims" because they looked forward to the Kingdom of God. Their lives were centered on that Kingdom, not on their physical, material life.
Road map for the Kingdom
God reveals His wonderful truth to those He is calling now (John:6:44). Jesus the Messiah - Christ said His message would be preached at the end time before His second coming. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew:24:14).
The message Jesus brought is called, appropriately, the good news; the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and it really is good news, the most wonderful news imaginable to mankind. Jesus the Messiah - Christ is asking you to believe that good news and act upon the message with faith obedience and "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew:6:33). If you do, says Jesus the Messiah - Christ in Luke:12:32, it will be God's pleasure to give you the Kingdom!
Was Jesus Christ the Messiah?
What was Jesus Christ's purpose? Why did He come to earth? Why will He come again?
The answers to these questions become evident when we examine the concept of the Messiah.
Messiah is a Hebrew word meaning "Anointed One." Anointing was used, among other things, to signify that kings had been chosen by God (1 Samuel:15:1; 16:12-13; 1 Kings:1:34). Christ means "Anointed One" in Greek, the language in which the New Testament has been preserved for us— the same as the Hebrew word Messiah. The two terms mean the same thing (John:1:41; 4:25).
A prophesied king and kingdom
The Hebrews understood that their Scriptures contained many prophecies of a divinely appointed ruler who would restore the glory and grandeur of the kingdom of Israel. For example, Isaiah:9:6-7 says: ". . . The government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever . . ."
Jeremiah:23:5 adds: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
After the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity by Assyria and Babylon, respectively, the Israelite people looked to these promises for a deliverer. In Christ's day, the descendants of the Jews who had returned to their homeland from Babylon several centuries earlier were dominated by the Roman Empire. In their oppression they prayed and hoped for the promised Messiah, a conquering king who would deliver them from their Roman overlords and restore Israel to greatness.
From many prophecies they deduced, correctly, that the Messiah was soon to appear. Hopes ran high. When John the Baptist came on the scene, some thought he might be the Messiah. Scripture tells us that "the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ [Messiah] or not" (Luke:3:15).
John said he was not the Messiah, but he did point people to Jesus of Nazareth. One of John's followers, a fisherman named Andrew, immediately believed in Jesus. "He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated, the Christ)'" (John:1:40-41). Both Andrew and Simon (Peter) became disciples.
Jesus confirms He is the Messiah
Jesus acknowledged that He was the long-awaited Messiah in a conversation with a Samaritan woman. "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming' (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will tell us all things.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He'" (John:4:25-26, emphasis added throughout).
Jesus also acknowledged that He was the Messiah at His trial. ". . . The high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?' Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven'" (Mark:14:61-62).
Jesus knew that He was born to be a king. When Pontius Pilate questioned Him before His crucifixion, he asked Jesus if He were indeed a king. Jesus responded: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world . . ." (John:18:36-37).
The disciples' misunderstanding
That Jesus' kingdom was not for that time was misunderstood by most of His followers. They had assumed that Jesus Christ would lead a popular uprising that would throw off the Romans and establish a new political entity. Among themselves, some of the disciples even argued at times as to who among them would hold the primary positions in the new government (Matthew:20:20-21; Luke:9:46; 22:24).
Their understanding was limited. They didn't realize that the Messiah - Christ must first come to suffer and die for the sins of mankind and only later would come as the conquering king they expected.
When Jesus was tried and executed, they were dismayed. Their hopes and dreams of power were dashed. Peter and some of the other disciples returned to their old occupations as fishermen (John:21:1-3).
Even after Jesus appeared to them again, they still didn't understand. They still hoped Christ would establish the Kingdom of God then. Notice Acts:1:6- 8: "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. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"
Jesus explained that the timing of that kingdom should not be their primary concern; indeed they would not know when it would be established. Their focus, Christ said, should be on the work He had assigned them. The Kingdom of God would be established in due time.
Finally they understood. Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the promised Messiah, but first He had to suffer and die for their sins. Later He would come as a conquering king to establish the Kingdom of God.
