The Eight Kingdom Texts in Acts

[Matthias]

1. Acts 1:3
2. Acts 1:6
3. Acts 8:12
4. Acts 14:22
5. Acts 19:8
6. Acts 20:24-25
7. Acts 28:23
8. Acts 28:30-31

I’m a Kingdom preacher. Every kingdom preacher should have them readily at hand.

In a recent presentation, author Merryl DeMott asked audience members to consider 6 questions while we exam the 8 texts:

“1. What did Jesus say about the Kingdom?
2. What is the Kingdom?
3. What is the Gospel?
4. What does the Kingdom have to do with salvation?
5. Were the Apostles and disciples of Jesus preaching the same message as Jesus taught?
6. Why know the 8 Kingdom texts?”

***

Having received no replies, I’ve posted the author’s own simple answers to the 6 questions in the hope that it will stimulate conversation about this subject of highest priority to the Messiah.

 

[Matthias]

“1. What did Jesus say about the Kingdom?“

”The Kingdom of God was Jesus’ primary focus, as he preached about it for over three years. Jesus himself said it was the reason he was sent or commisioned by God (Luke 4:43). It’s what he told us to pray for, and people need to repent and believe it. He spike about the Kingdom of God both before he was crucified and after his resurrection, and said that it would be preached to the whole earth before his return (Matthew 24:14).”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Matthias]

”2. What is the Kingdom?”

”The Kingdom of God is God’s righteous rulership over all of His creation. This is His will and plan to restore mankind and this world back to Himself. And He has accomplished this through His only begotten Son, Messiah Jesus, descendant of David, who is the promised King of that Kingdom. This Kingdom will be established on the earth and will be everlasting.”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Matthias]

“3. What is the Gospel?”

“The Gospel is the Good News about the Kingdom of God and includes the death, resurrection, and future reign of Jesus as King in that Kingdom. It is the full life-saving Good News, the foundation of Jesus’ teachings.”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Matthias]

“4. What does the Kingdom have to do with salvation?”

“Jesus said to seek that Kingdom, putting it first in our lives, as well as spreading or sowing the Kingdom Gospel ‘seed’ throughout the world, for people to hear and believe in order to be saved. This is what followers of Jesus should be doing: heralding, proclaiming, teaching this Gospel of the Kingdom until he returns.”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Matthias]

“5. Were the Apostles and disciples of Jesus preaching the same message as Jesus taught?”

“Absolutely! Jesus instructed his followers in preparation for that future Kingdom of God. He opened their minds to fully understand the Scriptures, and said he would send them the promise of his Father, the Holy Spirit, to clothe them with power from on high. And they would bring this Kingdom good news to both Jews and Gentiles.”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Matthias]

6. Why know the 8 Kingdom texts?”

“These eight Kingdom passages in Acts each emphasize the significance of the Kingdom of God - beginning with Jesus’ command to proclaim the Kingdom to all nations until his return, and culminating in the Apostle Paul’s mission to share the complete Gospel.”

- Merryl DeMott

 

[Marilyn C]

”The Kingdom of God was Jesus’ primary focus, as he preached about it for over three years. Jesus himself said it was the reason he was sent or commisioned by God (Luke 4:43). It’s what he told us to pray for, and people need to repent and believe it. He spike about the Kingdom of God both before he was crucified and after his resurrection, and said that it would be preached to the whole earth before his return (Matthew 24:14).”

- Merryl DeMott

Hi Matthias,

Good topic. Now when Jesus was manifest on earth He came to Israel and confirmed the promises that were given to them made by the fathers. (Rom. 15: 8) One of those promises was that the kingdom (rule) of the God of heaven would rule through the nation of Israel over the nations. This will be fulfilled in the millennium and on the New Earth. Matthew presented Jesus as King and thus the phrase `kingdom (rule) of heaven,` was for them. In the other writings which was for the Gentiles then the phrase kingdom of God, (overall) was written.

Only Israel was to have the kingdom rule of the God of heaven through them. It will be the message in the trib, before the Lord returns to deliver Israel and punish the rebellious.

In our time of the building of the Body of Christ the message is to do with Christ as Head of the Body and becoming sons of God in that Body. Our inheritance is with Christ on His throne in the third heaven.

 

[Marilyn C]

”The Kingdom of God is God’s righteous rulership over all of His creation. This is His will and plan to restore mankind and this world back to Himself. And He has accomplished this through His only begotten Son, Messiah Jesus, descendant of David, who is the promised King of that Kingdom. This Kingdom will be established on the earth and will be everlasting.”

