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\u201cWhat About the Kingdom?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tom Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In last week\u2019s bulletin we saw that when Christ returns, several major events will take place \u2013 and all on what is referred to as the \u201clast day.\u201d For on that day, all will be raised from the dead (Jn. 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; Jn. 6:39,40,44,54; 11:24); all will be judged (Acts 17:30,31; Jn. 12:48); the earth and all the universe, along with time itself, will cease to be (2 Pet. 3:4, 10-12; Gen. 1:14-19); and every person, from the first man Adam on down, will end up at one of two destinations where to spend an eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So some might wonder, \u201cWhat about the kingdom that Christ is supposed to set up here on earth?\u201d This question is asked because the kingdom is what many premillennialists are still waiting for. They believe that because of the Lord\u2019s rejection by the Jews, He was not able to establish His kingdom; so the church was then set up as a \u201csubstitute\u201d until the kingdom would come; and that the church was not a part of God\u2019s eternal, predetermined plan; but, rather, a mere afterthought in the mind of God. This is also referred to as the \u201cParenthesis Theory,\u201d with the church being the \u201cParenthesis\u201d that fills the gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bible, however, shows that not only was the establishment of the church a part of God\u2019s plan before the world began, but that it is also that \u201ckingdom\u201d that was to come! Notice, for instance, in Ephesians 3 that Paul says: \u201cTo me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be MADE KNOWN THROUGH THE CHURCH to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. THIS WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ETERNAL PURPOSE which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord\u2026\u201d (vv. 8-11, emphasis mine). So the church was a part of God\u2019s \u201ceternal purpose\u201d and, therefore, that which had been in His mind before there was even a universe \u2014 and not a mere afterthought or last-minute substitution for the kingdom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coming kingdom is first seen in prophecy, way back during Old Testament Times. Daniel, for instance, shows a succession of world-ruling empires in Daniel 2, as he interprets King Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream. These kingdoms are Babylon (vv. 37,38 \u2013 which reigned as a world-ruling empire for 70 years), the Medes and the Persians (v. 39 \u2013 about 200 years), Greece (v. 39 \u2013 about 130 years), and Rome (vv. 40-43 \u2013 about 500 years as an undivided kingdom). All these kingdoms ruled in succession as world-ruling empires, but it would be during the days of the Roman Empire that God would set up His spiritual kingdom on earth (vv. 44, 45).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus was born into this world during the time of the Roman Empire, and His message was \u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand\u201d (Matt. 4:17). John the Baptist also preached the same (cf. Matt. 3:2). That coming kingdom was so near that Jesus was able to say in Mark 9:1, \u201cTruly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.\u201d Though some folks today would say the kingdom has not yet come, should we believe them or what Jesus and John the Baptist said about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though Isaiah does not use the word \u201ckingdom\u201d in Isaiah 2:2-4, yet he is referring to it and shows that it will be in the \u201clast days\u201d that it would be established. Note here that he does not say the \u201clast day\u201d (when Christ comes the second time), but the \u201clast days,\u201d which is referring to the Gospel Age that began after the Lord\u2019s death on the cross (cf. Acts 2:15-17). For His death did away with the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant of the Gospel Age (cf. Col. 2:14; Heb. 8:6-13; 2 Cor. 3:6-18; Heb. 9:15-17; Heb. 10:1-10, 16-22). Isaiah declares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow it will come about that
In the last days
The mountain of the house of the LORD
Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised above the hills;
And all the nations will stream to it.