The dozens of prophecies recorded by the prophets about a Messiah— prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ— are among the strongest proofs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The four Gospels recall the Old Testament prophecies and show how Jesus Christ fulfilled them .
The Gospels also speak of His resurrection and ultimate return to earth as conquering King. That is the message of the Gospels, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who is prophesied throughout the Old Testament.
The answers to these questions become evident when we examine the concept of the Messiah.
Messiah is a Hebrew word meaning "Anointed One." Anointing was used, among other things, to signify that kings had been chosen by God (1 Samuel:15:1; 16:12-13; 1 Kings:1:34). Christ means "Anointed One" in Greek, the language in which the New Testament has been preserved for us— the same as the Hebrew word Messiah. The two terms mean the same thing (John:1:41; 4:25).
A prophesied king and kingdom
The Hebrews understood that their Scriptures contained many prophecies of a divinely appointed ruler who would restore the glory and grandeur of the kingdom of Israel. For example, Isaiah:9:6-7 says: ". . . The government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever . . ."
Jeremiah:23:5 adds: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
After the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity by Assyria and Babylon, respectively, the Israelite people looked to these promises for a deliverer. In Christ's day, the descendants of the Jews who had returned to their homeland from Babylon several centuries earlier were dominated by the Roman Empire. In their oppression they prayed and hoped for the promised Messiah, a conquering king who would deliver them from their Roman overlords and restore Israel to greatness.
From many prophecies they deduced, correctly, that the Messiah was soon to appear. Hopes ran high. When John the Baptist came on the scene, some thought he might be the Messiah. Scripture tells us that "the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ [Messiah] or not" (Luke:3:15).
John said he was not the Messiah, but he did point people to Jesus of Nazareth. One of John's followers, a fisherman named Andrew, immediately believed in Jesus. "He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated, the Christ)'" (John:1:40-41). Both Andrew and Simon (Peter) became disciples.
Jesus confirms He is the Messiah
Jesus acknowledged that He was the long-awaited Messiah in a conversation with a Samaritan woman. "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming' (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will tell us all things.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He'" (John:4:25-26, emphasis added throughout).
Jesus also acknowledged that He was the Messiah at His trial. ". . . The high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?' Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven'" (Mark:14:61-62).
Jesus knew that He was born to be a king. When Pontius Pilate questioned Him before His crucifixion, he asked Jesus if He were indeed a king. Jesus responded: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world . . ." (John:18:36-37).
The disciples' misunderstanding
That Jesus' kingdom was not for that time was misunderstood by most of His followers. They had assumed that Jesus Christ would lead a popular uprising that would throw off the Romans and establish a new political entity. Among themselves, some of the disciples even argued at times as to who among them would hold the primary positions in the new government (Matthew:20:20-21; Luke:9:46; 22:24).
Their understanding was limited. They didn't realize that the Messiah - Christ must first come to suffer and die for the sins of mankind and only later would come as the conquering king they expected.
When Jesus was tried and executed, they were dismayed. Their hopes and dreams of power were dashed. Peter and some of the other disciples returned to their old occupations as fishermen (John:21:1-3).
Even after Jesus appeared to them again, they still didn't understand. They still hoped Christ would establish the Kingdom of God then. Notice Acts:1:6- 8: "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. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"
Jesus explained that the timing of that kingdom should not be their primary concern; indeed they would not know when it would be established. Their focus, Christ said, should be on the work He had assigned them. The Kingdom of God would be established in due time.
Finally they understood. Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the promised Messiah, but first He had to suffer and die for their sins. Later He would come as a conquering king to establish the Kingdom of God.
The dozens of prophecies recorded by the prophets about a Messiah— prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ— are among the strongest proofs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The four Gospels recall the Old Testament prophecies and show how Jesus Christ fulfilled them .
The Gospels also speak of His resurrection and ultimate return to earth as conquering King. That is the message of the Gospels, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who is prophesied throughout the Old Testament.
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