- Merryl DeMott

Christ`s rulership is over all of God`s great kingdom. (Eph. 1: 20 - 23. Col. 1: 16. Ps. 2: 6. Rev. 4: 2) And God`s great kingdom includes the visible and invisible, the earth, the Universe and the third heaven.

 

[Matthias]

Hi Matthias,

Good topic. Now when Jesus was manifest on earth He came to Israel and confirmed the promises that were given to them made by the fathers. (Rom. 15: 8) One of those promises was that the kingdom (rule) of the God of heaven would rule through the nation of Israel over the nations. This will be fulfilled in the millennium and on the New Earth. Matthew presented Jesus as King and thus the phrase `kingdom (rule) of heaven,` was for them. In the other writings which was for the Gentiles then the phrase kingdom of God, (overall) was written.

Only Israel was to have the kingdom rule of the God of heaven through them. It will be the message in the trib, before the Lord returns to deliver Israel and punish the rebellious.

In our time of the building of the Body of Christ the message is to do with Christ as Head of the Body and becoming sons of God in that Body. Our inheritance is with Christ on His throne in the third heaven.

Thanks for your reply. Are you saying that Jesus’ preaching is only for Jews?

 

[Marilyn C]

“The Gospel is the Good News about the Kingdom of God and includes the death, resurrection, and future reign of Jesus as King in that Kingdom. It is the full life-saving Good News, the foundation of Jesus’ teachings.”

- Merryl DeMott

The `good news` is that Christ is Head of the Body (Eph. 1: 22 & 23) and that we are sons of God in that Body. Our inheritance i s in the third heaven with Christ on His throne. (Rev. 3: 21)

 

[Matthias]

The `good news` is that Christ is Head of the Body (Eph. 1: 22 & 23) and that we are sons of God in that Body. Our inheritance i s in the third heaven with Christ on His throne. (Rev. 3: 21)

Do you not believe that Jesus will sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem when he returns?

 

[Marilyn C]

“Jesus said to seek that Kingdom, putting it first in our lives, as well as spreading or sowing the Kingdom Gospel ‘seed’ throughout the world, for people to hear and believe in order to be saved. This is what followers of Jesus should be doing: heralding, proclaiming, teaching this Gospel of the Kingdom until he returns.”

- Merryl DeMott

Jesus was talking to the children of Israel about seeking the kingdom, (rule of God through them over the nations). We are told to `look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.` (Heb. 12: 2 Col. 3: 1 & 2)

 

[Matthias]

Jesus was talking to the children of Israel about seeking the kingdom, (rule of God through them over the nations). We are told to `look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.` (Heb. 12: 2 Col. 3: 1 & 2)

So you would say then that you are not seeking the kingdom? Would you say that non-Jews shouldn’t seek the kingdom?

 

[Marilyn C]

“Absolutely! Jesus instructed his followers in preparation for that future Kingdom of God. He opened their minds to fully understand the Scriptures, and said he would send them the promise of his Father, the Holy Spirit, to clothe them with power from on high. And they would bring this Kingdom good news to both Jews and Gentiles.”

- Merryl DeMott

The disciples only went to the Jews. The disciples are promised by the Lord to be the rulers over the 12 tribes of Israel. (Matt. 19: 28)

 

[Marilyn C]

So you would say the. that you are not seeking the kingdom of God?

I am not. I am looking unto Jesus. I know that all God has promised to Israel will come about. It is not for me to seek it.

 

[Marilyn C]

“These eight Kingdom passages in Acts each emphasize the significance of the Kingdom of God - beginning with Jesus’ command to proclaim the Kingdom to all nations until his return, and culminating in the Apostle Paul’s mission to share the complete Gospel.”

- Merryl DeMott

The kingdom message and the good news of Christ as Head of the Body are two revelations to different groups.

 

[Matthias]

The disciples only went to the Jews.

Tradition has them going to Jews and non-Jews and we find Jesus and the disciples speaking with non-Jews in scripture. What was he, and what were they, speaking to non-Jews about if not the kingdom?

The disciples are promised by the Lord to be the rulers over the 12 tribes of Israel. (Matt. 19: 28)

Aren’t the disciples promised by the Lord to reign with him in the kingdom?

 

[Matthias]

The kingdom message and the good news of Christ as Head of the Body are two revelations to different groups.

Would you say then that there is more than one gospel?

 

[Matthias]

I am not. I am looking unto Jesus. I know that all God has promised to Israel will come about. It is not for me to seek it.

Okay. Thanks.

I’m grafted into Israel. I’m looking to Jesus and seeking the kingdom.