Precursors of that which is to come

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

2 Peter 3:13

Although Jesus told His disciples the Kingdom was at hand and was actually in their midst, He also spoke of the Kingdom in its future form. 

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Matthew 6:10

He told the disciples to pray "Thy Kingdom come".

The disciples had expected Jesus to establish this "coming" or future Kingdom before Calvary. When Jesus died, their hope was lost. After His resurrection their hope revived. In the period of time between the resurrection and His return to Heaven, Jesus spoke many things about the Kingdom of God. This prompted the disciples to ask,

"Wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" Acts 1:6

Jesus answered:

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.   Acts 1:7

The coming of the Kingdom is certain, but the timing of its visible restoration rests with the Father.

Jesus did share many things which must happen on earth before the Kingdom would be established in its final form. These signs were revealed to help us recognize when the time is near. You can read of these signs in Matthew  24 and 25, Mark 13 and Luke 17:20-37; 21:8-36. Jesus told the disciples that when these things began to happen, they were a sign that the visible restoration of the Kingdom of God was near:

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand.   Luke 21:31

The gospel to all nations marks the beginning of the end:

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.   Matthew 24:14

Jesus will return to earth:

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.   Acts 1:11

Jesus will defeat all kingdoms of the world:

Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet.     1 Corinthians 15:24-25

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.   Revelation 11:15

Satan and residents of his kingdom will be conquered:

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

All nations will come into the kingdom:

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven.   Matthew 8:11

All people will acknowledge Jesus as king:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.   Philippians 2:9-11

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6

All men, living and dead, will be judged by god:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom.  2 Timothy 4:1

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works...

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12-13, 15

Jesus told a parable about the Kingdom being like a great net cast into the sea which gathered every kind of fish. When the net was drawn in, the good fish were separated from the bad

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.    Matthew 13:47-48

He also spoke of the Kingdom as tares and wheat growing for a time together. But in the end, the good wheat were separated from the tares

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;   The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.   The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.    Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42

By the example of tares among wheat Jesus taught that the Kingdom had come, but evil men were still present. For a time, the two would coexist. At judgment, they would be separated.

Both of these parables concern the separation which will occur at the time of judgment. Those who have entered the Kingdom through the new birth will be accepted into the visible Kingdom in its final form. All others will be cast out of the Kingdom:

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.   Luke 13:28

The kingdom of god will be established in its visible form:

And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.   Daniel 7:14

True believers will reign with Jesus in the kingdom:

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in His throne.   Revelation 3:21

There will be a new heaven and a new earth:

You can read the descriptions of the new Heaven and earth in Revelation 21 and 22. Jerusalem will be the throne of the Lord, and all nations will be gathered into it:

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.  Jeremiah 3:17

Let's summarize the past, present, and future of the Kingdom of God:

God's Kingdom existed in Heaven before the creation of the earth.

God created the earth as an extension of His Heavenly Kingdom. He chose man as the instrument through which His Kingdom would be extended. Man failed in this responsibility.

Then God chose a nation through which His Kingdom would be extended. But Israel failed in their responsibility. They turned to heathen gods and accepted worldly standards instead of the Kingdom principles.

Then God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Where the first man, Adam, failed, the second man, Jesus, succeeded. He ushered in the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus provided a way, through spiritual rebirth, that man could live in the Kingdom of God and that Kingdom exist within him even though he still lived in the natural world.

 The visible establishment of the Kingdom was postponed until a second coming.

To extend the message or "Gospel" of the Kingdom, God has chosen the Church; the body of Christ. The Church is the instrument through which the Kingdom message is to be shared with the nations of the world.  

Where the first chosen people, Israel, failed, the Church will succeed. When the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached throughout the world, the second return of the King will occur. The Kingdom of God will be established in its final, visible form. All other worldly kingdoms will be defeated.

Biblical Studies

10/04/19

04/08/21