And many peoples will come and say,
\u2018Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.\u2019
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem\u201d
(Isa. 2:2,3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That prophecy came to pass in Acts 2 on the day that the church (kingdom) was established. For it was there in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles, and they miraculously preached (with the gift of tongues) in the languages of those Jews who were \u201cfrom every nation under heaven\u201d (v. 5). For they were in Jerusalem to observe the annual feast of Pentecost, and what they heard was \u201cof the mighty deeds of God\u201d (v. 11). As a result, 3,000 souls were converted that day when they believed and obeyed the gospel plan of salvation (vv. 36-38, 41). In their doing so, the Lord Himself then added them to His church (v. 47).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMountain\u201d is sometimes used in the Bible to figuratively refer to a \u201ckingdom\u201d (cf. Dan. 2:35,44-45). So here in Isaiah 2:2, God\u2019s kingdom is shown as being superior to all other kingdoms. For it is a \u201cmountain\u201d that is \u201cchief of the mountains.\u201d The word \u201ckingdom\u201d in the New Testament, from the Greek word \u201cbasileia,\u201d refers primarily to \u201c1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom\u201d (Thayer). But Thayer also goes on to show that it can mean in addition: \u201c1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah\u201d and \u201c1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah\u2019s kingdom.\u201d And, secondarily, \u201c2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king.\u201d And \u201c3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah.\u201d So we see God\u2019s kingdom first of all pertains to His royal power and rule, and then of those whom He is ruling over who have become a part of His kingdom. With these thoughts in mind, notice, too, that upon the Lord\u2019s \u201cmountain\u201d there is also a \u201chouse of the LORD\u201d (Isa. 2:2). So the Lord\u2019s house is built upon God\u2019s mountain and identified with it \u2014 rather than with any of those inferior mountains of the world. And just as Isaiah refers to \u201cthe house of the LORD\u201d that is on \u201cthe chief of the mountains,\u201d God\u2019s church is also referred to as being \u201cthe house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth\u201d (1 Tim. 3:15); and it has been built by Christ and is established upon Him who is the foundation of it (cf. Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 3:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The church is also referred to as God\u2019s \u201ckingdom,\u201d for those in it are those who have submitted to God\u2019s rule. And while Acts 2:47 shows that \u201c\u2026the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,\u201d Paul also speaks of God being the One who has \u201crescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins\u201d (Col. 1:13,14). So the terms \u201ckingdom\u201d and \u201cchurch\u201d can be used interchangeably when referring to that body of God\u2019s people during the Gospel Age. The apostle John also refers to himself as having been a \u201cfellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus\u2026\u201d (Rev. 1:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, obviously, God\u2019s kingdom has come \u2014 and it came almost 2,000 years ago \u2014 and still is! It, therefore, has been around much longer than 1,000 years, and Christ has been reigning over it all the while (cf. Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18; 2:10). In His preaching to those on that day of Pentecost, Peter also declared, \u201cTherefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ \u2014 this Jesus whom you crucified\u201d (Acts 2:36). \u201cLord\u201d literally means \u201cruler\u201d; and \u201cChrist,\u201d the \u201canointed\u201d or \u201canointed one.\u201d Therefore, when we put the two together, we see Jesus as being an \u201canointed Ruler\u201d; and, thus, reminding us of the anointing of kings long ago. So this reference to God having sworn to David \u201cto seat one of his descendants on his throne\u201d is now being fulfilled by Christ whom David had looked forward to as being the fulfiller (cf. Acts 2:29-36).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So when Christ returns, it will not be to set up a kingdom; but, rather, to deliver God\u2019s kingdom, that has long been on this earth, up to His Father in heaven: \u201cFor as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ\u2019s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death\u201d (1 Cor. 15:22-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now is the time to become a part of God\u2019s kingdom. The instructions of how to become a member of the Lord\u2019s church and live as a Christian are also the same for how one is to enter the kingdom and live as a member of that\u2014since they refer to the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, if Christ\u2019s kingdom has not yet come, then how could we acceptably serve and worship God? For are we not to do that from in His kingdom \u2014 or can we remain in Satan\u2019s domain of darkness and worship God from there? When Jesus ascended back to the right hand of God (following His death, burial, resurrection, and the 40 days He spent on earth, proving His resurrection and Deity), that ascension had already been prophesied by Daniel centuries prior, as seen in the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
THAT ALL THE PEOPLES, NATIONS AND MEN OF EVERY LANGUAGE
MIGHT SERVE HIM.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed\u201d
(Dan. 7:13,14, emphasis mine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice one of the purposes for that kingdom: \u201cTHAT ALL\u2026 MIGHT SERVE HIM\u201d! Unlike the Law of Moses, which was for only the Jews, the gospel is for all people of every nation; and all the redeemed become a part of the one body, the church, the kingdom; and, as a member, can serve and worship God acceptably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So Christ is not a king without a kingdom. For, as we have seen, God\u2019s kingdom has come; and the concern of each of us should, therefore, always be to live in God\u2019s kingdom as His loyal subjects, by living unto Jesus Christ as our great \u201cKing of kings and Lord of lords\u201d (Rev. 19:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(All Scripture from the NASB, unless otherwise indicated.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Contents: 1) \u201cWhat About the Kingdom?\u201d (Tom Edwards)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- \u201cWhat About the Kingdom?\u201d Tom Edwards In last week\u2019s bulletin we saw […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=582"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/582\/revisions\/583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: <\/strong>7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/strong>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"