The Kingdom that Jesus preached about is subsidiary, or secondary, to God’s universal sovereignty. The Messianic Kingdom has a specific purpose.
The first human pair rebelled against God’s authority, so because of the issues raised in the garden of Eden, Jehovah chose to bring about a new expression of his sovereignty. God announced his purpose to produce a “seed” that would crush the Serpent, Satan, and remove the effects of mankind’s inherited sin. The primary “seed” is Jesus Christ, and “the kingdom of God” is the agency that will utterly defeat Satan. By means of this Kingdom, Jesus Christ will restore rulership over the earth in Jehovah’s name and will vindicate God’s rightful sovereignty for all time. Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:2-9.
According to the King James Bible Jesus says at Luke 17:21 to the wicked Pharisees: “The kingdom of God is within you.” Did Jesus mean that the Kingdom was in the wicked hearts of those corrupt men? I don't think so. A more accurate translation of the original Greek reads: “The kingdom of God is in your midst." (New World Translation) Jesus, who was in their midst, thus referred to himself as the future King. Far from being something that a person has in his heart, God’s Kingdom is a real, operating government having a ruler and subjects. It is a heavenly government, for it is called both “the kingdom of the heavens” and “the kingdom of God.” Matthew 13:11; Luke 8:10.
In vision, at Daniel 7:13, 14 the prophet Daniel beheld its Ruler as “someone like a son of man” brought before Almighty God and given lasting “rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him.” The Bible calls Jesus Christ “the Son of man," at Matthew 12:40 and Luke 17:26. Jehovah designated his Son, Jesus Christ, to be King.
Jesus does not rule alone. With him are 144,000 who have been “bought from the earth” to be his associate kings and priests. Revelation 5:9,10; 14;1,3; Luke 22: 28-30. The subjects of God’s Kingdom will be a global family of humans who are submissive to Christ’s leadership. Psalm 72:7,8. We can be sure that the Kingdom will actually vindicate God’s sovereignty and restore paradisaic conditions to our earth forever.
Jehovah gives us assurance of the Kingdom’s reality. As shown in the Bible book of Hebrews 10:1 many facets of the Law foreshadowed the Kingdom arrangement.
Fore gleams of God’s Kingdom were also evident in the earthly kingdom of Israel. That was no ordinary government, for the rulers were said to be sitting upon “Jehovah’s throne.” 1 Chronicles 29:23. Also it had been foretold: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong.” Genesis 49:10. It was into this Judean line of kings that Jesus, who is the permanent King of God’s government, was born. Luke 1:32, 33.
The foundation of God’s Messianic Kingdom was laid with the selection of Jesus’ apostles. Ephesians 2:19,20; Revelation 21:14. These were the first of 144,000 who would rule in heaven as associate kings with Jesus Christ. While on earth, these prospective co-rulers would spearhead a witnessing campaign, in keeping with Jesus’ command: “Go, make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19.
Even today that command to make disciples is being obeyed on an unprecedented scale. Jehovah’s Witnesses are proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom all around the globe, in harmony with Jesus’ prophetic words: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. One aspect of the Kingdom-preaching work, is a great educational program being carried out. Those who submit to the laws and principles of God’s Kingdom are already experiencing a peace and unity that human governments cannot achieve. All of this gives clear evidence that God’s Kingdom is a reality!
Jehovah told the Israelites: “You are my witnesses, even my servant whom I have chosen.” Isaiah 43:10-12. Jesus, “the Faithful Witness,” zealously declared the good news of the Kingdom. Revelation 1:5; Matthew 4:17. Why do Witnesses spend so much time and effort talking to others about God’s Kingdom? They do this because the Kingdom is mankind’s only hope. Human governments break down sooner or later, but God’s Kingdom never will. Isaiah 9:6, 7 calls its Ruler, Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” and adds: “To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end.” God’s Kingdom is not like man’s governments—here today and overthrown tomorrow. Indeed, Daniel 2:44 says: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It itself will stand to times indefinite.”
No human king could bring about the elimination of war, crime, sickness, starvation, and homelessness. Also, no earthly ruler could resurrect those who have died. God’s Kingdom and its King will address these matters. The Kingdom will not prove defective, like malfunctioning equipment that continually needs repair. Rather, God’s Kingdom will succeed, for Jehovah promises: “My word that goes forth from my mouth, will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. God’s purpose will not fail. So this kingdom of God will exist forever.
