Bible Teachings: God's Kingdom on Earth
"And that He may SEND JESUS CHRIST, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive
UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS which God has spoken by the
mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
Acts 3v20-21
"After this I will return and will REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
even the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things."
Acts 15v16-17
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven 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."
Daniel 2v44
Jesus, Joseph and the Apostles
Jesus prayed, "Thy Kingdom come" (Matthew 6v10), and it was noted of Joseph of Arimathaea, "who himself was also WAITING for the Kingdom of God" Luke 23v51. In the Acts of the Apostles it is said many times that they, "preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God." (Acts 8v12, 19v8, 20v25, 28v23) If God's Kingdom is this important to our faith then surely it demands our attention if we are to be true disciples. Jesus said, "seek FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6v33
The original Kingdom of God
In Old Testament times the nation of Israel was the Kingdom of God on earth, and was especially regarded as such when a Godly king was on David's Throne and the people were obedient to God's law. This is the kingdom that Jesus' disciples were referring to at the time of His ascension when they said, "Lord, will you at this time restore the KINGDOM TO ISRAEL" Acts 1v6 So the coming Kingdom of God on earth is a restoration of the original kingdom of Israel otherwise referred to in Scripture as 'the throne of David' or the 'Tabernacle of David' (See Acts 15v16-17; Amos 9v11-12)
What has suffering to do with it?
God's Kingdom is portrayed as being subject to suffering in its present nucleus. (See Matthew 11v12; 2 Thessalonians 1v5) This is because the inheritors of the future Kingdom otherwise known as 'the saints of the MOST High' (Daniel 7v18, 22,27), do not have any present authority. You could liken disciples of Jesus as 'rulers in waiting' who suffer for their present beliefs now, but will inherit the "kingdom PREPARED for you from the foundation of the world" Matthew 25v34, when Jesus comes. We will then be, "...kings and priests to our God, and WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH." Revelation 5v10
Coming soon on earth
God's Kingdom with the added advantage of 'authority' will be established when Jesus returns, "For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet" 1 Corinthians 15v25 Speaking of King Jesus, the prophet Jeremiah said: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will raise to David a branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness IN THE EARTH. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is the name by which He will be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23v5-6
The objectives of God's Kingdom
The first objective of God's Kingdom is to restore world peace, and who would argue with that. (See Isaiah 2v4, 32v17-18; Zechariah 9v10)
The next objectives involve restoring the spiritual needs and worship of the people (See Isaiah 2v2-3; Zechariah 14v16-17; Acts 15v16-17) and then a physical restoration of the world that is presently suffering in the environmental area as never before.
(See Isaiah 35, 41v18-20, 51v3; Ezekiel 36v34-35; Amos 9v13-14; Joel 3v18, Zechariah 14v8-10) Jerusalem is portrayed as the political capital and most importantly the world centre of worship in the age to come. "At that time Jerusalem shall be called the THRONE OF THE LORD and all nations shall be gathered to it." Jeremiah 3v17
(See Isaiah 2v3; 62v1-2, 6-7; Zechariah 8v20-22) |
