Do we understand the Kingdom of God
We see Jesus going through the cities and villages of Galilee preaching ... But what was his message? Above all else his message must have been truth and a message that even the simple hearted could understand. The Gospels supply the answer: he was "preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1), or "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23; 9:35). Jesus was telling good news about God's coming Kingdom; and what this meant was so well understood by early readers that Matthew refers to it simply as "the kingdom" without defining what kingdom.
When Jesus sent forth his disciples to teach, it was with the same message (Luke 9:2). Many in the earth profess to “admire” Jesus; many claim to love and follow him as Christians. Many here in this forum proclaim openly a love for Jesus Christ and desire to draw near to him that they may have a hope of that Kingdom.
But do we truly “desire” to know what he taught concerning this coming Kingdom?
What is this Kingdom?
Is it only a figure of speech for the influence Jesus wields over men's minds? Does it mean the community of believers who acknowledge his leadership? Does it exist now, without disturbing the political structure of nations and empires? Or, on the other hand, ought we to understand this "kingdom" to have as precise a meaning as the Kingdom of Great Britain, or the United Sates of America?
Many of the answers to these questions can be found in his commands and those whom he desired to received them in faith. Paul says that the good news about Christ is about his Kingdom, and forgiveness of sins through him Paul defines it as "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). Jesus himself says: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: and he that believeth not shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16 ; see also 1 Cor. 15:2,). According to Jesus and his apostles, the difference between believing and not believing is the difference between life and death.
We are told "The God of heaven shall 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 Lord shall be king over all the earth" (Zech. 14:9).
"The kingdoms of this world ... become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).
We are also told this future Kingdom on earth will be the ancient kingdom of Israel restored.
"Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6).
"In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen" (Amos 9:11).
"The kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem" (Micah 4:8).
"I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me ... ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:29, 30).
Therefore the establishment of this Kingdom will require the Jews to be gathered from their present state in all the earth, and restored to their own land (Israel), which will become the capital of the kingdom of God on earth.
"He that scattered Israel will gather him" (Jer. 31:10).
"He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" (Isa. 11:12).
"I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land" (Ezek. 37:21).
Jerusalem will become the capital city of the whole earth.
"At that time shall they call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord" (Jer. 3:17).
"The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem" (Isa. 24:23).
"Then shall Jerusalem be holy" (Joel 3:17).
Christ's accepted people will reign with him, and inherit the kingdom when these glorious things are fulfilled.
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:12).
"He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them" (Rev. 2:26).
"The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever" (Dan. 7:18, 27).
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom" (Matt. 25:34).
This post has been initiated in the hope of generating discussion about this coming Kingdom. We can draw on passages like Isaiah 65 and many other which speak to this magnificent time on Earth. Abraham look forward to a physical city who would be built by God, for God’s children. In these last days where the earth is growing dark and the light of Gods truth is being overshadowed by corruption and greed which is in the world because of lust, we must endeavour to keep a clear vision of this Kingdom before us, else we perish Prov 29:18. Within Prov 29 we can see our King and what he will be like, and how he will judge the earth in righteousness.
Feel free to search out this Kingdom and in searching I pray the door is opened and he who freely gives answers.
Alethos